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HISTORY 

of 

Perry County, Pennsylvania 

Including Descriptions of Indian and 

Pioneer Life from the Time of 

Earliest Settlement 

Sketches of Its Noted Men and Women 
and Many Professional Men 

By 

H. H. HAIN 



HARRISBURG, PA. 

1922 



Hain-Moore Company, Publishers 
harrisburg, pa. 



. 



Copyright 1922 

By 

Hain-Moore Company 



JUL 31 32 

A681155 
/ 




'I love tin rocks and ril 



r M y () all those Perry Countians who 

-Z first saw the beautiful rays of the 
morning sun as it came up o'er the 
Blue Ridge Mountains, who cherish 
fond memories of the land of their 
birth, and to those oilier citizens of the 
Republic who have chosen to make 
their abiding place within the borders 
of the Best Little County in the Com- 
monwealth, this book is respectfully 
dedicated. 



Thy woods and templed hills." 




FOREWORD 

THE lands lying north of the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain, 
which wove a part of Cumberland County until 1820, when 
Perry County was organized, form historically one of 
Pennsylvania's most interesting sections for various reasons. 
Here, when the world was in formation, geologists tell us, oc- 
curred upheavals and an admixture of the elements so unusual 
that Perry County, as to-day constituted, has more varieties of 
soil than any other county in the State. 

For many years these lands stood at the very verge of the un- 
broken forests, a veritable out-post of civilization, where the war- 
whoop of the red men yet echoed through the hills while the 
pioneer plied axe and saw, as he hewed from the wooded lands a 
home for himself and his people. Amid such surroundings there 
was no place for the weakling or. timid and thus there came to 
these lands a race of men and women, fearless and unafraid, who 
builded their homes, carved from the wilderness their farm , 
peopled the towns, surged over the borders and became useful 
citizens of other counties and states. They or their descendants 
have filled positions of honor and trust, which included the Presi- 
dency, the Vice-Presidency of two governments, governorships, 
chief justices' places on the supreme courts of three different 
states, and United States senatorships. From no other county 
have come more illustrious men or those whose ancestry have 
abided there, considering the small extent of territory and the 
necessarily attendant small population of a rural county. 

This is more than a history of Perry County, as it records 
much of Indian habitation and devastation and pioneer life long 
before its lands became a county, which has come down to us 
through the mists of another day, being principally based on 
official records and historical accounts of the period, with here and 
there a tinge of tradition, when well founded, which has de- 
scended down the years through generations of responsible people. 

Among the first settlers were men and women of mental vigor 
and talent, and these characteristics became inherent in unborn 
generations, with the attendant result that Perry County has not 
only been the birthplace of many men illustrious in the affairs of 
state, but also of an array of men and women educated in the 
learned professions, who have held, or hold, responsible positions 
in their respective communities, all over Pennsylvania and in a 
large majority of the states of the Union. While the book is in 
no sense a biographical work, yet it is deemed fit and proper to 
record the more noted. Unfortunately the list is not complete, as 

7 



8 FOREWORD 

the whereabouts of some at this time is unknown to the author, 
as many letters seeking information remaining unanswered, and 
also for the reason that it is difficult to obtain the records of 
those of the first half -century or more of the county's existence. 
It will serve as a basis for future records. 

Of all these things; of the county's beautiful scenery, with its 
physical distinction and magnificent mountains, verdant valleys, 
rambling and sometimes raging rivers ; of its traditions and its 
treasures — its homes and its people, the book will go into detail. 

It is unfortunate that the work was not undertaken a score of 
years ago ; but the author, who was just young enough to be in- 
cluded in the last conscription of men for the United States army, 
in 1918, during the great World War, at an earlier day never 
even dreamed of personally assuming a work of this importance. 
Had it been undertaken then, the help of many who have since 
passed away could have been enlisted, thus securing data which 
has now been lost for all time. 

In undertaking the task of writing and compiling a history of 
the county of his nativity, the author has not done so under the 
impression that he is more able to do so than others, as there are 
many more competent. It was principally undertaken by him as 
no other had even presumed to do so. A period of almost fifty 
years had elapsed since the publication of Wright's History of 
Perry County, the only separate history of the county published 
since its organization, and which was written in answer to a 
call from the Governor for the compilation of a history of every 
county of the Commonwealth prior to the Centennial of 1876. 

The book's contents are largely the result of development. 
While some of the material used dates back to a boyhood scrap- 
book, and more to the advantages afforded by connection as a 
correspondent from boyhood and later as editor of one of the 
county newspapers, and a continual collection of historical data 
since, yet by far the major portion was gathered, written and 
compiled during the past three years. As the prospectus an- 
nouncing its coming publication was being written, June 28, 1919, 
the bells and whistles at the State Capital were pealing forth the 
glad tidings that the terms of peace had been signed at Versailles, 
and two days later war-time prohibition became effective through- 
out the Nation. 

From the very beginning of writing and compiling this volume 
the author has taken the public into his confidence, through 
notices in the public press, and at every phase of its compilation, 
and with some success. Conjointly with letters seeking informa- 
tion the business end was conducted and its publication assured. 
As the book goes to press the proposed edition has been almost 
wholly subscribed for. Inexperienced in the writing of a book 



FOREWORD 9 

the triple method of traveling the territory, with the greater part 
of which he was already familiar, searching legal records and 
doing research work in libraries was adopted in the very begin- 
ning and continued throughout, and found to be advantageous. 
His place of residence and occupation made available the wonder- 
ful library of the State of Pennsylvania, the library of the City 
of New York, occupying a block; the Carnegie Library at Pitts- 
burgh, a veritable acreage of books, and others of less impor- 
tance, an advantage not available a half century ago, when the 
former history was written. The work has been a pleasanl one, 
done in connection with filling a regular position, and if the 
reader enjoys the perusal of the volume half as much as the 
author enjoyed its writing and compilation he is well repaid for 
his efforts, undertaken largely as a labor of love. His one aim 
has been to give to posterity all of the many good things per- 
taining to his native county and its people, in so far as possible, 
in the form of a single volume. Had its completion been hurried 
much valuable data would have been lacking. 

The history of a county differs from that of a state or nation. 
its government being largely a part of a greater territory, and 
necessarily includes matters of state and national importance, as. 
they have a bearing upon local conditions. That tendency is a 
marked one in so far as Perry County is concerned, for in both 
the pioneer period and the sectional war time these lands were 
at the very borderland. In this book there will be fonnd many 
things which naturally are of the state and nation, hut they are 
here embodied, as their bearing on local matters is of import. To 
William C. Sproul, Governor of Pennsylvania; Thomas L. Mont- 
gomery, then State Librarian, and H. H. Shenk, Custodian of 
Public Records, the author is indebted for public sanction of the 
undertaking and for putting at his disposal every facility and ad- 
vantage for securing information. Should he name the published 
works of others which he has searched for information it would 
require pages, as he has gone over many hundreds of them. 

In his many trips within and without the county, the latter 
mostly spent in interviewing former Perry countians, every- 
where he met with the kindest consideration .and regard and to 
name a list of all who gave information is also impossible, but 
they have his most profound thanks for help in the preservation 
of these historical records. Here and there throughout the book 
he gives mention to a few who have been of marked assistance. 
Especial credit is due to Miss Margaret H. Barnett, of New 
Bloomfield, who carefully read practically all of the manuscript 
and made necessary corrections and valuable suggestions ; to 
Prof. H. H. Shenk, custodian of Public Records of the State of 
Pennsylvania, and former Professor of History in Lebanon Yal- 



io FOREWORD 

ley College, for performing a similar duty ; to Dr. George P. 
Donehoo, secretary of the Pennsylvania Historical Commission 
and a noted authority on Indian lore, and now State Librarian, 
for reviewing the Indian chapters, and to the many who read and 
criticised chapters with which they were especially familiar. 

To those who loaned volumes from their lihraries we are in- 
debted, and especially so for the valuable scrap books of Miss 
Minnie Deardorff, Rev. John D. Calhoun, the late Senator Charles 
H. Smiley and others. Ex-Senator James W. McKee and At- 
torney George R. Barnett deserve special mention for aiding in 
research work on many occasions. 

The county editors have been uniformly kind and helpful in 
every way, including the gratuitous use of their columns for 
furthering the work and for seeking information, and the privi- 
lege of searching their files. To Messrs. H. E. Sheibley and W. 
W. Branyan we are also indebted for the use of a number of the 
interesting electrotypes which help illustrate the book. 

Upon the practical completion of the book notice was given 
through the public press, inviting any interested persons to read, 
criticise and correct any misstatements which they might find. 
The privilege of so doing was open for a period of sixty days. 

During the many days spent in the capitol building and state 
library at Harrisburg the writer was treated with the utmost 
courtesy and consideration, both by the employees and their 
chiefs. They are skilled in their respective duties and considerate 
of the general public, whose business calls them to Capitol Hill. 

While the work was in progress death took from us a num- 
ber of men and women who had offered help in securing material 
and facts, some of which appears here and there throughout the 
book. Among these were Prof. L. E. McGinnes, Prof. Daniel 
Fleisher, Frank Penned, Mrs. Annie Swartz Hench, wife of Harry 
F. Hench, and Mrs. Clara Lahr Moore, wife of Dr. E. E. Moore, 
two cultured and learned women. 

As the work took form the impression was made that no mat- 
ter what proportion it assumed upon completion there would 
still be a lack of finality, as ever and anon there appeared new 
(or rather old) data, legend, tradition, and sketches of men — 
and still more men — who had gone forth from Perry County and 
its territory and lived lives of honor and distinction. There will 
be errors, of course, but the statements herein made have all been 
secured or transferred from historical or other books, public 
records, newspaper files, scrap-books, etc., except where noted. 
Where statements have differed the one supported by facts has 
been used. 

H. H. Hain. 

Harrisburg, Pa., January io, 1922. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER PAGE 

I. Location, Physical Features, Geology, Etc. 15 

II. Earliest Records of Indian Inhabitants 37 

III. Intruding Settlers Evicted 57 

IV. Treaty of Peace, but a Devastating In- 

dian Warfare 84 

V. Simon Girty, the Renegade 104 

VI. Duncan's and Hauh; man's Islands [18 

VII. Coming of the Trader 137 

VIII. Coming of the Pioneers [48 

IX. Perry County in the Revolutionary War 161 
X. Perry County Territory in the War of 

1812 177 

XI. The Province and "Mother Cumberland" [82 

XII. Perry County Established 201 

XIII. The Fight for the County Seat 221 

XIV. Trails and Highways 231 

XV. Old Landmarks, Mills and Industries . . 247 

XVI. The Earliest Churches 280 

XVII. The County Schools, Past and Present 369 

XVIII. Academies and Public Institutions 335 

XIX. Postrider and Stagecoach 362 

XX. Rivers, Streams and Old Ferries 374 

XXI. River and Canal Transportation 401 

XXII. Building of the Pennsylvania Railroad 421 

XXIII. Projected and Other Railroads 431 

XXIV. The Sunday School Movement in Perry 

County 438 

XXV. The Liquor Question 443 

XXVI. The County's Public Officials 448 

XXVII. The Bench and Bar 459 

XXVIII. The Public Press ^3 

XXIX. Banks and Corporations 488 

XXX. County's Early Years — A Comparison . . . 407 

XXXI. Perry County in the Sectional War .... 543 

XXXII. The Spanish-American War 580 

XXXIII. The World War and Perry County 582 

XXXIV. Perry County's Noted Men 604 

XXXV. Agriculture in Perry County 862 

XXXVI. The Tuscarora Forest 870 

XXXVII. Perry County From Many Viewpoints . . 882 
XXXVIII. Perry County's Boroughs, Townships and 

Villages 911 

11 



ILLUSTRATIONS 

TAGE 

The Author Frontispiece 

Map of Perry County 6 

Gibson's Rock 16 

Susquehanna Water Gap, at Duncannon 39 

The Lincoln Profile Rock 60 

Junction of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers 82 

The Indian Profile at Girty's Notch 105 

Scene at Haldeman's Island 131 

Sherman's Creek, near Gibson's Rock 140 

A Pioneer Bride and Groom 154 

The Old State House at Philadelphia 167 

William Penn, the Founder of the Province 183 

Landisburg, the First County Seat 202 

Robert Mitchell, One of the First Commissioners 214 

The Courthouse at New Bloomfield 221 

New Bloomfield, Looking North 224 

The Old Rice Gristmill near Landisburg 2^^ 

"Westover," the Gibson Mill 258 

John Wister, Noted Iron Manufacturer jyS 

Rev. Chas. Beatty, Pioneer Missionary 282 

Rev. Jacob Gruber, a Circuit Rider 287 

Pioneer Communion Service 290 

Jacob Buck, a Zealous Churchman 300 

Daniel A. Kline, County Supt. of Schools 310 

Schoolhouses at Mt. Pleasant ^22 

Lewis B. Kerr, Early County Supt. of Schools 327 

vSilas Wright, Educator and Historian ^^2 

The Loysville Academy 336 

Football at Carson Long Institute 342 

William Grier, Associate Judge and Educator 345 

William Carson Long 346 

Donald C. Willard 347 

The Tressler Soldiers' Orphans' Home 351 

Rev. Philip Willard 353 

Charles A. Widle, Supt. Tressler Orphans' Home 355 

The Juniata River at Iroquois 374 

The Flood of 1889 at Newport 391 

The Pennsylvania Canal at Mt. Patrick 402 

Pennsylvania Canal and Aqueduct at Newport 41 1 

The Pennsylvania Railroad Bridge at Marysville 424 

Pennsylvania Railroad Tracks Along the Juniata 429 

12 



ILLUSTRATIONS 



13 



r \or, 

Rev. Matthew B. Patterson 445 

Judge Benjamin F. Junkin 460 

Judges Charles A. and James M. Barnett 466 

Judges Win. N. Seibert and James W. Shall 468 

Horace E. Sheibley, Editor 477 

James A. Magee and Wm. C. Lebo, Editors 479 

Frank A. Fry and Sons, Editors 480 

C. B. Smith and R. M. Barton, Editors |Sj 

John A. Baker, Leading Abolitionist and Editor 483 

John A. Magee, Democratic Editor and Congressman [X | 

John H. Sheibley, Noted Republican Editor 485 

The Duncannon National Bank 491 

The First National Bank of New Bloomfield 492 

Lieut. Edward Moore, Paul Fleisher and James Zimmerman 588 

Warren G. Harding, President of the United States 609 

-Thomas R. Marshall, Vice-President of the United States 612 

Alexander H. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy 614 

James G. Blaine, Noted American Statesman 626 

Chester I. Long, Lhiited States Senator 633 

William Bigler, Governor of Pennsylvania 637 

John Bigler, Governor of California 645 

Gen. Stephen Miller, Governor of Minnesota 650 

Gen. James A. Beaver, Governor of Pennsylvania 655 

John Bannister Gibson, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania .... 667 

Daniel Gantt, Chief Justice of Nebraska 677 

Henry Calvin Thatcher, First Chief Justice of Nebraska . . 681 

John A. Thatcher, Pioneer Merchant and Banker 689 

The Thatcher Building at Pueblo, Colorado 691 

Mahlon D. Thatcher, Noted Financier and Banker 693 

Col. A. K. McClure, Noted Editor 701 

Luther M. Bernheisel, Noted Builder 70 ^ 

Elihu C. Irvin, Noted Insurance President 707 

Marie Doro, Famous Dramatic Star 709 

Carlton Lewis Bretz, Noted Railroad Man 714 

Elizabeth Reif snyder, M.D 717 

Mina Kerr, College Dean 718 

David L. Tressler, College President 720 

Chas. W. Super, University President yi^ 

Jesse Miller, Notable Early Congressman yiy 

Benj. K. Focht, Member of Congress 730 

Harris J. Bixler, Member of Congress 731 

J. R. Flickinger, Principal Central Slate Normal School . . y^y 

L. E. McGinnes, Supt. of Steelton Schools, 742 

,Wm. Nelson Ehrhart, Supt. Mahanoy City Schools 746 

Theodore K. Long, Founder Carson Long Institute 748 



14 ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Sheridan E. Fry, Municipal Judge at Chicago 752 

Rev. and Mrs. John R. Peale, Martyred Missionaries 754 

D. F. Garland, D.D., Noted Welfare Director 763 

Anna Froehlich, Noted Teacher 767 

H. W. Flickinger, Expert Penman 769 

Lelia Dromgold Emig, Genealogist 771 

S. Nevin Hench (Inventor) and Walker A. Dromgold . . . 773 

Col. George E. Kemp, Postmaster of Philadelphia 'jj'j 

Wm. F. Calhoun. Speaker Illinois Assembly 780 

Rev. John Dill Calhoun 784 

Rev. James W r . Meminger, D.D 786 

Rev. Barnett H. Hart 787 

Emmett U. Aumiller, Ex-County Supt. of Schools 7<ji 

S. S. Bloom, Member General Assembly of Ohio ~<)S 

Rev. Roy Dunkelberger, Missionary 806 

Daniel Fleisher, Supt. Lancaster County Schools 808 

Milton B. Gibson, Noted Manufacturer 812 

John L. McCaskey, Inventor S_>0 

Samuel F. Stambaugh, Large Real Estate Dealer S46 

Albert H. Stites, State Senator South Dakota 848 

Centre Square and Soldiers' Monument at Bloomfield .... 916 

Blain Borough and Conococheague Mountain 928 

Jane ( Smiley) McCaskey 942 

Duncannon Borough and Juniata Creek Road 950 

Sherman's Creek near its Mouth at Duncannon 952 

Clark M. Bower, Member of Assembly 969 

Looking South from Liverpool 983 

Marysville from Cove Mountain 100 1 

Millcrstown, Oldest Town in the County 101 1 

Millerstown's World War Monument 10 1 S 

Newport, Perry County's Largest Town . . 1024 

Ickesburg and Landscape 1052 



CHAPTER I. 
LOCATION.. PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. 

PERRY COUNTY. Pennsylvania, is located in the southern 
central portion of the state, just north of the Kittatinny 
(Blue) Mountain, its southern boundary being within forty 
miles of the Mason-Dixon Line, that historic line which not only 
separated the states of Pennsylvania and Maryland, but which he- 
came, politically, the boundary line between the North and the 
South, on the slavery question. In fact, in much of the legislation 
appertaining to slavery, this line was the barrier against which two 
contending forces battled, practically from the time of the forma- 
tion of the United States until the best blood of the nation was 
spilled in the four years of war between the States, 1861-65. 

Perry County is bounded on the north by Juniata County ; on 
the east by the Susquehanna River, across which lies Dauphin 
County; on the south by Cumberland County; and on the wesl 
by Franklin and Juniata Counties. It contains 564 square miles. 
according to Smull's Handbook, the official publication of the 
commonwealth. Groff, in the History of the Juniata and Susque- 
hanna Yalleys, gives the square miles as 480 ; Claypole, the geolo- 
gist, gives the number at 539, and Wright, in his History of Perry 
County, makes the number 550, which show considerable variance. 

While the size of Perry County is relatively small, yet it is not 
the smallest county in Pennsylvania, by any means. Twenty- 
seven others are smaller in area, but many of them have a vastly 
greater population. It is larger than either Cumberland or Dauphin. 
Perry County is credited with 564 square miles. The other coun- 
ties whose area is not so great are as follows : Montour, 130 square 
miles; Philadelphia, 133; Delaware, 185; Union, 305; Snyder. 
311; Lehigh, 344; Lawrence, 360 ; Lebanon, 360; Northampton, 
3;_>; Juniata, 392; Cameron, 392; Wyoming, 30; ; Mifflin, 398; 
Fulton, 402; Carbon, 406; Forest, 423; Beaver, 429; Lacka- 
wanna, 451 ; Sullivan, 458 ; Columbia. 479 ; Luzerne, 484; Mont- 
gomery, 484; Dauphin, 521; Cumberland, 528; Adams, 528; 
Blair, 534, and Pike, 544. 

In population, eleven other counties of the state have less. Ac- 
cording to the census of 1920, Perry County's population was 
22,875. The counties having less are Cameron, Pike, Forest, Sul- 
livan, Fulton, Montour, Wyoming, Juniata, Union, Snyder, and 
Potter. 

15 



i6 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



The United Slates Census Bureau, in a bulletin, 192 1, classes 
Perry County as one of eight "truly rural" counties in Pennsyl- 
vania — along with Forest, Ful- 
ton, Juniata, Pike, Snyder, Sulli- 
van, and Wyoming — for the rea- 
son that the 1920 census showed 
no communities of 2,500 or over 
in population. Were the built-up 
sections at Newport in one dis- 
trict, instead of being divided into 
Newport and Oliver Township, 
that town would show a greater 
population than that figure. While 
classed as a rural county, Perry 
County is within fifteen minutes 
of the State Capital, within three 
hours of Philadelphia or the Capi- 
tal of the nation at Washington, 
and within five hours of New 
York City. A ride of a little 
over four hours and you are at 
the surf of the great Atlantic 
Ocean. The great bend in the 
river below Newport marks the 
half-way point over the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad, between New 
York and Pittsburgh. 

According to a bulletin of the 
State Forestry Department 210 
square miles are wooded land, 
comprising 134,400 acres, out of 
a total of 304,640. 

The seventy-seventh degree of 
longitude west of Greenwich 
passes through the county, cut- 
ting the townships of Rye, Watts, 
Buffalo, and Liverpool, passing 
the village of Montgomery's 
Ferry, and going through Liver- 
pool Borough. On its way through the state it goes through 
Hanover and passes, a short distance east of Williamsport, thus 
showing our relative positions with towns in the northern and 
southern sections. The seventy-seventh degree also passes through 
the National Capital. All the Southern states, save small sections 
of Virginia and North Carolina, lie west of it, an unusual fact to 
many. The entire county lies between the seventy-sixth and. 




koto by 1 1 lick 

GIBSON'S ROCK 

Located on Sherman's Creek. By it lay 

the "Allegheny Path," the First Great 

Indian Trail to the West. 



LOCATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. 17 

seventy-eighth degrees, and almosl all of it between the sevent} 
seventh and seventy-eighth. It lies between the fortieth and fort) 
first degrees of latitude. A line drawn from Pittsburgh to Read- 
ing, Pennsylvania, would pass through New Bloomfield, and one 
from Johnstown to Reading, through Marysville. 

Considered in size, Perry County is one of the smaller counties 
of the state, and yet it is almost half of the size of the state of 
Rhode Island, and almost one-fourth as large as the state of Dela- 
ware. Its average length is thirty-fight miles, and its average 
breadth, fourteen miles. Its elevation varies very much. At the 
mouth of the Juniata it is 357.4 feet above sea level, and at the 
Gibson mill in Spring Township, it is 471 feet. The old road over 
Bower Mountain, in Jackson Township, according to Claypole, the 
geologist, is 950 feet above the valley, 1,350 feet above Landis- 
burg, and 2,000 feet above the level of the sea. 

Its location is in the Atlantic slope of the great Appalachian 
Mountain system, of which Groff* says: "The construction of the 
underground world is so beautifully simple as a whole, and so 
curiously complicated in details, that it will ever stand the typical 
district of the Appalachian Mountain belt of the Atlantic sea- 
board." The shape of the county resembles roughly a triangle, or 
rather, a pennant. Its acreage is 360,960, according to the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture of the State. 

Along the eastern boundary, where winds the broad Susque- 
hanna, from a point about five miles above Liverpool to below 
Marysville, where the river breaks through the Blue or Kittatinny 
Mountain, the distance is twenty-nine miles, or twenty-one by air 



*George G. Groff, M.D., former Professor of Natural History, Bucknell 
University. 

Gibson's Rock. Gibson's Rock is located along the north side of Sher- 
man's Creek, three miles west of Shermansdale. It is a striking geological 
formation, of which the county has many, and yet this is a surpassing one 
in size and interest. Located at the dividing line of Spring and Carroll 
Townships this mighty crag towers from the bed of Sherman's Creek 
almost perpendicularly. West of it the old Indian trail, known as the 
Allegheny Path, crossed the creek to the northern side. Here the moun- 
tain evidently once breasted the creek and held back waters which covered 
several townships, according to geologists. Picturesquely situated, this 
point has long been a mecca for campers, outings, and picnics. Above it, 
within sound of the human voice, stood the famous Gibson mansion, and 
still stands the "Westover" or Gibson mill. In that house was born Chief 
Justice John Bannister Gibson, Governor William Bigler, and John Bern- 
heisel, representative in Congress from the then Territory of Utah. f,<>\ 
ernor William Bigler had a brother, John Bigler, who was governor of 
California at the same time that his brother was governor of Pennsyl- 
vania, but John Bigler was born at Landisburg, where his parents resided. 
prior to coming to the Westover mill in 1809. During the early years of 
the county's existence a bill passed the Pennsylvania Legislature making 
Sherman's Creek navigable, and many huge boulders were blown from 
flie creek's bottom, some within the shadow of the great cliff, the drill 
marks being yet distinguishable. 
2 



l8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

line. The trend of the river is from north to south, with consid- 
erable bend to the west at Duncannon. The southern boundary, 
starting at the Susquehanna River from a point seven miles north 
of Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, follows the crest of 
the Blue Mountain, adjoining Cumberland County, for fifty-three 
miles, at an average elevation of one thousand feet above the Cum- 
berland Valley, to the south. The course of the mountain for the 
first twenty-two miles is almost a straight line, due westward. 
Then it curves back, northward, to Welsh Hill, and makes a loop, 
in which lies Green Valley. Going out again to practically the 
same line from which it receded, to Pilot Knob, it makes a second 
loop— deeper than the first — which is the location of Kennedy's 
Valley. Thereafter its course is practically southwest to the 
Franklin County line for over a dozen miles. The air line dis- 
tance along the southern border is thirty-eight miles. 

The extreme western boundary, which borders Franklin County, 
is only a little over eight miles, crossing a series of mountains, 
described further on, at very irregular intervals. From the north- 
west corner it follows the crest of the Tuscarora Mountain to the 
Juniata River, the first ten miles being almost straight in a north- 
eastern direction. It then makes two small offsets at the west of 
Madison Township and assuming the same general direction runs 
"straight as a crow flies" to the western bank of the Juniata River. 
At this point the line runs due north for a mile and a half, and 
thence almost due east about thirteen miles to the western bank of 
the Susquehanna River. 

The mountains in and surrounding Perry County are from six 
hundred to twelve hundred feet high, measured from the valley 
levels adjoining, but are eight hundred to sixteen hundred feet 
above sea level. A brief description of these mountains follows, 
much of the information being drawn from the works of Professor 
Claypole, the geologist: 

Mountains. 

Kittatinny or Blur Mountain. This mountain is known by various names. 
Geographers term it the Blue Mountain; the pioneers called it the Kitta- 
tinny Mountain, derived from the Indian "Kau-ta-tin-chunk," meaning the 
main or principal mountain ; Conrad Weiser, the Indian interpreter, inter- 
preted it as "the endless mountain" ; Richard Peters, the provincial secre- 
tary, in a letter to Governor Hamilton, dated July 2, 1750, first officially 
called it "the Blue Hills"; the residents east of the Susquehanna called 
it the First Mountain, and the residents of the Cumberland Valley called 
and many yet call it the North Mountain, as it lies north of that valley. 
In a provincial record dated May 6, 1752, this mountain is called "Kekach- 
tany" or "Endless Hills," the title which the Delaware Indians applied to 
it. In the Albany grant of July 6, 1754, for the lands which now com- 
prise Perry County and others, recorded in the provincial records of 
February 3, 1755, it is called the Kittochtinny or Blue Hills, by which it 
was known throughout provincial and colonial times in all records. The 



LOCATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. [9 

description at the beginning of this chapter only applies to this mountain 
in so far as it is the southern boundary of the county. This Indian 1 
"Kautatinchunk," as quoted in some volumes, is said to have been "Tyan- 
nuntasacta" by the Six Nations, and "Kekachtannin" by the Delaw 
The name is defined at one place as meaning "steadfast in storm and ever 
true blue." It is to be regretted that the old Indian name, Kittatinny, has 
fallen somewhat into disuse. Luther Reily Kelker, in his History of 
Dauphin County, speaking of the Kittatinny Mountain also being called 
the Blue or North Mountain, said, "The Indian name alone should be 
used; any mountain may be blue at a distance, and any one is north of 
some place." 

These mountains (of the Appalachian system) really stretch from a 
point not far from Newburgh, New York, on the Hudson River, across 
New York State, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and enter 
North Carolina and Tennessee, being broken by water gaps to let through 
the waters of the Delaware, the Lehigh, the Schuylkill, the Swatara, the 
Susquehanna, and the Potomac (at Harper's Ferry). At the southern 
part of the county its crest-length of fifty-three miles is unbroken by a 
single water gap. For seventeen miles it runs, with one small zigzag, 
parallel to Bower Mountain, separated from it by the steep and narrow 
vale of the north branch of Laurel Run, which starts at the Franklin 
County line. Both mountains run on thus southwestward through Franklin 
County, unite and end before reaching Fort Loudon. Bower Mountain is 
therefore only a return zigzag of Blue Mountain. 

It received its name First Mountain from the early settlers of south- 
eastern Pennsylvania, especially those who built their cabins along the 
Susquehanna River at Columbia, Marietta, and Harrisburg, and had occa- 
sion to go up the river in canoes through the water gaps. The first moun- 
tain they passed by was this mountain, hence the name, First Mountain. 
The second was Cove Mountain, and from the Susquehanna to the Lehigh 
it has retained the name of Second Mountain ever since; the third was 
the Sharp Mountain of Schuylkill County, which traverses Dauphin County, 
but does not quite reach the Susquehanna River; the fourth was Peters' 
Mountain, opposite Duncannon. Here, at the mouth of the Juniata the 
numerals stopped, as the mountains farther up, Berry's and Buffalo, did 
not run in the same general direction. 

In September, 1742, David Zeisberger, the missionary, and a party of 
friends, among whom was Conrad Weiser, on their way from the settled 
part of the province "came to a ridge of forest-crowned mountains, across 
which led a blind trail, full of loose, sharp stones, and close to high rocks 
the rugged sides of which rendered horseback riding exceedingly danger- 
ous. The mountains being without a name, Conrad Weiser called them 
'The Thiirnstein,' in honor of Zinzendorf. They were the parallel chains 
of the Blue Ridge, now known as the Second, Third, and Peters' Moun- 
tains." 

The western end of the Tuscarora Mountain, Conococheague Mountain, 
Round Top, Little Round Top, Rising Mountain, Amberson Ridge, Bower 
Mountain, and Middle or Sherman Mountain, named in order from north- 
west to southeast, across the western end of the county, are all in a way 
zigzags of different lengths of one range. The following description from 
Claypole is given verbatim : 

"A woodsman can enter Perry County from Franklin County on the 
rocks at the top of the West Tuscarora Mountain, and walk along the 
rocky crest of this range, alternately towards the northeast and towards 
the southwest, for a total distance of thirty-live miles, reentering Franklin 
County from the crest of Bower Mountain, only three miles across from 



20 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the place where he left it. In all this distance he will keep at nearly the 
same elevation, say 1,600 feet above ocean level, except at three points, 
where the wall on the top of which he is traveling is broken down to its 
base by small streams. One of these water gaps is cut through the West 
Tuscarora Mountain; a second is made by the head of Sherman's Creek, 
which cuts through Rising Mountain; the third is made by Houston's Run 
through the north leg of Bower Mountain. Everywhere else along the 
line he will find the sharp crested mountain unbroken by gaps, with steep 
rock-covered slopes or even cliffs always on his right hand, and a gentler, 
smoother, but still quite steep slope on his left hand. When he turns the 
east end of a zigzag he will see the mountain crest make a long slope 
downward into the valleys of Perry County; and when he turns the west 
ends of the zigzag, he will be on boldly scarped knobs overlooking the 
shale and limestone valleys of Franklin County. On these knobs he will 
always reach a somewhat higher elevation above tide. Round Top and 
Little Round Top are simply the southwestward looking ends of two of 
the zigzags rather more strongly pronounced than the others." 

The district enclosed by these mountains is peculiarly isolated from 
travel, except along the river. While the extreme western part of the 
county is bound by this series of mountain ranges, yet the traveler can go 
through to Amberson Valley, Franklin County, by utilizing the second 
narrows and the break through Bower's Mountain. 

Tuscarora Mountain. The eastern end of the Tuscarora Mountain 
forms a range alone, along its crest for a distance of twenty-one miles 
runs the boundary line which separates Perry from Juniata County. 
Almost straight and continuous, it is broken by a ravine opposite Ickes- 
burg. A small stream flows through this ravine, draining a small glen in 
the heart of the mountain, three miles in length and a half-mile in width. 
At this point the mountain has two crests, the county line following the 
southern. This mountain slopes gently at both ends. In Gordon's His- 
tory of Pennsylvania and Belknap's Gazetteer of Pennsylvania, both of 
which were published in 1832, the Tuscarora is referred to as Tussey's 
Mountain, in these words, "The Juniata River enters Perry County through 
Tussey's Mountain." There is a mountain by that name farther up the 
state, but as these two historians called the Tuscarora "Tussey's Moun- 
tain" it may have been known to many others by that name and hence the 
resultant confusion of pioneer and Indian history and legend. 

Tiik Hill Ranges Within. 

Surrounded by mountains and the Susquehanna River and penetrated 
from the east to a small extent by other mountains the interior of Perry 
County is an extensive wedge-shaped area of open country, traversed by 
many ranges of hills, which vary from two hundred to five hundred feet 
above the levels of the streams which drain them. Some of these hills 
are cultivated in common with the lower soil, a prominent and extensive 
example being the Middle Ridge, which extends ten miles west from 
Newport. 

Raccoon Ridcjc. A ridge in Tuscarora Township, starting some dis- 
tance from the river. At Donally's Mills it is broken by a gap through 
which flows the south branch of Raccoon Creek. 

Ore Ridge. A ridge paralleling the Tuscarora Mountain at its base, 
comparatively low and located within Tuscarora Township. 

Hominy Ridge. The southern boundary of the western half of Tusca- 
rora Township. It is of Chemung shale, which Claypole says is among 
the poorest, adding "of all the Chemung districts that on Hominy Ridge 



LOCATION. PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. 21 

is the most uninviting. High, steep and rough, it presents little to attract 
the farmer and the wonder arises why so much of il is cleared." 

Umestone Ridge. A wooded ridge starting- at the Juniata River below 
Bailey's Station, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, in Miller Township, and 
extending westward through the county to the Madison Township line, 
forming the boundary between Miller and Oliver Townships and -< pa 
rating Spring and Tyrone from Saville. Even west of that its formation 
exists, to the western end of the county, but it is more broad and is cul- 
tivated. North of Andersonburg and Centre it is two and a half miles 
broad. From New Bloomfield to the Juniata it has double and at some 
places triple crests. Limestone generally follows its southern surface. 
The U. S. Geological Survey names this ridge, Hickory Ridge, and the 
northern crest, Buffalo Ridge. 

Mulianoy Ridge. Mahanoy Ridge starts near the Juniata River, in Mil- 
ler Township, at a point between Iroquois and Losh's Run stations, on the 
Pennsylvania Railroad, and traverses Miller, Centre, and Spring Town- 
ships. At four points in Miller and Centre Townships it is broken by 
water gaps. Between Green Park and Landisburg it zigzags, coming to an 
abrupt incline at the latter place in a promontory known as Bell's Hill. 

Dick's Hill. This ridge starts in Miller Township, almost five miles 
west of the Juniata River, and becomes from that point the boundary line 
between Miller and Wheatfield Townships. It separates Wheatfield and 
Carroll Townships from Centre and continues into Spring Township, ter- 
minating at a point east of a line between Landisburg and Bridgeport, be- 
ing known as Pisgah Ridge after leaving the Wheatfield Township line. 
Its central portion is shown in old maps as Iron Ridge, and is sometimes 
locally known as Rattlesnake Hill. This ridge was probably known as 
Dick's Hill for its entire length originally, as it is mentioned as being 
crossed by the old Indian trail to the West as early as 1803, by a woman 
then 100 years old, as will be noted in our chapter devoted to "Trails, 
Roads, and Highways." From its eastern gap, through which flows kittle 
Juniata Creek, one of the three earliest churches took its name — the Dick's 
Gap Church, long since gone to decay. This church was not located along 
Dick's Hill however, but along Mahanoy Ridge, a short distance north. 
Dick's Hill was also the site of two pioneer industries, Perry Furnace and 
Montebello Furnace. Claypole says, "Curving round sharply it sweeps for 
almost twenty miles under the name of 'Little Mountain' to the Susque- 
hanna River at Marysville." 

Pisgah Ridge. See Dick's Hill, immediately preceding. 

Pine Hill. This ridge starts in Carroll Township and runs east, forming 
the dividing line between Rye and Wheatfield. It is, in fact, an extension 
of the Cove Mountain. 

Buck Hills. South of New Germantown, in Toboyne Township, a low 
range called Buck Hills rises gradually, but irregularly, until it merges 
into Rising Mountain. 

Chestnut Hills. The Chestnut Hills rise in Madison Township, west of 
Centre, run through Jackson and Toboyne, merge into Amberson Ridge, 
their ascension being gradual. 

Round Top. Right after leaving the county the Conococheague Moun- 
tain turns sharply and reenters the county, forming Pound Top, which 
commands the head of Sherman's Valley and is a conspicuous object for 
many miles. Its course is short, however, and zigzaging again, it passes 
over the county line to the southwest, with a southeast dip, and continues 
for about twelve miles as a range known as Dividing Mountain, as it di- 
vides Path Valley and Amberson Valley, in Franklin County. 

Dividing Mountain. See Round Top. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Little Rount Top. Located in Toboyne Township, south of Round Top. 

Rising Mountain. Returning from its long lap into Franklin County the 
mountain again reenters Perry County and forms the high, broad, stony 
ridge known as Rising Mountain, lying southwest of New Germantown. 
To the east lie Buck Hills, which rise gradually into a mountain, hence 
the name, Rising Mountain. 

Amberson Ridge. After Rising Mountain crosses into Franklin it laps 
and again crosses the line into Perry, being then known as Amberson 
Ridge. It meets the great fold of Bower Mountain and forms a high knob 
overlooking Amberson Valley, Franklin County. 

Bower Mountain. Bower Mountain is a great level-crested ridge rising 
near Loysville, passing through Madison Township, gently sloping upward 
through Jackson Township, and on entering Toboyne it forms a small 
zigzag and separates into two parts which are unnamed. Named after 
Nathaniel Bower, whose 200-acre farm saddled its crest. 

Mount Pisgah. The highest elevation of the little range of Pisgah 
Mountains is in Carroll Township. Opposite these mountains, near where 
Sherman's Creek breaks through at Gibson's Rock, was born John Ban- 
nister Gibson, once Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. 
It is also known locally as Pisgah Hill. 

Little Mountain. A small ridge lying north of the Blue Mountain, in 
Rye and Carroll Townships and a short distance into Spring Township. 

Slaughterbeck Hill. Sometimes called Michael's Ridge. A conspicuous 
promontory in Pfoutz Valley, Greenwood Township. It blocks entrance 
from the west, rising above every other range in the township. Claypole 
says of it: "It is really a fragment of the great Tuscarora anticlinal which 
has been cut off by the Juniata River from the main body and constitutes 
an outlier. In truth the whole of the valley is a continuation eastward of 
the anticlinal ridge of the Tuscarora, eroded by long ages of frost, rain 
and sunshine." 

Michael's Ridge. See Slaughterbeck's Hill, immediately preceding. 

Wildcat Ridge. A high and rugged ridge separating Perry and Pfoutz 
Valleys, in Greenwood township. It enters Liverpool Township for a 
short distance, but dies down, the two valleys here being less distinct than 
farther west. Rough and rocky at places, where wildcats once had a ren- 
dezvous, hence the name. 

Turkey Ridge. This high ridge, at places farmed to its very top, but 
mostly wooded, is the dividing line between Perry and Juniata Counties at 
Liverpool Township. Like Wildcat Ridge it loses much of its steepness as 
it approaches the Susquehanna River. In pioneer years noted as a great 
wild turkey territory, from which comes the name, Turkey Ridge. 

Half Fall Mountain. In provincial and colonial records, frequently re- 
ferred to as Half Fall Hills. It lies between Buffalo and Watts Town- 
ships, its crest being the township line. It is an extension, across the 
Juniata, of the converging Mahanoy and Limestone Ridges, the limestone 
rocks forming almost a complete dam across the river, producing a "half- 
falls" from which the mountain takes its name. It spans the territory 
completely between the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers, being crossed by 
a public highway. Below Montgomery's Ferry it ends in a conspicuous 
bluff, near the top of which is a cave supposed to have once been the 
hiding place of Simon Girty, the renegade, but which records practically 
confute. (See chapter on Simon Girty.) On a promontory of the moun- 
tain here is a protruding rock, which viewed coming from the north over 
the Susquehanna Trail, presents the profile of an Indian as perfect as can 
be found, and one which only the Creator, that greatest of artists, could 
produce. 



LOCATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. 23 

Mount Patrick. A name sometimes applied to the end of Berry's Moun- 
tain at the village of that name. 

North Mountain. See Kittatinny Mountain. 

First Mountain. See Kittatinny Mountain. 

Second Mountain. See Kittatinny Mountain. 

Third Mountain. See Kittatinny Mountain. 

Fourth Mountain. See Kittatinny Mountain. This is also known as 
Peters' Mountain and is located opposite to Duncannon, the Cove Moun- 
tain being in reality an extension thereof, the Susquehanna water gap 
cutting through. 

Peters' Mountain. See preceding paragraph. 

Mount Dempsey. A high promontory of the Blue or Kittatinny Moun- 
tain, where it laps, located opposite Landisburg, in Tyrone Township. One 
of the most picturesque spots in the county. An Indian trail, later used as 
a bridle path, passes its base. 

Buck Ridge. A "breaking down" of Rising Mountain, in Toboyne Town- 
ship. 

Big Knob. A mountain ridge north of Blain. 

Little Knob. Twin sister to Big Knob, north of Blain. 

"The Crossbar." A wooded ridge running from Big Knob, north of 
Blain, to the Tuscarora Mountain. 

Berry's Mountain and Buffalo Mountain. These two mountains are lo- 
cated in the northeast section of the county, are broken by water gaps by 
the Susquehanna at Mt. Patrick and Liverpool, are seven and eight miles 
long, respectively, and unite in a single elevated knob on the east bank of 
the Juniata River a mile above Newport, known as Round Top, which can 
be plainly seen from east of the Susquehanna. Both of them have per- 
fectly straight sharp crests, long gentle slopes towards the cove which they 
form, and outer terraces, that of Berry's facing south and that of Buffalo 
facing northwest. Unlike the sharp ellipse of Cove Mountain, that of 
Berry's Mountain is broken by a gap nearly to its base at its western end 
on the southern side, by a small stream extending into the Juniata. But a 
high divide behind the gap virtually closes the upper end of the cove. 
Berry's Mountain runs on through Dauphin County and returns as Peters' 
Mountain, then Cove Mountain. Buffalo Mountain also reappears on the 
east side of the Susquehanna under the name Mahantango Mountain, and 
along its crest runs the north county line of Dauphin to the northwest 
corner of Schuylkill County. Buffalo Mountain separates Buffalo Town- 
ship from Greenwood and Liverpool Townships. 

As the Dauphin County anthracite coal basin is enclosed at its west end 
by the Cove Mountain in Perry County, so is the Wiconiseo anthracite 
coal basin enclosed by Berry's and Buffalo Mountains in Perry County. 
The two coves resemble each other closely in shape, size and position. 
Within the cove formed by Buffalo and Berry Mountains is located Hun- 
ter's Valley, the northern half of Buffalo Township. Berry Mountain, 
it is said, was named after a family by the name of Berry which resided 
at its base, below Mt. Patrick, but as it bears the same name east of the 
Susquehanna it probably derived its name from the fact that immense 
quantities of berries have always grown along its sides. 

Cove Mountain. The Cove Mountain, lying between Duncannon and 
Marysville, is a sharply recurved ridge, one thousand feet higher than the 
water level of the water gap below, like the cut-off prow of a canoe- 
shaped basin— the Dauphin County anthracite coal basin, being the west 
end of a long-pointed ellipse, the east end of which is Carbon County, be- 
yond the Lehigh River. The Susquehanna River crosses it diagonally at 
the east, the northern crest being only five miles in length and the southern 



24 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

ten miles. The crest at the extreme west is known as "the horseshoe" to 
sportsmen and overlooks the fertile Sherman's Valley to the west. 

Conococheague Mountain. A beautiful mountain is the Conococheague. 
It forms a long, straight, even-crested ridge from Madison Township, 
where it starts, to its termination at Round Top, in Toboyne Township, 
without break or gap of any character. Over it pass two roads, one lead- 
ing north from New Germantown to Horse Valley and Juniata County, 
and the other west over the bend in the range to Concord, Franklin County. 
At its east end it is a perfect arch, but to the west it becomes a south- 
dipping range. The Indian word, Conococheague, is recorded as meaning 
"it is indeed a long way." 

lUtffalo Ridge. The name applied to the ridge south of the Little Buf- 
falo Creek. Also known as Furnace Hills. 

Furnace I /ills. See preceding paragraph. 

Bell's I /ill. The promontory ending of Mahanoy Ridge in Spring Town- 
ship. 

Quaker Hill. An outlying hill of the Pisgah Ridge in Spring Township. 

Gallovi's Hill. In "Little Germany," John Faus (Foose), known as the 
"King of Germany" on account of his large land holdings, took up 300 
acres on June 12, 1794, with which he was assessed in 1820, the date of 
the county's birth, and on which he had erected a sawmill and a distillery. 
A tavern was kept on the old mansion farm until 1827. The sign of this 
tavern, was an iron ring suspended from an arm attached to a high post, 
so suggestive of a gallows that the place came to be known as "Gallows 
Hill." 

Welsh Hill. The point of the Blue Mountain separating Kennedy's Val- 
ley from Green Valley, in Tyrone Township. 

Pilot Knob. Pilot Knob is the highest spur of the Kittatinny or Blue 
Mountain, and is located not far from Landisburg. 

Middle Ridge. The ridge running west from Newport, through Oliver 
and Juniata Townships, once wooded, but now a fertile section of farm 
lands. 

Crawley Hilt. A high hill in Spring Township, an outlying knoll of the 
Dick's Hill range, which derived its name from a man named Crawley, who, 
it is said, was murdered upon it long years ago for his money. His remains 
were buried near the road which crosses the hill. But a few rods from 
this road, on the south side of the hill, stood a very small stone school- 
house in the shadow of a thicket, and tradition tells of the teacher raising 
a window sash to get a rod without leaving the building, for it appears 
that at one time the rod was a necessary accessory to every schoolhouse. 
Tradition may be right, but the writer cannot conceive of any Perry 
County boy allowing them to remain so handy longer than twenty-four 
hours. A frame structure later took its place, but it was abandoned. Be- 
tween Crawley Hill and Mahanoy Hill nestles the famous settlement 
known as "Little Germany." 

Iron Ridge. The name once applied to the ridge just south of Crawley 
Hill, in Spring Township. 

Tiii': Kittatinny Mountain Gaps. 

Across the crest of the Kittatinny Mountain, where it drops, 
(if ten slightly, are a number of famous gaps or passes, some of 
which were the locations of old Indian trails and are mentioned in 
provincial and colonial records. Starting from the Susquehanna 
River these gaps in the order named are Lamb's, Miller's, Myer's, 
Croghan's (now called Sterrett's), Crane's, Sharon's, Long's, 



LOCATloX. PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. 25 

Waggoner's, and IVlcClure's. A concise description of each fol- 
lows: 

Holt's Gap. A small gap in the mountain at ,1 poinl jusl wesl of MEai 
ville, little more than a great depression. 

L,amb's Gap. Crosses the mountain almost opposite what was known as 
I Liftman's mill, in Rye Township, now C,1envale. On the Cumberland side 
it is the boundary line between Hampden and Silver Spring Townships. 
Elevation, 1,018 feet. 

Miller's Gap. Crosses the mountain at a point a short distance south 
west of Keystone, the road coming out at Wertzville, Cumberland Count) 
Elevation, 1,080 feet. 

Mxcr's Gap. Almost directly south of Crier's Point. Crossed by a 1 1 

road, little better than a trail. 

Dean's Gap. The road from Perry County leading up to this gap, which 
lies almost two miles east of Sterrett's Gap, leaves a point known as "the 
narrows" and runs in a- southeastern direction; another road from the 
same point runs towards Sterrett's Gap, in a southwestern direction. There 
is a considerable farm on the mountaintop at this gap, where Dr. Dean 
lung resided, having a considerable medical practice in both Perry and 
Cumberland Counties. The road on the Cumberland side trended in the 
direction of Mechanicsburg. 

Croghan's or Sterrett's Gap. Of all the gaps across the Kittatinny tins 
one is the easiest for travel and the most noted historically. Through it 
leads the state highway from New Bloomfield to Carlisle. Across it ran 
the earliest Indian trail and in pioneer times the old Allegheny Path. 
Over it passed the great Indian chiefs, the early interpreters, the early 
traders and the pioneers with their meagre belongings and their first do- 
mestic animals. Through its then precipitous passes came those first early 
missionaries of Scotch-Irish Calvinism carrying to these inland forests 
the message of the Man of Galilee, and across its picturesque ravines to- 
day roll hundreds of motor cars on pleasure and business bent. From a 
point of greater elevation several hundred feet west can he seen, looking 
northward, the historic and picturesque Sherman's Valley, nestling be- 
n the mountains, one of the famous coves of Pennsylvania, and look- 
in- southward, the more extensive and productive Cumberland Valley in 
all its beauty. The elevation of Sterrett's Gap is 925 feet. As late as 
1877, according to Beach Nichols' Atlas of Perry, Juniata, and Mifflin 
Counties, there was a post office located there known as Sterrett's Gap. 
At that time there was also a store and tavern there. Authorities give 
the name of the first tavern keeper as a man namel Puller. When the 
county was created, in 1820, Daniel Gallatin was the tavern keeper. After 
the middle of the last century there was a new hostelry built, where came 
the well-to-do from Carlisle, Baltimore and other places, on leisure bent. 
There came happy throngs, and there were scenes of gayety by day and 
sounds of revelry by night, but with the growing popularity of the 
resorts and the easy methods of travel its fame as a resort passed and a 
struggling lone tavern remained. In fact, there was a road house there until 

very recent years, at times being a hostelry of g 1 reputation and again 

being a rendezvous for those of questionable reputation, its clientele often 
changing with the change of proprietors. This gap was originally known 
as Croghan's Gap, by reason of George Croghan's residing near. Croghan 
was prominent in provincial all aits. An early order of survey was taken 
out for the lands at this point by John Armstrong, who sold it to Nathan 
Andrews. It was returned to the land office June 21, 1788, in the name of 
Ralph Sterrett, who with his brothers John and James Sterrett, warranted 



26 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

408 acres along the crest of the mountain, extending over three miles east 
from the gap. Accordingly it came to be known as Sterrett's Gap and so 
it remains, though the Sterretts are gone long since. Descendants of the 
Sterretts sold the lands to William Ramsey, of Carlisle. In a mortgage 
dated June 26, 1830, the Ramsey lands in Rye Township included "850 
acres of land, two fulling mills, a woolen factory, three dwelling houses, 
a wagonmaker shop, stable, shed and part of tavern house and part of 
orchard at same place." (Part of the tavern and orchard were in Cum- 
berland County, the former being built upon the line.) By right of mort- 
gage James Buchanan, later President of the United States, became owner 
of a part of these lands in 1835 and was assessed with 250 acres and a 
fulling mill. 

^ The mountain near the gap slopes so gradually that the approach from 
Shermansdale and Fishing Creek is very gentle, and abundant springs of 
water from high levels are available at the very top. There, upon a small 
plateau, met four early highways from divergent points, which made it an 
early centre of trade. And thus, at the dawn of the past century, we find 
an early trading post. There were stores for exchange and sale and shops 
for repairs, a tavern where man and beast were fed and cared for, and 
there dwelt an early physician, Dr. Kaechline, until after a severe and in- 
tensely cold midwinter night his frozen body was found near the foot of 
the eastern slope, while a riderless horse at the gap stables gave the alarm, 
too late. Additional facts may be found in the chapters devoted to Trails, 
Roads and Highways, and Carroll Township. Something of George Cro- 
ghan's life also appears in the early chapters of this book. 

Crane's Gap. This gap crosses the mountain about three miles west of 
Sterrett's at an elevation of 1,300 feet. The road enters Cumberland 
County in North Middleton Township. At an early day it was but a foot- 
path, but in 1848 was made a public road, now long abandoned. 

Sharon's Gap. A small gap about a mile west of Crane's gap, called 
after the original warrantee of the lands. There was once a road there, 
but it too has been long since abandoned. 

Long's Gap. This gap is directly south from Falling Springs, where 
William Long, on February 3, 1794, warranted 400 acres of land. Its ele- 
vation is 1,390 feet. To the older generation it is known as the "Forty 
Shillings' Gap," tradition having it that a murder was once committed 
there for the purpose of robbery and that the culprit got but forty shil- 
lings. As our monetary system has had no shillings in circulation since 
our divorce from George III the murder was likely a provincial tragedy. 

Waggoner's Gap. Crosses the mountain south of Oak Grove Furnace 
or Bridgeport. It is mentioned in early provincial annals. The road from 
New Germantown, via Landisburg, leads through this gap, and was known 
as the Baltimore Pike in the days when teaming to Baltimore with farm 
produce was an industry. 

McClure's Gap. McClure's Gap crosses the mountain at Welsh Hill, 
southwest of Landisburg. There is really very little gap to the Perry 
County side from the hollow on the Cumberland side, formed by the folds 
in the mountain. It is crossed by a road built in 1821 to connect Landis- 
burg, then the temporary county seat, with Newville, Cumberland County. 
This gap is mentioned in provincial records as early as 1756. See chapter 
on "Trails and Highways." 

Doubling Gap. Probably named by reason of the doubling of the moun- 
tain here. In a number of early publications, one as late as June 11, 1829, 
however, it was called Dublin Gap, and the springs on the Cumberland 
side were advertised as "Dublin, Gap Springs" as late as 1800. It was 
first known as McFarlan's Gap, as James McFarlan had located about a 



LOCATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. _-; 

thousand acres just below the gap. Court records bear out the fact thai 
it was once known as McParlan's, as in April, 1891, a petition to the Cum- 
berland County court asked for the laying out of a road from Thomas 
Barnes' sulphur spring in the gap, formerly known as McFarlan's Cap. to 
Carlisle. Doubling Gap figures in traditions of the first settlers and was a 
commanding pass from the Shosshone Indians on the south, to the fi 
Tuscaroras in the north, long before white settlers dared invade the sec- 
tion. During the Provincial-Indian wars, an Indian trail from the Sus 
quehanna, starting at the mouth of the Juniata, followed an almost direel 
course westward across the county territory, through Doubling Gap, thence 
to the mouth of Brandy Run on the Conodoguinet. Facing Doubling Gap 
from Cumberland Valley, the eye meets Round Knob, 1,400 feet above 
tidewater. On top of it is Flat Rock, one of the most noted lookouts in 
the whole range of mountains. From its vantage point the whole Cum- 
berland Valley lies before you, the South Mountain far below and the 
tortuous Conodoguinet wending its way eastward. During the period from 
1820 to 1846 the hostelry known as the Doubling Gap Springs Hotel was 
in its heyday, and to it came men of note and prominence from far-off 
points. With the coming of the railroads and the growth of seaside re- 
sorts its fame gradually dwindled until it is little known. 

Tuscarora Mountain Gaps. 

Unlike the Kittatinny Mountain, to the county's south, the Tus- 
carora Mountain, along the northern boundary, has few gaps, and 
only one of importance. The gaps are mentioned in the report of 
the survey of i860, which was for the purpose of locating the line 
between Perry and Juniata Counties. 

Waterford Gap. This is the largest gap crossing the Tuscarora Moun- 
tain and the one through which crossed that old-time trail, the Allegheny 
Path. Through it passed the red men on their incursions in and out of 
Perry County territory and the daring and intrepid fellows who followed 
them. Along this trail passed the trader, the early postrider, the circuit 
rider, the pioneer emigrant on his way to the valley of the Ohio, and 
through it to-day is a highway on which pass great touring cars of the 
modern world. In early annals it was known as Bigham's Gap, but is de- 
scribed here as Waterford Gap, as that is the official name placed upon it 
by the County Line Commission. It is also sometimes called the Water- 
ford Narrows. The residents of the east end of Horse Valley travel via 
this gap in order to trade at East Waterford, Juniata County, their nearest 
town. The public road traversing this gap extends from East Waterford 
through into Horse Valley and to New Germantown. 

Bigham's Gap. See Waterford Gap, immediately preceding. 

Bealetoum Narrows. Another gap or break in the Tuscarora Mountain 
is located southeast of Honey Grove, Juniata County, and is known as the 
Bealetown Narrows. These narrows permit easy access to and from the 
eastern portion of Liberty Valley, the road passing near the former site 
of the Mohler tannery, and thence eastward by Walsingham schoolhouse 
to Saville and Ickesburg. 

Winns' Gap. Winns' Gap is located approximately two and one-half 
miles east of the Waterford Gap. This gap is only a slight depression in 
the mountain, and according to local gossip was frequently used by the in- 
habitants living in the east end of Horse Valley for travel into Tuscarora 
Valley in Juniata County. Tins end of Horse Valley is sometimes called 
Kansas Valley. Only a trail or path crosses this gap. 



28 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Yai.i.kys. 

The county of Perry, in itself a part of two of the most beau- 
tiful valleys of Pennsylvania, the Susquehanna and Juniata, has 
within its borders a number of beautiful and picturesque valleys, 
many of them fertile and whose history dates back to almost the 
middle of the second century past, when the pioneers braved the 
untold dangers of the frontier to make their homes here. A brief 
description of each : 

The Susquehanna J 'alley. The long, broad and fertile drainage area of 
the Susquehanna River, extending from within New York State, through 
Pennsylvania to Maryland, the greater part of Perry County being drained 
into the Susquehanna via Sherman's Creek, which empties into it at Dun- 
cannon, and various other streams. Duncannon is located at the most 
western point of the Susquehanna, the river making a sharp turn to the 
southeast at that point. 

The Juniata Valley. The picturesque valley drained by the Juniata 
River, extending from the Allegheny Mountains to Duncannon, where the 
Juniata flows into the Susquehanna. Almost half of the county is drained 
by the Juniata. 

Sherman's I 'alley. Sherman's Valley comprises the larger part of west- 
ern Perry County, being drained by Sherman's Creek. It extends from 
west of New Germantown to Duncannon. For several decades it was at 
the very frontier of civilization. Across it first moved traffic to the west 
of the Alleghenies, when roads were yet unknown. 

Just how Sherman's Valley got its name will always remain a mystery. 
There is a tradition that a trader by that name was drowned while cross- 
ing Sherman's Creek, but nowhere is there record to substantiate it. How- 
ever, as early as 1750 both the creek and the valley are referred to by that 
name. The first person of that name to patent land was John Shearman, 
and the tract was the first one east of the Haas mill tract in what is now 
I 'nm Township. Here Andrew Berryhill took up 331 acres November 26, 
17(10, and it is named on the warrant as "Sherman's Valley." It was sold 
to Isaac Jones in 1773 and he transferred it to John Shearman, whose 
patent is dated November 24, 1781. While John Shearman, as stated, was 
the first person of that name to patent land, the valley had been named 
long before that and the first settler may have been only a squatter and 
not have patented land. In fact, when it is referred to as Sherman's or 
Shearman's Valley and creek as early as 1750 it was impossible to patent 
land, as the land office for these lands was not opened until February 3, 
1755. Egle's "Notes and Queries," page 454, says it was so named for the 
original settler, but gives no evidence to substantiate the fact, yet the 
writer is inclined to give credence to that statement, as it looks plausible. 
< )l actual substantiation, however, there is none. It is even likely that the 
original name was Sherman and that Shearman is a German corruption, 
as Shearman has the broad German sound. 

Page 454, Egle's Notes and Queries, says: "In going over the files of 
the Carlisle Gazette from 1787 to 1817 we find the original spelling in all 
references and in official advertisements— so named for one of the early 
settlers, Jacob Shearman." 

Horse ]' alley. Horse Valley lies between the Tuscarora and Conoco- 
cheague Mountains, in western Perry County, within the confines of To- 
boyne and Jackson Townships. It was so named because the farmers of 
Path Valley, Franklin County, of which it is an extension, used it as a 



LOCATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. 29 

pasture for their horses, before it had been settled. It was once known as 

McSwine's Valley. 

Little Illinois Valley. This is a small valley located in Toboyne Town 
ship. The eastern part is cultivated and the western part is wooded. On 
the north it is bounded by Rising Mountain and Buck Ridge, which is a 
continuation of this mountain. On the south is Amberson Ridge and 
Schultz Ridge, a continuation of Amberson Ridge. It is about seven miles 
long and a mile wide. Brown's Run drains it. The western end of this 
valley is locally known as Fowler Hollow. 

Henry's Valley. Henry's Valley is located in Toboyne and Jackson 
Townships, between Bower's Mountain and the Kittatinnj or Blue Moun- 
tain. It is over ten miles long and merges into Sheaffer's Valley. It was 
named after John Henry, an early settler, who moved to Ohio. It is 
watered by Laurel Run. 

Sheaffer's Valley. Sheaffer's Valley is located in Madison and Tyrone 
Townships, between Bower's Mountain and the Kittatinny or Blue Moun- 
tain, and is in reality a continuation of Henry's Valley. It is about six 
miles long and is watered by Laurel Run, in this section sometimes called 
Patterson's Run. In earlier years there, was a preaching appointment in 
this valley, and as so many families named Sheaffer resided in the valley 
the itinerant missionary, in announcing his services referred to it as Sheaf- 
fer's Valley, and the name stuck. 

Kennedy's Valley. Kennedy's Valley is located in Tyrone Township, in 
the cove formed by the folds of the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain, the 
broad part lying close to Landisburg. Called after the Kennedys, early 
settlers. 

Green's Valley. Green's Valley is also located in Tyrone Township, in 
the small cove formed by a fold of the Blue Mountain. 

Liberty J 'alley. Liberty Valley lies east of the watershed which runs 
from the Conococheague to the Tuscarora Mountain, and between these 
mountains in Madison Township. 

Raccoon J 'alley. The valley lying between the Tuscarora Mountain and 
Raccoon Ridge in Tuscarora Township. Sometimes termed the Tuscarora 
Valley. It is watered by Raccoon Creek, eleven miles in length. 
Tuscarora J 'alley. See Raccoon Valley, immediately preceding. 
Mahanoy Valley. The valley in Miller Township located between 
Mahanoy Ridge and Dick's Hill. 

Fishing Creek Valley. This valley comprises the most o\ Rye Town- 
ship and lies between the Blue Mountain and the Cove Mountain. 

Buffalo }' alley. The name given in early provincial papers to the terri- 
tory drained by Buffalo Creek, which rises in Liberty Valley, Madison 
Township, and flows into the Juniata above Newport. 

Pfouts Valley. The limestone valley which extends from the Juniata 
River to the Susquehanna River and lies between Wildcat Ridge and Tur- 
key Hills, or the Juniata County line. One of the earliest points settled 
after the opening of the land office. 

Buclnvheat Valley. The valley located between Raccoon Ridge and 
Hominy Ridge, extending west from the Juniata as far as Eshcol. 

Big Buffalo Valley. The local name applied to the territory between 
Hominy Ridge and Middle Ridge. 

Little Buffalo Valley. Located between Middle Ridge and Buffalo 
Ridge, sometimes called Furnace Hills. 

Pleasant Valley. A small valley lying south of Mannsville, its location 
'being between Furnace Hills and Limestone Ridge. 

Perry Valley. Formerly known as Wildcat Valley. It is located in 



30 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Greenwood and Liverpool Townships, between Wildcat Ridge and Buffalo 
Mountain. 

Wildcat Valley. See Perry Valley, immediately preceding. 

Hunter's J "alley. Hunter's Valley is a cove formed by the Buffalo and 
Berry Mountain joining at the west, it lying between the two and wholly 
within Buffalo Township. Named after the many persons of that name 
who resided there, James Hunter being the original one. Isaiah Hunter, 
long afterwards an undertaker at Millerstown, was a grandson. 

Buck's J 'alley. Early known as Brush Valley. It lies between Berry 
Mountain and Half Fall Mountain, in Buffalo Township, extending through 
Howe to Newport on the Juniata River. Its eastern end joins the Sus- 
quehanna River. 

Brush Valley. See Buck's Valley, immediately preceding. 

"Buck Hollow." Located in Toboyne Township, and spoken of by Clay- 
pole, the geologist, as "the valley without a name." 

Fishing Rod J'alley. According to an old map, located in Liverpool 
Township, south of the wooded ridge, separating it from Susquehanna 
Township, Juniata County. 

The Cove. The Cove is a geological peculiarity. Professor Claypole 
says its physical features are entirely due to the presence and direction of 
the Pocono Sandstone Mountain, which crosses the Susquehanna River at 
Duncannon under the name of Peters,' or Fourth Mountain, rims to the 
southwest, then curves around, and, turning eastward at the horseshoe re- 
turns to the Susquehanna River, which it crosses above Marysville. The 
Cove is considered the western extremity of the southern angle of the 
great Pottsville coal basin. It is located in Penn Township. 

Limestone J'alley. Located between Limestone Ridge and Mahanoy 
Ridge, starting east of New Bloomfield and running west until it merges 
into Sherman's Valley near Green Park. 

Sandy Hollow. Sandy Hollow is located in Carroll Township. It ex- 
tends from the township's western boundary in a northeasterly direction, 
for three miles. It is really a continuation of Sherman's Valley, as Sher- 
man's Creek, after running close to the base of Pisgah Mountain for sev- 
eral miles, turns sharply to the right, while the valley continues ahead. 

Features of Distinction. 

The Perry County territory belongs to one of the more impor- 
tant drainage systems of the world. The Susquehanna River, 
north of the Maryland line, including its tributaries, the \\ esl 
Branch and the Juniata River, drains a territory comprising 21,006 
square miles, according to a statement of the Forestry Department 
of the State of Pennsylvania. Of this immense territory the Wesl 
Branch drains 6,820 square miles; the North Branch, 5.328; the 
Susquehanna, from Sunbury to its junction with the Juniata at 
Duncannon, 1,552; from Duncannon to the Maryland line, 3,895, 
and the Juniata, 3,411. 

As the Christmas season comes around with its pleasing mem- 
ories and happy greetings, with its gay decorations and beautiful 
holly wreaths everywhere in evidence, being shipped from south- 
ern climes, few probably know that holly grows as far north and 
actually within the limits of Perry County; yet Prof. H. Justin 
Roddy, of the Millersville State Normal School, in his geological 



LOCATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. 31 

investigations has found it growing in Greenwood township, 1 
the old home of former superintendent of schools, the late Silas 
Wright. 

On the old Wesley Soule farm in Centre Township, nol Ear 
from New Bloomfield, there grows one of the most rare plants to 
he found in America, known as the "box huckleberry." A man 
named Miehaux and his son from France, came to this country 
over a century ago to make botanical discoveries. They were ex- 
perts in their line and probably discovered and named more plants 
in America than any others. They described minutely various 
plants that were later found to be extinct in the districts named 
and botanists then thought they had been mistaken. Anion- these 
plants was named the box huckleberry, which had been discovered 
in the mountains of Virginia, which form a part of the same sys- 
tem as do the Perry County mountains. None have been found 
there since, and their discovery was supposed to have been a mis- 
take or they had become extinct. About 1875 Spencer F. Baird, 
who later became president of the Smithsonian Institute at Wash- 
ington, D. C, while making investigations in Pennsylvania, dis- 
covered the same plant covering a considerable area (about eight 
acres) on the Soule farm. 

While the species has been found extinct in Virginia, there is 
one other small plot of it in the state of Delaware, on the banks 
of the Indian River, near Millsboro. Prof. E. W. Claypole, the 
geologist, speaks thus of it: "It appears to be a lingering relic of 
the ancient flora of the county ; maintaining itself on the sterile 
hillside of Chemung shale, but liable to be destroyed by cultiva- 
tion at any time. It is exceeding plentiful, forming a perfect mat 
over much of the ground, but its limits are sharply defined without 
apparent cause." This farm, as well as the Andrew Comp farm 
and others, was warranted by Robert McClay on March 22, 1793, 
its extent being 436 acres. 

During 1920, another colony of this famous plant, said to be the 
oldest living thing on earth, was discovered within the borders of 
Perry County. It is located on the lands of John Doyle, in Watts 
Township, not far from the Juniata River, opposite Losh's Run Sta- 
tion, on the Pennsylvania Railroad. The discovery was made by Mr. 
H. A. Ward, of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, under peculiar circum- 
stances. Near the colony there is a famous fossil rock, which has 
been visited by geologists of note from many states. Mr. Ward 
had accompanied a party of geologists there, they being under the 
leadership of Dr. Benjamin L. Miller, of Princeton University. 
Being more interested in plants than fossils, Mr. Miller strayed 
through the ravines of the Half Falls Hills, and in a short time 
discovered the mass of low shrubbery with bright, shining leaves, 
being uniformly about ten inches high. He recognized it as the 



$2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

rare box huckleberry (Gaylussacia brachycera), and upon sending 

specimens to such authorities as Dr. Edgar T. Wherry, of the U. 
S. Bureau of Chemistry ; Dr. N. L. Britten, director-in-chief of 
the New York Botanical Gardens, and Dr. J. P. Bill, a Harvard 
instructor, found that he was correct, and that he had discovered 
that which botanists had been seeking for over fifty years. The 
main colony occupies the northern slope of a ridge for at least a 
mile, and covers about two hundred feet in width. It is located 
on the same chain of ridges of Chemung soil as is the colonv at 
the old Soule property, the two being less than a dozen miles apart. 
Mr. Ward has since discovered three additional colonies close by. 
It does not grow from seed, but spreads from the roots, and does 
not cross streams. 

Located in Spring Township are the Warm Springs, the tract 
of land on which they are located being warranted by Solomon 
I >entler on March 21, 1793. James Kennedy, who was the owner 
in 1830, erected bath houses there. John Hippie, who had been 
sheriff of the county from 1826 to 1820. leased the property in 
1830 from Kennedy for a ten-year period and erected a building 
40x45 feet in size, and other additional bath houses, and in 1831 
opened the place as a regular health resort, entertaining those who 
during previous years had lodged in the surrounding farmhouses. 
In 1838 Peter Updegraffe, by marriage connected with the owner- 
ship, was in charge, employing his unoccupied time at farming and 
conducting a pottery which he had erected. On August 8, T849, 
H. H. Etter purchased the property, and in 1850 again opened the 
house to the public. He built a seventy-five-foot extension to the 
hotel. The property passed to R. M. Henderson and John Hays, 
of Carlisle, who leased it to various parties until April 4, 1865, 
when it was destroyed by fire. Then, on April tt, 1866, the Perry 
Warm Springs Hotel Company was incorporated by A. L. Spon- 
sler, Robert M. Henderson, John Greason, Jacob Rhecm, John 
Hays, William T. Dewalt, and John D. Crea (probably Creigh), 
with a capital stock of $10,000. The resort was again opened, but 
never attained its former popularity, as the seashore and other 
resorts which were reached by railroads were then being developed. 
As late as 1877 lists of guests appeared in the county pres^. For 
many years it has not been open as a resort. The property later 
came into the possession of Abram Bower, and in TQ19 it was pur- 
chased by II. B. Rhinesmith, of New Bloomfield, from the Bower 
estate. 

Sulphur springs abound at various places in Perry Count v. 
notably in Wheat field, Juniata, and Toboyne Townships. 

According to Prof. E. W. Claypole, an authority on geology, of 
the Second State Geological Survey, the earliest fish fossils and the 



LOCATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. 53 

earliest vertebrates found in any part of the world wen- discov- 
ered in Perry County, aboul [883, in the Cat skill rock formation. 
He describes these little prehistoric (ish as not more than -dx 
inches in length, with thin shields protecting their vital organs. 
lie says: "In every link the chain of argument is complete, and 
Perry County now has the honor of contributing to geolog) the 
oldest indisputable vertebrate animals which the world has yet 
seen." Further on in his report, he says: 

"It is a long, long" vista through which we look hack, by the help of 
geology's telescope, to see these tiny ancestors of our fishes sporting in the 
Silurian seas. The Tertiary and Secondary rocks abound with fish. Even 
in our coal measures we find numerous species. The Devonian seas, as 
I have already mentioned, swarmed with great armor-clad monsters, some 
of which I have found in Perry County. These lived millions of years 
ago, and few can realize what a million means. But earlier than all these 
swam the little hard-shelled Pennsylvania Palaeaspis, as I have called it, 
in the seas of long ago, before Tuscarora and the Blue Mountains had 
raised their heads above the waters. To these queer, antiquated forms 
we must look as the ancestors of some at least of our existing fish, devel- 
oped by the slow process of nature, by change of environment, by compe- 
tition in the struggle for existence, and by the inexorable law of the sur- 
vival of the fittest. The condition of life must then have varied rapidly, 
for these and every nearly allied form became extinct in Mid-Devouian 
days ; and when our coal measures were laid down they were already as 
much out of date and as nearly forgotten as are the armor-clad knights 
of the Middle Ages at the present time. But the mud of the sea bottom 
received their carcasses, buried them carefully, and has ever since faith- 
fully preserved them, if not perfect, yet in a condition capable of being 
recognized. And to the geologist that same sea bottom, long since dried 
and turned to stone, now returns these precious remains. The day of their 
resurrection has come, and the hammer has brought to light from the rocks 
of Perry County the identical bones entombed, perhaps, twenty million 
years ago, when its wearer turned on its back, gave up the ghost and sank 
to the bottom." 

Prof. Gilbert Wan Ingen, of the Geological Department of 
Princeton University, assisted by 11. Justin Roddy, has been mak- 
ing geological investigations throughout Perry County in recent 
years, and the following extract from a personal letter from him 
in Kj2i is self-explanatory: 

Referring to your inquiry regarding the salina beds of Perry County. 
There is only one item that is worthy of mention in a county history, 
namely, that the salina beds of Perry County contain remains of the most 
primitive types of fish known in North America. These were discovered 
by E. W. Claypole, who described them about 1880, in the vicinity of New 
Bloomfield, and have since been found by me at a certain horizon in the 
salina group at several different localities scattered throughout the county. 

Perry County has practically no minerals. Coal has been found 
in small quantities on Cove Mountain and on Perry's Mountain in 
what is known as Pocono sandstone formation, but not in suffi- 
cient quantities to pay for mining and marketing. 
3 



34 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

There have been mines in years past of Clinton fossil ore at 
Tuscarora Mountain, Millerstown; of Marcellus iron ore in small 
basins of Oriskany sandstone in Limestone Ridge at a place 
locally known as "Ore Bank Hill," south of Newport, in Miller 
Township; on Iron Ridge, south and west of the old Perry Fur- 
nace ; on Mahanoy Ridge, north and west of New Bloomfield ; 
at Bell's Hill, north and west of "Little Germany"; on Pisgah 
Mountain, near Oak Grove Furnace; at old Juniata Furnace, west 
of Newport ; at Girty's Notch, on the Susquehanna, and at various 
points along the south side of Mahanoy, Crawley's and Dick's 
Hills, and back from the Susquehanna River at Marysville. 

The only mineral of value ever mined to any considerable ex- 
tent was iron ore, and that was principally in the vicinity of Mil- 
lerstown. Ore was first discovered on lands of Abram Addams, 
by Peter Wertz, in small quantities. Later the farm descended to 
Mr. Adams' daughter, Mrs. McDonald, and George Maus began 
actual operations. They were not worked extensively until 1867, 
when Beaver, Marsh & Co. operated them and shipped the ore by 
boat to their furnace at Winfield, Union County. In 1877 James 
Rounsley, an experienced miner, bought the mines and shipped 
much ore to that firm as long as their furnace was in operation, or 
until 1892. They had built the furnace in 1853. The last ore 
shipped from these mines was in 1903, by Mr. Rounsley. There 
was another mine located near Millerstown, on the west side of 
the river. James Lannigan began operations there in 1868 and 
continued until 1875. James Rounsley purchased these mines also 
in 1879 and continued their operation until 1901, his continuous 
mining lasting for twenty-six years. About 1868 the Reading 
[nm Company operated mines on the Thomas P. Cochran farm, 
near Millerstown, but did not operate regularly. The Duncannoir 
hen Company opened the mines on the Perry Kremer farm, on 
the west side of the river, near Millerstown, in 1868, and operated 
for about three years. The Reading Company also opened mines 
on the Jonathan Black farm about 1868 and mined until 1877. 
Other marts to which this ore was shipped was Lochiel, Reading, 
and Harrisburg. When the Perry Furnace was in operation the 
mines on the Dum farm in "Little Germany," Spring Township, 
employed twelve men. With the blowing out of the charcoal fur- 
naces throughout Perry County, about the middle of the last cen- 
tury, these smaller operations ceased. The substitution of coal 
and coke for charcoal in the iron industry spelled their end, as coal 
was too far away and the product insufficient to pay. 

An effort to mine coal in Berry Mountain, near Mt. Patrick, 
was made by Baltimore capitalists, the McDonald-Downing Co., 
around the period of the Sectional War. A drift of three hundred 
feet was made and at that point it was claimed a three-foot vein 



LOCATION, PHYSICAL FEATURES, GEOLOGY, ETC. 35 

of coal was discovered, said to be loo small to operate upon a 
paying basis. The mouth of the drift is plainly to be seen. An- 
other statement is that the firm offered a Mr. Matchett, a pros 
pector, $10,000 for a three-foot vein. 

An old leg-end is that the Indians once came to a blacksmith 
shop on what is now the James R. Showaker place, on Shaffer 
Run, in Toboyne Township, and wanted a horse shod, but were in- 
formed by the smith that he had no coal, whereupon they left and 
in a short time returned with the necessary coal. As coal was not 
then yet in use the story must be only a legend . Coal was dis- 
covered on the Cove Mountain twenty-five years ago, but not in 
sufficient quantities. The Perry Forester of May 24, 1827, said 
"a wry extensive bed of stone coal has been discovered near the 
mouth of Sherman's Creek, on land belonging to Stephen Dun- 
can." In 1857 the county press reported "a large vein of coal" 
discovered on the land of D. Lupfer, one and a half miles west 
of New Bloomfield. A small vein was once discovered in "Little 
Germany," Spring Township, but it was only three inches thick, 
soft and easily crumbled. 

The great length of the zigzag beds of Lower Heidelberg lime- 
stone, aggregating 150 miles, which underlie the surface, makes the 
burning and marketing of lime an industry worth while, at the 
same time supplying a fertilizer for the soil. Many of these lime 
kilns date back to the time of the pioneer. 

While Perry County is practically destitute of minerals, yet 
there have been several cases of great excitement over their re- 
ported discovery. Immediately after the close of the Sectional 
War, in 1865. it was reported that oil had been discovered in Sa- 
ville Township and two companies were formed for development 
of the industry. The Snyder Spring Oil Company, with a capital 
of $50,000, the shares being one dollar each, was formed and 
leased the farms then owned by Godfrey Burket and William Sny- 
der. The Coller Oil Company leased the lands at the headwaters 
of Buffalo Creek. It had a capital of $100,000, the shares being 
of a par value of five dollars. Of course, oil was never found. 
During 1920 another company was organized, principally by per- 
sons from outside the county, to prospect for oil in IYrr\ and 
Cumberland Counties. They arc now sinking their first well near 
Landisburg. 

Crossing Perry County to the smith is a remarkable geological 
trap-dyke formation known as [ronstone Ridge. Nine miles west 
of Marysville it makes a watershed across Rye Township and its 
outcroppings continue clear across Cumberland County .and are 
visible in York County, it is probably two hundred feet wide. 
Three others cross Rye and Penn Townships. Of these a much 
smaller one than the one described runs about five hundred yards 



36 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

east. Two others cross the Cove slightly northeast, one of which, 
passing Duncannon, runs across Wheatfield and Watts Townships. 
They cut mountains and valleys at right angles. Local tradition 
would have this most prominent trap-dyke, crossing Rye Town- 
ship, as extending clear south to Tennessee, but Clavpole, the geolo- 
gist, whose position as an authority has never been questioned, has 
it end in York County. Samuel J. Tritt, for twenty years county 
surveyor of Cumberland County, who did much surveying in Perry 
County, also recognized it as first becoming conspicuous in Rye 
Township, and as extending across Cumberland to the Susque- 
hanna River in York County. Clavpole tells us: 

"Trap-dykes are ancient cracks in the earth, filled from below 
by lava, which has hardened into rock. They must be of great 
depth, for they can be traced along the present surface of the 
earth for a great distance. The trap-dyke described by Dr. Frazer, 
in his report on Lancaster County, runs in a straight line (N. R.) 
forty miles. Many others exist in Adams, York, Lancaster, 
Dauphin. Lebanon, Berks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and 
Bucks Counties, and in middle and northern New Jersey, southern 
New York, and New England. 

"The most remarkable of them all starts in the South Moun- 
tains, and runs in a nearly straight line across Cumberland County 
(between Mechanicsburg and Carlisle), crossing the Blue Moun- 
tain two miles east of Sterrett's Gap." This is the "Ironstone 
Ridge" spoken of above. 

Claypole further says: "At the earliest date to which geology 
can point back with tolerable certainty in the history of what is 
now Perry County, the interior of the North American continent 
was an ocean of unknown extent into which was borne the sand 
and mud of neighboring lands, swept down by the rivers of that 
distant age to make the beds of rock which to-day compose the 
solid land of the United States. The history of this process is 
written in the rocks." 

At another place the noted geologist, speaking of an unusual 
feature, says: "The volcanic rocks of Perry County may seem 
strange, but it has long been known that in the southeast of the 
county occur some rocks of very peculiar nature, totally different 
from any others. They cut across the line of the bedded rocks 
quite regardless of their direction. They are very heavy, intensely 
lough, and highly charged with iron. They are in effect what the 
geologist calls 'trap-rocks,' what the miner calls 'elvans.' They are 
composed of material that has been fused, and forced in a fused 
condition into and between the other rocks, filling up cracks and 
cavities and baking and hardening by its heat and strata through 
which it flowed. When cooled the fluid matter became hard, and 
is now known as intrusive or trap-rock." 



CHAPTER II. 
EARLIEST RECORDS OF INDIAN INHABITANTS. 

WHEN Christopher Columbus, in October, [492, discovered 
the Western Continent, which was the preliminary act in 
the development of this great nation, the lands which now 
comprise the county of Perry— in Pennsylvania— were, according 
to all traditions, inhabited by the swarthy, copper-colored race. 
from that day to be generally spoken of as Indians, on account 
of the discoverer's mistaken idea that he had crossed the world 
to the eastern shores of India. 

When the first settlements were made in Pennsylvania by the 
Dutch (not to he misconstrued as referring to the Germans) in 
[623, when it was later occupied by the Swedes, the Dutch again, 
the English, and eventually in 1682 by William Penn and the 
Quakers, the outlying sections of which Perry was naturally a part, 
were evidently overrun by these wild tribes, although almost two 
hundred years had elapsed since the discovery of America. 

Then for another period of a half century little is known, ex- 
cept that which comes to us through the misty veil of years and 
which for want of a better name is known as tradition. About 
that time, however, the outlying settlements had pushed west to 
the Susquehanna, and an occasional manuscript, a diary, a letter 
or a record of one kind or another has been found and preserved, 
so that one can get a glimpse into the lives of the Indians and the 
hardy pioneers on the lands which were later to become the county 
of Perry. 

If any other nationality than the English under Penn had set- 
tled in Pennsylvania, Perry County would probably not have ad- 
vanced nearly as rapidly as it did. as the English-speaking people 
were then as now, the advance agents of civilization. It is signifi- 
cant that those old English charters gave title to die land straight 

*The chapters of this book relating to the Indians have been passed upon 
by Dr. George P. Donehoo, of Coudersport, Pennsylvania, noted authority 
upon Indian History and secretary of the Pennsylvania Historical Com- 
mission, and later, November, 1921, appointed State Librarian of Pennsyl- 
vania, by Governor Sproul. 

Common or popular usage adds the "s" to Indian names, thus Dela- 
wares, Tuscaroras, although the names Delaware, Tuscarora, etc., as ap- 
plied to Indian tribes, is already plural, being applied to a tribe, according 
to scientific writers. Not belonging to the latter class of writers it has 
been thought best to add the "s" in this book, as do even many noted 
writers. 

37 



38 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

across the continent from ocean to ocean. The following para- 
graph from George Sydney Fisher's "The Making of Pennsylva- 
nia," well illustrates this : 

"In nothing is the difference in nationality so distinctly shown. 
The Dutchman builds trading posts and lies in his ship off shore 
to collect the furs. The gentle Swede settles on the soft, rich 
meadow lands, and his cattle wax fat and his barns are full of hay. 
The Frenchman enters the forest, sympathizes with its inhabitants, 
and turns half savage to please them. All alike bow before the 
wilderness and accept it as a fact. But the Englishman destroys 
it. He grasped at the continent from the beginning, and but for 
him the oak and the pine would have triumphed and the prairies 
still be in possession of the Indian and the buffalo." No lands in 
the world advance and prosper as do those of the English-speaking 
nations, and be it remembered that among the English-speaking- 
people the American is always in the van. 

One of the earliest records of Indian affairs in Pennsylvania is 
the "Jesuit Relations of 1659," which tells of a tradition of a ten 
years' war between the Mohawks and the Pennsylvania Indians, 
in which the latter almost exterminated the Mohawks. This was 
before either could obtain firearms. To .Captain John Smith, of 
Virginia, posterity is indebted for the very first description, by a 
white man, of the Indians of the interior of Pennsylvania. Pow- 
hatan had told him of a mighty nation which dwelt here which 
"did eat men." Smith says: "Many kingdoms he described to me 
to the head of the bay, which seemed to be a mighty river, issuing 
from mighty mountains betwixt two seas." On the east of the 
bay Smith found an Indian who understood the language of Pow- 
hatan, and he was dispatched up the river to bring down some 
of them. In a few days sixty of these "gyant-like people" ap- 
peared. Smith called all the country Virginia, and from a descrip- 
tion by the Indians he drew a map. which is the oldest map of 
any inland parts of Pennsylvania. He locates five Indian towns, 
the second lowest down being designated "Attaock," a branch 
which corresponds to the Juniata. This was probably the Indian 
village later known as Juniata, on Duncan's Island, further de- 
scribed in the chapter devoted to that island. He described the 
river as "cometh three or four days from the head of the bay." 
These Indians were supposed to be of the Andaste tribes, using 
dialects of the throat-speaking Iroquois. Smith's description tells 
of their "hellish voice, sounding from them as a voice in a vault." 
The Iroquois used no lip sounds, but spoke from the throat with 
an open mouth. Along the shores of the bay Smith found the 
natives all fearful of the "great-water men," who principally dwelt 
along the Potomac and the Susquehanna and "had so many boats 
and so many men that they made war with all the world." Smith 



KAKUKST KI'.CORDS OF INDIAN INHABITANTS 



39 



met seven canoeloads of these men at the head "i the bay, bu1 
failed to understand a word spoken. Karly Virginia historians 
presumed them to be of the Mohawk tribe, the ancestors of the 
Five Nations, which conclusion is a matter of question and prob- 
ably wrong. 

The first white man to enter what is now the state of Pennsyl- 
vania was Etienne Brule, a Frenchman associated with Champlain, 
who was making explorations in Canada even before the English 
had entered Virginia. Brule went southward through New York 
to obtain aid from a body of Susquehannocks in an attack against 




"A mighty River, Issuing From Mighty Mountains, Betwixt Two Seas." 
■ — Capt. John Smith. (See page 38.) 

a stronghold of the Iroquois. Failing to find Champlain, he re- 
mained in northern Pennsylvania through the winter. Tart oi 
the time he spent in making expeditions to the south. He left a 
description of the Susquehanna River, which he made down to the 
bay. He accordingly must have crossed Pennsylvania. In that 
case he traveled through it at least a century before any other 
white man. 

A paper map found at the Hague in 1841 illustrates the travels 
of three Dutch settlers from Albany in i6rq, who came down the 
Susquehanna and crossed to the Lehigh and the Delaware, being 
captured by the Minequas. Their map locates a tribe called 
"Iottecas," west of the Susquehanna, in the vicinity of the Juniata 
River. In 1655 a man named Visscher published a map, in Am- 



4 o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

sterdam, of New Netherlands, in which he almost accurately places 
the Susquehanna, but without any West Branch or Juniata. Dur- 
ing the next fifty years about fifteen maps appeared, all having 
practically the same river outline. On all of them just where the 
Juniata belongs, there is the name of a tribe called "Onojutta 
Haga," the first part of the name meaning a projecting stone, and 
the "Haga" being the Mohawk word for people or tribe. They 
were a superior race and lived largely by the cultivation of the soil. 

When the Dutch began selling firearms to the Iroquois, or Five 
Nations, about 1640, they started a military conquest which ex- 
tended as far west as the Mississippi. Among those destroyed or 
subdued and incorporated into their own tribes were the Andaste 
tribes in Pennsylvania, which among others included the "Standing 
Stone" Indians on the Juniata. By 1676 all were exterminated. 
The Iroquois then claimed all the lands of the Susquehanna and 
its branches, selling to William Penn and his heirs at different 
times what they had gained by conquest. While negotiating for 
the sale of lands as early as 16S4 the Iroquois spoke of the entire 
region as "the Susquehanna River, which we won with the sword." 
In 1736 Thomas Penn, then governor, acknowledged their right 
by these words: "The lands on Susquehanna, we believe, belong 
to the Six Nations by the conquest of the Indian tribes on that 
river." 

The entire region, which of course included what is now Perry 
County, was then a vast deserted space until such time as the Tus- 
caroras were allowed to settle there. The Delaware's and Shaw- 
nees later were allowed to settle, the Delawares coming in between 
1720 and 1730. During this period not even a trader or pioneer 
had ventured there and through this veil of obscurity comes no 
record whatsoever of this time. However, the tribal records of 
the Hurons and the Iroquois tell of vast numbers of prisoners 
being brought to their New York towns from the South, as many 
as six hundred at a time, and the inference is that the tribes in- 
habiting this section were among the captives. 

The Tuscaroras had been defeated and driven from their former 
abode, and they claimed that the colonists were selling their chil- 
dren into slavery. About 17 13 or 1714, they came from the South, 
and settled, with the consent of the Five Nations, "on the Juniata, 
in a secluded interior, not far from the Susquehanna River." At 
a conference with Governor Hunter, of New York, September 20, 
1714, a Chief of the Iroquois, said, "We acquaint you that the 
Tuscarora Indians are come to shelter themselves among the Five 
Nations." 

The great path or trail to the southwest was known as the "Tus- 
carora Path," when the first traders came, and this tribe's principal 
settlements were likely responsible for that name, as they were 



EARLIEST RECORDS OF INDIAN 1X1 1. MUTANTS 4 t 

located in Tuscarora Valley, now in [uniata County; in I'atli Val- 
ley, now in Franklin County, and in what is now Perry County, 
principally in Raccoon Valley. These lands head not been occupied 
for from a half to three quarters of a century, or since the con- 
quesl by the Five Nations. According to Samuel G. Drake, an 
Indian antiquarian, "the Tuscaroras from Carolina joined them 
(the Five Nations) about 1712, but were not formally admitted 
into the confederacy until about ten years after that ; this gained 
them the name of the Six Nations." They were sometimes known 
as Mingoes. In all the Albany conferences dated from 1714 to 
1722 in which the members of the Five Nations participated the 
Tuscaroras are not mentioned. After this probationary period 
of probably ten years on the Juniata, where most of them lived, 
they were formally assigned a portion of the Oneida territory and 
had their council-house east of Syracuse. New York. However, 
all the Tuscaroras did not migrate to New York, some choosing 
to remain on the Juniata. In 1730 there is record of "three Tus- 
karorows missing at Pechston" (Paxtang), now Harrisburg. 
Even to the time of the Albany purchase of the lands north of the 
Kittatinny or Blue Mountain, in 1754, some of the tribe still in- 
habited the district. In a letter from John O'Neal to the governor 
dated at Carlisle. May 2y, 1753, is the statement : "A large number 
of Delawares, Shawnees and Tuscaroras continue in this vicinity 
— the greater number having gone to the West." As early as 1725 
the Conestogas and the Shawnees had begun working their way 
westward along the Juniata and the West Branch of the Sus- 
quehanna. 

Among the reports and records of Fort Duquesne was found 
the following, dated September 15, 1756: 

"Two hundred Indians and French left Fort Duquesne to set 
fire to four hundred houses in a part of Pennsylvania. That prov- 
ince has suffered but little in consequence of the intrigues of the 
Five Nations with Taskarosins, a tribe on the lands of that prov- 
ince, and in alliance with the Five Nations. But now they have 
declared that they will assist their brethren, the Delawares. and 
Chouanons (Shawnees), and consequently several have sided 
with them, so that the above province will be laid waste the same 
as Virginia and Carolina." According to that, some were still 
there in 1756. 

About 1730 some Scoth-Irish, who had crossed the Susque- 
hanna, settled in what was then termed the "Kittochtinny or North 
Valley, near Falling Springs." This was the Cumberland Valley 
of the present, and the place called Falling Springs was not the 
settlement by that name in Perry County, but was where the pres- 
ent town of Chambersburg stands. This is the first settlement 



42 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

west of the Susquehanna of which there is record. The woods 
were then full of Indians. 

As George Croghan, the interpreter, who knew the languages 
of the Shawnees and the Delawares, located in Cumberland 
County in 1742, the presence of those tribes here is indicated. 
The Delawares were known among themselves as the Leni Lenape 
tribe. According to their tradition they were one of two great 
peoples who inhabited the entire country, the other being the 
Mingoes. 

As the names Juniata and Oneida are derived from the same 
source the contention is advanced that the Oneidas may have in- 
habited the Juniata Valley, but according to authorities there is 
nowhere any evidence to bear out that fact. 

An Indian trail led westward along the Susquehanna and Juni- 
ata Rivers, crossing the former near what is now Clark's Ferry, 
at Duncannon; another led over the Kittatinny or Blue Moun- 
tain at what was then Croghan's (now Sterrett's) Gap, and a third 
led over the same mountain at McClure's Gap, the two latter cross- 
ing the Tuscarora Mountain. That via Sterrett's Gap was known 
as "the Allegheny Path," the first great highway to the West. 
The first white men to enter Perry County territory came over 
these routes, and the men were known as traders, whose vocation 
necessitated their going westward as far as the Ohio. There are 
evidences that these men were traders even before there is record 
of it. There are some recorded statements pertaining to their 
operations, but traders then, as now, do not belong to the class 
which reduce events to writing. 

One of them was George Croghan, whose name was given to 
Sterrett's Gap. Croghan first lived in what was later to become 
Cumberland County, about five miles from Harris' Ferry (now 
Harrisburg), and afterwards on the mountain at the Gap, near 
where the old tavern or road-house stood later. Still later he took 
up his residence at Aughwick, near Mount Union, in Huntingdon 
County. As early as 1747 he is mentioned as a "considerable 
trader." He was well acquainted with the Indian country and 
with the paths and trails. He continually used the one via the 
Kittatinny and Tuscarora Mountains, from which one would infer 
that it was at least preferable to the others. He served the pro- 
vincial government by convoying expeditions westward for them. 
He was associated much with Conrad Weiser, the Indian inter- 
preter, and of them there is more further on in this book. 

The scope of this book is not wide enough to go into all the 
details of the often fraudulent, crafty and deceptive actions of 
Mime of the pioneers, traders and officials in dealing with the In- 
dians, which in a general way might be said to have been largely 
responsible for much of the heart-rending suffering of the white 



EARLIEST RECORDS OF INDIAN INHABITANTS 43 

settlers and many of the sickening massacres perpetrated upon 
them. With every setting of the sun the aborigines saw their 
domain dwindling before the oncoming tide of white pioneers, 
their favorite hunting grounds encroached upon and the very 
streams from which came much of their subsistence marred by 
the building of mill dams. Constantly impressed with such con- 
ditions, but a spark was often needed to light the flame of resent- 
ment which left death and destruction in its wake. 

Of Our Indian Inhabitants. 

The reader is familiar with the life and habits of the American 
Indian ; and from what can be learned in reference to the tribes 
which dwelt on what is now Perry County soil, they were the exact 
counterpart of the average member of that race in industry, cruelty 
and all the other characteristic traits to which they were heir. 
They hunted and fished for a living, and the territory now em- 
braced in Perry County was noted as a famous hunting ground, 
evidences of that fact being recorded in provincial records and 
mentioned in various places in this volume. The only evidences 
of their industry were the locations of several patches of Indian 
corn and beans which the women raised. 

Their skin was red or copper-colored, their hair coarse and 
black, and they had high cheek bones. The males were seldom 
corpulent, were swift of foot, quick with bow and arrow and later 
with firearms, and very skillful in the handling of canoes. Their 
home was the tepee or wigwam, a few in after years having log 
huts. These tepees were a number of poles or saplings covered 
with skins of animals, the only heat afforded being from fires 
built upon the ground. 

Their only clothing was of skins, which they had a method of 
curing so that they were soft and pliable and which they often 
ornamented with paint and beads made from shells. Their moc- 
casins were of deer skin and were without heels. The females 
often bedecked themselves with mantles made of feathers, over- 
lapping each other similar to their appearance on fowls. Their 
dress was of two pieces, a shirt of leather, ornamented with fringe, 
and a skirt of the same material fastened about the waist by a belt. 
Their hair they made into a thick, heavy plait, which they let hang 
down the back. Their heads they usually ornamented with bands 
of wampum or with a small skull cap. The men went bareheaded, 
with their hair fantastically trimmed, each to his own fancy. The 
white man, with all his knowledge, has never been able to excel the 
Indian method of tanning, the result of which was softness and 
pliability. 

The aborigines had a peculiar idea of government. They were 
absolutely free, acknowledged no master, and yielded obedience to 



a 



44 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

law only in so far as they chose, and yet there existed a primitive 
system of government which was a faint type of that of our pres- 
ent great republic. They worshiped no graven image, but spoke 
of "the great spirit" and the "happy hunting grounds." While 
their ideas of a future were indistinct, yet they possessed a belief 
in a hereafter. They had much reverence for the forces of nature 
and measured time by the sun and the moon. 

They had rude villages, one of which lay opposite the west end 
of Duncannon, on Duncan's Island, known as "Choiniata," or 
"Juneauta," which is known to have existed as late as 1745, the 
story of. which appears in the chapter devoted to Duncan's and 
llaldeman's Islands. In searching Indian historical data and tra- 
dition the knowledge that there was an Indian village in western 
Terr}- territory, probably near Cisna's Run, appeared somewhat 
vaguely. While it is impossbile at this late day to locate it ex- 
actly, it is practically certain that it was located on lands owned 
by the late George Bryner and W. II. hoy, at Cisna's Run, as it 
was on the north side of Sherman's Creek, on a branch of that 
creek, surrounding or near a deep spring. On Mr. Loy's lands, 
'most against the Bryner line. Cedar Spring, five feet deep, is 
located. Mrs. Jacob hoy, -of Blain, well up in years, had as an 
actual fact from her people, the location of this village. When the 
writer visited the location, in midsummer of 1919, Mr. Bryner 
was yet living and pointed out a mound, near the Sherman's Val- 
ley Railroad, which resembled a small knoll. From William Adair, 
an aged man who died many years ago, Mr. Bryner learned that 
it was once the site of an Indian log hut which he had seen in his 
youth, probably a lone reminder of the old Indian village. 

A neighborhood story connected with an Indian woman that 
lived in this hut, the last of her clan in the district, follows: 

She called on a neighbor, a Mrs. Cisna. grandmother of the 
late Dr. William R. Cisna, who resided near by. Mrs. Cisna. 
alter washing her hands, mixed the ingredients, and kneading the 
meal proceeded to bake corn bread, inviting her copper-colored 
caller to remain for tea, which she did. Shortly afterwards Mrs. 
CiMia returned the call and was invited to dine. She accepted, 
and the Indian lady also washed her hands and proceeded to mix 
the ingredients for corn bread, but mixed them in the water in 
which she had washed her hands. Not wishing to offend one of 
the race, Mrs. Cisna ate of this 'Sanitary" production and, not- 
withstanding, lived to a ripe old age. 

Between the Bryner and Loy homes and Sherman's Creek, oppo- 
site the point where the Moose mill is located, was an Indian corn- 
field. It is a bottom field, lying by the creek, and is as level as a 
floor. The evidence that this location was thickly populated at one 
time by the Indians is not only passed down by spoken word and 



EARLIEST RECORDS OF INDIAN [NHABITANTS 45 

records, but even in the year this is written — [919 Ex-County 
Commissioner A. K. Bryner (since deceased), while plowing a 
truck patch for his brother, containing less than two acres, found 
a half dozen of line specimens of Endain arrowheads, which arc 
in the possession of the writer. In the past few years he has also 
found an Indian tomahawk. Indian tannin- stones, skinning stone-. 
many arrowheads, etc. Some years ago, in the same vicinity, 
William Adair, the father of Ex-County Commissioner James EC. 
Adair, plowed up an Indian soapstone pot, a very rare specimen. 
The latter curiosity was unearthed on the farm now owned by 
A. N. Lyons. 

The Lyons or old Adair farm, the Bryner and Loy farms, and 
the dee]) spring are all on the location of the old Indian trail, 
known to later generations as the "bridle path," still descernible 
on Bowers' Mountain, opposite Cisna's Run, from whence it 
crossed westward to Kistler and around the foot of Conococheague 
Mountain to Juniata County and the West. 

They were, generally speaking, a lazy, listless people, addicted 
to the use of rum, which they knew as "walking stick," and lived 
on game, fish and mussels, the Susquehanna River at that time 
being prolific of the two last named products. Indian cornmeal 
was their only grain product, their method of grinding it being 
with a bowl and stones. With the coming of the early trader a 
market was created at their door for the skins from their game, 
for furs for the fair sex. The pay was often in trinkets and 
gaudy fabrics for which the red man had a fancy, sometimes in 
rum. and even in money, hut often the latter went for rum in the 
end. In the chapter on Duncan's and Haldeman's Islands there is 
a lengthy description of their mode of life by Rev. Brainerd, a 
missionary who spent much time among them. In the chapter 
dealing with Simon Girty much more of Indian life is to be 
learned. 

When the pioneers settled the county a few Indians refused to 
follow their tribes in leaving their homes — just as many older 
people of the present day object to locating in new sections in the 
latter years of their lives — and remained. The Indian woman 
mentioned above as being located at Cisna's Run, was one of these, 
and an old Indian, known as "Indian John," who lived near the 
Warm Springs, in Carroll Township, was another. lie used to 
trade at the store of Thomas Lebo, at the point which later became 
Lebo post office, and is said to have been a very old man. 

At various places in this hook are recorded the taking oi cap- 
trade at the store of Thomas Lebo, at the point which later became 
now owned by Mrs. Charles McKeehan, located between Blain and 
, New Germantown, which was warranted and settled by John Rhea, 
who sold it to a family named 1 lunter, from whom the early 



46 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Briners purchased it in 1809. During an Indian invasion of the 
valley two of the Hunter children, a boy and a girl, were cap- 
tured by red men. The girl escaped during the following night 
and returned, but the boy never came back. Long years after- 
wards he wrote to George Black, a neighbor, from the far West, 
making inquiry as to the disposition of his father's estate. George 
Conner, a black-haired child who was favored by the Indians dur- 
ing his captivity, was captured near Landisburg, but later escaped. 
He was the ancestor of Mrs. Garland, of Landisburg. 

The Indian was the earliest road builder, but his building con- 
sisted of making a mere path through the brush either in the most 
direct line or by the line of least resistance. Evidences of the old 
Indian trails yet remain, as described under the chapter devoted 
to trails and roads. Located along one of these old trails over 
Tuscarora Mountain is a large boulder, weighing many tons and 
of a size that would fill a large room of an ordinary house, known 
as "Warrior Rock," famous in legend and story. They also had 
a line of trails following the mountain tops, so that their per- 
spective was greater. These they used in troublesome periods. 

At various places in the county there are old Indian burial 
places which would substantiate the fact that Indian villages were 
once located in those vicinities. There is one at Saville post office, 
in Saville Township. This place was formerly known as Lane's 
Mill and was a great hunting and fishing ground for the aborigines. 
Those located here are supposed to have been the ones which came 
back to the county and did the attacking on the McMillen place, 
near Kistler. An old legend tells of their getting lead near by for 
the points of their arrows when they needed it, but if so, their fol- 
lowers — the pale face — has failed to locate it. Several men well 
up in years by the name of Elliott, who were Indian traders, re- 
sided in the locality, from whom descended David Elliott, D.D., 
LL.D., the noted divine. 

There is also legendary evidence of an Indian burial ground at 
Blain, at the old Presbyterian cemetery. Many arrowheads are 
found in the vicinity and a few years ago, in excavating- for a 
grave, two skulls were found placed against each other, the skele- 
tons extending in opposite directions. Tradition has it that that 
was the Indian custom of interment, thus affording ^ome evidence 
of the location of the Indian burial place at this point. Arrow- 
heads are found even to this day along Sherman's Creek, at New 
Germantown, Blain, Landisburg, Shermansdale and at many other 
points. Also at Millerstown and Duncan's Island, in the Juniata 
River territory. 

On Quaker Ridge, near the Warm Springs, in Spring Township, 
there is an Indian grave surrounded by pine trees. The aged resi- 
dents of the vicinity also recall the legend of the three Indian 



EARLIEST RECORDS OF INDIAN INHABITANTS 47 

graves on the old Burrell farm, in Carroll Township, now owned 
l»\ Willis Duncan. Near the celebrated Gibson Rock, along Sher- 
man's Creek, is a spring', known to this day as Indian Spring. 
According to a legend six soldiers sent from the garrison at Car- 
lisle during the Indian uprisings, were waylaid there and murdered. 
John Clendenin, a settler in what is now Toboyne Township, 
was killed and scalped by the Indians near the site of the old 
Monterey tannery. One of the saddest of all the abductions from 
Perry County territory was the case of two children from the 
George Kern farm, bordering New Germantown, in Toboyne 
Township. Simon Kern, the ancestor, had come from his home in 
Holland and had located on the farm mentioned. Two small Kern 
girls were helping work in the fields when lurking Indians car- 
ried them away. They traveled a considerable distance when they 
were overtaken by night. During the night one of the little girls 
managed to escape while her captors slept and returned to her 
people. The other remained an Indian captive. Tradition tells of 
a woman from the stockade at Fort Robinson returning to the 
farm opposite — the McClure farm — and of her being killed and 
scalped by lurking redskins. 

* According to James B. Hackett, long a resident of New Bloom- 
field, whose father was once a resident of Madison Township, 
there was an interesting tradition connected with his father's tract 
of land there which was later owned by Noble Meredith. A man 
named James Dixon had first located it, but had been driven out 
by the Indians, and then took up a tract in Centre Township. 
John Mitchell then warranted it January 28, 1763. Three Indians 
are supposed to be buried there, and men of the present generation 
had the graves, then already overgrown mounds, pointed out to 
them in their early years. On this tract, according to this tradi- 
tion, was buried a pot or kettle of gold by a squaw, received in 
return for English scalps turned over to the French. It is sup- 
posed to have been left by the Indians when they were hastily 
driven out. Evidently this story is a mere legend, as the red men 
were too crafty to tell their white brethren their personal and 
tribal affairs. 

Wright's History names Millerstown as the scene of "either a 
long residence or probably a fierce battle between the Delaware's 
and the immigrating Shawnees," adding "the location of the con- 
flict was no doubt near the canal bridge, for they were interred in 
a wide and deep mound, west of the house now the residence of 
Mrs. Oliver, and found by the workmen who dug the canal." 
Mentioning an Indian village at or near Newport and one at Mil- 
lerstown, it says: "These were the only Indian villages in Perry 
County." As the soil which is now comprised in Perry County 
was inhabited at different times by different tribes, and as Indian 



4 <S HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

villages were formed by wigwams, which were easily movable, 
the statement above is hardly borne out by facts. 

( )n Clemson's Island, opposite the town of New Buffalo, located 
on the Susquehanna River (not Perry County soil, however), was 
an Indian mound which is remembered by those in very mature 
years as being quite prominent, but now indiscernible. There are 
vague accounts of the torturing of whites in Pfoutz Valley, while 
the relentless savages danced about the fires which tortured and 
consumed the unfortunates. 

The Five; Nations. 

The great western confederacy of Indian nations was styled by 
the French, the "Iroquois," generally at first being known as "The 
Five Nations," and later as "The Six Nations." The Mohawks 
are said to be the oldest of the confederacy, the Oneidas joining 
them next, the Onondagas third, the Senecas fourth, and the 
Cayugas fifth. About 1713 the Tuscaroras from the Carolinas 
placed themselves under the protection of this "League of Na- 
tions, but was not formally admitted to membership until about 
1722. The Six Nations called themselves "Aquanuschioni," 
which the interpreter tells us means "United People." The 
Shawnees. who lived on the west branch of the Susquehanna and 
in Cumberland County (which then included Perry), were not in 
this confederacy. 

Just when the Five Nations was formed is uncertain. There is 
a tradition, according to the Jesuit Relations, that before the Eng- 
lish settlements were made in America the Susquehannas had al- 
most exterminated the Mohawks in a ten-years' war. Some his- 
torians incline to the belief that at that time the Mohawks ap- 
pealed to kindred tribes along the shores of Lake Ontario for aid 
and that that was the beginning of the Five Nations. It is prob- 
able that the Indian battles fought at Duncan's Island and likely at 
Millerstown were during this war between the Susquehannas and 
the Mohawks. Captain John Smith, who explored Chesapeake 
Bay in 160S. says the inhabitants of the Susquehanna country 
"made war with all the world," which implies that they were then 
already at war with the Mohawks. 

Kelker's History of Dauphin County says: "In 1633 they were 
at war with the Alonquin tribes on the Delaware, maintaining their 
supremacy by butchery." Later they warred with tribes from 
Maryland and Virginia, and Governor Calvert, in 1642, issued a 
proclamation declaring them public enemies. The end of the Sus- 
quehannas came in 1675, according to the fesuit Relations, when 
they were completely defeated and became the prisoners and sub- 
jects of their captors, evidently the Mohawks, as Thomas Penn, 
the provincial governor, later credited the Mohawks with owner- 



EARLIEST RECORDS OF INDIAN INHABITANTS 49 

ship of the lands "by the conquest of the [ndian tribes on that 

river." 

The Shawnees were a tribe of Southern Indians, having resided 
near the Spanish possessions in that territory and being almost 
constantly at war with their neighbors. As extermination threat- 
ened them they appealed to the Five Nations and the English for 
protection, which was granted them by the treaty of 1701. They 
settled on the Susquehanna and its tributaries and were later as- 
signed to the lands along the Ohio. However, many of them re- 
fused to go, and the others kept traveling back and forth from the 
Ohio. The Six Nations resided principally in New York State 
and it was only by permission that the Shawnees were allowed to 
occupy these lands. As an illustration of the contempt in which 
they were held listen to this extract from a speech by Cannassetego, 
diplomat of the Iroquois : 

"We conquered you ; we made women of you ; you know you 
are women, and can no more sell lands than women ; nor is it lit 
you should have the power of selling lands, since you would abuse 
it. The land that you claim is gone through your guts ; you have 
been furnished with clothes, meat and drink, by the goods paid 
you for it, and now you want it again, children as you are. But 
we find you none of our blood ; you act a dishonest part, not only 
in this, but in other matters ; your ears are ever open to slanderous 
reports about your brethren. For all these reasons we charge you 
to remove instantly ; we don't give you liberty to think about it. 
Don't deliberate, but move away, and take this belt of wampum." 

The Delawares, who jointly with the Shawnees occupied these 
lands, were very much chagrined at being called women and usu- 
ally offered other explanations than the real one. 

Murder of an Early Trader.* 

Many of the early traders, because of their cupidity, took ad- 
vantage of the Indians by trickery and thus were at times the 
cause of much trouble to the provincial authorities. Others he- 
came the victims of their own greed. An instance of this kind is 
reproduced here in its original form for various reasons. At that 
time Duncan's Island, then known as Juniata Island, was a centre 
for traders and "McKee's Place," which was just around the lower 
end of Peters' Mountain, was also already inhabited by a number 
of these people. 

In this vicinity resided John Armstrong, or at least that is the 
impression formed from the fact that among the names on the 
affidavit are those of Thomas McKce, Francis Ellis, and William 
Baskins, who were among the searching party, who are known 



*From Conrad Weiser's journal. 

Note. — Shikellamy was sometimes spelled Shickcalamy. 
4 



50 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

tn have been inhabitants here, and it is also probable that actions 
of those clays were largely as they exist to this day, in which a 
man's neighbors are those whose aid is first sought whose names 
are usually used in evidence. There is record of the three pioneers 
above named being located here in 1752, or eight years thereafter, 
and they probably were already here in 1744. 

Mnsemeelin was of the Indian tribe that inhabited the Susque- 
hanna Valley. In order to let the rising generation get a glimpse 
of the methods used to adjust difficulties between the province and 
the Indians the documentary evidence and communications are 
printed in full. It follows: 

Before Cumberland County was created, when the soil of Perry 
was yet an Indian domain, in 1744, one John Armstrong, a trader 
witli the Indians west of the Susquehanna, and two of his em- 
ployes, James Smith and Woodward Arnold, were murdered by 
an Indian of the Delawares on the Juniata River. Seven settlers, 
accompanied by five Indians, made a search and found the bodies. 
The murderer was apprehended and turned over to the authorities, 
being first imprisoned at the county seat at Lancaster, and later 
removed to Philadelphia, as his countrymen were about to assemble 
in conference with the whites at Lancaster, and it was deemed that 
his presence there might cause friction. The Colonial governor 
ordered Armstrong's property returned to his people and asked 
that a delegation attend the trial of the culprit and his execution, 
if found guilty. A brother of the murdered man, named Alex- 
ander Armstrong, of Lancaster County, wrote a letter to the king 
of the 1 )elawares — Allumoppies — at Shamokin, bearing on his 
brother's death and also threats made against himself: 

April 25, 1744. 

To Allumoppies, King of the Delawares: Great Sir, as a parcel of your 
men have murdered my brother, and two of his men, I wrote you, know- 
ing you to be a king of justice, that you will send us in all the murderers 
and the men that were with them. As I looked for the corpse of my 
murdered brother; for that reason your men threaten my life, and I can- 
not live in my house. Now as we have no inclination or mind to go to 
war with you, our friends, as a friend I desire that you will keep your 
men from doing me harm, and also to send the murderers and their com- 
panions. I expect an answer; and am your much hurt friend and brother. 

Alexander Armstrong. 

According to the following deposition the bodies of the mur- 
dered men were found after a search was made: 

Paxton, April 19, 1744. 
The deposition of the subscribers testifieth and saith, that the subscribers 
having a suspicion that John Armstrong, trader, together with his men, 
Tames Smith and Woodward Arnold, were murdered by the Indians. 
They met at the house of Joseph Chambers, in Paxton,* and there con- 
sulted to go to Shamokin, to consult with the Delaware King and Shikel- 



*Now Fort Hunter. 



EARLIEST RECORDS OF INDIAN INHABITANTS 51 

lamy, and there council what they should do concerning the affair, where- 
upon the king and council ordered eight of their men to go with the 
deponents to the house of James Berry in order to go in quest of the 
murdered persons, but that night they came to the said Berry's house, 
three of the eight Indians ran away, and the next morning these deponents, 
with the five Indians that remained, set out on their journey peaceably 
to the last supposed sleeping place of the deceased, and upon their arrival 
these deponents dispersed themselves in order to find out the corpse of 
the deceased, and one of the deponents, named James Berry, a small dis- 
tance from the aforesaid sleeping place, came to a white oak tree which 
had three notches on it, and close by said tree he found a shoulder bone, 
which the deponent does suppose to be John Armstrong's, and that he 
himself showed it to his companions, one of whom handed it to the said 
five Indians to know what bone it was, and they after passing different 
sentiments upon it, handed it to a Delaware Indian, who was suspected 
by the deponents, and they testify and say, that as soon as the Indian 
took the bone in his hand, his nose gushed out with blood, and directly 
handed it to another. From whence these deponents steered along a 
path about three or four miles to the Narrows of Juniata, where they sus- 
pected the murder to have been committed, and where the Allegheny road 
crosses the creek, these deponents sat down in order to consult on what 
measures to take in order to proceed on a discovery. Whereupon most of 
the white men, these deponents, crossed the creek again, and went down 
the creek, and crossed into an island, where these deponents had intelli- 
gence the corpse had been thrown; and there they met the rest of the 
white men and Indians, who were in company, and there consulted to go 
further down the creek in quest of the corpse, and these deponents further 
say, they ordered the Indians to go down the creek on the other side ; but 
they all followed these deponents, at a small distance, except one Indian, 
who crossed the creek again; and soon after, these deponents seeing 
some Bald eagles and other fowls, suspected the corpse to be thereabouts ; 
and then lost sight of the Indians, and immediately found one of the 
corpse, which these deponents say, was the corpse of James Smith, one 
of said Armstrong's men; and directly upon finding the corpse these de- 
ponents heard three shots of guns, which they had great reason to think 
were the Indians, their companions, who had deserted from them ; and in 
order to let them know that they had found the corpse, these deponents 
fired three guns, but to no purpose, for they never saw the Indians any 
more. And about a quarter of a mile further down the creek, they saw 
more Bald eagles, whereupon they made down towards the place, where 
they found another corpse (being the corpse of Woodward Arnold, the 
other servant of said Armstrong) lying on a rock, and then went to the 
former sleeping place, where they had appointed to meet the Indians; hut 
saw no Indians, only that the Indians had been there and cooked some 
victuals for themselves, and had gone off. 

All that night, the deponents further say, they had great reason to sus- 
pect that the Indians were then thereabouts, and intended to do them 
some damage; for a dog these deponents had with them, barked that 
night, which was remarkable, for the said dog had not barked all the time 
they were out, till that night, nor ever since, which occasioned these de- 
ponents to stand upon their guard behind trees, with their guns cocked 
that night. Next morning these deponents went back to the corpses which 
they found to be barbarously and inhumanly murdered, by very gashed, 
deep cuts on their heads with a tomahawk or such like weapon, which had 
sunk into their skulls and brains; and in one of the corpses there ap- 
peared a hole in his skull near the cut, which was supposed to be made 



52 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

with a tomahawk, which hole these deponents do believe to be a bullet 
hole. And these deponents, after taking a particular view of the corpses, 
as their melancholy condition would admit, they buried them as decently 
as their circumstances would allow, and returned home to Paxton, the 
Allegheny road to John Harris'; thinking it dangerous to return the same 
way they went out. And further these deponents say not. 

These same deponents being legally qualified, before me, James Arm- 
strong, one of his majesty's justices of the peace for the county of Lan- 
caster, have hereunto set their hands in testimony thereof. 

James Armstrong. 
Alexander Armstrong, Thomas McKee, Francis Ellis, John Florster, 
William Baskins, James Berry, John Watt, James Armstrong, David 
Denny. 

The reader will note that the circumstances stated and those 
following relate to what was probably the first Indian massacre in 
the vicinity, that our country was yet in "His Majesty's" domain, 
and that the nearest county seat was then Lancaster. The mas- 
sacre was so shocking to the pioneers that a Provincial Council 
was assembled, the result of which was that the provincial inter- 
preter and Indian agent, Conrad Weiser, was dispatched in the 
name of the governor to Shamokin, to make demands for several 
others concerned in the murder. 

As this document, the proceedings of the council, has been pre- 
served for posterity, it is reproduced here, spelling, language, etc., 
just as recorded, probably being the first case for that territory 
where an Indian Council became necessary to the settlement of 
a matter which was vital between the Indians and the provincial 
government. 

At a council, April 25, 1744. — "The governor, George Thomas, laid be- 
fore the Board a letter dated April 22, 1744, from Mr. Cookson, at Lan- 
caster, purporting that John Armstrong, an Indian trader, with his two 
servants, Woodward Arnold and James Smith, had been murdered at 
Juniata by three Delaware Indians, and that John Musemeelin and John- 
sun of Neshalleeny, two of the Indians concerned in the murder had been 
seized by the order of Shikellamy, and the other Indian chiefs at Sha- 
mokin, and sent under a guard of Indians to be delivered up to justice; 
that one was actually delivered up in jail at Lancaster; but the other had 
made his escape from the persons to whose care he was committed. 

"His honor then sent to the chief justice to consult him about the steps 
proper to be taken to bring the Indian to his trial, but as he was absent at 
a Court of Oyer and Terminer in Bucks County, it was the opinion of the 
Board that the Indian, Musemeelin, should be immediately removed to 
Philadelphia jail, and that Conrad Weiser should be immediately dis- 
patched to the chiefs of the Delaware Indians at Shamokin to make a 
peremptory demand in his honor's name of the other murderers concerned, 
and that Shikellamy and the other Indians there do order immediate search 
to be made for the goods of which the deceased was robbed, in order to 
their being put into the hands of his brother for the satisfaction of his 
creditors, or the support of his family. And at the same time to inform 
them that the chiefs of the Indians which shall meet at Lancaster on the 
treaty with our neighboring governments, will be desired to depute some 



EARLIEST RECORDS OF INDIAN INHABITANTS 53 

of their number to be present at the trial and at the execution of such as 
shall be found .guilty. 

"Conrad Weiser was accordingly sent to Shamokin. He writes in his 
journal, Shamokin, May 2d, 1744: This day I delivered the governor's 
message to Allumoppies, the Delaware chief, and the rest of the Dela- 
ware Indians in the presence of Shikellamy and a few more of the Six 
Nations. The purport of which was that 1 was sent express by the gover 
nor and council to demand those that had been concerned with Musemeelin 
in murdering John Armstrong, Woodward Arnold and James Smith; that 
their bodies might be searched for, and decently buried ; that the goods 
be likewise found and restored without fraud. It was delivered them by 
me in the Mohawk language, and interpreted into Delaware by Andrew, 
Madame Montour's son. 

"In the afternoon Allumoppies, in the presence of the aforesaid Indians, 
made the following answers : 

"Brother, the Governor : It is true that we, the Delaware Indians, by 
the. investigation of the evil spirit, have murdered James Armstrong and 
his men ; we have transgressed and we are ashamed to look up. We 
have taken the murderer and delivered him to the relations of the de- 
ceased, to be dealt with according to his works. 

"Brother, the Governor: Your demand for the guard is very just; we 
have gathered some of them; we will do the utmost of what we can to 
find them all. We do not doubt but that we can find out the most part, 
and whatever is wanting, we will make up with skins, which is what the 
guard are sent for to the woods. 

"Brother, the Governor: The dead bodis are buried. It is certain that 
John Armstrong was buried by the murderer, and the other two by those 
that searched for them. Our hearts are in mourning, and we are in a 
dismal condition, and cannot say anything at present. 

"Then Shikellamy with the rest of the Indians of the Six Nations there 
present said : 

"Brother, the Governor: We have been all misinformed on both sides 
about the unhappy accident. Musemeelin has certainly murdered the three 
white men himself, and upon his bare accusation of Neshaleeny's son, 
which was nothing but spite, the said Neshaleeny's son was seized, and 
made a prisoner. Our cousins, the Delaware Indians, being then drunk, 
in particular Allumoppies, never examined things, but made an innocent 
person prisoner, which gave a great deal of disturbance amongst us. 
However the two prisoners were sent, and by the way in going down the 
river they stopped at the house of James Berry; James told the young 
man, 'I am sorry to see you in such a condition, I have known you 
from a boy, and always loved you.' Then the young man seemed to be 
very much struck to the heart, and said, 'I have said nothing yet, but I 
will tell all, let all the Indians come up, and the white people also, they 
shall hear it.' And then told Musemeelin in the presence of all the peo- 
ple: 'Now I am going to die for your wickedness; you have killed all 
the three white men. I never did intend to kill any of them.' Then 
Musemeelin in anger said: 'It is true, I have killed them; I am a man, 
you are a coward; it is a great satisfaction to me to have killed them; 
I will die with joy for having killed a great rogue and his companions.' 
Upon which the young man was set at liberty by the Indians. 

"We desire therefore our brother, the governor, will not insist to have 
either of the two young men in prison or condemned to die; it is not 
with Indians as with white people, to put people in prison on suspicion 
or -trifles. Indians must first be found guilty of a crime, then judgment 
is given and immediately executed. We will give you faithfully all the 



54 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

particulars; and at the ensuing treaty entirely satisfy you; in the mean- 
time we desire that good friendship and harmony continue; and that we 
may live long together, is the hearty desire of your brethren, the Indians 
of the United Six Nations present at Shamokin. 

"The following is what Shikellamy declared to he the truth of the story 
concerning the murder of John Armstrong, Woodward Arnold and James 
Smith from the beginning to the end, to wit: 

"That Musemeelin owing some skins to John Armstrong, the said Arm- 
strung seized a horse of the said Musemeelin and a rifle gun; the gun 
was taken by James Smith, deceased. Some time last winter Musemeelin 
met Armstrong on the river Juniata, and paid all but twenty shillings, 
for which he offered a neck-belt in pawn to Armstrong and demanded 
his horse, and James Armstrong refused it, and would not deliver up the 
horse, but enlarged the debt, as his usual custom was, and after some 
quarrel the Indian went away in great anger without his horse to his 
hunting cabin. Some time after this, Armstrong, with his two companions 
on their way to Ohio, passed by the said Musemeelin's hunting cabin, his 
wife, only being at home, demanded the horse of Armstrong, because he 
was her proper goods, but didn't get him. Armstrong had by this time 
sold or lent the horse to James Berry; after Musemeelin came from 
hunting, his wife told him that Armstrong was gone by, and that she 
demanded the horse of him, but did not get him — and as is thought 
pressed him to pursue and take revenge of Armstrong. The third day 
in the morning after James Armstrong was gone by, Musemeelin said to 
the two young men that hunted with him, come let us go toward the Great 
Hills to hunt bears; accordingly they went all three in company; after 
they had gone a good way Musemeelin, who was foremost, was told by 
the two young men that they were out of their course. Come you along, 
said Musemeelin, and they accordingly followed him till they came to the 
path that leads to the Ohio. Then Musemeelin told them he had a good 
mind to go and fetch his horse back from Armstrong, and desired the 
two young men to come along; accordingly they went. It was then al- 
most night and they traveled till next morning. Musemeelin said, now they 
are not far off. We will make ourselves black, then they will be frightened 
and will deliver up the horse immediately, and I will tell Jack that if he 
does not give me the horse I will kill him, and when he said so he 
laughed. The young men thought he joked, as he used to do. They did 
not blacken themselves, but he did. When the sun was above the trees, 
or about an hour high, they all came to the fire, where they found James 
Smith sitting, and they also sat down. Musemeelin asked where Jack 
was ; Smith told him that he was gone to clear the road a little. Muse- 
meelin said he wanted to speak to him, and went that way, and after he 
had gone a little distance from the fire, he said something, and looked 
back laughing, but he having a thick throat, and his speech being very 
had, and their talking with Smith, hindered them from understanding 
what he said; they did not mind it. They being hungry, Smith told them 
to kill some turtles, of which they were plenty, and we would make some 
bread, and by and by, they would all eat together. While they were 
talking, they heard a gun go off not far off, at which time Woodward 
Arnold was killed, as they learned afterwards. Soon after Musemeelin 
came back and said, why did you not kill that white man according as I 
bid you? At this they were surprised, and one of the young men com- 
monly called Jimmy, run away to the riverside. Musemeelin said to the 
other, how will you do to kill Catabaws, if you cannot kill white men? 
You cowards, I'll show you how you must do; and then taking up the 
English axe that lay there, he struck it three times into Smith's head, be- 



EARLIEST RECORDS OF INDIAN INHABITANTS 55 

fore he died. Smith never stirred. Then he told the young Indian to 
call the other; but he was so terrified he could not call. Musemeelin 
then went and fetched him and said to him that two of the white men 
were killed, he must now go and kill the third; then each of them would 
have killed one. But neither of them dare venture to talk anything about 
it. Then he pressed them to go along with him— he went foremQSl ; then 
one of the young men told the other as they went along, my friend, don't 
you kill any of the white people, let him do what he will ; I have not 
killed Smith, he has done it himself, we have no need to do such a bar- 
barous thing. Musemeelin being then a good way before them in a hurry, 
they soon saw John Armstrong sitting upon an old log. Musemeelin spoke 
to him and said, where is my horse? Armstrong made answer and said, 
he will come by and by, you shall have him. I want him now, said 
Musemeelin. Armstrong answered, you shall have him. Come let us go 
to that fire — which was at some distance from the place where Armstrong 
sat— and let us talk and smoke together. Go along then, said Muse- 
meelin. I am coming, said Armstrong, do you go before; Musemeelin, 
do you go foremost. Armstrong looked then like a dead man, and went 
toward the fire and was immediately shot in his back by Musemeelin and 
fell. Musemeelin then took his hatchet and struck it into Armstrong's 
head, and said, give me my horse, I tell you. By this time one of the 
young men had fled again that had gone away before, but he returned in 
a short time. Musemeelin then told the young men, they must not offer 
to discover or tell a word about what had been done for their lives, but 
they must help to bury Jack, and the other two were to be thrown into 
the river. After that was done Musemeelin ordered them to load the 
horses and follow towards the hill, where they intended to hide the goods ; 
accordingly they did and as they were going, Musemeelin told them that 
as there were a great many Indians hunting about that place, if they 
should happen to meet with any, they must be killed to prevent betraying 
them. As they went along, Musemeelin going before, the two young 
men agreed to run away as soon as they could meet with any Indians, 
and not to hurt anybody. They came to the desired place, the horses 
were unloaded, and Musemeelin opened the bundles and offered the two 
young men each a parcel of goods. They told him that they had already 
sold their skins, and everybody knew they had nothing, they would cer- 
tainly be charged with a black action, were they to bring any goods to the 
town, and therefore they would not accept of any; but promised never- 
theless not to betray him. Now, says Musemeelin, [ know what you were 
talking about when you stayed so far behind. 

"The two young men being in great danger of losing their lives— of 
which they had been much afraid all that day— accepted of what he of- 
fered to them, and the rest of the goods they put in a heap and covered 
them from the rain, and then went to their hunting cabin. Musemeelin 
unexpectedly finding two or three more Indians there, laid down his 
goods, and said he had killed Jack Armstrong and taken pay for his horse, 
and should any of them discover it, that person he would likewise kill; 
but otherwise they might all take a part of the goods. The young man, 
called Jitumy, went away to Shamokin, after Musemeelin was gone to 
bury the goods with three more Indians, with whom he had prevailed; 
one of them was Neshaleeny's son, whom he had ordered to kill James 
Smith, but these Indians would not have any of the goods. Some time 
after the young Indian had been in Shamokin, it was whispered about 
that some of the Delaware Indians had killed Armstrong and his men. 
A drunken Indian came to one of the Tudolous houses at night and told 
the man of the house that he could tell him a piece of bad news. What 



56 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

is that? said the other. The drunken man said, some of our Deleware 
Indians have killed Armstrong and his men, which, if our chiefs should 
not resent, and take them up, I will kill them myself to prevent a dis- 
turbance between us and the white people, our brother. Next morning 
Shikellamy and some other Indians of the Delawares were called to assist 
Allomoppies in council. 

"When Shikellamy and Allumoppies got one of the Tudolous Indians to 
write a letter to me to desire me to come to Shamokin in all haste ; that 
the Indians were much dissatisfied in mind. This letter was brought to 
my house by four Delaware Indians sent express ; but I was then in 
Philadelphia, and when I came home and found all particulars mentioned 
in this letter, and that none of the Indians of the Six Nations had been 
down, I did not care to meddle with Delaware Indian affairs, and staid 
at home till I received the governor's orders to go, which was about two 
weeks after. Allumoppies was advised by his council to employ a con- 
jurer, as they call it to find out the murderer; accordingly he did and the 
Indians met ; the seer being busy all night, told them in the morning to 
examine such and such an one, they were present when Armstrong was 
killed, naming the two young men ; Musemeelin was present. Accordingly 
Allumoppies, Quietheyyquent and Thomas Green, an Indian, went to him 
that had fled first and examined him; he told the whole story very freely; 
then they went to the other, but he would not say a word, but went away 
and left them. The three Indians returned to Shikellamy and informed 
of what discovery they had made. When it was agreed to secure the 
murderers, and deliver them up to the white people, a great noise arose 
among the Delaware Indians, and some were afraid of their lives and 
went into the woods ; not one cared to meddle with Musemeelin, and the 
other that could not be prevailed on to discover anything, because of the 
resentment of their families; but they being pressed by Shikellamy's 
son to secure the murderers, otherwise they would be cut off from the 
chain of friendship; four or five of the Delawares made Musemeelin 
and the other young man prisoners and tied them both. They lay twenty- 
four hours and none would venture to conduct them down ; because of 
the great division among the Delaware Indians, and Allumoppies in danger 
of being killed, fled to Shikellamy and begged for protection. At last 
Shikellamy's son Jack went to the Delawares, most of them being drunk, 
as they had been for several days, and told them to deliver the prisoners 
to Alexander Armstrong, and they were afraid to do it ; they might sepa- 
rate their heads from their bodies, and lay them in the canoe, and carry 
them to Alexander to roast and eat them, that would satisfy his revenge, 
as he wants to eat Indians. They prevailed with the said Jack to assist 
them, and accordingly he and his brother and some of the Delawares 
went with two canoes and carried them off." 

No available records remain to show the final disposition of ' 
Musemeelin. 

According to a record left by John Harris, of Harris' Ferry 
(now Harrisburg), Jack's Narrows, near Mapleton on the Juniata, 
came to be named this way. Harris referred to them thus: "Jack 
Armstrong's narrows, so called from his being there murdered." 
Other writers claim they were called after Captain Jack, a reso- 
lute Indian hater, described elsewhere in this book. While either 
may be the truth, yet the fact that the murder happened at this 
point inclines one to believe that the mountain was named after 
the trader, Armstrong, who was murdered there. 



CHAPTER 111. 
INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED. 

THE lands now comprising Perry County probably caused 
the provincial government a greater amount of anxiety dur- 
ing a number of years than any other in Pennsylvania. In 
a treaty made with the Indians for certain lands west of the Sus- 
quehanna River no lands north of the Kittatinny or Blue Moun- 
tains were included, yet notwithstanding this fact pioneers, im- 
patient over the delays of the land office, began entering the val- 
leys between the Kittatinny and Tuscarora ranges, as well as north 
of the latter, erected cabins and started to clear the lands, without 
the sanction of the provincial authorities, as the following pages 
show. 

A large delegation of Iroquois journeyed to Philadelphia in 
July, 1742, to receive the second and last payment for the lands 
which were sold to the proprietary in 1736. Canassatego, a chief, 
made a speech in which he refers to the Juniata lands, which in- 
clude the soil of Perry County and which was a matter of con- 
tention for years, finally leading to the burning of the cabins of 
"squatters," as portrayed further on in this chapter. He said: 
"We know our lands are now become more valuable ; the white people 
think we do not know their value, but we are sensible that the land is 
everlasting, and the few goods we receive for it are soon worn out and 
gone. For the future we will sell no lands, but when our brother Onas 
(William Penn) is in the country, and we will know before hand the 
quantity of goods we are to receive. Besides, we are not well used with 
respect to the lands still unsold by us. Your people daily settle on these 
lands and spoil our hunting. We must insist on your removing them, as 
you know they have no right to the northward of Kittochtinny Hills. In 
particular, we renew our complaints against some people who are settled 
at Juniata, a branch of the Susquehanna, and all along the banks of that 
river, as far as Mahaniay, and desire that they may be made forthwith to 
go off the land, for they do great damage to our cousins, the Delawares." 

This was not their first protest, as the governor's reply would 
indicate. He replied that "on your former complaints against peo- 
ple settling the land on Juniata, and from thence all along the river 
Susquehanna as far as Mahaniay, some magistrates were sent ex- 
pressly to remove them, and we thought no person would stay 
after that." To which the Indians rejoined, "These persons who 
were sent did not do their duty ; so far from removing the people, 
they made surveys for themselves and they are in league with the 
trespassers. We desire more effectual methods to be used, and 
honester persons employed." 

57 



58 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The governor promised them this would be done and after let- 
ting the period between July 7 and October 5 elapse he issued a 
proclamation from the contents of which one would infer that 
the sections most in contention were at the mouth of the Juniata 
and probably as far as the Juniata County line and in Fulton 
County and up the Susquehanna as far as Wyoming. 

These lands were among the choicest of the Indians, who made 
their living by hunting and fishing, being especially noted as a great 
hunting ground for deer, probably excelling all others, as the fol- 
lowing extract from a letter by Conrad Weiser, the interpreter, 
dated April 22, 1749, will show: He was on his way to Shamokin 
with a messenger from the provincial government to the Indians 
and met the sons of Shikellamy, at the trading house of Thomas 
McKee, and delivered to them the message, as he had been in- 
formed that all the Indians were absent from Shamokin. In the 
letter referred to, addressd to Richard Peters, secretary of the 
province, having just returned from this trip, he writes: 

"The Indians are very uneasy about the white people settling beyond 
the Endless Mountains, on Joniady (Juniata), on Sherman's Creek and 
elsewhere. They tell me that about thirty families are settled upon the 
Indian lands this spring, and daily more go to settle thereon. Some have 
settled almost to the head of Joniady River along the path that leads to 
Ohio. The Indians say (and that with truth) that that country is their 
only hunting ground for deer, because farther to the north, there was 
nothing but spruce woods and the ground covered with calmia (laurel) 
bushes, not a single deer could be found or killed there. They asked very 
seriously whether their brother Onas (William Penn) had given the people 
leave to settle there. I informed them of the contrary, and told them 
that I believed some of the Indians from Ohio, that were down last sum- 
mer, had given liberty (with what right I could not tell) to settle. I told 
them of what passed on the Tuscarora Path last summer, when the sheriff 
and three magistrates were sent to turn off the people there settled; and 
that 1 then perceived that the people were favored by some of the In- 
dians above mentioned ; by which means the orders of the governor came 
to no effect. So far they were content and said the thing must be as it 
is, till the Six Nation chiefs would be down and converse with the Gov- 
ernor of Pennsylvania about the affair." 

The Six Nations having consulted in council on the subject 
sent a delegation to Philadelphia with remonstrances, but the 
Senecas had already been there and had been dismissed with £100 
and little satisfaction. The Six Nations were given £50. Return- 
ing disgusted they killed the cattle and ruined the orchards along 
the way. 

In May, 1750, a conference was held at George Croghan's, in 
Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County, between the whites 
and the Indians, to give the Indians the assurance that those who 
had intruded on their lands on the Juniata should be removed with- 
out further delay. Present at the meeting were Richard Peters, 
secretary of the province ; Conrad Weiser, James Galbreath, 



INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED 59 

George Croghan, George Stevenson, William Wilson, Hermanns 
Alricks, Andrew Montour, Jac-nec-doaris, Sai-nch-to-wano, Cata- 
ra-dir-ha, Tohonady Huntho, a Mohawk from Ohio. 

Some of these men went away peaceably, upon the promise that 
when the lands were purchased from the Indians they might re- 
turn to their claims, but others were morose and went to other 
sections. Among those to return were Richard Kirkpatrick and 
John McClure. 

Secretary Peters, in an official communication, dated July 2, 
1750, recounting the previous troubles along this line, takes credit 
for having caused the intruders to be driven out in June, 1743. 
He further says that to the best of his remembrance there were 
no further encroachments until about 1747, when, among others, 
"some persons had the presumption to go into a place called 
Shearman's Creek, lying along the waters of Juniata, and is situ- 
ate east of the Path Valley, through which the present road runs 
from Harris' Ferry (now Harrisburg) to Allegheny; and lastly 
they extending their settlements to big Juniata; the Indians all 
this while repeatedly complaining that their hunting ground was 
every day more and more taken from them ; and that there must 
infallably arise quarrels between their Warriors and these settlers, 
which would in the end break the chain of friendship." 

The Indians then threatened to do themselves what the gov- 
ernment failed to do, with the result that Richard Peters, secre- 
tary of the province, with Conrad Weiser, the interpreter, were 
despatched to the territory in which the new settlements were 
located to expel the intruders. They were joined by the magis- 
trates of the county, the delegates of the Six Nations, a chief of 
the Mohawks, and Andrew Montour, an interpreter. The party 
met with some resistance, but Mr. Peters, the secretary, was some- 
what of a diplomat and gave money to the needy and offered a 
place of refuge on farms of his own elsewhere. He also gave all 
of them permission to locate on parts of the two million acres 
east of the Susquehanna, purchased of the Indians the previous 
year. Some accepted, and Andrew Lycon was one of them, the 
town of Lykens, in upper Dauphin Comity, where he later settled, 
being named after him. 

In the letter from Richard Peters, the provincial secretary, to 
lames Hamilton, the Colonial governor, dated July 2, 1750, among 
other matters is the following report of this expedition : 

"Mr. Weiser and I have received your honor's orders to give informa- 
tion to the proper magistrates against all such as had presumed to settle 
and remain on the lands beyond the Kittochtinny Mountains, not purchased 
of the Indians, in contempt of the laws repeatedly signified by proclama- 
tions, and particularly by your honor's last one, and to bring them to a 
legal conviction, lest for want of their removal a breach should ensue be- 
tween the Six Nations of Indians and this province. We set out on 



60 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Tuesday, the 15th day of May, 1750, for the new county of Cumberland, 
where the places on which the trespassers had settled, lay. 

"At Mr. Croghan's we met with five Indians, three from Shamokin, two 
of which were sons of the late Shikellamy, who transact the business of 
the Six Nations with this government; two were just arrived from Alle- 
gheny, viz: one of the Mohock's (Mohawk) nation, called Aaron, and 
Andrew Montour, the interpreter at Ohio. Mr. Montour telling us he 
had a message from the Ohio Indians and Twightwees to this govern- 
ment, and desiring a conference, one was held on the 18th of May last, 
in the presence of James Galbreth (Galbraith), George Croghan, William 




"THE LINCOLN PROFILE" or 
"THE SENTINEL OF THE SUSQUEHANNA" 

The lower part bears a resemblance to President Lincoln. 

These rocks were blown away when the new Pennsylvania 

Railroad Line was built around the Cove Mountain at 

Duncannon. 

Wilson, and Hermanns Alricks, Ksqs., justices of the county of Cumber- 
land ; and when Mr. Montour's business was done, we, with the advice 
of the other justices, imparted to the Indians the design we were assem- 
bled upon, at which they expressed great satisfaction. 

"Another conference was held at the instance of the Indians, in the 
presence of Mr. Galbreth and Mr. Croghan, before mentioned, wherein 
they expressed themselves as follows: 

" 'Brethren, we have thought a great deal of what you imparted to us, 
that ye were come to turn the people off, who are settled over the hills; 



INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED 61 

we are pleased to see on this occasion, and as the council of Onondago 
has this affair exceedingly at heart, and it was particularly recommended 
to us by the deputies of the Six Nations, when they parted from us last 
summer, we desire to accompany you, but we are afraid, notwithstanding 
the care of the governor, that this may prove like many former attempts ; 
the people will be put off now, and next year come again; and if so the 
Six Nations will no longer bear it, but do themselves justice. To pre- 
vent this, therefore, when you have turned the people off, we recommend 
it to the governor, to place two or three faithful persons over the moun- 
tains, who may be agreeable to him and us, with commissions, empower- 
ing them immediately to remove every one who may presume after this 
to settle themselves, until the Six Nations shall agree to make sale of 
their land.' 

"To enforce this they gave a string of wampum, and received one in 
return from the magistrates, with the strongest assurances that they would 
do their duty. 

"On Tuesday, the 226. of May, Matthew Dill, George Croghan, Benja- 
min Chambers, Thomas Wilson, John Finley and James Galbreth, Esqs., 
justices of the said county of Cumberland, attended by the undersheriff, 
came to Big Juniata, situate at the distance of twenty miles from the 
mouth thereof, and about ten miles north from the Blue Hills, a place 
much esteemed by the Indians for some of their best hunting ground, and 
there they found five cabins, or log houses, one possessed by William 
White,* another by George Cahoon, another not quite yet finished in pos- 
session of David Hiddleston, another by George and William^ Galloway, 
and another by Andrew Lycon ; of these persons William White, George 
and William Galloway, David Hiddleston and George Cahoon appeared 
before the magistrates, and being asked by what right or authority they 
had possessed themselves of those lands and erected cabins thereon, re- 
plied: 'By no right or authority but that the land belonged to the pro- 
prietaries of Pennsylvania.' They were then asked whether they did not 
know they were acting against the law and in contempt of frequent no- 
tices given them and in contempt of the governor's proclamation. They 
said they had seen one such proclamation and had nothing to say for 
themselves, but craved mercy. Hereupon the said five men being con- 
victed by said justices on their view, the undersheriff was charged with 
them and he took William White, David Hiddleston and George Cahoon 



*This is the place where Frederick Starr, a German, with several of 
his countrymen, are spoken of in provincial annals as having "made set- 
tlements on Big Juniata, about twenty-five miles from the mouth thereof 
(recorded at other places as twenty miles), and about ten miles north 
from the Blue Hills." That location is impossible, as twenty-five miles 
(or twenty miles) from the mouth of the Juniata would be in Juniata 
County, while ten miles north from the Blue Hills would be in the vicinity 
of Wh'eatfield or Miller Township, in Perry County. Wright's History 
places Starr's settlement "probably near the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge 
over Buffalo Creek," above Newport, and those of Lycon and others 
"probably in Pfoutz's Valley," while the records of the land office show 
them to have been in Walker Township, Juniata County. In the letter to 
Tames Hamilton, dated July 2, 1750, is this clause, which locates the place 
in the vicinity of Thompsontown : "About the year 1740 or 1741, one 
Frederick Starr, a German, with two or three more of his countrymen, 
made some settlements at the above place, where we found William White, 
the Gallowavs, and Andrew Lycon, on Big Juniata, situate at the distance 
-of twenty-five miles from the mouth thereof," etc. As William White and 
Tohn Lvcon returned to their places, after the opening of the land office, 
February 3, 1754, and took up the lands legally, the location is determined. 



62 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

into custody, but George and William Galloway resisted, and having got 
at some distance from the undersheriff, they called to us : 'You may take 
our lands and houses and do what you please with them ; we deliver them 
to you with all our hearts, but we will not be carried to jail.' 

"The next morning being Wednesday, the 23d of May, the said justices 
went to the log house or cabin of Andrew Lycon, and finding none there 
but children, and hearing that the father and mother were expected soon, 
and William White and others offering to become security, jointly and 
severally, and to enter into recognizance as well for Andrew's appearance 
at court, and immediate removal as for their own, this proposal was ac- 
cepted and William White, David Hiddleston and George Cahoon en- 
tered into a recognizance of 100 pounds, and executed bonds to the pro- 
prietaries in the sum of 500 pounds, reciting that they were trespassers 
and had no manner of right and had delivered possession to me for the 
proprietaries. When the magistrate went to the cabin of George and 
William Galloway (which they had delivered up the day before, as afore- 
said, after being convicted and were flying from the sheriff) all the goods 
belonging to the said George and William were taken out, and the cabin 
being quite empty, I took possession thereof for the proprietaries ; then a 
conference was held what should be done with the empty cabin; after 
great deliberation, all agreed that if some cabins were not destroyed they 
would tempt the trespassers to return again, or encourage others to come 
there should these go away. So what was doing would signify nothing, 
since the possession of them was at such a distance from the inhabitants 
and could not be kept for the proprietaries, and Mr. Weiser also giving 
it as his opinion that if all the cabins were left standing the Indians 
would conceive such a contemptible opinion of the government that they 
would come themselves in the winter, murder the people and set their 
houses on fire. On these considerations the cabin by my order, was burnt 
by the undersheriff and company. 

"Then the company went to the house possessed by David Hiddleston, 
who had entered into bond as aforesaid, and he having voluntarily taken 
out all the things which were in the cabin, and left me in possession, that 
empty and unfurnished cabin was likewise set on fire, by the undersheriff, 
by my order. 

"The next day, being the 24th of May, Mr. Weiser and Mr. Galbreth, 
with the undersheriff and myself, on our way to the mouth of the Juniata, 
called at Andrew Lycon's, with intent only to inform him that his neigh- 
bors were bound for his appearance and immediate removal, and to cau- 
tion him not to bring himself or them into trouble by a refusal. But he 
presented a loaded gun to the magistrates and sheriff and said he would 
shoot the first man that dared to come nigher. On this he was disarmed, 
convicted and committed to the custody of the sheriff. This whole trans- 
action happened in the sight of the tribe of Indians, who by accident had 
in the nighttime fixed their tent on that plantation ; and Lyken's behavior 
giving them great offence the Shikellamies insisted on our burning the 
cabin or they would burn it themselves. Whereupon, when everything was 
taken out of it, Andrew Lycon all the while assisting, and possession 
being delivered to me, the empty cabin was set on fire by the undersheriff 
and Lycon was carried to jail. 

"Mr. Benjamin Chambers and Mr. George Croghan had about an hour 
before separated from us; and on my meeting them again in Cumberland 
County, they reported to me they had been at Sheerman's Creek, or Little 
Juniata, situate about six miles over the Blue Mountain, and found there 
James Parker, Thomas Parker, Owen M'Keib, John M'Clure, Richard 
Kirkpatrick, James Murray, John Scott, Henry Gass, John Cowan, Simon 






INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED 63 

Girtee and John Kilough, who had settled lands and erected cabins 
thereon; and having convicted them of the trespass on their view, they 
had bound them in recognizances of one hundred pounds to appear and 
answer for their trespasses on the first day of the next Cumberland 
County Court, to be held at Shippensburg, and that the said trespassers 
had likewise entered into bonds to the proprietaries in 500 pounds pen- 
alty, to remove off immediately with all their servants, cattle and effects 
and had delivered possession of their houses to Mr. George Stevenson 
for the proprietaries' use; and that Mr. Stevenson had ordered some of 
the meanest of those cabins to be set on fire, where the families were not 
large or the improvements considerable." 

But even this did not deter aggression and at a council held at 
Carlisle in 1753 the Indians again protested the occupation of their 
hunting grounds and notified the authorities that "they wished the 
people called back from the Juniata lands until matters were set- 
tled between them and the French, lest damage should be done, 
and then the English would think ill of them." That they had a 
right to protest is substantiated by the fact that Alexander Roddy, 
Thomas Wilson, William Patterson, James Kennedy, John and 
Joseph Scott, and probably others, had located in 1753, in what 
later became Tyrone Township, then generally known as Sher- 
man's Valley. 

As early as 1751 the number of taxables in Cumberland County 
north of the Kittatinny Mountain was 1,134. Rupp's History 
says : "These were chiefly Irish and some few Germans, who 
seated themselves on Juniata River, Sherman's Creek, Tuscarora 
Path, etc." The first settlements of these intruders on the un- 
purchased lands began about the year 1740, and increased despite 
the complaints of the Indians, the laws of the province and the 
proclamations of the governor. 

While the treaty of 1736 gave to the Penns all the lands lying 
east and south of the Kittatinny or Blue Mountains, yet settle- 
ments had been made west of the Susquehanna River prior to 
that time, special grants having been issued for settlements. When 
the Penns came the first purchase by them from the Indians in- 
cluded a small domain around Philadelphia. This was at the fa- 
mous council meeting of 1682. On September 17, 1718, another 
treaty confirmed that sale and extended the lands as far west as 
the Susquehanna River. The treaty of 1836 again confirmed the 
previous ones, when on October 11, twenty-three Six Nation 
chiefs sold to John, Thomas and Richard Perm all the lands on 
both sides of the Susquehanna, "eastward, to the heads of the 
branches or springs flowing into the river ; northward to the 
Kittochtinny Hills, and westward to the setting sun." "Westward 
to the setting sun" merely meant that south and east of the Kitta- 
tinny Mountains all the lands, including those that drained into the 
Potomac, were conveyed — nothing more — and yet many of the 



64 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

white settlers construed that "westward to the setting sun" to mean 
anything. 

The: Albany Treaty. 

Perry County is a part of the lands transferred by the Treaty 
of Albany, on July 6, 1754. The deed bears the names or marks 
of all the Chiefs and Sachems of the Six Nations and John and 
Richard Penn and their agents. It conveys to the latter "all the 
lands lying within the said province of Pennsylvania, bounded and 
limited as follows : Beginning at the Kittochtinny, or Blue Hills, 
on the Susquehanna River, thence along the said river a mile 
above the mouth of a certain creek called Kayarondinhagh ; thence 
'northwest by west as far as the said province extends, to its west- 
ern lines and boundaries ; thence along the said western line or 
boundary to the south line or boundary ; thence along said south 
line or boundary to the south side of said Kittochtinny Hills ; 
thence by south side of said hills to the place of beginning." The 
price was "400 pounds, lawful money of New York." 

Should these boundaries have stood practically the greater part 
of western Pennsylvania to the Ohio line would have been in- 
cluded, but disaffection appearing among the Indians a conference 
was held at Aughwick (near Mount Union) in September, 1754, 
at which the representatives of the various tribes declared that it 
was not their intention to sell the lands drained by the west branch 
of the Susquehanna and that they would never agree to any 
boundary that extended to Lake Erie. The "certain creek" named 
Kayarondinhagh, is Penn's Creek, which flows into the Susque- 
hanna at Selinsgrove and a line northwest by west would strike 
Lake Erie about where the city of Erie is now located. The result 
of this conference was that another treaty was concluded at Eas- 
ton, Pennsylvania, October 22, 1754, when the boundary lines to 
the north and west were changed. The line starting above Penn's 
Creek was made to run "northwest and by west to a creek called 
Buffalo Creek ; thence west to the east side of the Allegheny or 
Appalachian Hills ; thence along the east side of the said hills, 
binding therewith to the south line or boundary of the said prov- 
ince ; thence by the said south line or boundary to the south side 
of the Kittochtinny Hills; thence by the south side of said hills 
to the place of beginning." 

The territory, as thus defined by the revised boundaries, included 
all of the present counties of Perry, Juniata, Mifflin, Huntingdon, 
Bedford, Blair and Fulton, almost all of Snyder, about one-half 
of Centre and portions of Union. Franklin, and Somerset. The 
Perry County territory is the extreme southern part of this pur- 
chase. 



INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED 65 

During the preceding years pioneers had become familiar with 
the lands of the new grant and when the land office opened on 
February 3, 1755, on the very first day, a number of warrants 
were granted to those who had located their claims. While it has 
been impossible to give a full list of the warrantees during the 
early settlement of the county, yet a large number are covered in 
the early history of the various townships in .-mother pari of this 
volume. 

As will be seen in the following chapters many of these pio- 
neers abandoned their homes and fled to more thickly populated 
sections during the French and Indian War, many more were 
killed and scalped and still others were taken prisoner by the 
wily redskins. 

The Six Nations were not the occupants of the territory, al- 
though in authority. Many of the Delawares and the Shawnees, 
who were inhabiting it did not take the treaty literally, claiming 
a sort of ownership by right of occupation. This, in connection 
with the settlers having come in before the purchase and the trou- 
bles between the English and the French and Indians, soon made 
the land a veritable "dark and bloody ground." 

That Andrew Montour, the first authorized citizen of the lands 
which now comprise Perry County, was sent for by Col. George 
Washington in 1754, the very year of the purchase of these lands, 
is attested by Montour's autograph letter, on file in the office of 
the Secretary of the Commonwealth, at Harrisburg, addressed to 
Governor R. H. Morris. It follows : 

Sherman's Creek, 16th May, 1754. 
Sir: I once more take upon me the liberty of informing you that our 
Indians at Ohio are expecting every day the armed forces of this province 
against the French, who, by their late encroachments, is likely to prevent 
their planting, and thereby render them impossible of supporting their 
families. And you may depend upon it, as a certainty, that our Indians 
will not strike the French unless this province (or New York) engage with 
them; and that, by. sending some number of men to their immediate as- 
sistance. The reasons are plain, to wit : that they don't look upon their 
late friendship with Virginia, sufficient to engage them in a war with the 
French; I therefore think, with submission, that to preserve our Indian 
allies, this province ought instantly to send out some men, either less or 
more, which I have good reason to hope, would have the desired effect ; 
otherwise I doubt there will, in a little time, be an entire separation ; the 
consequences of which, you are best able to judge, &c. I am informed, 
by my brother, who has lately come from the Lakes, that there is at that 
place a great number of French Indians, preparing to come down to the 
assistance of the French, at Ohio. I am likewise informed, by a young 
Indian man (who, by my brother's directions, spent some days with the 
French at Monongahela), that they expect a great number of French 
down the river, very soon. I have delayed my journey to Ohio, and waited 
with great impatience for advice from Philadelphia, but have not yet 
received any. I am now obliged to go to Col. Washington, who has 
sent for me many days ago, to go with him to meet the half-king, Mona- 
5 



66 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

catootha, and others, that are coming to meet the Virginia companies; 
and, as they think, some from Pennsylvania — and would have been glad 
to have known the design of this province, in these matters, before I 
had gone. I am sir, your humble servant, 

Andrew Montour. 

The French and Indian War. 

Prior to 1753-54 for a period of probably seventy years tbe 
white settlers of the province and the Indians had gotten along 
peacefully in a general way, but about this time things changed. 
The Indians joined with the French against the English and 
bloody massacres followed. Already Virginia was being deso- 
lated and consternation seized the pioneers on every hand. The 
inhabitants of the new county of Cumberland, including what is 
now Perry County, petitioned Colonial Governor Hamilton for 
aid. The petition : 

The address of the subscribers of the county of Cumberland, sheweth 
that we are now in most imminent danger by a powerful army of cruel, 
merciless and inhumane enemies, by which our lives, liberties, estates, and 
all that tends to promote our welfare, are in utmost danger of dreadful 
destruction, and this lamentable truth is most evident from the late defeat 
of the Virginia forces, and now as we are under your honor's protection, 
we would beg your immediate notice, we living upon the frontiers of the 
province and our enemies so close upon us, nothing doubting but these 
considerations will affect your honor, and as you have our welfare at 
heart, that you will defer nothing that may tend to hasten our relief. 
And we have hereby appointed our most trusty friends, James Burd and 
Philip Davies, our commissioners, to deliver this our petition to your 
honor, and in hopes of your due attention and regard thereto, we are 
your honor's devoted servants, and as in duty bound shall ever pray : 

Cumberland, 15th July 1754. 
To which was attached the following signatures: Benjamin Chambers, 
Robert Chambers, James Carnahan, James McTeer, Charles Morrow, John 
Mitchell, Joseph Armstrong, John Miller, Alexander Culbertson, James 
Holiday, Nathaniel Wilson, Wm. McCord, James Jack, John Smith, Fran- 
cis West, James Sharp, John Ervin, Matthew Arthur, James McCormick, 
Charles Magill, George Finly, John Dotter, John Cesna, Joseph Culbert- 
son, Samuel Culbertson, John Thompson, John Reynolds, George Hamil- 
ton, David Magaw, James Chambers, Hermanus Alricks, Robert Meek, 
Archibald Machan, Benjamin Blyth, Joseph McKinney, John Thompson, 
Francis Campbell, John Finly, Isaac Miller, John Machan, John Miller, 
John Blair, James Blair, James Moore, John Finly, William White, Wil- 
liam Buchanan, John Montgomery, Andrew McFarlane, James Brandon, 
John Pattison, John Craighead, Wm. McClure, Samuel Stevens, William 
Brown, Pat McFarlan, Stephen Foulk, John Armstrong, Stephen Foulk, 
Jr., William McCoskry, Charles Pattison, William Miller, John Prentice, 
Arthur Forster, William Blyth, Gideon Griffith, Thomas Henderson, An- 
drew Mclntyre, John McCuer, Reuben Guthrie, George Davidson, Robert 
Miller, Thomas Willson, Thomas Lockert, Tobias Hendricks. It was 
read in Council, August 6, 1754. 

The governor, after giving proper consideration to the urgent 
demands of these settlers, in the same month — August, 1754 — sent 
a message to the Assembly, then in session, urging that immediate 



INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED 67 

attention be given to the matter and assistance be sent to them. 
From "Votes of Assembly," 4-319, August, 1754. the document 
is here reproduced : 

"The people of Cumberland and the upper parts of Lancaster County, 
are so apprehensive of danger, at this critical juncture, from the nearness 
of French and savages under their influence, that the principal inhabitants 
have, in the most earnest manner, petitioned me to provide for their pro- 
tection ; representing withal, that a great number would be warm and 
active in defence of themselves and their country, were they enabled so 
to be, by being supplied with arms and ammunition, which many of them 
are unable to purchase at their own private expense. The substance of 
these several petitions, which I shall likewise order to be laid before you, 
appears to me, gentlemen, to be of the greatest importance, and well 
worthy of your most serious attention. You may be assured that nothing 
which depends on me shall be wanting towards affording them the pro- 
tection they desire; but you cannot at the same time but be sensible how 
little it is in my power to answer the expectations without the aid of your 
house. It becomes then my indispensable duty, and I cannot on any ac- 
count whatever, excuse myself from pressing you to turn your thoughts 
on the defenceless state of the province in general, as well as of our back 
inhabitants in particular; and to provide such means for the security of 
the whole, as shall be thought at once both reasonable and effectual to the 
ends proposed; in which, as in every other matter, consistent with my 
honor, and the trust reposed in me, I promise you my hearty concur- 
rence." 

Legislative bodies in those days seem to have been the pro- 
genitors of the present-day product; and while the citizens ap- 
pealed continually, and the Indians wielded the tomahawk assidu- 
ously, the members of the Provincial Assembly talked continu- 
ously. According to old records all they did was "talk, and talk, 
and talk." 

In 1755, actual hostilities had begun, between the English and 
the French, in the struggle for the control of America and the 
settlement of the question as to whether it would be for all time 
an English-speaking or a French-speaking nation. The frontier 
settlers were panic-stricken, which is not to be wondered at, for 
were they not at the the verge of civilization ? 

The reader will remember that February 3, i/55 — tliat ver >' 
vear — i s the date upon which the land office opened at Lancaster 
"for the settlement of the lands which now form the county oi 
Perry. 

The Indian nations were divided. Sir William Johnston had 
induced the Mohawks, the Tuscaroras and the Oneidas to take 
sides with the British, and the Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas, 
to remain neutral — a difficult job. Many of the Canadian Iro- 
quois, however, went over to the French. Of the Susquehannas, 
Delawares and Shawnees, a part, influenced by Logan, John 
Thachnechtoris, Scarrooyady, Paxnons, The Belt, Zigarea and 
Andrew Montour, remained true to the Colonies, offering to estab- 



68 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

lish a post at Shamokin against the French; but part of them 
took up the hatchet. 

In the latter part of 1754 the disposition of the French toward 
the frontiers was very threatening, and it was proposed to remove 
the Indians from Aughwick, in what is now Huntingdon County, 
to the month of the Juniata. The opinion of George Croghan, the 
Indian agent then located at Aughwick, was sought, and his reply 
is reproduced here as showing that the settlers at the mouth of 
the Juniata River were principally traders. It follows: 

"As to moving the Indians to the month of the Juniata, I think 
it a very improper place, for this reason : it is settled with a set 
of white men that make their living by trading with the Indians 
that is settled on the river Susquehanna and sells them little else but 
spirits, so that it would be impossible to keep these Indians from 
spending all their clothing and then they would be forever teasing 
your honor for goods. Indeed it is my opinion that were they 
to live in any part of the inhabitance, it would be attended with 
bad consequences, as there is no keeping them from being in- 
flamed with liquor if they can get at it, cost what it will ; besides 
it is dangerous for fear of their getting sickness ; then they would 
say the white people killed them, and while they stay here they are 
a defense to the back inhabitants, which I think lays very open 
to the enemy, and I think if the government intends to build any 
fortifications for the security of the back inhabitants that this 
place or some place hereabouts is the properest place." 

As this was the year of the Albany purchase of these lands, and 
as the land office was not yet opened for settlement, the location 
of these traders was evidently on Duncan's Island, then known as 
Juniata Island, which was included in an earlier purchase by Penn. 

Late in October, 1755, the Indians appeared in the neighborhood 
of Shamokin, and early in November committed several murders 
of whites under peculiarly cruel and barbarous circumstances. 
Not only those on the immediate frontier, but also those farther 
to the heart of the settled part of the province were in constant 
dread of the savages. A proclamation signed by nine prominent 
citizens advised all to repair to the frontiers and be prepared for 
the "worst event." The George Gabriel's mentioned in their proc- 
lamation was located "below the forks of the Susquehanna, about 
thirty miles of Harris' Ferry, on the west side of the river," ac- 
cording to Rupp. The proclamation: 

Paxton, Oct. 31, 1755- From John Harris' at 12 p.m. 

To all his majesty's subjects in the Province of Pennsylvania, or else- 
where: Whereas, Andrew Montour, Belt of Wampum, two Mohawks, 
and other Indians came down this day from Shamokin (where Sunbury 
is now located), who say the whole body of Indians or the greatest part 
of them in the French interest, is actually encamped on this side George 
Gabriel's, near Susquehanna; and that we may expect an attack in three 



INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED 69 

days at farthest; and a French fort to be begun at Sbamokin in ten days 
hence. Tho' this be the Indian report; we the subscribers, do give it 
as our advice to repair immediately to the frontiers with all our forces 
to intercept their passage into our country, and be prepared in the best 
manner possible for the worst event. 

Witness our hands. 

James Galbreath, John Allison, Barney Hughes, Robert Wallace, John 
Harris, James Pollock, James Anderson, William Work, Patrick Henry. 

P. s'. They positively affirm that the above named Indians discovered 
a party of the enemy at Thomas McKee's upper place on the 30th of 
October last. 

Mona-ca-too-tha, the Belt, and other Indians here, insist upon Mr. 
Weiser's coming immediately to John Harris' with his men, and to council 
with the Indians. 

Before me, James Galbreath. 

That the matter of calling forth the above proclamation was 
urgent is attested by the fact that the latter part of the date line 
shows it to have been despatched at an unusual hour, "From John 
Harris' at 12 p. m.," is the inscription, and it was likely sent by 
courier, or as the provincial authorities termed it, "by express." 

The above is from the provincial records and also establishes 
the fact that Thomas McKee had two places, a fact which has 
confused many writers. McKee was an Indian trader and is men- 
tioned in many records, one being in an earlier chapter of this 
book, where he was one of a party to help hunt for the murderers 
of John Armstrong. That he was one of these men would imply 
that he probably made his headquarters at the lower place, which 
was at Peters' Mountain, opposite Duncannon ; in fact his name 
frequently appears in matters pertaining to the lower location. 
The upper location was where McKee's Half Falls is, that place 
taking its name from him. The "places" were likely trading posts 
for the exchange of goods and possibly also stopping places for 
travelers, but the latter is hardly likely, as the country was too 
little settled to require such accommodation. People yet living 
remember when Harry McKee, a descendant, owned the farm at 
the end of Peters' Mountain. He later kept a hotel at the east 
end of Clark's Ferry bridge. 

McKee's store, mentioned in many provincial documents, was 
near Peters' Mountain, and further proof of the fact is contained 
in Rupp's History, page 314, where it is stated that William Clap- 
ham, commandant at Fort Halifax, wrote Governor Morris, July 
1, 1756, saying he would leave a sergeant and twelve men at 
Harris', twenty-four at Hunter's Fort, twenty-four at McKee's 
store, each in command of an ensign, and Captain Miles and 
thirty-seven men at Fort Halifax, naming the points in order 
coming up the river. 

CamerhorT, the Moravian bishop, on January 13, 1748, after 
•being at one of McKee's places, described him thus: "McKee 



■jo HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

holds a captain's commission under the government; is an exten- 
sive Indian trader; bears a good name among them, and drives a 
brisk trade with the Allegheny country." McKee's wife was 
either a white woman who had been reared among the Indians or 
was herself an Indian, probably the former. There is record that 
she conld speak little English. Various stories appear in historical 
works as to her origin. Certain it is that, if she were even reared 
among the Indians to her must be credited the half -savage nature 
of Alexander McKee — son of Captain Thomas — who was the fel- 
low renegade of Simon Girty. His rearing among the Indians, 
where his father traded, probably also contributed to it. He was 
George Croghan's assitant at Pittsburgh as Deupty Indian Agent 
to the British. When a lad at the store below Peters' Mountain 
he probably became acquainted with young Simon Girty, who lived 
a tew miles below. The reader is referred to the chapter on Simon 
Girty for further description of the younger McKee. 

In a letter* addressed to "Mr. Peters, Secretary of the Prov- 
ince, dated Conococheague, Nov. 2, 1755, John Potter, sheriff of 
Cumberland County, after telling of the great Indian massacres in 
Great Cove (now Bedford County), says: 'I am much afraid 
that Juniata, Tuscarora and Sheerman's Valley hath suffered ; 
there are two-thirds of the inhabitants of this valley who have 
already fled, leaving their plantations ; and without speedy suc- 
cour be granted I am of the opinion this county will be laid deso- 
late and be without inhabitants. Last night I had a family of up- 
wards of an hundred women and children, who fled for succour. 
You can form no just idea of the distress and distracted condition 
of our inhabitants, unless you saw and heard their cries.' " 

In a letter also dated November 2, 1755, to Governor Morris, 
signed by John Armstrong, f is this: "We have sent our ex- 
presses everywhere and intend to collect the forces of this lower 
part ; expecting the enemy at Sheerman's Valley, if not nearer at 
hand. I am of the opinion that no other means than a chain of 
block houses along or near the south side of the Kittatinny Moun- 
tain, from Susquehanna to the temporary line, can secure the lives 
and properties even of the old inhabitants of this county, the new 
settlements being all fled, except those of Sheerman's Valley whom, 
it God do not preserve, we fear, will suffer very soon. I am your 
honor's disconsolate, humble servant," etc. 

The only man, as far as official records show, who inhabited the 
territory which is now Perry County, to fight in the French and 
Indain W r ar with the army was Andrew Montour, the Indian 
agent and trader, who resided on Sherman's Creek, near where 



*Rupp's History. 
fProvincial Records. 



INTRUDING SF.TTLERS EVICTED 



71 



Montour's run empties into it. In one of his official communi- 
cations to Governor Morris, Braddock says he has forty or fifty 
Indians with him and has taken into the service Andrew Montour 
and George Croghan. Coming from such a source it is evidently 
not only official hut authentic. Another man, Alexander Stephens, 
who later resided in Perry County territory, and became a captain 
in the Revolution, was a soldier in this war and was present at 
Braddock's defeat. He was a private in Capt. Joseph Shippen's 
company of Col. William Clapham's regiment. 

Most of the Indians deserted the Braddock expedition, and with 
some reason. Braddock advanced with great pomp and his 
method of fighting was had, in so far as Indian warfare was con- 
cerned. Scarroyady, a chief, in an address to the Provincial 
Council, said : 

"It is now well known to you how unhappily we have been 
defeated by the French near Minongelo (Monongahela). We 
must let you know that it was the pride and ignorance of that 
great general that came from England. He is now dead ; but 
he was a bad man when he was alive ; he looked upon us as dogs, 
and would never hear anything that was said to him. We often 
endeavored to advise him and to tell him the danger he was in 
with his soldiers ; but he never appeared pleased with us, and 
that was the reason that a great many of our warriors would not 
be under his command." 

The following letter shows that Montour was mistrusted, and 
also illustrates the distressed condition of the territory at that 
period : 

"Carlisle, Sunday Night, November 2, 1755. 

"Dear Sir: Inclosed to Mr. Allen, by the last post, I sent you a letter 
from Harris', but I believe forgot, through that day's confusion, to di- 
rect it. 

"You will see our melancboly circumstances by the governor's letter 
and my opinion of the method of keeping the inhabitants in this county, 
which will require all possible despatch. If we had immediate assurance 
of relief a great number would stay ; and the inhabitants should be 
advertised not to drive off, nor waste their beef cattle, &c. I have not 
so much as sent off my wife, fearing an ill precedent, but must do it now, 
I believe, together with the public papers and your own. 

"There are no inhabiants on Juniata, nor on Tuscarora by this time, 
my brother William being just come in. Montour and Monaghatootha 
are going to the governor. The former is greatly suspected of being an 
enemy in his heart — 'tis hard to tell — you can compare what they say to 
the governor to what I have wrote. I have no notion of a large army, 
but of great danger from scouting parties. John Armstrong." 

Indian Massacres on County Soil. 

With the defeat of General Braddock in western Pennsylvania 
by the French and Indians on July 9, 1755, the Indians took the 



■ji HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

warpath and laid waste all outlying' settlements. The land office 
tor the settlement of these lands had only opened the third day of 
the preceding February and the new settlers were unable to locate 
in the territory until the coming of spring. They had cleared a 
few acres of land on which was growing their first crop when the 
Braddock defeat occurred. 

Evidently learning of the outrages of Indians elsewhere a brave 
family named Robinson,* the father's name being George Robin- 
son, and their neighbors erected a log fort and stockade on a 
tableland of the Robinson farm for the protection of the citi- 
zens in case of attack by the Indians. That it was built during 
this first year of the settlement of Perry County soil is attested 
by Robert Robinson in his narrative telling of the Woolcomber 
tragedy along Sherman's Creek. According to Rupp, the histo- 
rian, that and other murders occurred in Sherman's Valley towards 
the close of December, 1755 — the first year of the settlement of 
these lands. 

The story of Robert Robinson is recorded in tLoudon's Nar- 
ratives, the first part of it relating to the first battle fought with 
the Indians after Rraddock's defeat, in which his brother lost his 
life. It follows: 

"Sideling Hill was the first fought battle after Braddock's de- 
feat. In the year 1756 a party of Indians came out of Conoco- 
cheague to a garrison named McCord's Fort, and killed some and 
took a number of prisoners. They then took their course near to 
Fort Littleton. Captain Hamilton, being stationed there with a 
company, hearing of their route at McCord's Fort, marched with 
his company of men, having an Indian with them who was under 
pay. This Indian led the company, and came on the tracks of the 
Indians and soon tracked them to Sideling Hill, where they found 
them with their prisoners, and having the first fire, but without 
doing much damage, the Indians returned the fire, defeated our 
men and killed a number of them. My brother, James Robinson, 
was among the slain. The Indians had McCord's wife with them ; 
they cut off Mr. James Blair's head and threw it in Mrs. McCord's 
lap, saving that was her husband's head, but she knew it to be 
Blair's.'" 



*The name is variously spelled Robison, Robeson, and Robinson. It is 
believed that the first method was the original, but as official publications 
of the state use the latter and as the descendants also do, that method is 
used in our pages. 

fFor much of the information contained in this chapter posterity is in- 
debted to Archibald Loudon, author of Loudon's Narratives. His father, 
James Loudon, was a pioneer in what is now Tuscarora Township, 
Perry County, and in Bull's Hill graveyard there the oldest stone marks 
his grave. Archibald Loudon thus got his information at first hand, there 
being no tradition about it. 



INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED 73 

Robinson further says: "In 1756, I remember of Woolcomber's 
family on Shearman's Creek; the whole of the inhabitants of the 
valley was gathered at Robinson's, but Woolcomber Would not 
leave home; he said it was the Irish who were killing one an- 
other; these peaceable people, the Indians, would not hurt any 
person. Being at home and at dinner, the Indians came in, and 
the Quaker asked them to come and eat dinner ; an Indian an- 
nounced that he did not come to eat, but for scalps ; the son, a 
boy of fourteen or fifteen years of age, when he heard the Indian 
say so. repaired to a back door, and as he went out he looked 
back, and saw the Indian strike the tomahawk into his father's 
head. The boy then ran over the creek, which was near to the 
house, and heard the screams of his mother, sisters and brother. 
The boy came to our fort and gave us the alarm; about forty 
went to where the murder was done and buried the dead." The 
scene of this tragedy was the Burchfield farm, near Cisna's Run. 

Loudon's Narratives also states that in the year 1755 Peter 
Shaver, John Savage and two other men were killed at the mouth 
of Shaver's Creek, or Juniata, by the Indians. 

In February, 1756, Captain Patterson, with a party of scouts, 
went up the Susquehanna and reported the woods, from the Juni- 
ata to Shamokin, to be filled with Indians. Encountering a party 
of Indians they scalped one, which later proved to be the son of 
Shikellamy's sister. 

In Loudon's Narratives are the following details of another 
scalping: "February, 1756, a party of Indians from Shamokin 
came to Juniata. They first came to Hugh Micheltrees, being on 
the river, who had gone to Carlisle, and had got a young man, 
named Edward Nicholas, to stay with his wife until he would 
return — the Indians killed them both. The same party of In- 
dians went up the river where the Lukens now live — William 
Wilcox lived on the opposite side of the river, whose wife and 
eldest son had come over the river on some business — the Indians 
came while they were there and killed old Edward Nicholas (in 
some books the name is given as Nicholson) and his wife, and took 
Joseph, Thomas and Catharine Nicholas, John Wilcox, James Arm- 
strong's wife and two children prisoners. An Indian named Cot- 
ties (Cotter), who wished to be captain of this party, when they 
did not choose him, did not go with them. He and a boy went 
to Shearman's Creek and killed *William Sheridan and family, 
thirteen in number. They then went down the creek to where 
three old persons lived, two men and a woman, called French, 
whom they killed ; of which he often boasted afterwards, that he 



*Those killed at this time were William Sheridan, a Quaker, his wife, 
three children and a servant; William Hamilton, his wife and daughter 
and a man and two women whose last name was French. 



74 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

and the boy took more scalps than the whole party." Some his- 
torians locate the scene of this tragedy as "being within ten miles 
of Carlisle, a little beyond Stephen's Gap," evidently meaning 
Sterrett's Gap. The location of the French home is uncertain at 
this distant day, but was probably in the vicinity of Dellville, as 
the description says they went down the creek from the Sheridan 
home. There is little doubt that the Sheridan family lived along 
the creek on the farm long known as the Levi Adams farm, above 
Dellville. According to the statement of Rev. L. C. Smiley, Mrs. 
Ludwig Cornman, when near ninety years of age, pointed out to 
his mother the location of the graves, which her father, Philip 
Foulk, had shown her, telling her the story, exactly as printed 
above and in Provincial Annals. It is in the meadow, adjoining 
the W. A. Smiley farm, and the Sheridan house stood between 
the sites of the present Adams house and barn. For years a long 
stone, deeply set in the ground and projecting, marked the graves, 
but Mr. Adams found it inconvenient to farm around it and broke 
it off with a sledge hammer on a level with the bottom of the fur- 
row. Mr. Smiley, at a later period while working in the same 
meadow with Mr. Adams, was informed by him that at the time 
he was unaware of the stone being a marker of so historic an inci- 
dent or he would not have removed it. 

Of the murder on Sherman's Creek of ten persons there remains 
an affidavit made almost a decade later, being dated February 28, 
1764, and signed by Alexander Stephens, then of the county of 
Lancaster. He says Cotties, or Cotter, came back for a canoe 
which the murderers had left and admitted that he was of the 
party that killed these settlers. 

On October 1, 1757, near Fort Hunter — opposite Marysville — 
this Indian named Cotties saw a young fellow named William 
Martin,* gathering chestnuts, and killed him. In later years he 
got his just deserts. After the Indian war was over he appeared 
at Fort Hunter and boasted of the friendship he had had for the 
settlers. An Indian named Hambus, who had been friendly all 
the while, called him a liar and told of him causing all the trouble 
possible and of seeing him kill Martin. An altercation ensued, but 
the white settlers stopped it. Later in the day Cotties became 
drunk and while asleep the other Indian sunk his tomahawk into 
his skull. 

Robert Robinson, mentioned a number of times in these pages, 
was a hero and well known to Archibald Loudon, both being from 
Perry County territory. In introducing his narratives Mr. Lou- 



*This William Martin was the second son of Samuel Martin, of Pax- 
tang, whose uncle James had warranted the Fort Hunter property. He 
was a brother of Captain Joseph Martin, who became owner of the Mar- 
tin mills, in what is now Howe Township, upon the death of his father. 



INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED 75 

don thus refers to him: "Robert Robinson, who was an eye wit- 
ness of many of the transactions related by him, was wounded at 
Kittanning, when it was taken by Colonel, later General John 
Armstrong, and a second time at Buffalo Creek, when two ot his 
brothers fell victims to savage fury. From our long acquaintance 
with this man, who is now no more, we can have no hesitation in 
believing the narratives correct, to the best of his remembrance." 
The French left unturned no stone in their efforts to enlist the 
Delaware's and often they were successful by preying upon the 
savage disposition through intrigue and deception. The following 
letter from Captain McKee to Edward Shippen, headed "Foart 
at Hunter's Mill, Ap'l 5th, 1756," is an example of their schemes: 
"Sir: I desire to let you No that John Secalemy, Indian, is Come here 
ye Day before yesterday, about 4 o'clock in ye afternoon, & Gives me an 
account that there is a Great Confusion amongst ye Indians up ye North 
branch of Susquehanna; the Delawares are a moving all from thence to 
Ohio, and wants to Persuade ye Shanowes along with them, but they 
Decline Goeing with them that course, and as they still incline to join with 
us, the Shanowes are Goeing up to a Town Called Teoga, where there is a 
body of ye Six Nations, and there they Intend to Remain. He has 
brought two more men, som women & som children along with him, and 
Sayeth that he Intends to live & Die with us, and Insists upon my Con- 
ducting him down to where his Sister and children is, at Canistogo, and 
I'm Loath to leave my Post, as his Honor was offended at ye last time 
I did, but can't help it, he Desires to acquaint you that his sister's son 
was killed at Perm's Creek, in ye scrimege w'th Cap't. Patterson. This 
with Due Respect from Sir, your Hum'l Ser't, 

"Thomas McKee." 
There were many encounters between the English and the In- 
dians. Loudon, in his narratives, says that few of the achieve- 
ments equal that of Samuel Bell, a wealthy farmer of Cumberland 
It follows : 

"Samuel Bell and his brother, George Bell, after Braddock's defeat, 
agreed to go into Shearman's Valley to hunt for deer, and were to meet 
at Croghan's (now Sterrett's) Gap, on the Blue Mountain; by some 
means or other they did not meet, and Samuel slept all night in a cabin 
belonging to Mr. Patton, on Shearman's Creek. In the morning he had 
not traveled far before he spied three Indians, who at the same time 
saw him; they all fired at each other; he wounded one of the Indians, 
but received no damage, except through his clothes by the shots; several 
shots were fired on both sides, as each took a tree; he took out his 
tomahawk and stuck it into the tree behind which he stood, so that 
should they approach he might be prepared. The tree was grazed by 
bullets and he had thoughts of making his escape by flight, but on reflec- 
tion had doubts of his being able to outrun them. After some time the 
two Indians took the wounded one and put him over a fence and one 
took one course and the other another, taking a compass so that Bell 
could no longer secure himself by the tree, but by trying to ensnare him 
they had to expose themselves, by which means he had the good fortune 
to shoot one of them dead. The other ran, took the dead Indian on his 
back, one leg over each shoulder; by this time Bell's gun was again 
loaded and he ran after the Indian until he came within about four yards, 



76 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

fired and shot through the dead Indian and lodged his ball in the other, 
who dropped the dead man and ran off. On his return, coining past the 
fence where the wounded Indian was, he despatched him but did not know 
he had killed the third Indian until his bones were found afterwards." 

The prominent Bell families of the past and the present gen- 
erations located in Rye Township are, however, not descendants 
of this same family. 

In a letter by James Young dated July 18, 1756, at Carlisle, to 
"the Hon. Gov. Morris," among other things is another reference 
to Sherman's Valley, as follows : 

I left Shamokin early on Friday morning in a battoe ; we rowed her 
down to Harris' Ferry before night, with four oars. There is but one 
fall above those you saw, not so bad as those at Hunter's ; it is about 
four miles from Fort Halifax. 1 came here yesterday noon hoping to 
find money sent by the commissioners to pay the forces on this side of 
the river as they promised, but as yet none is come. Neither is Colonel 
Armstrong come, and I find but sixteen of his men here, the rest having 
gone to Shearman's Valley to protect the farmers at the harvest, so when 
the money comes I shall be at a loss for an escort. I am informed that a 
number of men at the forts whose three months is expired agreeable to 
their enlistments have left their posts and expect their pay when I go 
there. This may be of bad consequence and I heartily wish there were 
none enlisted for less than twelve months. I am persuaded the officers 
would find men enough for that time. 

The distress of the frontier settlements at this time had became 
a tragedy and any attempt to portray their sufferings and fears 
would prove a failure. In the fall of 1755 the country west of the 
Susquehanna and north of the Blue or Kittatinny Mountain had 
three thousand men fit to bear arms, and in August, 1756, exclu- 
sive of the provincial forces, there were not one hundred, fear 
having driven the greater part from their homes into the more 
settled part of the province. Governor Morris, in his message to 
the Assembly, August 16, 1756, said: "The people to the west of 
the Susquehanna, distressed by the frequent incursions of the 
enemy and weakened by their great losses, are moving into the 
interior parts of the province, and I am fearful that the whole 
county will be evacuated, if timely and vigorous measures are not 
taken to prevent it." 

The Assembly were inclined to disregard the appeals, but the 
frequent reports of additional outrages impelled them to pass a 
measure providing for the appropriation of forty thousand pounds 
which was to be raised by taxing the proprietary estates. The 
governor, being indebted to the proprietaries for his position, 
vetoed the bill. The proprietary, however, made a contribution 
of five thousand pounds, which was applied to the defence of the 
frontier. Governor Morris and the Assembly not being able to 
agree on the matter of protecting the frontier from the ravages 
of the Indians the entire matter, including the petitions from citi- 



INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED yy 

zens, was laid before the King of Great Britain, who ordered a 
hearing before a committee of the Privy Council. At this hearing 
Cumberland County (which included Perry) and the Assembly 
were represented by counsel and the Assembly was criticized for 

its conduct in relation to the public defense dating as far back as 

Upon consideration of the report of the committee the Privy 
Council went upon record that the Legislature of Pennsylvania, 
as of every other county, was bound to support its government 
and its subjects; that the measures heretofore adopted by the 
Assembly for that purpose were improper, inadequate and inef- 
fectual ; and that there was no cause to hope for other measures 
while the majority of the Assembly consisted of persons whose 
avowed principles were against military service; who, though not 
a sixth part of the inhabitants of the province, were admitted to 
hold offices of trust and profit, and to sit in the Assembly without 
their allegiance being secured by the sanction of an oath. 

The massacres which followed Braddock's defeat were princi- 
pally laid to King Shingas (Shingask), the greatest Delaware 
warrior of his period. Among the settlements that fell prey to him 
was Sherman's Valley, says Rupp, the historian. He was a small 
personage but his savagery is said to have been unrelenting. 

Those who had not fled or whose interests lay in the desolated 
territory petitioned the governor, council, and assembly for pro- 
tection against the relentless foe, the same being read in Council, 
August 21, 1756. Among the signatures are the ancestors of many 
Perry Countians. The petition : 

To the Honorable Robert Hunter Morris, Esq., Lieut. Governor of the 
Province of Pennsylvania: 
The address of part of the remaining inhabitants of Cumberland County, 
most humbly showeth, that the French and their savage allies, have from 
time to time made several incursions into this county, have in the most 
inhuman and barbarous manner murdered great numbers of our people 
and carried others into captivity, and being greatly emboldened by a 
series of success, not only attempted but also took Fort Granville on the 
30th of July last, then commanded by the late Lieutenant Edward Arm- 
strong, and carried off the greater part of the garrison, prisoners, from 
whom' doubtless the enemy will be informed of the weakness of this 
frontier, and how incapable we are of defending ourselves against their 
incursions, which will be a great inducement for them to redouble their 
attacks, and in all probability force the remaining inhabitants of this 
county to evacuate it. Great numbers of the inhabitants are already fled, 
and others preparing to go off; finding that it is not in the power of the 
troops in the pay of the government (were we certain of their being con- 
tinued) to prevent the ravages of our restless, barbarous and merciless 
enemy. It is therefore greatly to be doubted that (without a further pro- 
tection) the inhabitants of this comity will shortly endeavor to save them- 
selves and their effects by flight, which must consequently be productive 
of considerable inconveniences to his majesty's interest in general, and to 
the welfare of the people of this province in particular. 



;8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Your petitioners being fully convinced of your honor's concern for a 
strict attention to his majesty's interest, have presumed to request that 
your honor would be pleased to take our case into consideration, and, if 
agreeable to your honor's judgment, to make application to his excellency, 
General Loudon, that part of the troops now raising for his excellency's 
regiment may be sent to, and for some time, continued in some of the 
most important and advantageous posts in this county, by whose assistance 
we may be able to continue a frontier if possible, and thereby induce the 
remaining inhabitants to secure, at least, a part of the immense quantity 
of grain which now lies exposed to the enemy and subject to be destroyed 
or taken away by them ; and also enable the provincial troops to make 
incursions into the enemy's country, which* would contribute greatly to the 
safety and satisfaction of your honor's petitioners — and your petitioners, 
as in duty bound shall ever pray, &c. 

The signatures : Francis West, John Welch, James Dickson, Robert 
Erwin, Samuel Smith, Wm. Buchanan, Daniel Williams, John Montgomery, 
Thomas Barker, John Lindsay, Thomas Urie, James Buchanan, Wm. 
Spear, James Pollock, Andrew Mclntyre, Robert Gibson, Garret McDaniel, 
Arthur Foster, James Brandon, John Houston, Patrick McCollom, James 
Reed, Thomas Lockertt, Andrew Dalton, John Irwin, Wm. BIyth, Robert 
Miller, Wm. Miller, James Young, John Davis, John Mitchell, John Pat- 
tison, Samuel Stevens, John Fox, Charles Pattison, John Foster, Wm. 
McCaskey, Andrew Calhoun, Jas. Stackpole, Wm. Sebbe, Jas. Robb, 
Samuel Anderson, Robert Robb, Samuel Hunter, A. Forster, N'ath. Smyth. 

Attack of Fort Robinson. 

Of the attack on Fort Robinson during harvest time in 1756 
there is record, as the narrative of Robert Robinson, of that hardy 
pioneer family of Robinsons, was preserved for posterity by 
Loudon, the historian, in his work known as Loudon's Narratives 
The Indians had murdered some persons in Sherman's Valley in 
July and waylaid the fort in harvest time. They kept quiet until 
the reapers had gone into the clearings to harvest, when a chance 
shot at a mark by Robert Robinson caused them to imagine they 
were discovered. But let us listen to his story, just as related : 

"The Indians murdered some persons in the Shearman's Valley in July 
and waylaid the fort in harvest time, and kept quiet until the reapers were 
gone; James Wilson remaining some time behind the rest and I not being 
gone to my business, which was hunting deer, for the use of the company. 
Wilson standing at the Fort gate I desired liberty to shoot his gun at a 
mark, upon which he gave me the gun and I shot. The Indians on the 
upper side of the fort, thinking they were discovered, rushed on a daughter 
of Robert Miller and instantly killed her and shot at John Simmeson. 
They then made the best of it that they could and killed the wife of 
James Wilson, and the widow Gibson and took Hugh Gibson and Betsy 
Henry prisoners. The reapers being forty in number, returned to the fort 
and the Indians dispersed." 

While the Indian was scalping Mrs. Wilson, Robert Robinson 
took a shot at him, wounding him, but he escaped. 

The story of Hugh Gibson, who was carried away by the In- 
dians at that time, reads like romance. It is recorded by Archibald 
Loudon, that first historian from Perry County territory, in his 
book, Loudon's Narratives, as follows : 



INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED 79 

"I was," says Gibson, "taken captive by the Indians, from Robinson's 
fort, in Shearman's Valley, in July, 1756, at which time my mother was 
killed; I was taken back to their towns, where I suffered much from 
hunger and abuse ; many times they beat me most severely, and once 
they sent me to gather wood to burn myself, but I cannot tell whether 
they intended to do it or to frighten me; however, T did not remain long 
before I was adopted into an Indian family, and then I lived as they did, 
though the living was very poor. I was then about fourteen years of age; 
my Indian father's name was Busqueetam ; he was lame in consequence of 
a wound received by his knife in skinning a deer, and being unable to 
walk, he ordered me to drive forks in the ground and cover it with bark 
to make a lodge for him to lie in, but the forks not being secure they gave 
way and the bark fell down upon him and hurt him very much, which put 
him into a great rage and calling his wife, ordered us to carry him on a 
blanket into the hut and I must be one that helps to carry him in ; while 
we were carrying him I saw him hunting for the knife, but my Indian 
mother had taken care to convey it away, and when we had got him again 
fixed in his bed, my mother ordered me to conceal myself, which I did; 
I afterward heard him reproving her for putting away the knife, for by 
this time I had learned to understand a little of their language. However, 
his passion wore off and we did very well for the future. 

"Some time after this all the prisoners in the neighborhood were col- 
lected to be spectators of the cruel death of a poor, unhappy woman, a 
prisoner, amongst which number I was. When Colonel Armstrong de- 
stroyed the Kittanning fort this woman fled to the white men, but by some 
means lost them and fell into the hands of the Indians, who stripped her 
naked, bound her to a post, and applying hot irons to her whilst the skin 
stuck to the iron at every touch, she screaming in the most pitiful manner, 
and crying for mercy, but these ruthless barbarians were deaf to her 
agonizing shrieks and prayers, and continued their cruelty till death re- 
leased her from the torture of those hellish fiends. Of this shocking scene 
at which human nature shudders, the prisoners were all brought to be 
spectators. 

"I shall omit giving any account of our encamping or decamping, or our 
moving from place to place, as every one knows this is the most constant 
employment of Indians. I had now become pretty well acquainted with 
their manners and customs, had learned their language and was become 
a tolerable good hunter — was admitted to their dances, to their sacrifices 
and religious ceremonies. Some of them have a tolerable good idea of 
the Supreme Being; and I have heard some of them very devoutly thank- 
ing their Maker, that they had seen another spring and had seen the 
flowers upon the earth. I observed that their prayers and praises were 
for temporal things. They had one bad custom amongst them; that if 
one man kill another, the friends of the deceased, if they cannot get the 
murderer, they will kill the nearest akin. I once saw an instance of this: 
two of them quarreled and the one killed the other, upon which the friends 
of the deceased rose in pursuit of the murderer, but he having made his 
escape, his friends were all hiding themselves ; but the pursuers hap- 
pened to find a brother of the murderer, a boy concealed under a log; 
they immediately pulled him out from his concealment ; he plead strongly 
that it was not him that killed the man ; this had no weight with the 
avengers of blood; they instantly sunk their tomahawks into his body 
and despatched him. But they have some rules and regulations among 
them that are good; their ordinary way of living is miserable and poor, 
often without food. They were amazingly dirty in their cookery; some- 
times they catch a number of frogs, and hang them up to dry ; when a 



So HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

deer is killed they will split up the guts and give them a plunge or two 
in the water and then dry them and when they run out of provisions they 
will take some of the dried frogs and some of the deer guts and boil them 
till the flesh of the frogs is dissolved, then they sup the broth. 

"Having now been with them a considerable time, a favorable oppor- 
tunity offered for me to regain my liberty; my old father, Busqueetam, 
lost a horse, and he sent me to look for him ; after searching some time 
I came home and told him that I had discovered his tracks at some con- 
siderable distance and that I thought I could find him ; that I would take 
my gun and provisions and would hunt for three or four days and if I 
could kill a bear or deer I would pack home the meat on my horse; ac- 
cordingly I packed up some provisions and started towards the white set- 
tlements, not fearing pursuit for some days, and by that time I would be 
out of the reach of the pursuers. But before I was aware I was almost 
at a large camp of Indians, by a creek side; this was in the evening and 
I had to conceal myself in a thicket till it was dark and then passed the 
camp, and crossed the creek in one of their canoes. I was much afraid 
that their dogs would give the alarm, but happily got safe past. I trav- 
eled on for several days, and on my way I spied a bear, shot at and 
wounded him, so that he could not run, but being too hasty ran up to 
him with my tomahawk; but before I could give a blow he gave me a 
severe stroke on the leg, which pained me very much, and retarded my 
journey much longer than it otherwise would have been. However I 
traveled on as well as I could till I got to the Allegheny River, where I 
collected some poles, with which I made a raft and bound it together with 
elm bark and grape vines, by which means I got over the river, but in 
crossing which I lost my gun. I arrived at Fort Pitt in fourteen days 
from the time of my start, after a captivity of five years and four months." 

Hugh Gibson, mentioned as being taken captive, was the son of 
David Gibson, who came from County Tyrone, Ireland, about 
1740 and settled in Lancaster County, where Hugh was born in 
1 741. His mother's maiden name was Mary McClelland. The 
father died while Hugh was quite young and the widowed mother, 
with her three children, Hugh, Israel, and Mary, removed to the 
vicinity of Fort Robinson, then Tyrone Township, to be near her 
brother, William McClelland, who resided near Centre church. 
During that summer season of 1756, when Indian uprisings were 
common and the war whoop resounded through the forests, the 
widow and her children had taken refuge in the stockade at Fort 
Robinson. With her eldest son Hugh, Mrs. Gibson was out in 
the woods looking for their cattle, when she was shot down and 
scalped and her son chased and captured. He was carried away 
ti» the Indian town of Kittanning and adopted into an Indian 
family to take the place of a son killed in battle with the Cherokees. 
llis initiation into the tribe is said to have been by washing him 
thoroughly in the river which he was told washed away his white 
blood. From then on he was called brother by the Indians. 

He had been compelled to witness the cruel death of a. captive 
and when the Indians thought that he entertained thoughts of es- 
cape he was told that he would be served the same death and wag 



INTRUDING SETTLERS EVICTED 81 

treated with extreme cruelty. In one instance he was set to carry- 
ing wood to be used in his own death by burning at the stake. 
Happily this threat was never carried out. When Armstrong 
took the Indian town of Kittanning with his company from Car- 
lisle, Gibson was kept in the rear in the woods with the old men, 
squaws and children but he was near enough to hear the sound of 
the guns as they battled. After the fall of their stronghold they 
retreated to the region of the Muskingum River in Ohio, where, 
at the point where its two branches joined, was located a large 
Delaware town. In fact, that was the extreme western point to 
which traveled those early missionaries. Rev. Dnffield and Rev. 
Beatty, who were the first advance agents of Christianity in Perry 
County territory. 

After his return to the settled portion of the province he resided 
with his maternal uncle, William McClelland, near the scene of his 
capture, later marrying a Miss Mary White, of Lancaster, and 
rearing a large family. After the Revolutionary War he removed 
to Crawford County, Pennsylvania, where he died at an advanced 
age, Tuly 30, 1826. Rev. Dr. George Norcross, the prominent 
divine so long pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of Car- 
lisle, was a descendant, being his great-grandson. 
« 

Baskins Family Abducted. 

Some time after Braddock's defeat Fort Granville was erected 
at a place called Old Town, on the bank of the Juniata, some dis- 
tance from the present site of Lewistown, then Cumberland, now 
Mifflin County, where a company of enlisted soldiers were kept, 
under the command of Lieutenant Armstrong. The position of 
the fort was not favorable. The Indians had been lurking about 
there for some time and knew that Armstrong's men were few in 
number, sixty of them appeared July 22, 1756, before the fort, 
and challenged the garrison to combat ; but this was declined by 
the commander, in consequence of the weakness of his force. The 
Indians fired at and wounded one man belonging to the fort, who 
had been a short way from it, yet he got in safe ; after which 
they divided themselves in small parties, one of which attacked the 
plantation of one Baskins, near Juniata, whom they murdered, 
burnt his house and carried off his wife and children ; and an- 
other made Hugh Carroll and family prisoners. 

The Indians on one occasion murdered a family of seven per- 
sons on Sherman's Creek ; from there they passed over the moun- 
tain at Croghan's (Sterrett's) Gap, wounded a man, killed a horse 
and captured a Mrs. Boyde, her two sons and a daughter upon the 
Conodoguinet Creek. 

The Shawnees and Delaware Indians, aided and abetted by the 
French, continued their hellishness until 1757, when negotiations 
6 



82 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



for peace were begun by the chiefs of these tribes ; but the French 
and the western Indians still kept up a desultory and sanguinary 
warfare. 

Battle With Indians at Peters' Mountain. 

At Peters' Mountain, opposite the location of Duncannon, ac- 
cording to the Pennsylvania Gazette of October 27, 1757, an en- 
gagement took place. It says: "We have advices from Paxton, 
that on the 17th inst., as four of our inhabitants, near Hunter's 
Fort were pulling their Indian corn, when two of them, Alexander 
Watt and John McKennet, were killed and scalped, their heads 




THE CLARK'S FERRY DAM. 
In the foreground, waters of the Juniata, the small boats being moored at the 
eastern landing of the old Baskins Ferry, on Duncan's Island. To the right Clark's 
Ferry Dam in the Susquehanna, with Peter's Mountain as a Background. 

being cut off; the other two scalped. That Captain Work, of the 
Augusta regiment, coming down from Fort Halifax, met the sav- 
ages at Peters' Mountain, about twenty of them ; when they fired 
upon him, at about forty yards' distance, upon which his party 
returned the fire and put the enemy to flight, leaving behind them 
five horses, with what plunder they had got ; and that one of the 
Indians was supposed to be wounded, by the blood that was seen 
in their tracks. None of Captain Work's men were hurt." 



INTRUDING SETTLERS EVJCTED 83 

Indians were used as guides and interpreters by the provincial 
troops and the troops were constantly aided by the pioneers. From 
a report from Col. John Armstrong dated Carlisle, July II, 1757, 
the following extract relating to Sherman's Valley is made : "On 
Wednesday last Lieutenant Armstrong marched with forty sol- 
diers, accompanied by Mr. Smith, the Indian interpreter, and ten 
Indians, into Sherman's Valley, where some of the enemy had 
been discovered. They were joined by thirty of the country people 
who wanted to bring over their cattle from that place. On Thurs- 
day they found the tracks of the enemy and followed them with 
spirit enough until evening, when the tracks made toward this 
valley ; next morning the Cherokees discovered some tracks bear- 
ing off to the westward, upon which they said they were discov- 
ered and that those bearing towards the westward were going to 
inform a body of the enemy, which they said was not far off ; upon 
which the lieutenant told the interpreter that his orders particu- 
larly led him to make discovery of the enemy's encampment (if 
any such there was) and to know whether any were drove off for 
their support. But two or three of the bravest of the Indians 
freely told the interpreter that their young men were afraid that 
the enemy discovered them and therefore no advantage could at 
that time be got ; nor could the interpreter prevail on them to 
stay any longer out. The lieutenant reconnoitered the country 
towards Juniata, and returned last night without any discovery of 
a lurking party of the enemy behind us." 

Even if a few had remained north of the Kittatinny or Blue 
Mountain to attend to the stock, or if trips were made across the 
mountain for that purpose, yet Sherman's Valley was practically 
abandoned in 1756, in so far as actual residence was concerned. 
The settlers had gradually gone back, however, until in 1763, as 
the next chapter will show, they were again driven from their 
homes by a devastating and relentless Indian warfare. 



CHAPTER IV. 

TREATY OF PEACE, BUT A DEVASTATING INDIAN 

WARFARE. 

IN 1758 the provincial authorities and the Indians made a 
treaty of peace and friendship at Easton, and, generally speak- 
ing, the Indian massacres were over; yet unattached bands 
of marauding savages appeared at times and committed murders. 
In fact the war between the English and the French still continued 
until 1762. A secret confederacy had also been formed by the 
Shawnees and the various tribes along the Ohio and about De- 
troit for the purpose of attacking simultaneously the English posts 
and settlements on the frontiers, and the territory which is now 
Perry County was certainly not only the frontier, but the "front 
line." 

This was termed by the frontier inhabitants, the Pontiac War, 
by reason of Pontiac, a chief of the Ottawas, being the evil genius 
who was one of the principals in the inception. The province had 
dealt leniently — too leniently — with the Indians and a treaty of 
peace was usually accompanied by expensive and numerous pres- 
ents, which in reality put a premium on war, as there could be 
no treaties of peace without the necessary preceding war. A cer- 
tain day was set apart and the frontiers everywhere were to be 
attacked at the same time. A bundle of small rods had been given 
to every tribe and one was to be withdrawn on the morning of each 
day, and on the date of the withdrawal of the final rod the general 
attack was to have been made. From the bundle going to those 
who were to attack Fort Pitt, at the present site of Pittsburgh, 
a squaw, not in sympathy with the movement, drew a few rods. 
This accounts for the actions of the Indians in attacking that place 
ahead of the designated day, which news was hurried abroad and 
which put some settlements on their guard. 

Their plan was deliberate and skillful. The border settlements 
were to be invaded during harvest, the people, corn and cattle de- 
stroyed and the land thus laid waste. Traders had been invited 
among them and these were first put out of the way, their goods 
being plundered. The country was then put at the mercy of scalp- 
ing parties and desolation followed in their wake. It is said the 
roads were literally covered with women and children seeking 
refuge at Lancaster and Philadelphia. The forts at Presque Isle, 
Lebeuf and Venango had been captured and the garrisons mas- 
sacred. For Ljgonier was barely saved. The soil of Perry was 



TREATY OF PEACE— INDIAN WARFARE 85 

overrun by these western Indians and fortunately records exist 
which show some of the horrors, but many of them were in such 
exposed places that no one was left to tell the tale. 

In correspondence to the Pennsylvania Gazelle, dated Carlisle, 
July 12, 1763, is the following, which covers the horrible situa- 
tion, not only of what is now Perry, but of Juniata and of Cum- 
berland : 

"I embrace this first leisure since yesterday morning to transmit you a 
brief account of our present state of affairs here, which indeed is very 
distressing; every day almost affording some fresh object to awaken the 
compassion, alarm the fears or kindle into resentment and vengeance every 
sensible breast, while flying families obliged to abandon house and pos- 
session, to save their lives by a hasty escape; mourning widows, bewail- 
ing their husbands surprised and massacred by savage rage ; tender par- 
ents lamenting the fruit of their own bodies, cropt in the very bloom of 
life by a barbarous hand; with relations and acquaintances pouring out 
sorrow for murdered neighbors and friends, present a varied scene of 
mingled distress. 

"When, for some time, after striking at Bedford, the Indians appeared 
quiet, nor struck any other part of our frontiers, it became the prevailing 
opinion, that our forts and communication, were so peculiarly the object 
of their attention, that, till at least after harvest, there was little prospect 
of danger over the hills, and to dissent from the generally received senti- 
ment was political heresy, and attributed to timidity rather than judg- 
ment, till too early conviction has decided the point in the following 
manner. 

"On Sunday morning, the loth inst., about nine or ten o'clock, at the 
house of one William White, on Juniata, between thirty and forty miles 
hence, there being in said house four men and a lad, the Indians came 
rushing upon them, and shot White at the door, just stepping out to see 
what the noise meant. Our people then pulled in White and shut the 
door; but observing through a window the Indians setting fire to the 
house, they attempted to force their way out at the door; but the first 
that stept out being shot down, they drew him in and again shut the door ; 
after which one attempting an escape out of the window on the loft, 
was shot through the head and the lad wounded in the arm. The only 
one now remaining, William Riddle, broke a hole through the roof of the 
house, and an Indian who saw him looking out, alleged he was about to 
fire on him, withdrew, which afforded Riddle an opportunity to make his 
escape. The house, with the other four in it, was burned down, as one 
McMachen informs, who was coming to it, not suspecting Indians, and 
was then fired at and shot through the shoulder, but made his escape. 

"The same day, about dinner time, at about a mile and a half from said 
White's, at the house of Robert Campbell, six men being in the house, 
as they were dining, three Indians rushed in at the door, and after firing 
among them and wounding some, they tomahawked in an instant one of 
the men ; whereupon one George Dodds, one of the company, sprang back 
into the room, took down a rifle, shot an Indian through the body, who 
was just presenting his piece to shoot him. The Indian being mortally 
wounded, staggered, and letting his gun fall, was carried off by three 
more. Dodds, with one or two more, getting upon the loft, broke the 
'roof in order to escape, and looking out saw one of the company, Stephen 
Jeffries, running, but very slowly, by reason of a wound in the breast, 
and an Indian pursuing; and it is thought he could not escape, nor have 



86 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

we heard of him since, so that it is past dispute, he also is murdered. The 
lust that attempted getting out of the loft was fired at and drew back; 
another attempting was shot dead; and of the six, Dodds, the only one, 
made his escape. The same day about dusk, about six or seven miles up 
Tuscarora, and about twenty-eight or thirty miles hence, they murdered 
one William Anderson,* together with a boy and girl all in one house. 
At White's were seen at least five, some say eight or ten, Indians, and at 
Campbell's about the same number. On Monday, the nth, a party of 
about twenty-four went over from the upper part of Shearman's Valley, 
to see how matters were. Another party of twelve or thirteen went over 
from the upper part of said valley ; and Col. John Armstrong, with 
Thomas Wilson, Esq., and a party of between thirty and forty from this 
town, to reconnoitre and assist in bringing in the dead. 

"Of the first and third parties we have heard nothing yet; but of the 
party of twelve, six are come in, and inform that they passed through the 
several places in Tuscarora, and saw the houses in flames, or burnt en- 
tirely down. That the grain that had been reaped the Indians burnt in 
shocks and had set the fences on fire where the grain was unreaped ; that 
the hogs had fallen upon and mangled several of the dead bodies ; that 
the said company of twelve, suspecting danger, durst not stay to bury the 
dead ; that after they had returned over the Tuscarora Mountain, about 
one or two miles on this side of it, and about eighteen or twenty from 
hence, they were fired on by a large party of Indians, supposed about 
thirty, and were obliged to fly; that two, viz: William Robinson and John 
Graham, are certainly killed, and four more are missing, who it is thought, 
have fallen into the hands of the enemy, as they appeared slow in flight, 
most probably wounded, and the savages pursued with violence. What 
farther mischief has been done we have not heard, but expect every day 
and hour, some more messages of melancholy news. 

"In hearing of the above defeat, we sent out another party of thirty or 
upwards, commanded by our high sheriff, Mr. Dunning, and Mr. William 
Lyon, to go in quest of the enemy, or fall in with and reinforce our other 
parties. There are also a number gone out from about three miles below this, 
so that we now have over the hills upwards of eighty or ninety volunteers 
scouring the woods. The inhabitants of Shearman's Valley, Tuscarora, 
&c, are all come over, and the people of this valley, near the mountain, 
are beginning to move in, so that in a few days there will be scarcely a 
house inhabited north of Carlisle. Many of our people are greatly dis- 
tressed, through want of arms and ammunition; and numbers of those 
beat off their places have hardly money enough to purchase a pound of 
powder. 

"Our women and children, I suppose must move downwards, if the 
enemy proceed. To-day a British vengeance begins to rise in the breasts 
of our men. One of them that fell from among the twelve, as he was 
just expiring, said to one of his fellows: 'Here, take my gun and kill the 
first Indian you see, and all shall be well.' " 

The following is an extract from a letter dated the next day, 
July 13, 1763, to the same paper, and continuing the report of the 
relief forces sent north of the Kittatinnies : 

"Last night Colonel Armstrong returned. He left the party, who pur- 
sued further and found several dead, whom they buried in the best man- 
ner they could, and are now all returned in. From what appears the In- 
dians are traveling from one place to another, along the valley, burning 



*William Anderson was killed without warning, while reading the Bible. 



TREATY OF PEACH— INDIAN WARFARE 87 

the farms, and destroying all the people they meet with. This day gives 
an account of six more being killed in the valley, so that since last Sunday 
morning, to this day, twelve o'clock, we have a pretty authentic account 
of the number slain, being twenty-five, and four or five wounded. The 
Colonel, Mr. Wilson and Mr. Alricks are now on the parade, endeavoring 
to raise another party, to go out and succor the sheriff and his party con- 
sisting of fifty men, which marched yesterday, and I hope they will be 
able to send off immediately twenty good men. The people here, I assure 
you, want nothing but a good leader and a little encouragement, to make 
a very good defense." 

The result of these marauding expeditions is best summed up 
by the Pennsylvania Gazette of July 28, 1763, in which is the fol- 
lowing statement : 

"Our advices from Carlisle are that the party under the sheriff, Mr. 
Dunning, mentioned in our last, fell in with the enemy, at the house of 
one Alexander Logan, in Shearman's Valley, supposed to be about fifteen, 
or upwards, who had murdered the said Logan, his son, and another man 
about two miles from said house, and mortally wounded a fourth, who is 
since dead; and that at the time of their being discovered they were 
rifling the house and shooting down the cattle, and it is thought, about to 
return home with the spoil they had got. That our men, on seeing them, 
immediately spread themselves from right to left, with a design to sur- 
round them, and engaged the savages with great courage, but from their 
eagerness rather too soon, as some of the party had not got up when the 
skirmish began; that the enemy returned our first fire very briskly; but 
our people, regardless of that, rushed upon them, when they fled, and were 
pursued a considerable way, till thickets secured their escape, four or five 
of them it was thought being mortally wounded ; that our parties had 
brought in with them what cattle they could collect, but that great numbers 
were killed by the Indians, and many of the horses that were in the val- 
leys carried off; that since the 10th inst. there was an account of fifty- 
four persons being killed by the enemy. 

"That the Indians had set fire to houses, barns, corn, wheat and rye, 
hay ; in short, to everything combustible ; so that the whole country 
seemed to be in one general blaze ; that the miseries and distresses of 
the poor people were really shocking to humanity, and beyond the power 
of language to describe; that Carlisle was become the barrier, not a single 
inhabitant being beyond it ; that every stable and hovel in the town was 
crowded with miserable refugees, who were reduced to a state of beggary 
and despair; their houses, cattle and harvest destroyed; and from a 
plentiful, independent people, they were become real objects of charity 
and comiseration ; that it was most dismal to see the streets filled with 
people, in whose countenances must be discovered a mixture of grief, 
madness and despair; and to hear, now and then, the sighs and groans 
of men; the disconsolate lamentations of women, and the screams of 
children, who had lost their nearest and dearest relatives ; and that on 
both sides of the Susquehanna, for some miles, the woods were filled 
with poor families, and their cattle, who made fires, and lived like sav- 
ages, exposed to the inclemencies of the weather." 

From a letter dated July 30, 1763, at Carlisle, the following 
account is taken. It relates of the efforts made to save a part of 
the harvests : 

"On the 25th, a considerable number of the inhabitants of Shearman's 
Valley went over, with a party of soldiers to guard them, to attempt 



88 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

saving as much of their grain as might be standing, and it is hoped a 
considerable quantity will yet be preserved. A party of volunteers, be- 
tween twenty and thirty, went to the farther side of the valley, next to 
the Tuscarora Mountain, to see what appearance there might be of the 
Indians, as it was thought they would most probably be there, if any- 
where in the settlement ; to search for, and bury the dead at Buffalo 
Creek, and to assist the inhabitants that lived along, or near the foot of 
the mountain, in bringing off what they could, which services they accord- 
ingly performed, burying the remains of three persons; but saw no marks 
of Indians having lately been there, excepting one track, supposed about 
two or three days old, near the narrows of Buffalo Creek hill; and heard 
some hallooing and firing of a gun at another place." 

The murders at the home of William White, previously men- 
tioned in this chapter, were in harvest time and the reapers, as the 
harvest hands were then termed, were all in the house, it being 
the Sabbath day, when the redskins surprised them. Robert Rob- 
inson's account of many of these murders is almost parallel with 
that of the accounts printed on the foregoing pages, but he goes 
farther. He tells of receiving the news at Edward Elliott's, where 
he and others were harvesting; how John Graham, John Christy 
and James Christy heard the firing of guns at the William Ander- 
son home early in the evening, and of their investigation and carry- 
ing the news to Elliott's. His account further says : 

"Graham and the Christys came about midnight. We, hearing the In- 
dians had got so far up the Tuscarora Valley, and knowing Collins' famliy 
and James Scott's were there about harvest, twelve of us concluded to go 
over Bigham's Gap (the entrance to Liberty Valley) and give those 
word that were there ; when we came to Collins' we saw that the Indians 
had been there, had broke a wheel, emptied a bed and taken flour, of 
which they made some water gruel ; we counted thirteen spoons made of 
bark ; we followed the tracks made down to James Scott's, where we 
found the Indians had killed some fowls; we pursued on to Graham's; 
there the house was on fire and burned down to the joists. We divided 
our men into two parties, six in each; my brother with his party came in 
behind the barn, and myself with the other party came down through an 
oats field ; I was to shoot first ; the Indians had hung a coat upon a post 
on the other side of the fire from us ; I looked at it and saw it immovable, 
and therefore walked down to it and found that the Indians had just left 
it ; they had killed four hogs and had eaten at pleasure. Our company 
took their track, and found that two companies had met at Graham's and 
had gone over the Tuscarora Mountain. We took the run gap, the two 
roads meeting at Nicholsons; they were there first, heard us coming and 
lay in ambush for us; they had first fire; being twenty-five in number 
and only twelve of us — they killed five and wounded myself. They then 
went to Alexander Logan's, where they emptied some beds and passed on 
to George McCord's. 

"The names of the twelve were William Robison, who acted as cap- 
tain; Robert Robison, the relator of this narrative; Thomas Robison, 
being three brothers ; John Graham, Charles Elliott, William Christy, 
James Christy, David Miller, John Elliott, Edward McConnel, William 
McAlister, and John Nicholas. The persons killed were William Robi- 
son, who was shot in the belly with buckshot and got about half a mile 
from the ground; John Elliott, then a boy about seventeen years of age, 



TREATY OF PEACE— INDIAN WARFARE 89 

having emptied his gun, was pursued by an Indian with his tomahawk, 
who was within a few perches of him when Elliott had poured some 
powder into his gun by random, out of his powder horn, and having a 
bullet in his mouth, put it in the muzzle, but had no time to ram it down; 
he turned and fired at his pursuer, who clapped his hand on his stomach 
and cried 'och,' then turned and fled. Elliott had run a few perches fur- 
ther, when he overtook William Robison, weltering in his blood, in his 
last agonies; he requested Elliott to carry him off, who excused himself 
by telling of his inability to do so, and also of the danger they were in ; 
he said he knew it, but desired him to take his gun with him, and, peace 
or war, if ever he had an opportunity of killing an Indian, to shoot him 
for his sake. Elliott brought away the gun and Robison was not found 
by the Indians. 

"Thomas Robison stood on the ground until the whole of his people 
were fled, nor did the Indians offer to pursue, until the last man left the 
field; Thomas having fired and charged a second time, the Indians were 
prepared for him, and when he took aim past the tree, a number fired at 
him at the same time ; one of his arms was broken ; he took his gun in 
the other and fled; going up a hill he came to a high log, and clapped 
his hand, in which was his gun, on the log to assist in leaping over it; 
while in the attitude of stooping a bullet entered his side, going in a tri- 
angular course through his body; he sunk down across the log; the In- 
dians sunk the cock of his gun into his brains and mangled him very 
much. John Graham was seen by David Miller sitting on a log, not far 
from the place of attack, with his hands on his face, and blood running 
through his fingers. Charles Elliott and Edward McConnel took a circle 
round where the Indians were laying, and made the best of their way to 
Buffalo Creek; but they were pursued by the Indians; and where they 
crossed the creek there was a high bank, and as they were endeavoring 
to ascend the bank, they were both shot and fell back into the water. 

"Thus ended the unfortunate affair ; but at the same time it appears as 
if the hand of Providence had been in the whole transaction, for there is 
every reason to believe that spies had been viewing the place the night 
before, and the Indians were within three quarters of a mile from the 
place from which the men had started, when there would have been from 
twenty to thirty men perhaps in the field reaping, and all the guns that 
could be depended upon were in this small company, except one, so that 
they might have become an easy prey, and instead of those five brave men 
who lost their lives three times that number might have done so. 

"A party of forty men came from Carlisle to bury the dead at Juniata ; 
when they saw the dead at Buffalo Creek they returned home. Then a 
party of men came with Captain Dunning; but before they came to Alex- 
ander Logan's his son John, Charles Coyle, William Hamilton, with 
Bartholomew Davis, followed the Indians to George McCord's, where they 
were in the barn ; Logan and those with him were all killed, except Davis, 
who made his escape and joined Captain Dunning. The Indians then re- 
turned to Logan's house again, when Captain Dunning and his party came 
on them, and they fired some time at each other; Dunning had one man 
wounded. 

"The relief parties took back with them what cattle they could secure, 
but the Indians had killed a large number and had taken all the horses 
upon which they could lay hands." 

By the latter part of July, 1763, there were 1,384 refugees from 
' north of the Kittatinny Mountain domiciled in barns, sheds or 
other temporary place of refuge at Shippenshurg, having fled from 
their homes. 



90 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The victory of Colonel Henry Bouquet over the Indians in west- 
ern Pennsylavnia, in 1764, gave the settlers new courage and they 
gradually returned to Sherman's Valley and the territory east of 
the Juniata River, and by 1767 many of the best locations in the 
county had been warranted. 

*There is record of the heirs of Robert Campbell, mentioned in 
this chapter as being cruelly murdered by the Indians, warranting 
lands in Tuscarora Township in 1767, four years after his death. 

f The Alexander Logan, whose death at the hands of the Indians 
is here described, was the owner of lands near Kistler, later long 
owned by the McMillens. 

County Citizens Recipients of Charity. 

When Perry Countains have been contributing to charity — to 
flood and famine sufferers everywhere, to India, France, Belgium, 
Armenia, the Harrisburg and other hospitals — little did many think- 
that in its provincial days, before it arose to the dignity of a "little 
commonwealth," its people were the objects of charity, owing to 
their being driven out by the Indians from their homes. Such, 
however, was the case. The refugees, who were in Carlisle, were 
relieved to some extent in their great distress by the generosity of 
the Episcopal churches of Philadelphia. On July 26, 1763, Rich- 
ard Peters, the rector of Christ church and St. Peters, in Phila- 
delphia (the same man who was secretary of the province), rep- 
resented to the vestry "that the back inhabitants of this province 
are reduced to great distress and necessity, by the present inva- 
sion" and proposed that some method be formed for collecting 
charily for their relief. A preamble was drawn up and a sub- 
scription paper started. At the next meeting the wardens reported 
that they had collected £662, 3s. Of course that amount of money 
needed systematic distribution and the Philadelphia congregations 
corresponded with persons in Cumberland to ascertain the extent 
(jf the distress. William Thomson, an itinerant missionary for 
the counties of York and Cumberland, and Francis West and 
Thomas Donellon, wardens of the Episcopal church at Carlisle, 
sent a reply in which, among other statements, is this : "We have 
taken pains to get the number of the distressed, and upon strict 
inquiry, we find seven hundred and fifty families have abandoned 
their plantations, the greatest number of which have lost their crops, 
some their stock and furniture, and besides, we are informed that 
there are about two hundred women and children coming down 
from Fort Pitt. We also find that sums of money lately sent up 
are almost expended, and that each family has not received twenty 



*See chapter on Tuscarora Township. 

fSee chapter on Madison Township and 011 "Frontier Forts.' 



TREATY OF PEACE— INDIAN WARFARE 91 

shillings upon an average." The letter also tells of the great dis- 
tress and says that smallpox and flux are raging among the home- 
less. Upwards of two hundred of these families were in Carlisle 
and the remainder in Shippenshurg, Littlestown, York and other 
places. However, it must be remembered that they were not all 
from Perry County territory, but from what is now Fulton, 
Franklin, Bedford and farther west, as well as from the outlying 
districts of Cumberland County itself. 

In recounting the result of this report and appeal Rev. Dorr, in 
his Historical Account of Christ and St. Peters' Church, says: 

"In consequence of this information, a large supply of flour, rice, medi- 
cine, and other necessaries, were immediately forwarded for the relief of 
the sufferers. And to enable those, who chose to return to their planta- 
tions, to defend themselves against future attacks of the Indians, the 
vestry of Christ church and St. Peters were of opinion that the refugees 
should be furnished with two chests of arms, and half a barrel of powder, 
four hundred pounds of lead, two hundred of swan shot, and one thou- 
sand flints. These were accordingly sent with instructions to sell them to 
prudent and good people as are in want of them, and will use them for 
their defense, for the prices charged in the invoice." 

Pioneer Runners. 

During these trying periods the pioneers employed men who 
were dispatched as runners to give settlers notice of impending 
danger. They were accustomed to hunting, immune to hardships 
and with a thorough knowledge of the country. There were thirty 
in the territory west of the Susquehanna and south of the Juniata 
to the Allegheny Mountains. They were a lot of intrepid, resolute 
fellows, on the order of our present admirable troops of State 
Constabulary, and were in the command of a man who had been a 
captive of the Indians for several years and knew their traits, but 
whose name unfortunately fails to be recorded. According to 
Votes of the Assembly, Sept. 17, 1763, the Colonial legislators 
were appealed to for assistance in retaining this body of scouts in 
existence. 

The terror of the citizens subsided but little until Colonel Bou- 
quet conquered the Indians in 1764 and compelled them to solicit 
peace. A condition of the peace terms was that the Indians were 
to give up all the women and children which they held in captivity. 
Among them were many who had been seized as mere children and 
had grown up among the savages, learning their language and for- 
getting their own. Their affections were even with the savages. 
Some mothers found lost children but others were unable to iden- 
tify theirs. The separation between the Indians and the captives 
was heart-rending, the red men shedding many tears and the cap- 
tives leaving reluctantly. Many of these captives later voluntarily 
rejoined the Indians. Some had married Indians, but from choice, 



92 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

records tell us. A girl who had been captured at the age of four- 
teen and had married an Indian and was the mother of several 
children, said: "Can I enter my parents' dwelling? Will they be 
kind to my children ? Will my old companions associate with the 
wife of an Indian chief? Will I desert my husband, who has been 
kind?" During the night she fled to her husband and children. 

A great many of these prisoners were brought to Carlisle, among 
them the captives from Perry County. Colonel Bouquet advertised 
for those who had lost children to come and look for them. 
Among those who came was an old lady who had lost a child many 
years before, but she was unable to identify her. With a break- 
ing heart the old lady told Colonel Bouquet her sad story, relating 
how she used to sing to the little one a hymn of which the child 
was so fond. The colonel requested her to sing it then, in the 
presence of the captives, and she did, the words being: 

'Alone, yet not alone am I, 

Though in this solitude so drear ; 
I feel my Saviour always nigh, 

He comes my every hour to cheer." 

As the sweet voice of the mother so beautifully sang the words, 
from among the captives sprang a young girl and rushed into her 
mother's arms. 

During the time of the French and Indian War, 1756-61, the 
world was largely at war. The ships of France and England even 
carried it to the great high seas. 

Capture; and Release of Frederick Stump. 

In January. 1768, a party of Indians visited a pioneer, Frederick 
Stump, later known as the "Indian killer," at his cabin on Middle 
Creek (now in Snyder County), and differences arising, he 
and his employe, named Ironcutter, killed the Indians and also 
those at a cabin four miles distant, so that the news would not 
reach the Indian settlements. The bodies were thrown into the 
creek and floated down it to the Susquehanna; one was found 
along the shore near what is now New Cumberland, Pa., then 
below Harris' Ferry. It was interred by James Galbraith and 
Jonathon Hoge, who reported it to John Penn, then provincial 
governor. One William Blythe traveled to Philadelphia and under 
oath stated that he had seen Stump at the home of George Gabriel 
and heard his story, in which he admitted the murders. 

Penn issued a proclamation offering a reward for Stump and 
Ironcutter, promising to punish them with death and notifying the 
Indians of what he had done. Sir William Johnson sent an ur- 
gent message to the Indians, saying, "If they know any of the 
relatives of these persons murdered at Middle Creek, to send them 



TREATY OF PEACE— INDIAN WARFARE 93 

to him, that he might wipe the tears from their eyes, comfort their 
afflicted hearts and satisfy them on account of their grievances." 
As soon as Capt. William Patterson, formerly of Lancaster 
County, but then residing on the Juniata, heard of the murders he- 
went, without waiting orders of the authorities, with a party of 
nineteen men, and arrested Stump and Ironcutter, and delivered 
them to John Holmes, the sheriff, at Carlisle. Aware that the 
Indians would be exasperated at hearing of the murders he sent a 
messenger to the west branch country to them, telling of the arrest. 
As the messages and replies are of much historical interest they 
are reproduced in full. First, his official report: 

Carlisle, January 23, 1768. 

Sir: The 21st instant, I marched a party of nineteen men to George 
Gabriel's house, at Penn's Creek mouth, and made prisoners of Frederick 
Stump and John Ironcutter, who were suspected to having murdered ten 
of our friend Indians near Augusta; and I have this day delivered them 
to Mr. Holmes at Carlisle jail. 

Yesterday I sent a person to the Great Island, that understood the In- 
dian language, with a talk; a copy of which is enclosed. 

Myself and party were exposed to great danger, by the desperate re- 
sistance made by Stump and his friends, who sided with him. The steps 
I have taken, I flatter myself, will not be disapproved of by the gentle- 
men in the government; my sole view being directed to the service of 
the frontiers, before I heard his honor the governor's orders. The mes- 
sage I sent to the Indians I hope will not be deemed assuming an author- 
ity of my own, as you are very sensible I am no stranger to the Indians, 
or their customs. I am, with respect, 

Your most obedient humble servant, 

W. Patterson. 

The message to the Six Nations, in the west branch country : 

Juniata, January 22, 1768. 

Brothers of the Six Nations, Delawares, and other inhabitants of the 
West Branch of Susquehanna, hear what I have to say to you : 

With a heart swelled with grief, I have to inform you that Frederick 
Stump and John Ironcutter hath, unadvisedly, murdered ten of our friend 
Indians near Fort Augusta. The inhabitants of the province of Pennsyl- 
vania do disapprove of the said Stump and Ironcutter's conduct; and as 
proof thereof, I have taken them prisoners, and will deliver them into the 
custody of officers, that will keep them ironed in prison for trial ; and I 
make no doubt, as many of them as are guilty, will be condemned, and die 
for the offence. 

Brothers, I being truly sensible of the injury done you, I only add these 
few words, with my heart's wish, that you may not rashly let go the fast 
hold of our chain of friendship, for the ill-conduct of one of our bad 
men. Believe me, brothers, we Englishmen, continue the same love for 
you that hath usually subsisted between our grandfathers, and I desire 
you to call at Fort Augusta, to trade with our people, for the necessaries 
you stand in need of. I pledge you my word, that no white man there 
shall molest any of you, while you behave as friends. I shall not rest by 
night nor day until I receive your answer. 

Your friend and brother, 

W. Patterson. 



<j4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The following answer to the above was received from the In- 
dians : 

February nth, 1768. 

Loving Brother: I received your speech by Gertham Hicks, and have 
sent one of my relatives with a string of wampum, and the following 
answer : 

Loving Brother: I am glad to hear from you. I understand that you 
are very much grieved, and that the tears run from your eyes. With both 
my hands I now wipe away those tears ; and as I don't doubt but your 
heart is disturbed, I remove all the sorrow from it, and make it easy, as 
it was before. I will now sit down and smoke my pipe. I have taken 
fast hold of the chain of friendship; and when I give it a pull, if I find 
my brothers, the English, have let it go, it will then be time for me to let 
go too, and take care of my family. There are four of my relatives 
murdered by Stump ; and all I desire is, that he may suffer for his wicked 
action ; I shall then think that people have the same goodness in their 
hearts as formerly, and intend to keep it there. As it was the evil spirit 
that caused Stump to commit this bad action, I blame none of my brothers, 
the English, but him. 

I desire that the people of Juniata may sit still in their places, and not 
put themselves to any hardships, by leaving their habitations; whenever 
danger is coming, they shall know it before it comes to them. 

I am, your loving brother, 

Shawana Ben. 

To Capt. William Patterson.* 

The governor's proclamation offered £200 for Stump's appre- 
hension, but not knowing of his arrest, delayed the publication for 
a short period, lest news of it should reach him, and in order to 
accomplish his arrest in a more secretive manner. 

The council of the province advised Governor Penn to write to 
General Gage and Sir William Johnson, informing them of the 
murder and of the steps he was taking, and to ask Sir William to 
communicate the same to the Six Nations, as soon as possible, 
"in the best and most favorable manner in his power, so as to 
prevent their taking immediate resentment for this unavoidable 
injury, committed on their people, and to assure them of the firm 
and sincere purposes of this government to give them full satis- 
faction at all times for all wrongs done to the Indians, and to pre- 
serve the friendship subsisting between us and them inviolable." 

But before these letters and the proclamation of Chief Justice 
Allen reached the magistrates and sheriffs, Stump and Ironcutter 
as previously stated, had been lodged in jail ; however, before 
they were brought to trial they were rescued from prison. 

As white settlers had from time to time been scalped in Perry 
County territory there was a certain sympathy went out to Stump 
and Ironcutter with the result that on January 29, 1768, a party 
of seventy or eighty armed men, supposed to be mostly from 
Sherman's Valley, appeared at the Carlisle jail and overpowered 



*Provincial Records. 



TREATY OF PEACE— INDIAN WARFARE 



95 



the sheriff, John Holmes, and the jailer and released the two pris- 
oners, who until that time had been kept in the dungeon. A half 
dozen prominent citizens who hastily appeared to aid the sheriff 
included Ephraim Blaine, who was formerly a Toboyne Township 
citizen and of whose later prominence this book elsewhere goes 
into detail. 

While this murder and the subsequent rescue did not happen on 
Perry County soil, yet they are dwelt on at some length here owing 
to the fact that the greater part of the rescuers were supposed to 
be from Sherman's Valley. Owing to possible complications with 
the Indians the murders by Stump and Ironcutter and their sub- 
sequent delivery from jail produced a great wave of excitement 
in the entire colony. Governor John Penn cited the officers and 
magistrates to appear before him, reprimanding the latter for their 
conduct in advising the retention of the prisoners at Carlisle in- 
stead of delivering them to Philadelphia, as required by the war- 
rant. Tradition implies that the sheriff and jailer were passive 
actors in this jail delivery. 

Exploits of Captain Jack. 

There are traditionary tales connected with "Captain Jack" and 
his operations in Perry County, but as county lines in those days 
were not in existence, his exploits may properly belong to the whole 
Juniata and Cumberland Valleys. He was a white man. but was 
variously termed the "black hunter," the "black rifle." the "wild 
hunter of the Juniata." the "black hunter of the forest," but prin- 
cipally "Captain Jack." His real name was Patrick Jack, in all 
probability. He entered the forest section of Pennsylvania, some- 
where in the Juniata Valley, with a few companions, built a cabin, 
cleared a little land and made his living by hunting and fishing, 
not having a care. He was a free and easy, happy-go-lucky type 
of man until one evening in 1752, when he returned from a day 
in the woods to find his cabin burned, his wife and children mur- 
dered. From that moment for over a year he forsook civilization, 
lived in caves, protected the frontier settlers from the Indians and 
seized every opportunity for revenge that presented itself. He 
was the terror of the Indians and the guardian angel of the pio- 
neers. On an occasion, near Juniata — the name of the Indian 
town on Duncan's Island, opposite the west end of Duncannon — ■ 
about midnight on a dark night, a family was suddenly awakened 
by the report of a gun. Jumping from their cots they saw an 
Indian fall to rise no more. The open door exposed to view the 
"wild hunter," who called, "I saved yonr lives," and vanished into 
darkness. He never shot foolishly and his keenness of vision was 
as unerring as his aim. He formed an association to defend the 
settlers against savage aggressions. On a given signal they would 



ij6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

unite. During 1756 his exploits were often heard of from the 
Conococheague in Franklin County, to the Juniata River. To 
some he was known as the "Half-Indian," and Colonel Armstrong, 
in a letter to the governor, said : "The company under the com- 
mand of the Half-Indian, having left the Great Cove, the Indians 
took advantage and murdered many." Through Colonel Croghan 
— for George Croghan had been made a colonel — he also proffered 
his aid to Braddock. "He will march with his hunters," says the 
colonel, adding, as a further description, "they are dressed in hunt- 
ing shirts, moccasins, &c, are well armed and are equally regard- 
less of heat and cold. They require no shelter for the night — they 
ask no pay." As Captain Jack wanted to go free of the restraint 
of camp life and army regulations General Braddock refused his 
services. Braddock was a strict disciplinarian and despised the 
Indian method of fighting. He wanted to attain a signal victory 
over the French without using those methods or the help of others 
who used them. However, he had already accepted a company of 
Indians under Captain George Croghan. He never lived to dis- 
cover his error in refusing Captain Jack's services or the fact that 
the Indian method of fighting excelled that of marching in the 
open, clad in gaudy uniforms, with drums beating and banners 
flying. There is no doubt that among Captain Jack's daring men 
were some whose homes were within the confines of what is now 
Perry County. 

While some historians give his name to Jack's Mountain, in the 
Juniata Valley, John Harris says the mountain was named after 
Jack Armstrong, who was murdered at its base by the Indians. 
The latter is probably the truth, as Captain Jack's activities were 
principally 1 in the territory now known as Perry and Franklin 
Counties. 

There is evidence of Captain Jack once owning property, the 
location being described as "on back Crike, Joning Matthew 
Arthor's pleas, operward of ye sad Creek," in Antrim Township, 
later Franklin County. In 1748 this property passed from John 
Ward to Matthew Arther, who owned the adjoining place. In 
November, 1767, Arther sold it to Patrick Jack, same being re- 
corded in Book C, Volume 1, at the Cumberland County court- 
house. 

An early writer, in referring to Doubling Gap, located on the 
Blue or Kittatinny Mountain, further clinches the fact that the 
Sherman's Valley was one of the principal scenes of the activities 
of Captain Jack. It follows: "The place for many miles around 
is invested with many historical facts and legends connected with 
the early settlements of the country. It was in the adjoining valley 
(Sherman's) and on these mountains that Big Beaver, a chief of 
the Shoshones, with his tribe, in 1752 and for years before had 



TREATY OF PEACE— INDIAN WARFARE 97 

their hunting grounds, having been driven in 1677 from Caro- 
lina and Georgia. This valley (Sherman's) was the grave of many 
of his children and the scene of many a massacre. It was where 
the far-famed and many-named Captain Jack — the Black Rifle, 
the Wild Hunter, etc. — entered the woods, built his cabin and 
cleared a little patch of land within sight of a spring and amused 
himself with hunting and fishing." 

Some authorities credit Captain Jack's real name as being Joseph 
Ager, or Aiger, who settled in Cumberland County in 1851, but 
the writer is inclined, after careful research, to believe that he 
was no other than Patrick Jack. However, the actual establish- 
ment of his real name and his early history must forever remain 
an un fathomed mystery. Of Herculean proportions and of 
swarthy complexion he was supposed by some to have been a 
half-breed. Colonel Armstrong, in a letter to the governor, terms 
him "the Half-Indian." Others term him a white man with a 
past. The following, from Hanna's "The Wilderness Trail," is 
self explanatory: "Captain William Patterson, who lived on Tus- 
carora Creek, was a bold, resourceful, frontiersman and Indian 
fighter, whose exploits, with those of his father, furnished much 
of the material for the legendary history of the fictitious 'Captain 
Jack,' the Wild Hunter of the Juniata." That much of the his- 
tory of Captain Jack is lengendary is true, but that he was a 
fictitious character only is disproved by the previous pages, the ex- 
tracts being from provincial history and records. 

In the possession of Miss Margaret D. McClure, of Bradford, 
a daughter of William McClure, one of Perry County's noted 
sons, are two old documents left by her father, which also show 
that Captain Jack was very real. They follow : 

The 2nd Battalion, Penna. Regiment, commanded by 
Lt. Colonel Clayton, Camp Fort Loudon, August 16, 1764. 
John Morrison, Soldier in Colonel Clayton's Company, discharged by 
Dr. Plunkett's orders from any furtber service in the above Regiment. 
Given under my hand this Patrick Jack, 

day, 16th August, 1764. Capt. Lieut. 

These are to certify: 

That the three Marching Companies from the Second Battalion met at 
Studler's Mill upon the 15th of this m. and proceeded to elect a Major, 
when it appeared upon summing of the Poll that Capt. Patrick Jack and 
Elias Davison, 1st Lieut., had each of them eighty-two votes. 
August 22, 1776, By Theo. McPherrin, 

Fort Conococheague. One of the judges of the election. 

They throw further light on the length of his services, as the 
first shows service as early as 1764 and the last as late as 1776. 



9 8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Forts in and Near the County. 

The horrible atrocities which occurred during the summer and 
fall of 1755 almost depopulated the lands which now comprise 
Perry County, as well as others, and the provincial authorities took 
steps to allay fear and safeguard the pioneers by a line of forts 
extending from the Delaware River across the province to the 
Maryland line and at other outlying places. George Croghan was 
commissioned to select the site of three, in Cumberland County, 
which were located as follows: Fort Granville, in present Mifflin 
County; Patterson's, in present Juniata County, and at Sideling 
Hill, now in Bedford County. 

Among the forts mentioned in provincial history is Fort Au- 
gusta, built by Colonel Clapham's regiment, which was located 
where the present town of Sunbury stands. Joseph Greenwood — 
after whom Greenwood Township was named later — and George 
Gabriel acted as guides for the regiment of soldiers which Colonel 
Clapham was conducting to Fort Augusta, as their signatures to 
an affidavit dated June 2, 1756, verifies. On account of the better 
trail the movement of troops was conducted up the Perry County 
side. A member of this regiment was Ensign Samuel Miles, who 
twenty years later was a colonel commanding a Continental regi- 
ment in the army under Washington. In a journal kept by him 
he tells of this early trip up the west side of the Susquehanna to 
the site of Sunbury. 

Fort Robinson was built by the members of that brave and in- 
trepid family by the name of Robinson, resolute woodsmen inured 
to hardship, toil and danger, and their neighbors who inhabited 
Sherman's Valley, as a place of refuge from Indian attack. 
It was a log fort, surrounded by a stockade. It occupied a site 
on the present Edward R. Loy farm, near Centre Church, being 
located on a tableland with a good view of the surrounding coun- 
try. At its edge was a bluff, the shelter of which was sought in 
escaping to the fort. The lowlands below were heavily wooded 
with large oak and maple, which also afforded protection in going 
to the fort. A spring was located at the foot of the bluff where 
water was secured with the least exposure, the distance from the 
stockade being only the steep bank — probably twenty feet. It was 
not under provincial control, at least there are no records to prove 
such fact. The Robinsons figured prominently in pioneer life. 
A brother of George Robinson, who located the fort and stockade 
was a member of Colonel Armstrong's expedition to Kittanning. 
George Robinson warranted the tract on which the fort was lo- 
cated, the fort being built in 1755. The fort was evidently in the 
nature of a block house, surrounded by a stockade built of heavy 
planks or poles. It was located along the famous Allegheny or 



TREATY OF PEACE— INDIAN WARFARE 99 

Traders' Path and was the only source of protection for the trav- 
eler along the Allegheny Path between the Kittatinny or Blue 
Mountain and the Tuscarora. There are no traces of the pioneer 
battlements, nothing to indicate the part played by these hardy 
pioneers in the struggle for settlement and civilization. 

While called a fort it would probably have come under the 
term of stockade. The stockades of that period were practically 
all of one style. They consisted of oak logs, about seventeen feet 
long, set in a ditch four feet deep, the logs being usually about a 
foot in diameter. Around the inside was erected a platform of 
logs about four or five feet from the ground, upon which the pio- 
neers stood and aimed their guns trough port holes made in the 
logs. This additional elevation gave them a considerable advan- 
tage in reconnoitering the surrounding country. 

Speaking of the Fort Robinson site "Frontier Forts of Penn- 
sylvania" queries, "Could there be a place in our commonwealth 
more worthy of the fostering care of her people?" Working along 
that line during 1920, the centenary of Perry County's organiza- 
tion, the author of this volume took up with the State Historical 
Commission the advisability of marking the site with a proper 
stone and inscription, with the result that that Commission will 
agree to have the bronze inscriptions placed upon a native boulder 
(as being appropriate to pioneer life) if some local organization 
will agree to arrange for its future care. Plans are now under 
way for its consummation and within another year this historic 
site will probably be marked for all time. 

In a list of provincial forts prepared by Jay Gilfillen Weiser, 
of Middleburg, in 1894, and published in "Frontier Forts of 
Pennsylvania," the only fort credited to Perry County is Hen- 
drick's, built in 1770. This is an error, as Hendrick's fort was 
located in what is now Snyder County. 

On a map which appears in "Frontier Forts of Pennsylvania," 
showing the disposition of the provincial troops in the Western 
District for the winter season of 1764, in the territory which now 
comprises Perry County, are located two detachments, one marked 
"A. Grove's, an officer and 20 men," and the other, "Fisher's an 
officer and 20 men." The location marked drove's is near the 
centre of western Perry, vicinity of Fort Robinson, and Fisher's, 
approximately where the county seat is located. 

While Fort Halifax is in Dauphin County, it is to be noted 
here that it was. with the exception of Fort Hunter, the only fort 
really built by the province along any border of the present county 
of Perry, Fort Robinson being built by the pioneers themselves, 
according to the only records available. Fort Halifax stood a half 
mile above where the present town of Halifax now stands, and was 
garrisoned with provincial troops. Commissary General Young, 



ioo HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

in a report to the governor and council, said that "Fort Halifax 
was in a very bad location, being built beyond two ranges of hills 
and nobody living near it, none could be protected by it ; that it 
is no station for batteaux parties, having no command of the chan- 
nel, which runs close to the western shore, and is besides, covered 
with a large island (Clemson's) between the channel and the fort, 
so that numbers of the enemy may, even in daytime, run the 
river, without being seen by that garrison, and that though the fort, 
or blockhouse at Hunter's was not tenable, being hastily erected 
and not finished, yet the situation was the best upon the river for 
every service, as well as for the protection of the frontiers." 

The purpose of the construction of Fort Halifax at that location 
is uncertain, as records show that but two families resided any- 
where in the vicinity, and the river channel was on the opposite 
side, with the Clemson Island between. In all probability it was 
erected as a convenient and safe place to lodge during the two- 
day trip from Fort Hunter to Fort Augusta, which was located 
where Sunbury now stands. It was dismantled and abandoned in 
1763. Clemson's Island, lying in the river opposite the fort, was 
the home of a considerable number of Indians, who could easily 
have annihilated a large party. 

Fort Hunter was a provincial fort located opposite the site of 
the present town of Marysville, on a small promontory, where 
Fishing Creek enters the Susquehanna River, on the eastern side. 
It is in Dauphin County and one of the two provincial forts 
erected along the county's border. The property is now, or was 
lately, in the possession of John Reilly. Its location, described in 
provincial records as being "where the Blue Hills cross the Sus- 
quehanna," gave it command of the passage through this water 
gap and of the river itself, affording a place of rendezvous for the 
batteaux which carried supplies to Fort Halifax and Fort Augusta 
at Shamokin (now Sunbury). It was a blockhouse, surrounded 
by a stockade, and occupied the site of the present Reilly mansion. 
It was erected about 1755, as it is spoken of in official records as 
early as January 10, 1756, as "the fort at Hunter's mill." Its 
location was at a very romantic spot, noted for its picturesque 
outlook. In 1 8 14 Archibald McAllister erected a large storage 
house upon its ancient foundations. Not far above the site are 
the famous "Hunter's Falls," where the river narrows to pass 
through a gap and where its waters are deep and swift, as they 
rush over immense ledges of rock which the waters of the cen- 
turies have failed to yet wear away. 

Fort Bigham, a strong blockhouse, surrounded by a small stock- 
ade, commanded Bighanrs Gap on the Juniata County side, through 
which lay the famous Allegheny Path to the West. It was on the 
"plantation" of Samuel Bigham, a Scotch-Irish settler who had 



TREATY OF PEACE— INDIAN WARFARE 101 

located in the Tuscarora Valley in 1754. With Bigham came fohn 
and James Gray and Robert Hoag, who joined in the erection of 

the fort as' a place of refuge. Other settlers used it also until 
June, 1756, when it was attacked and burned by the Indians, who 
killed or took prisoner all who had sought refuge therein, the total 
being twenty-three persons. It was rebuilt in 1760 by Ralph Ster- 
rett, described by Jones, in his History of the Juniata Valley, as 
"an old Indian trader." In this fort his first child, William Ster- 
rett, was born. It is related of Sterrett that upon an occasion an 
Indian tired and hungry, passing his way, was invited in and 
given a meal and tobacco. He had even forgotten the occurrence 
when, in 1763, the Indians again being on the warpath, he heard 
a noise and looking out saw an Indian in the moonlight. He 
coolly demanded his business, when the Indian recalled the hos- 
pitality and stated that the Indians were as plenty as the pigeons 
in the woods and before another night they would be at Fort 
Bigham to scalp and kill. Nearly all the settlers of the valley 
were in the fort and were awe-stricken. They immediately began 
preparations and long before daybreak a train of pack horses, 
carrying them and their belongings was crossing Perry County 
soil, via the Allegheny Path, to Carlisle. 

Until recent years there stood on the Preston A. McMillen 
farm, about a mile northeast of Kistler, in northeast Madison 
Township, a log building which had been used both as a residence 
and as a fort. Families by the name of Logan had taken up these 
lands, which included the farms now owned by Lucian McMillen, 
Linn J. McMillen, and Preston A. McMillen. On this latter 
property this building was erected for both a residence and the 
protection of the surrounding families. Some logs from the build- 
ing were used for the construction of the McMillen barn and are 
pointed out to the inquirer. It was on the nature of a blockhouse. 
The property on which the fort was erected is now in the hands 
of the fifth generation of McMillens, one of Perry County's sub- 
stantial families. As fast as possible the Indians replaced their 
bows and arrows with firearms and the residents of these farms 
frequently had to seek shelter from the redskins. On one occa- 
sion a hog had been killed and was being prepared for use in the 
cellar when an attack was made and a bullet struck above the cellar 
door, imbedding itself five and one-half inches in a walnut log. 
-Many people yet living saw this log when a part of the old build- 
ing. The marks of other bullets could be plainly seen. When 
things got too serious the settlers would flee to the mountains, all 
wooded, and escape to Carlisle. The logs were hewed on both 
sides, some of them being almost two feet in width. In an In- 
dian account of Robert Robinson, elsewhere, he tells of a Captain 
Dunning seeking Indians and coming to a certain house (Alex- 



102 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

ander Logan's) after the fight on Buffalo Creek. This old block- 
house was Logan's home. A favorite pastime of the McMillens 
of a century ago was "digging" bullets from these old logs. 

Where the Tressler Memorial Lutheran church at Loysville now 
stands once stood a log cabin equipped like a blockhouse, the rear 
room being without windows and having portholes. This prop- 
erty was later owned by John Kistler, father of Rev. Kistler, who 
was a missionary to India about i860. 

While there is no official record of there having been a fort at 
New Buffalo during the early settlements, yet, according to old 
records Henry Meiser, of what is now Snyder County, put his 
children in chaff bags and escaped to New Buffalo, where there 
was a temporary fort for refuge. Evidently Fort Halifax — oppo- 
site New Buffalo — was referred to. 

Some of the earlier homes were equipped with portholes, for 
use in case of an Indian attack. One of these was the house on 
the Thomas Adams farm, near New Germantown, in Toboyne 
Township, now owned by Milo N. W'illhide, its location being 
just south of Sherman's Creek. 

That those daring provincials located at these forts were kept 
busy is attested by their many reports which are a part of the 
Pennsylvania Archives. A letter from Capt. James Patterson, 
commandant at Fort Hunter, dated January 10, 1758, and ad- 
dressed to "the Honorable William Deney, Esq'r, Governour and 
Commander in Chief of the Province of Pennsylvania," follows: 

"Fort Hunter, Jan'ry ye 10th, 1758. 

"I took with me 19 men & ranged from this Fort as far as Robinson's 
Fort, where I lodged, keeping a guard of six men & one Corporal on 
Gentry that night. The sixth day I marched towards Hunter's Fort, 
ranging along the mountain foot very diligently till I came to the Fort 
that evening, my men being so afflicted with sickness ; I could not send 
out till the eighth day, Lieu't Allen, with 14 men, went to Range for three 
days. On the 12th day Lieu't Allen, with Eighteen men & one Serjeant 
ranged along the mountain about 14 miles from this Fort, where he met 
Cap't Lieu't Weiser with his party & returned back towards this Fort the 
next day & came to it that night. The fifteenth, Lieu't Allen, with 18 men, 
kept along the Frontier till the 25th & came to this Fort that night. 

"Hearing of Indians harbouring about Juniatta, on the 28th of De- 
cember, I took 15 men with me up the Creek, and about 14 miles from 
the mouth of it I found fresh tracks of Indians on both sides of the 
Creek & followed the tracks about four miles up the said Creek, where I 
lost the tracks, but I still kept up the Creek 'till I gott up about 25 miles 
from the mouth of said Creek, where I encamped that night. The In- 
dians I found were round me all night, for my Dogg made several 
attacks towards the Woods as if he saw the Enemy and still run back to 
the Centry. On the 3d of January I returned down the Creek in some 
Canoes that I found on said Creek, and when I came about nine miles 
down I espied about 20 Indians on the opposite side of the Creek to where 
I was. They seemed to gett themselves in order to fire upon the men that 
were in Canoes. I immediately ordered them all out but two men that 



TREATY OF PEACE— INDIAN WARFARE 103 

let the Canoes float close under the shore, and kept the Land in readiness 
to fire upon the Enemy, as soon as they moved out of the place where 
they lay in Ambush, but I could see no more of them. On the 5th day 
of January I came to this Fort." 

It will be noted that Captain Patterson terms the Juniata, "the 
Creek." Fourteen miles from the month of it, where he foimd the 
Indian tracks, would have been at the vicinity where Buffalo 
Creek empties into the Juniata, above Newport. Having gone up 
twenty-five miles from its mouth and returned nine he saw twenty 
Indians. That point was probably in the vicinity of Old Ferry, 
midway between Newport and Millerstown, but of course there 
is no way of telling the exact locations, they probably varying a 
mile or two either way. 

These provincials were kept very busy by the duties of their 
position ; but, with the success of the British arms, the scene of 
action shifted, during 1758, and until Pontiac's war in 1763, this 
pioneer garrison had little to do. 



CHAPTER V. 
SIMON GIRTY, THE RENEGADE. 

IN that section of Perry County lying between the Juniata and 
Susquehanna Rivers and along the banks of the latter there is 
a mountain promontory below Montgomery's Ferry, almost 
jutting to the river's edge, which bears to this day the name of 
"Girty's Notch," said to have been named after Simon Girty, the 
renegade, who betrayed his own race to join the redskins and 
later the British. It is in Watts Township, almost on the Buffalo 
Township line and along the Susquehanna Trail — the state high- 
way to the north. On approaching this promontory from the 
northeast there can be seen, half-way up the craggy rocks, the face 
of a man — albeit an Indian — the outline of which no sculptor could 
improve, put there by the Great Creator of the universe and which 
tradition would have us believe is the counterpart of the Girty 
profile. 

There is record of the elder Simon Girty's once being a prop- 
erty owner, but not here. In 1743 he cleared a tract of thirty 
acres in Dauphin County, near the Susquehanna River, and made 
some improvements. He resided on this place several years. Be- 
coming indebted to Thomas McKee, the storekeeper, in a sum 
upwards of f300 the land subsequently came into the possession 
of McKee. 

The Alexander McKee, referred to in connection with Girty, 
the renegade, in the following pages, was a son of this Thomas 
McKee, the trader, who kept a store immediately below Peters' 
Mountain, in Dauphin County, opposite Allen's Cove. He was 
an Indian agent for the British government and became a pro- 
nounced tory. 

The activities of Simon Girty, the renegade, in the provincial 
affairs were of such magnitude that a brief account is not out of 
place here, especially as his father — also named Simon Girty — was 
one of the men ejected from Perry County soil prior to the lands 
being opened for settlement, mentioned at several places in this 
l)i 10k. 

Almost opposite Marysville, Perry County, there empties into 
the Susquehanna River a small stream known as Fishing Creek. 
A few hundred yards from its mouth, prior to 1730, several broth- 
ers by the name of Chambers erected a grist mill and the place 
came to be known as Chambers' Mill. It was the same family of 
Chambers which settled at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, in 1736, 

104 



SIMON GIRTY, THE RENEGADE 



105 



and gave their name to that town. During the French and Indian 
War a frontier fort was built at Chambers' Mill and was named 
Fort Hunter, a near-by village still bearing that name. It was 
also subsequently called McAllister's. Chambers' Mill was a set- 




THE INDIAN PROFILE AT GIRTY'S NOTCH. 

During the Pioneer Period the name of Simon Girty, the Renegade, lie- 
came attached to this cliff, although nothing in Provincial Annals bears 
it out. Facing south on the Susquehanna Trail the face can be plainly 
seen upon the rocks, not far below Montgomery's Ferry. 

tlement of unsavory reputation and is spoken of as having had 
few, if any, rivals for wickedness in the province. Here Simon 
Girty, the elder, who was a middle aged man, had emigrated from 
the Emerald Isle, located and assumed the duties of a pack horse 
driver. After saving of his earnings to go into business on a small 



106 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

scale as a trader with the Indians, he married Mary Newton, an 
English girl. They became the parents of four boys, Thomas, 
born in 1739; Simon, with whom this story deals, born in 1741 ; 
James, born in 1743, and George, born in 1745. The name is vari- 
ously spelled, "Girty," "Girte," "Gerty," and sometimes "Girtee." 
In a list of traders licensed in 1747 Simon Girty, the elder, does 
not appear; in a list of traders unlicensed of the same date, it 
does appear. However, the list of 1748 contains his name among 
those licensed. 

The lands lying west of the Susquehanna River and north of the 
Kittatinny or Blue Mountain, which includes the present county of 
Perry, had not been opened to settlement yet, but nevertheless, 
by the spring of 1749 there were more than thirty families already 
located there. The sheriff of Lancaster County having authority 
over all the lands west of the Susquehanna except York County, 
three magistrates and a provincial agent were sent to what is now 
Perry County soil to warn the people to leave immediately. Little 
heed was given to their words and others also went in and located. 
Among these was Simon Girty, in 1749, with his wife and little 
brood, settling on Sherman's Creek, but their career there was 
suddenly terminated, as eight provincials appointed by the consti- 
tuted authorities, accompanied by a deputy sheriff of the new- 
county of Cumberland, proceeded to carry out by force the desires 
of the Indians and the commands of the authorities. After burn- 
ing five cabins of settlers near the Juniata they proceeded to Sher- 
man's Creek, where Girty and nine other trespassers were found. 
Each had settled on a separate tract and had erected a cabin. 
These were also burned and the owners bound over to appear at 
Shippensburg, then the seat of justice of the new county, in the 
sum of one hundred pounds each. In view of the others having 
remained when notified to leave during the previous year this oc- 
currence can hardly be viewed with great discredit to Girty. From 
here he went back to Chambers' Mill. 

Girty, the elder, was a drinking man of the "spree" type, and 
met his death at Chambers' Mill on one of these occasions. One 
story tells of a neighbor knocking him in the head and bearing off 
Mrs. Girty as a trophy of his prowess; another tells of a neighbor- 
hood difficulty in which Girty was the challenger to a duel and in 
which Iris antagonist put the sword through him, but both are only 
traditionary tales. Even Theodore Roosevelt, in his "Winning of 
the West," erroneously has him "tortured at the stake, toma- 
hawked finally by a papoose held up by its father for that pur- 
pose," doubtless confounding that circumstance with the one hap- 
pening at the death of Turner, the man who married Girty's 
widow and who was tortured at the stake at Kittanning, as de- 
scribed further on in this chapter. 



SIMON GIRTY, THE RENEGADE 107 

The facts, according to the Magazine of American History, are 
these: He was killed in a drunken revelry by an Indian known as 
"the fish," at his home in the latter part of 1751. His death must 
needs be avenged and the avenger in this case was John Turner, 
who made his home with Girty, who killed "the fish" and thereby 
fulfilled the theory of "an eye for an eye," etc. Turner's reward 
came later, when, early in 1753, at Paxtang he was united in mar- 
riage to Mrs. Girty, described as a woman of unblemished char- 
acter. 

In 1756, Turner, his wife and the four Girty boys, for their 
better protection, were in the fort known as Fort Granville, lo- 
cated near the present town of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, where 
Turner was a second lieutenant. On July 22 a band of over a 
hundred Indians and twenty-three Frenchmen from Fort Duquesne 
arrived at the fort and challenged its occupants to combat, which 
was declined by the commander, Captain Edward Ward. All of 
Ward's men were provincials in the pay of Pennsylvania. Not 
far away Sherman's Valley, comprising practically all of western 
Perry County, was depopulated by reason of the Indian massacres 
and expeditions, yet much grain had been sown and was now ripe 
with no reapers to venture forth without protection. Captain 
Ward determined to guard the harvesters and took all his men 
save twenty-three to Sherman's Valley, thinking the French and 
the Indians had gone. 

In this he was mistaken, as they were only abiding their time. 
On the very day in which he marched, they began a furious at- 
tack and by a feint, entrance was gained through a ravine to 
within thirty or forty feet of the fort. The lieutenant in charge, 
Edward Armstrong, and a private were killed, three wounded and 
the fort set on fire. The enemy then offered quarter if they would 
surrender and Turner, then in charge, opened the gates. The fort 
was consumed in the flames and all were taken prisoners, including 
Turner, his wife and the four Girty boys. Simon Girty was then 
fifteen years old. The fort was sacked before its fall and the 
prisoners were compelled to lug the loot to the limit of their en- 
durance. Tradition says Turner's share was a hundred pounds of 
salt. The trip was over the Allegheny Mountains to Kittanning, 
where there was an Indian village from which this band of In- 
dians were largely recruited. 

Turner, tradition says, — and it is only tradition, — was recog- 
nized as the man who had slain "the fish" (who was the murderer 
of the elder Girty) at Chambers' Mill and his doom was sealed. 
Be that as it may, the evidence and records of his execution are 
-more than tradition. "They tied him to a black post, danced 
around him, made a great fire and, having heated them red-hot, 
ran gun barrels through his body. Having tormented him for 



ioS HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

three hours, they scalped him alive, and at last held up a boy with 
a hatchet in his hand to give the finishing stroke," says Gordon in 
his History of Pennsylvania. His wife sat on a log near by with 
their young son and with the four Girty boys, compulsory be- 
holders of the horrible affair. 

The family was shortly broken up, never to be reunited. 
Simon was turned over to the Senecas, one of the Six Nations, 
and speedily learned their language. James was given to the 
Shawnees and George to the Delawares, all being adopted. The 
other brother, Thomas, had been recaptured by the whites in an 
attack upon Kittanning, within forty days of his first captivity. 
The Dalawares and the Shawnees, notwithstanding the fact that 
the Indians had made a treaty of peace with the English at Easton 
in 1757, remained hostile along the Ohio. During the autumn of 
1858, however, they sent their representatives to Easton, Penn- 
sylvania, and too formed a treaty of peace. As a result all white 
prisoners were delivered up at Pittsburgh, and among them were 
the three Girty boys, their mother ( Mrs. Turner) and her young 
son, John Turner. 

Having lived the wild life of the red men for some time the 
boys were rough and crude and now almost grown into young 
manhood. Their location at Pittsburgh placed them among a 
rough and uncouth element, as it was a mere trading post and 
frontier fort with the attending influences. The principal business 
was trading with the Indians and the linguistic ability of these 
boys, Simon being but eighteen and his brothers younger, made 
their services invaluable, for collectively they could speak the lan- 
guages of three different Indian nations. Simon, who had been 
with the Senecas, now became popular with the Delawares, took 
up their language, and in a short time could speak it fluently. One 
of the principal Delaware warriors — Katepakomen — liked him so 
well that he assumed his name. The capture of this Indian pre- 
tender, "Simon Girty," by Colonel Henry Bouquet in 1764, when 
he marched with his men west of the Ohio, is responsible for con- 
flicting historical accounts, many of which assume that it was the 
real Simon Girty. 

Simon, and perchance his brothers also, became popular among 
a certain class of the white population surrounding the post and 
an incident of historical preservation is that he voted at the first 
election ( i//i ) when Bedford was made a county, including 
practically all the territory of western Pennsylvania. Two years 
later (1773-) Westmoreland County was created, with the capital 
at Hannastown, about thirty-five miles east of Pittsburgh, and it 
then comprised all of these western Pennsylvania lands. The stu- 
dent of history will recollect how Pennsylvania and Virginia 
clashed for that territory, Pennsylvania contending that much of 



SIMON GIRTY, THE RENEGADE 109 

the land even along the Ohio belonged to the province, while Vir- 
ginia's contention was that that state owned even the location 
where Pittsburgh now stands and where the post was then located. 
In the same year Lord Dnnmore, governor of Virginia, visited 
the section and took measures for its being made a part of his 
.state. Simon Girty took sides with Virginia. At the October ses- 
sions of court of that year a warrant was issued for his arrest for 
a misdemeanor, the grand jury having found a true bill, but he 
escaped. Dr. John Conolly, of Pittsburgh, was the leader of the 
Virginians, who, with an armed force, assailed the court at Han- 
nastown and sent three of the justices to jail in Virginia. Penn- 
sylvania's champion was Arthur St. Clair, also of Pittsburgh, who 
caused Conolly's arrest and had him imprisoned at Hannastown. 

Not only the boundary troubles, but others threatened the new 
country. As the tide of emigration broke through the Alleghenies 
and rolled westward in a continuous stream towards the Ohio 
Valley the continuous conflict of the red and white races was again 
uppermost. Southwest of Pittsburgh the Shawnees and the Min- 
goes were on one side and the Virginians on the other. In this 
war Simon Girty was an active participant. Taking sides with 
Virginia in the boundary dispute when his own state was con- 
cerned, naturally he could easily do so then. When Lord Dun- 
more reached Pittsburgh with the northern branch of the Vir- 
ginia army Girty became his interpreter as well as a scottt. Dun- 
more had also with him several scouts whose frontier deeds made 
them famous, but of a type the opposite of Girty. The criticism 
of Roosevelt covering this phase in his "Winning of the West" 
is "At the moment he was serving Lord Dnnmore and the whites ; 
but he was by taste, habits and education a red man, who felt ill 
at ease among those of his own color." 

Lord Dunmore's war did not lessen the severity of the boundary 
dispute around Pittsburgh and Girty was made a second lieutenant 
on his retnrn from the expeditions against the Indians. The im- 
mediate effect of this was to give Virginia immunity from Indian 
troubles at the west and to give Pennsylvania resumption of its 
trade with the Indians. But the Revolutionary War was at hand 
and after the battle of Lexington patriotism west of the moun- 
tains put all else to rout and at conventions held at Pittsburgh and 
Hannastown practically everybody gave expressions to their senti- 
ments, among them being the supporters of Lord Dnnmore. who 
rallied to the Whigs, with a single exception or two, which did not 
include Girty. 

■ On May 1, 1776, he was appointed an interpreter by the Co- 
lonial government to interpret for the Six Nations at Pittsburgh, 
which practically meant for the Senecas. His wage was to be 



i 10 HISTORY OF TERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

four-eights of a dollar per day. On August i it was found nec- 
essary to discharge him for ill behavior. 

He then exerted himself in getting recruits for the patriot army 
for which he expected a captain's commission. In this he failed, 
but was made a second lieutenant in Captain John Stephanson's 
company of one-year men. The company was sent to Charleston, 
hut for some reason he was not with them, hut on detached duty. 
Early in August (1776) he resigned his commission. He was then 
already plotting with the Indians. General Hand, on assuming 
charge of the military affairs at Pittsburgh, discovered that there 
was doubtful loyalty among some of the inhabitants. Alexander 
McKee, an influential trader who had come from that part of the 
province lying east of the mountains, being especially suspicioned. 
He and Girty were friends. He was paroled to the immediate 
vicinity. There was a movement on foot to murder all the Whigs 
and turn the government over to Hamilton, the lieutenant gover- 
nor, located at Detroit, and Girty was suspected of being in the 
plot and was arrested and confined in the guardhouse. He soon 
broke out, just to show that he could, but returned of his own 
accord and was imprisoned. Later he was examined by a magis- 
trate and acquitted. Being restored to confidence, during the fall 
he was sent to meet the Senecas, living on the upper waters of the 
Allegheny, who were supposed to be hostile to the United States. 
He would have been held by them as a spy but managed to escape. 

Finally from authentic reports it became known to General 
I land that Alexander McKee was making preparations to leave 
Pittsburgh to join the enemy. On December 29, 1777, he was 
ordered to York, Pennsylvania, there to answer orders of the Con- 
tinental Board of War, but the tory made excuses and was allowed 
to remain. On February 7, 177S, he was again officially ordered to 
York, but feigned illness and was permitted to remain. Mean- 
while he was secretly preparing to take as much of his property 
as was portable with him and at the earliest possible moment start 
for the Indian country on his way to Detroit. He had influenced 
Girty to join in the flight and on the night of March 28, 1778, 
McKee and his cousin, Robert Surphlit, together with Matthew 
Elliott, Simon Girty, a man named Higgins and two negroes be- 
longing to McKee departed for the Indian country and Detroit, 
traitors to the land of their birth. 

Many reasons are advanced for Girty's disaffection, but the per- 
suasion of McKee and Elliott certainly had much to do with ir. 
Farther than that all must be conjecture. Perchance its inception 
may have dated back to the burning of that cabin of his father by 
the provincial authorities along Sherman's Creek — now a part of 
Perry County — which, as a child he sat by and saw, but of which 
he did not comprehend the meaning. 



SIMON GIRTY, THE RENEGADE in 

However, desertions to the enemy did not stop with the seven. 
( )thers were disaffected, including part of the garrison at Fort 
Pitt. On the night of April 20 a boat was stolen by some, who 
fled down the Ohio. They were overtaken at the Muskingum 
River by a party sent in pursuit and the ringleaders killed or cap- 
tured. Six soldiers and two civilians escaped. Of those taken 
two were shot, one hanged and two whipped, being given one 
hundred lashes each. Their leaving caused great consternation 
among the settlers, some! even wanting to desert their claims in 
fear of the Indians. John Proctor, of Westmoreland County, 
wrote to Thomas Wharton, president of the Supreme Executive 
Council of Pennsylvania, on April 26, as follows : "Captain Alex- 
ander McKee, with seven (six) other villains, is gone to the In- 
dians ; and since then there are a sergeant and twenty-odd men 
gone from Pittsburgh, of the soldiers. What may be the fate of 
this country, God only knows, but at present it wears a dismal 
aspect." 

Girty never possessed real estate, as sometimes stated, hence he 
left nothing behind. He could neither read nor write, so left no 
paper which could shed any light upon his actions. Up to the 
time of his desertion he was not quite so black as painted by many 
historians, as his connections with the provincial government will 
attest. True, he drank, gambled, associated with questionable 
people, yet he was not at that time "an inveterate drunkard," "an 
outlaw," "a redskin of the worst type," etc. Now, however, he 
became a renegade, a deserter and a traitor to his country — what 
a threefold record of infamy those words imply ! 

In all the American settlements west of the Allegheny Moun- 
tains watered by the Ohio and its tributaries, there were not to be 
found three other persons so well fitted as were McKee, Elliott 
and Girty to work upon the superstitions of the western Indians 
for evil to the patriot cause ; and General Hand feared the worst, 
thinking they had gone over to the Indians. He and Colonel 
Morgan at once prepared "addresses" and had them sent to the 
Delawares. Others fearing to carry the messages, John Hecke- 
welder and Joseph Bull, Moravian missionaries, offered to carry 
them to Coshocton. They were searching for the whereabouts of 
missionaries of their church who had gone into the Ohio valleys. 
They found the Delawares about to take up arms against the 
Americans. According to Heckewelder, the renegades had stopped 
at their town and told them that the patriot armies were cut to 
pieces, that General Washington was killed, that there was no 
more congress, that the English had hung some of the members 
and taken the remainder to England to hang them there, and that 
the few thousand Americans who had escaped the British soldiers 
were now busying themselves west of the mountains for the pur- 



U2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

pose of killing all the Indians beyond the Ohio — even the women 
and children. 

The renegades had left Coshocton, but "White Eyes," the Dela- 
ware chief, sent the following figurative message out to the Shaw- 
nees and the Mingoes : "Grandchildren, ye Shawnees ! Some 
davs ago a flock of birds that came on from the east lit at Goscho- 
ching (Coshocton) imposing a song of theirs upon us, which song 
has nigh proved onr ruin ! Should these birds, which, on leaving 
us, took their flight toward the Scioto, endeavor to impose a song 
on you likewise, do not listen to them for they lie." 

However, the words of "White Eyes" were of no avail to his 
grandchildren on the Scioto. The renegades had there met James 
Girty, who was easily persuaded to join them. The Shawnees 
were wavering and he was largely responsible for turning them 
from all thoughts of peace with the United States. It was about 
the middle of June when the original party (James Girty not be- 
ing along) reached the open arms of Lieutenant Governor Hamil- 
ton at Detroit. He immediately appointed Girty as interpreter of 
the Six Nations, the renegade thus becoming an employee of the 
British, for his services receiving two dollars per day. McKee 
was made a captain of the British Indian Department. On June 
15, I//8, the Supreme Executive Council issued a proclamation 
adjudging them traitors. Hamilton sent Simon Girty to the 
Mingoes and James Girty to the Shawnees, each instructed to 
give the best possible service both in interpreting and fighting. 
Until this time neither had the blood of a fellow countryman upon 
his hands. From now on this can not be said of them. For their 
future attitude Hamilton was largely responsible. 

Upon their reaching the Indian tribes a war party was started 
for Kentucky, both being along. The party brought back seven 
scalps, a woman named Mary Kennedy and seven children as 
prisoners. 

Simon Kenton, the scout, had left Boone's station in Kentucky 
to cross the Ohio, being accompanied by Alexander Montgomery 
and George Clark. They ran across some horses in the rich prai- 
ries andj by the use of salt and halters succeeded in stampeding 
seven towards the Ohio. The river being wild the party was de- 
layed in crossing and were overtaken by the Indians. Clark es- 
caped, Montgomery was killed and scalped, and Kenton was tied 
upon the back of one of the wildest horses. After plunging, kick- 
ing and rearing the animal finally followed the others. At four 
different villages he was beaten and made to "run the gauntlet," 
almost losing his life each time. Later, while seated on the floor 
of the council house with his face blackened, a sure sign of being 
doomed, in walked Simon Girty, his brother James, John Ward 
and an Indian with the eight captives spoken of above and the 



SIMON G1RTY, THE RENEGADE 113 

seven scalps. Kenton was temporarily removed but was shortly 
brought back. He recognized the hated traitor. Girty threw down 
a blanket and with a scowl ordered him upon it. He hesitated and 
Girty impatiently jerked him upon it. Girty did not recognize him 
and proceeded to quiz him for information. To the inquiry as to 
where he lived he replied "In Kentucky." To other questions 
Kenton gave answers which were intended to lead his interrogator 
astray. Finally he was asked his name and replied, "Simon Butler," 
the name he was known by along the frontier. Girty embraced 
him on the spot and told him he was condemned to death, but that 
he would use every means to save his life. His pleas were ef- 
fective, as the Indians relented. 

A short time afterwards a party of Indians returned from the 
vicinity of Wheeling defeated by the whites, some having been 
killed and others wounded. Determined to be avenged they sent 
to Girty to appear with Kenton, which he did. He again inter- 
ested himself, but by an overwhelming vote it was decided to burn 
him at the stake. However at Girty's request he was taken by the 
Indians to Upper Sandusky to suffer the torture. Through the 
intercession of a trader there he escaped death, being sent to De- 
troit. Subsequently he fled and finally arrived safely in Kentucky. 

Captain John Clark had commanded a relief party with provi- 
sions for Colonel Gibson at Fort Laurens, and on his return Girty 
and seventeen redskins attacked them and killed two, wounding 
four and taking one prisoner. The remainder, including the cap- 
tain, fought a defensive fight back to the fort. Lieutenant Gover- 
nor Hamilton, getting restless, had previously captured Vincennes, 
and Clarke knew that if he didn't get Hamilton and Vincennes 
that Hamilton would get him. Accordingly on February 7, with 
a force of 126 men he started, and on February 25 captured Ham- 
ilton and the fort. Girty, in attacking Clark, had gained posses- 
sion of correspondence of Colonel Gibson, which he took to De- 
troit, but Hamilton had already been captured. In the corre- 
spondence Gibson revealed the fact that Girty, if captured, could 
expect little mercy from him. At first this caused a feeling of 
despondency which developed into resentment and vindictiveness 
against his countrymen far greater than before. 

Girty met an American named Richard Conner at Coshocton 
and told him to "tell the Americans that I desire to be shown no 
favor, neither will I show any." George Girty. who had been a 
second lieutenant of the Colonial troops, also deserted and on Au- 
gust 8. 1779, arrived at Detroit, the third of the family to become 
a renegade. He was made an interpreter and assigned to the 
Sbawnees. Deer skins (known as "bucks" and "does") were 
worth about a dollar each and were in some cases used as cur- 
rency. Hence, a charge to George Girty reads: "To salt at 



ii 4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Shawnees towns. 4 bucks; to 116 pounds Hour, 14 bucks; to bag 
flour. 2 bucks; to tobacco, 3 bucks." 

A' party of "Virginians" from near where Brownsville, Penn- 
sylvania, now stands, went to New Orleans for supplies. They 
had returned to about three miles below where the little Miami 
joins the Ohio when Simon and George Girty, Matthew Elliott 
and a hundred Indians attacked them, killing David Rogers, the 
captain, and forty-one others of the party and taking five pris- 
oners. The Indians lost but two, with three more slightly 
wounded. They captured a quantity of rum, forty bales of dry 
goods, and a "chest of hard specie." 

On one occasion Simon Girty saved the life of an eighteen- 
year-old boy, Henry Baker, who had been captured by a small 
war party near Wheeling. He was taken to Upper Sandusky, 
where he was placed with nine other prisoners, captured Ken- 
tuckians. All were compelled to "run the gauntlet." The boy, 
being fleet of foot, easily ran it, which so enraged a young Indian 
that he knocked him down with a club after reaching the council 
house. The nine Kentuckians were burned at the stake, one a 
day until all had perished. Baker was compelled to witness all 
this. Then it was his turn. An old chief ordered him taken out 
and tied to a stake. Seeing a white man approaching on horse- 
back, he resisted somewhat and then ran up and implored the rider 
to save him. It was Simon Girty, who at once interceded in his 
behalf. The savages relented and let him go, sending him to De- 
troit as a prisoner. He escaped and reached his home in safety. 

On one occasion (1781) Simon Girty had a narrow escape from 
death. Captain Brant, while drinking intoxicants, boasted of his 
prowess and told how he single-handed had captured a number of 
the enemy. Girty's envy was awakened and he promptly told 
Brant that he lied. The latter immediatelv struck him in the head 
with his sword, making an ugly scar which he carried to his death 
and which he later boasted of as "having received it in battle." It 
was many weeks before he could even sit up. 

Heckewelder, the Moravian missionary, in 1782, saw Simon 
Girty frequently, he being at that time the constant companion of 
Dunquat, the half-king of the Wyandottes. He had then become 
more inhuman and savage thai: ever. The winter was cold, food 
was scarce, the cattle were dying for want of food, there was little 
wood to burn and the tents were small, many were living on the 
carcasses of the starved cattle ; yet when the missionary's wife had 
prepared for themselves a little food, from their scanty lot. in 
walked Simon Girty and a Wyandotte Indian and helped them- 
selves. The half-king had lost two sons in battle the previous 
fall and was very resentful against the whites. Girty now called 



SIMON GIRTY, THE RENEGADE 115 

himself "Captain Girty" and would instigate among the Wyan- 
dottes all the trouble possible for the Moravians. 

( )n one occasion Christian Fast, of Westmoreland County, 
Pennsylvania, and of the part which later became Fayette County, 
a hoy of seventeen was captured. He was wounded before being 
made prisoner but his life was spared, lie was adopted by a 
I Vlaware family which had lost a son in a skirmish. Naturally 
young Fast became melancholy at times. Thoughts of home would 
steal upon him, and on one of these occasions he had proceeded 
into the woods and was sitting on a log musing. He was suddenly 
accosted by a white stranger and asked what he was thinking about. 
He replied that he had no company and felt lonesome. "That is 
not it," said the stranger. "You are thinking of home; be a good 
hoy and you shall see your home again." The speaker was Simon 
Girty, who had taken a liking to the boy, who later did escape and 
reached his own home in safety. 

While three of the Girty boys were renegades, the fourth, 
Thomas Girty, lived in Pittsburgh, rather a respected citizen. 

Captain Crawford, who was a fellow officer with Girty in the 
Virginia militia of a period before, was captured and was burned 
at the stake, and among the witnesses of the spectacle was the 
renegade. Crawford was undressed, and tied to a stake about 
fifteen feet high by a rope which was attached to the ligaments 
of his wrists. The rope was of a length to permit his walking 
around the post two or three times, returning the same way. The 
fires were six or seven yards from the post. About seventy loads 
of powder were shot into his body and then his ears were cut off. 
On every side were tormentors with burning faggots and if be 
turned about to escape torture he again met with it. In the midst 
of these tortures Crawford called to Girty and begged to be shot. 
In derision Girty replied that he had no gun, and laughed heartily, 
all his gestures showing that he was delighted with the spectacle. 
After almost two hours of torture Crawford fell upon his stom- 
ach and was then scalped. Hot coals-were applied to him, hut he 
again raised himself to his feet and walked around the stake, 
seeming more insensible to pain than before. Dr. Knight, who 
was also captured at the same time, was a witness up until this 
point when he was led away. 

Girty then told Knight to prepare for death, but not there, as 
he was to be burned in one of the Shawnee towns. With fear- 
ful oaths he told him that he need not expect to escape death, hut 
should suffer it in all its agonies. Colonel John Gibson had threat- 
ened to trepan him, if captured, and he told Knight that some 
prisoners had informed him that if the Americans got him they 
would torture him. but that he didn't believe it. He asked Knight's 
opinion, hut he, having just witnessed the awful proceedings with 



n6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Crawford, was so unnerved that he could not reply. Knight was 
sent to the Shawnee town under the guard of a single Indian, 
whom he killed and then escaped, finally arriving at Pittsburgh 
half starved. 

George Girty was about as blood-thirsty as his brother Simon. 
John Stover had been of the same war party as Crawford and 
Knight, and was later condemned to the stake. He was tied to the 
stake and George Girty cursed him and told him he was about to 
get what he deserved, but suddenly a storm broke and the Indians 
sought cover, Stover in the meantime breaking his bonds and 
escaping. 

The news of peace between the United States and Great Britain 
did not reach Fort Pitt until May. 1783, and incursions into the 
settlements by small war parties of savages were still carried on. 
Simon Girty led one to Nine Mile Run, within five miles of Pitts- 
burgh, and took a few scalps. This was the renegade's last trip 
into the state of his birth. In July, 1783, after five years of almost 
constant life among the red men he returned to Detroit, where he 
made his home for a short time. In 1784 he journeyed to the 
Indian country for Catharine Malott, who, as a girl in her teens, 
was taken prisoner on the Ohio River in 1780. She was now 
grown to womanhood and wanted to escape savage life, which was, 
no doubt, her only reason for marrying the renegade, which she 
did late that year, settling on the Canadian side. He was still a 
British government agent and was often on the American side 
urging the Indians to harass the new government. 

It appears nowhere that Girty possessed courage, yet his cow- 
ardice is attested by hundreds of acts of a disreputable nature. 
About 1798 he and his wife separated, as she could not stand his 
cruel treatment. Later they lived together again. When the 
Americans came to take possession of Detroit he got so frightened 
that he hurriedly swam the river on horseback. He was almost 
six feet tall, with black hair, a full face, a massive head, and black 
eyes. He was bronzed by exposure, and dressed in Indian fashion, 
being adorned with paint and feathers, and he looked every inch 
an Indian. 

He died on his farm, in Canada, granted him by the Britisli 
government for his perfidy, in 1818, although many historians, in- 
cluding Roosevelt, in his "Winning of the West," mistakenly have 
him killed in battle at Proctor's defeat on the Thames. Of the 
four brothers, Thomas alone led a civilized life. 

Girty became an Indian of his own free will, acquired their 
habits, participated in their councils, inflamed their passions, and 
goaded them on to the most cruel tortures of captives ; and he 
deserves to go down in history as one of the most desperate and 
degenerate characters in its annals. There ever rankled in his 



SIMON GIRTY, THE RENEGADE 117 

bosom a dreadful hatred against his country, and while he had all 
the vices of both civilized and uncivilized peoples, he had the vir- 
tues of neither. 

Tradition would have Simon Girty, the renegade, use the cave 
or "notch" near the top of Half Falls Mountain, known as Girty's 
Notch, as a hiding place and observatory during the Indian trou- 
bles from 1754 to 1764, but there are official records, as stated, 
during these years, which connect him indisputably with the terri- 
tory lying west of Pittsburgh. It is no pleasure to the writer, 
whose birthplace was within a half dozen miles of the location and 
whose childhood was enlivened by tales of Girty's prowess and 
deviltry, to mar this tradition, but history not only fails to bear it 
out, but furnishes evidence of his activities having been in an 
entirely different region. 

Consul Willshire Butterfield, in his History of the Girtys, se- 
verely criticizes the accounts of Simon Girty as contained in 
*Wright's History of Perry County, which was published many 
years ago and which were probably taken from newspaper articles 
of the period, as the facilities for research at that time were lim- 
ited. Many of the errors in reference to Girty are caused by con- 
fusing father and son, both being named Simon. 

In the vicinity of Landisburg there is a tradition that Girty's 
perfidy was the result of his not having been given the command 
of the whites during a skirmish at Wagner's woods, near that 
town. Like the other tales which connect the renegade with Perry 
County territory, there is nothing to it, as he never was in the 
territory save as a boy of eight years, when his father was a 
squatter, and later in crossing the territory when twelve to fifteen 
years of age, with his stepfather and family on their way to Fort 
Granville, near Lewistown. As stated, their capture at that place 
was in 1756 and Girty's perfidy dates from 1776 to 1778, and its 
actual occurrence was at Pittsburgh. 

That the renegade was a thorough Indian at heart is proven by 
the fact that in 1792, when a Great Council of all the north- 
western tribes was convened on the Maumee, he was the only 
white man admitted, among the others being forty chiefs of the 
Six Nations, who counseled peace. 



*In an article in the Newport (Pa.) Ledger in later years Mr. Wright 
wrote: "From reliable information in the writer's possession the renegade 
never visited these places (Girty's Notch) and could not have given them 
his name." 



CHAPTER VI. 
DUNCAN'S AND HALDEMAN'S ISLANDS. 

IN announcing the intention to publish this book the statement 
was made that the history of Duncan's and Haldeman's Is- 
lands, while located in Dauphin County, would be included for 
the reason that the business and social activities of every nature— 
except legal — are with the Perry County side of the river, and for 
the additional reason that the history of one merges into the other. 
The only reason why these two islands are not a part of Perry 
County is that in the old Indian grant to Penn the line was made 
the western bank of the river. Logically they should be a part of 
Perry County, and in 1819 a strong effort was made to have them 
attached to Cumberland County (of which Perry was then a part), 
but it was defeated. Then, a year later, when Perry County was 
formed, they probably could have been attached to Perry, but no 
effort was made. As this chapter contains much of Indian life it 
is inserted here, rather than later. 

( >riginally the Juniata's waters joined with those of the Sus- 
quehanna at two points, one being a channel at the north end of 
Duncan's Island, thus forming between the rivers an island, orig- 
inally known as Juniata Island to the natives. This channel was 
known to early rivermen as "the gut." Marcus ITulings connected 
it with the mainland by a causeway, so that pack horses could pass 
over. Although it retains the name "island," it is in reality no 
longer an island, as the channel at the upper end has long since 
been filled in, the same having been done when the Pennsylvania 
canal was building. During the great floods of 1846 and 1889 
the embankment was swept away and each time was rebuilt at 
gnat expense, the first time by the state, then in possession of the 
canals, and the last time by the Pennsylvania Railroad, at an ex- 
pense of $60,000. Across it passed that great artery of traffic, 
the Pennsylvania canal, and over it now passes the William Penn 
highway and the Susquehanna 'frail. Much of this fill-in was dug 
out when the highway was put through recently, and whether this 
was discreet only another great flood will tell, but rivermen eon- 
tend that it will again break through. 

Duncan's Island is almost two miles long, and almost all of it 
is now the property of William If. Richter. It contains approxi- 
mately 300 acres of land. During the first decade of the Nine- 
teenth Century a village sprang up at its southern point and was 
named I'envenue. It still exists, but is now largely summer cot- 

118 



DUNCAN'S AND HALDEMAN'S ISLANDS 719 

tages. Here once stood the Indian village of "Choniata" or 
"Juneauta," of which there is record as early as 1654 and as late 
as 1745. From this lower point of the island a long, covered 
wooden bridge spans the Susquehanna to Clark's Ferry, a station 
011 the Northern Central Railway, and an iron bridge spans the 
Juniata to a point near Juniata Bridge, a station on the main line 
1 if the Pennsylvania Railroad. 

When the Pennsylvania canal was in operation the mule teams 
which drew the boats crossed the Susquehanna bridge on a tow- 
path built on the outside, towing the canal boats across the river 
at this point, through Green's dam — now commonly referred to 
as the Clark's Ferry dam. The original ferry over the Juniata 
was conducted by the Baskins family, some of whose descendants 
to this day live near by. 

In Watson's Annals the following statement is to be found : 
"This island was the favorite home of the Indians and there are 
still many Indian remains. At the angle of the canal, near the 
great bridge, I saw the mound covered with trees, from which 
were taken hundreds of cartloads of human bones, and which were 
used with the intermixed earth as filling materials for one of the 
shoulders or bastions of the dam. What sacrilege ! There were 
also among them beads, trinkets, etc." 

During the latter part of the last century and the beginning of 
the twentieth the writer was a resident of the near by vicinity and 
knows of many arrowheads, Indian hatchets, skinning stones, etc., 
being found on the islands, and present day residents say they are 
still being 4 found, especially when turning up the ground. As late 
as 1916 the Susquehanna Archaeological Expedition, of which Mr. 
George P. Donehoo, the noted authority upon Indian and Colonial 
history, was a member, found many evidences of Indian occupa- 
tion upon Duncan's Island. They gathered many hundred speci- 
mens of Indian origin, including banner stones, hatchets, arrow 
points, etc. The upper end of the island is even now covered 
with cracked stones used at fireplaces. On one of the paths at the 
lower end of the island, Dr. Moorehead, of the Expedition, found 
an unsual specimen — a half-finished banner stone. The so-called 
Indian mound was dug into, but no traces of Indian work found 
there. 

Duncan's Island, even to the eye, but more so to memory, 
seems a spot of fascination and romance, and its uncounted his- 
torical data, like its silt levels, is more or less submerged. It was 
here that tradition would have two powerful tribes, the Delawares 
and Cayugas, fight for days until the eddying river inlets along 
shore were crimsoned. To tell the tale we have only vast quantities 
<>f broken spearheads and arrows, and they are but mute evidence, 
but to the winner (the Cayugas, already familiar with firearms) 



120 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the strategic point between the rivers and the oncoming civiliza- 
tion was probably worth all it cost. Luckily a few records exist 
which makes it possible to get a glimpse into those early days. 

Marcus Huling, who came from Marcus Hook, Pennsylvania, 
is credited by various historians as probably being the first settler 
of Duncan's Island, but there is no record to bear this out, but 
there are records relating to Hulings which disprove it. The first 
settler was William Baskins, referred to farther on. Hulings 
owned the point between the two rivers, long owned by Dr. Reut- 
ter's heirs. Rupp, the historian, gives the date as 1735. That he 
was there in 1744 is practically certain, as he was one of the 
searching party which hunted for the murdered man Armstrong 
in that year. (See "Murder of an Early Trader," chapter 2.) 
The locality is still the home of some of Hulings' descendants. 

In a rough draft submitted to the province to protect his own 
claim Hulings has left to posterity the names of a few of the 
first settlers of these lands and the vicinity, as the following pages 
will show, and at no place does he claim either ownership or occu- 
pancy. The Hulings family was of Swedish descent and on set- 
tling between the rivers he built the causeway over the strip of 
water connecting the two rivers and started a ferry over the 
Juniata. Trade at that time, it will be remembered, was all done 
with pack horses. Later he owned a toll bridge there, which at 
his death passed to Rebecca Hulings Duncan. 

With Braddock's defeat in 1755 came all the horrors of Indian 
warfare, and the scattered settlers in and around Perry County 
were obliged to flee. However, home, then as now, was dear to 
these pioneers, and some of them lingered long. Being apprised 
of the near approach of the redskins Marcus Hulings, grasping a 
few valuables, placed his wife and youngest child upon a large 
black horse and fled to the point of the island. His other children 
had previously gone to seek safety. Having forgotten something 
and thinking the Indians might not have arrived he ventured to 
return to the house. After carefully reconnoitering he entered 
and found an Indian upstairs "coolly picking his flint." He par- 
leyed with the Indian to escape death and got away. The delay 
caused his wife to believe him murdered and she swam the Sus- 
quehanna on horseback, although the water was high. When he 
arrived at the point he crossed in a light canoe and they finally 
reached Fort Hunter, having been preceded by the Baskins family 
and other fugitives. Here the inhabitants of Pextang (Harris- 
burg) had rallied for defense. 

In 1756 Mr. Hulings went to the western part of Pennsylvania 
and became the owner, whether by purchase or patent we do not 
know, of the point of land located between the Monongahela and 
Allegheny Rivers, where they meet and form the Ohio, and where 



DUNCAN'S AND HALDEMAN'S ISLANDS 121 

Pittsburgh now stands. Becoming discontented he sold this west- 
ern property for £200 and returned to the one on the Juniata. 

While in western Pennsylvania encroachments were made on 
his lands in what is now Watts Township, Perry County, and he 
protested, as the following letter still in existence, shows : 

"Fort Pitt, May the 7th, 1762. 
"To William Peters, Esq., Secretary to the Propriatories in land office in 
Philadelphia, &c: 

"The petitioner hereof humbly sheweth his grievance in a piece of un- 
cultivated land, laying in Cumberland County (now Perry), on the North- 
west side of Juneadey, laying in the very Forks and Point between the 
two rivers, Susquehanna and Juneadey, a place that I Improved and lived 
on one Year and a half on the said place till the enemeyes in the beginning 
of the last Warrs drove me away from it, and I have had no opertunity 
yet to take out a Warrant for it ; my next neighbor wass one Joseph 
Greenwood, who sold his improvement to Mr. Neaves, a merchant in 
Philadelphia, who took out a warrant for the S'd place, and gave it into 
the hands of Collonel John Armstrong, who is Surveyor for Cumberland 
county; and while I was absent from them parts last summer, Mr. Arm- 
strong runed out that place Joyning me, for Mr. Neaves ; and as my 
place layes in the verry point, have encroached too much on me and Take 
away part of Improvements; the line Disided between me and Joseph 
Greenwood was up to the first short small brook that emptyed into Sus- 
quehanna above the point, and if I should have a strait line run'd from 
the one river to the other with equal front on each River from that brook, 
I shall not have 300 acres in that survey ; the land above my house upon 
Juneadey is much broken and stoney. I have made a rough draft of the 
place and lines, and if Your Honor will be pleased to see me righted, 
the Petitioner hereof is in Duty bound ever for you to pray; from verry 
humble serv't. Marcus Hulings." 

Accompanying the above was a note to Mr. Peters, which shows 
that Hulings also had a claim on the south (west) side of the 
Juniata. The note: 

"May ye 17th, 1762. 
"Sir: I have left orders for Mr. Mathias Holston, living in Upper 
Merrion of Philadelphia county, to take out two warrants for me, one 
for the Point between the two Rivers, and one for the Improvements I 
have in the place called the Onion bottom on the south side of Juneadey 
right opposite to the other, where I lived six months before I moved to 
the other place; from your humble servant, Marcus Hulings." 

"Accompanying these letters was the rough draft spoken of in 
the first letter, an attempted description of which follows : Three 
islands are marked. The one now known as Duncan's is marked 
"Island" and the house upon it as "Widow Baskins." The large 
island in the Susquehanna known as Haldeman's is marked "Is- 
land" and three houses located, the lower one being marked "Fran- 
cis Baskins," the next a third up on the east side, "George Clark," 
and a little above the centre, "Francis Ellis." On the east bank 
of the Susquehanna, almost opposite, is a house marked "James 
Reed," while between the centre of the island and the western 
shore is a small triangular island. 



T22 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

On the point between the Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers is 
Hillings' residence. Some distance from the point is a straight 
line running from river to river, marked "this is the way I want 
my line," while above, on the west bank of the Susquehanna, 
nearly opposite the James Reed house, is "Mr. Neave's house." 
Farther up the river, opposite a small island, is another house also 
marked "Francis Ellis." A circuitous line shows where Neave's 
line crossed that of Hulings. On the south side of the Juniata, 
below the mouth thereof, is a house marked "William Kerl," and 
opposite the points of Duncan's Island is "James Baskins'." Farther 
up, in the plot called the "Onion bottom," is another house marked 
"Marcus Hulings." Beyond this, on the south side of the Juniata, 
is a house marked "Cornelius Acheson," who is also credited with 
encroaching on Hulings' "Onion bottom" property. On the east 
side of the Susquehanna River Peters' Mountain and "the nar- 
roughs" are marked. As Hulings likely came to these fertile lands 
with provincial sanction and probably insistence to induce settle- 
ment it is believed that his claims, which also appear to be founded 
on prior right, were adjusted to his satisfaction. 

In 1788 Marcus Hidings died. During the earliest years of 
their life in that vicinity Mrs. Hulings on mor* than one occasion 
forded the Susquehanna on horseback with a oag of grain which 
she took to the mill at Fort Hunter. Marcus, the eldest Hidings' 
son, did not return with the family to this vicinity, but remained 
in Pittsburgh, where he established a ferry at what is now the 
foot of Liberty Street, over the Monongahela River. It was aft- 
erwards known as Jones' Ferry. He was later employed in mov- 
ing military stores on the rivers in that vicinity and in other work 
in behalf of the government and pioneers. Another son located 
in the western part of the province and was the owner of Hillings' 
Island, in the Allegheny River. 

Thomas Hulings, the youngest son, became the owner of the 
estate in the East. He died in Buffalo Township in 1808. His 
first wife was a daughter of General Frederick Watts, of Revolu- 
tionary fame. Their oldest daughter, Rebecca, married Robert 
Callendar Duncan, a son of Judge Duncan, of Carlisle and it is 
through him that Duncan's Island gets its name, he eing the 
grandfather of Mr. P. F. Duncan, cashier of the Duncai non Na- 
tional Bank; Mrs. William Wills and Mrs. Frank McM;>rris, of 
Duncannan, the line of descent coming through Benjamin Stiles 
I )uncan. 

As previously stated, Duncan's Island was the seat of an Indian 
village, known as "Juneauta," in fact the island was known by 
that name among the Indian tribes. There is a tradition which is 
strongly substantiated that at one time the Cayugas and the Dela- 
ware's fought a battle here. To David Brainerd, a graduate of 



DUNCAN'S AND HALDRMAN'S ISLANDS 123 

Vale College and a distinguished missionary, posterity is indebted 
for a glimpse into the utter debauchery and dissoluteness of the 
tribe of Indians located here, and in all probability a counterpart 

of the lives of Indians generally in those days. It is the first 
record of the Shawnees in these islands. 

He became so devoted to the gospel that he consecrated his 
whole life to the evangelizing of the savages, lie came down the 
Susquehanna afoot and on May 19. 1745. he landed at the Indian 
town of Juneauta. In his diary he says, evidently discouraged: 

"Was much discouraged with the temper and behavior of the Indians 
here ; although they appeared friendly when I was with them last spring, 
and then gave me encouragement to come and see them again. But they 
now seem resolved to retain their pagan notions, and persist in their 
idolatrous practices." 

On September 20 he again visited the island and while his 
descriptions as recorded in his diary are rather long they are 
reproduced here in full. lie says: 

"Found them almost universally very busy in making preparations for 
a great sacrifice and dance. Had" no opportunity to get them together, in 
order to discourse with them about Christianity, by reason of their being 
so much engaged about their sacrifice. My spirits were much sunk with 
a prospect so very discouraging; and especially seeing I had this day no 
interpreter but a pagan, who was as much attached to idolatry as any of 
them, and who could neither speak nor understand the language of these 
Indians; so that I was under the greatest disadvantages imaginable. How- 
ever I attempted to discourse privately with some of them, but without 
any appearance of success; notwithstanding, I still tarried with them, 

"In the evening they met together, nearly 100 of them, and danced 
around a large fire, having prepared ten fat deer for the sacrifice. The 
fat of the inwards they burnt in the fire while they were dancing, which 
sometimes raised the fire to a prodigious height; at the same time yelling 
and shouting in such a manner that they might easily have been heard two 
miles or more. They continued their sacred dance nearly all night, after 
which they ate the flesh of the sacrifice, and so retired, each one to his 
own lodging. 

"I enjoyed little satisfaction, being entirely alone on the island, as to 
Christian company, and in the midst of this idolatrous revel ; and having 
walked to and fro till body and mind were pained and much oppressed, 
I at length crept into a little crib made for corn and there slept on the 
poles." 

The next entry is dated Lord's day, Sept. 21, and continues: 

"Spent the day with the Indians on the island. As soon as they were 
well up in the morning I attempted to instruct them, and labored for 
that purpose to get them together, but soon found they had something 
else to do, for near noon they gathered together all of their conjurors 
and set about half a dozen of them playing their juggling tricks and acting 
their frantic, distracted postures, in order to find out why they were then 
"so sickly upon the island, numbers of them at that time being disordered 
with a fever and bloody flux. In this exercise they were engaged for 
several hours, making all the wild, ridiculous and distracted motions 
imaginable, sometimes singing, sometimes howling, sometimes extending 



124 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

their hands to the utmost stretch, spreading their fingers ; they seemed to 
push with them as if they designed to push something away, or at least 
keep it off at arm's end; sometimes stroking their faces with their hands, 
then spurting water as fine mist ; sometimes sitting flat on the earth, 
then bowing their faces to the ground; then wringing their sides as if in 
pain or anguish, twisting their faces, turning up their eyes, grunting, 
puffing, &c. 

"Their monstrous actions tended to excite ideas of horror, and seemed 
to have something in them, as I thought, peculiarly suited to raise the 
devil, if he could be raised by anything odd, ridiculous and frightful. 
Some of them, I could observe, were much more fervent and devout in 
the business than others, and seemed to chant and mutter with a great 
degree of warmth and vigor, as if determined to awaken and engage the 
powers below. I sat at a small distance, not more than thirty feet from 
them, though undiscovered, with my Bible in my hand, resolving, if pos- 
sible, to spoil their sport, and prevent their receiving any answers from 
the infernal world, and there viewed the whole scene. They continued 
their horrid charms and incantations for more than three hours, until they 
had all wearied themselves out, although they had in that space of time 
taken several intervals of rest, and at length broke up, I apprehended, 
without receiving any answer at all. 

"After they had done powwowing I attempted to discourse with them 
about Christianity, but they soon scattered and gave me no opportunity 
for anything of that nature. A view of these things, while I was entirely 
alone in the wilderness, destitute of the society of any one who so much 
as 'named the name of Christ' greatly sunk my spirits and gave me the 
most gloomy turn of mind imaginable, almost stripped me of all resolu- 
tion and hope respecting further attempts for propagating the gospel and 
converting the pagans, and rendered this the most burdensome and dis- 
agreeable Sabbath which I ever saw. But nothing, I can truly say, sunk 
and distressed me like the loss of my hope respecting their conversion. 
This concern seemed to be so great and seemed to be so much my own, 
that I seemed to have nothing to do on earth if this failed. A prospect 
of the greatest success in 1 the saving conversion of souls under gospel 
light would have done little or nothing towards compensating for the loss 
of my hope in this respect; and my spirits were so damp and depressed 
that I had no heart nor power to make any further attempts among them 
for that purpose, and could not possible recover my hope, resolution and 
courage by the utmost of my endeavors. 

"The Indians of this island can, many of them, understand the English 
language considerably well, having formerly lived in some part of Mary- 
land, among or near the white people, but are very drunken, vicious and 
profane, although not so savage as those who have less acquaintance with 
the English. Their customs, in various respects, differ from those of the 
other Indians upon this river. They do not bury their dead in a common 
form, but let their flesh consume above the ground, in closed cribs made 
for that purpose. At the end of a year, or sometimes a longer space of 
time, they take the bones when the flesh is all consumed and wash and 
scrape them and afterwards bury them with some ceremony. Their method 
of charming or conjuring over the sick, seems somewhat different from 
that of the other Indians, though in substance the same. The whole of it 
among these and others, perhaps, is an imitation of what seems, by Naa- 
man's expression (Kings 2-11) to have been the custom of the ancient 
heathen. It seems chiefly to consist in their 'striking their hands over the 
diseased, repeatedly stroking them, and calling upon their god;' except 



DUNCAN'S AND HALDEMAN'S ISLANDS 125 

the spurting of water like a mist and some of the other frantic ceremonies 
common to the other conjurations which I have already mentioned. 

"When I was in this region in May last I had an opportunity of learning 
of the notions and customs of the Indians, as well as of ohserving many 
of their practices. I then traveled more than 130 miles upon the river, 
above the English settlements, and in that journey met with individuals 
of seven or eight distinct tribes, speaking as many different languages. 
But of all the sights I ever saw among them, or indeed anywhere else, 
none appeared so frightful, or so near akin to what is usually imagined 
of infernal powers, none ever excited such images of terror in my mind 
as the appearance of one who was a devout or zealous reformer, or rather 
restorer of what he supposed was the ancient religion of the Indians. 
He made his appearance in his 'pontificial' garb, which was a coat of bear 
skins, dressed with the hair on and hanging down to his toes; a pair of 
bear-skin stockings and a great wooden face painted, the one-half black, 
the other half tawney, about the color of the Indians' skin, with an ex- 
travagant mouth cut very much awry ; the face fastened to a bear-skin 
cap, which was drawn over his head. 

"He advanced toward me with the instrument in his hand which he 
used for music in his idolatrous worship, which was a dry tortoise shell 
with some corn in it, the neck of it drawn on to a piece of wood, which 
made a very convenient handle. As he came forward he beat his tune 
with the rattle and danced with all his might, but did not suffer any part 
of his body, even his fingers, to be seen. No one would have imagined 
from his appearance or actions that he could have been a human creature, 
if they had not had some intimation of it otherwise. When he came near 
me I could not but shrink away from him, although it was then noonday, 
and I knew who it was ; his appearance and gestures were so prodigiously 
frightful. He had a house consecrated to religious uses, with divers 
images cut upon the several parts of it. I went in and found the ground 
beat almost as hard as a rock, with their frequent dancing upon it. I 
discoursed with him about Christianity. Some of my discourse he seemed 
to like, but some of it he disliked extremely. He told me that God had 
taught him his religion and that he would never turn from it, but wanted 
to find some who would join heartily with him in it; for the Indians, he 
said, were grown very degenerate and corrupt. He had thoughts, he said, 
of leaving all his friends and traveling abroad in order to find some who 
would join with him; for he believed that God had some good people 
somewhere who felt as he did. He had not always, he said, felt as he now 
did, but had formerly been like the rest of the Indians until about four 
or five years before that time. Then, he said, his heart was very much 
distressed, so that he could not live among the Indians, but got away into 
the woods and lived alone for months. At length, he said, God comforted 
his heart and showed him what he should do, and since that time he had 
known God and tried to serve Him; and loved all men, be they who they 
would, so as he never did before. 

"He treated me with uncommon courtesy and seemed to be heart in it. 
I was told by the Indians that he was opposed to their drinking strong 
liquor with all his power; and that, if at any time he could not dissuade 
them from it by all he could say, he would leave them and go crying into 
the woods. It was manifest that he had a set of religious notions which 
he had examined for himself and not taken for granted upon bare tradi- 
tion ; and he relished or disrelished whatever was spoken of a religious 
nature, as it either agreed or disagreed with his standard. While I was 
discoursing he would sometimes say: 'Now, that I like; so God has 
taught me,' &c, and some of his sentiments seemed very just. Yet he 



126 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

utterly denied the existence of a devil and declared there was no such 
creature known among the Indians of old times, whose religion he sup- 
posed he was attempting to revive. He likewise told me that departed 
souls went southward and that the difference between the good and bad 
was this: that the former were admitted into a beautiful town with 
spiritual walls and that the latter would forever hover around these walls 
in vain attempts to get in. He seemed to be sincere, honest and conscien- 
tious in his own way and according to his own religious notions, which 
was more than I ever saw in any other pagan. I perceived that he was 
looked upon and derided among most of the Indians as a precise zealot, 
who made a needless noise about religious matters, but I must say that 
there was something in his temper and disposition which looked more like 
true religion than anything I ever observed among other heathen. But 
alas! how deplorable is the state of the Indians upon this river! The 
brief representation which I have here given of their notions and manners 
is sufficient to show that they are led captive by Satan at his will in the 
most eminent manner; and methinks might likewise be sufficient to excite 
the compassion and engage the prayers of God's children for these, their 
fellow men, who 'sit in the region of the shadow of death.' " 

September 22 the entry is as follows: 

"Made some further attempts to instruct and Christianize the Indians 
on this island, but all to no purpose. They live so near the white people 
that they are always in the way of strong liquor, as well as the ill example 
of nominal Christians; which renders it so unspeakably difficult to treat 
with them about Christianity." 

The following summer ( 1746) Brainerd again passed up the 
Susquehanna valley and made the following notations in his diary: 

August 19. Lodged by the side of the Susquehanna. Was weak and 
disordered both this and the preceding day, and found my spirits consid- 
erably damped, meeting with none that I thought godly people. 

August 21. Rode up the river about 15 miles and lodged there, in a 
family which appeared quite destitute of God. Labored to discourse with 
the man about the life of religion, but found him very artful in evading 
such conversation. Oh, what a death it is to some, to hear of the things 
of God! Was out of my element, but was not so dejected as at some 
times. 

August 22. Continued my course up the river, my people now being 
with me who before were parted from me. Traveled above all the Eng- 
lish settlements ; at night lodged in the open woods, and slept with more 
comfort than while among an ungodly company of white people. Enjoyed 
some liberty in secret prayer this evening; and was helped to remember 
dear friends, as well as my dear flock, and the church of God in general. 

Brainerd returned down the river in October, weak and feeble 
from exposure in the outdoors, never again to return to his be- 
loved work. lie died in New England in the following October. 

Jones' History of the Juniata Valley, in speaking of Indian hos- 
tilities, says : 

"That they had many fierce and sanguinary struggles among themselves 
is well authenticated. A battle almost of extermination was once fought 
between two tribes at Juniata — now known as Duncan's Island — within 
the memory of many Indians who were living when the whites settled 
among them. This island must have been a famous battleground — a very 
Waterloo — in its day. When the canal was in progress of construction, 



DUNCAN'S AND I IA1.DKM AX'S ISLANDS 127 

hundreds of skeletons were exhumed; and to this day stone arrowheads 
can be found upon almost any part of the island." 

Rupp, in his history, recites an early Indian story of the Bas- 
kins family having been furnished the information by Mitchell 
Steever, Esq., of Newport, Pa. The William Baskins referred to 
was a granduncle to the late Cornelius and James Baskins, who 
will be remembered by many readers of this volume and whose 
descendants yet reside in various parts of the county. 

It appears that at one time Baskins had a crop of grain matur- 
ing on Duncan's Island while the Indians were on a rampage. He 
had previously removed his family to Fort Hunter for security, 
what was known as Fort Hunter in those days, being an outpost 
opposite to the present town of Marysville. With part of his 
family Baskins had returned to cut his grain. While engaged in 
reaping they were startled by a war whoop close by, but seeing 
neighboring Indians they were not alarmed. But they were de- 
ceived, as the savages soon gave them to understand that they were 
after scalps. They all fled, hotly pursued, toward the house, but 
Mr. Baskins, caught in the act of getting his gun, was shot dead 
and scalped. His wife, a son of three, and a daughter of seven 
years were abducted. A man named McClean was also in the field, 
but pi tinged into the Juniata and swam to "Sheep Island" (above 
the iron bridge on the Juniata) and concealed himself in the cleft 
of some rocks on the far side and thus eluded capture. 

As a captive nearing Carlisle Mrs. Baskins escaped from the In- 
dians. The daughter was taken to the Miami country, west of the 
Ohio, then an unbroken wilderness, where she was held in cap- 
tivity for more than six years, when, in conformity with a treaty 
made with the Indians, as mentioned in a previous chapter of this 
hook, she was returned. She later married a man named John 
Smith, whose descendants lived in Newport, Pa., during the middle 
of the last century. The lad, who was captured at the same time, 
was taken to Canada, where he was raised by Sir William John- 
ston, who didn't know his name and who had him baptized "Timo- 
thy Murphy." 

This Baskins lad ("Timothy Murphy") had a venturesome life. 
He was one of the chief riflemen of Morgan's celebrated sharp- 
shooters. At the battle of Bemis Heights Morgan selected a few 
of his best marksmen and directed them to make (General Fraser, 
of the British troops, their especial target. A number fired with 
no effect, but at the crack of Murphy's gun Fraser fell. 

Shortly after the battle of Monmouth, three companies of Mor- 
gan's troops were sent into Schoharie, New York. Among these 
-was Murphy, and the tories set an extra price upon his scalp, which 
it was never necessary to pay, although many Indians tried for it. 
I [e had grown into a stout, well-built man, with jet-black hair and 



£28 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

eyes and was handsome. While the tories failed to get him here 
he had many hairbreadth escapes, but usually in the nick of time 
something turned up to save him. At one time he possessed a 
double-barreled rifle, an unknown weapon to the Indians. He 
was being chased by a party, and, although he could usually get 
away, now they were gaining on him. He turned and shot one 
and succeeded in getting behind a tree where he quickly reloaded 
the empty chamber. As they again gained on him he stopped and 
shot another, but they resumed the chase, desiring to capture him 
alive and torture him before a slow fire. They were again gaining 
and in despair he jumped behind a tree, and as they advanced shot 
a third one. They immediately fled and in after years "Murphy" 
learned that they had seen him fire three times without reloading 
and that they thought he had "a great medicine of a gun that would 
shoot forever." 

When the war was over, "Murphy," true to the characteristics 
of his forbears, became a farmer. Records tell of his death occur- 
ring from a disease contracted while saving the children of a neigh- 
bor during a winter flood. 

When peace was declared and the independence of the colonies 
became a fact many of the Schoharie Indians returned to settle 
among the people whose buildings they had burned and whose 
relatives they had killed and scalped. Of the worst of his tribe 
was an Indian named Seths Henry, who had killed more than any 
other and who would sometimes leave upon a dead body a war 
club containing many notches cut therefrom. He too came back 
and one day started to call on the different settlers. Not un- 
strangely "Murphy" followed him and there is no record to show 
that the Indian arrived anywhere in this world. 

Then, there began strange disappearances of tories and Indians 
and coincident there was always a fire of brush in the same vicin- 
ity in which might have been found their ashes. The remaining 
renegades and savages took the hint and left the community. 

Timothy Murphy became a wonderful stump speaker and a 
political power in Schoharie County. He brought William C. 
Bouck into public life and later to the gubernatorial chair of New 
York. His mother, the widow of William Baskins, the first set- 
tler of Duncan's Island, remarried, her second husband being 
Francis Ellis. He established a ferry across the Susquehanna dur- 
ing the Revolution and carried on the business for many years. 

After the Baskins boy's capture by the Indians he was first 
heard of through Alexander Stephens, grandfather of Alexander 
H. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy, and father of the 
late James Stephens, of Juniata Township, by a peculiar mark on 
the head. He later visited Perry County and the island and James 
Smith, his nephew, when in Canada during the War of 1812, vis- 



DUNCAN'S AND HALDEMAN'S ISLANDS 129 

ited him near a place called Maiden, and found him to he the 
owner of a large estate. 

The original Clark's Ferry crossed the Susquehanna at a point 
about the centre of Duncannon, its western landing being at the 
point where Clark's run empties into the river. The Indians had 
a place in the vicinity where they forded the river, which they 
knew as "Queenashawakee." The Juniata they knew as "Choini- 
ata," or "Juneauta." In 1733 John Harris, who had a lust for 
land, had erected a cabin and cleared some fields on the island near 
"the white rock on the riverside." This caused a complaint by the 
Indians. This was on Haldeman's Island. 

At a Council held at Philadelphia Shikellamy, the Indian chief, 
through Conrad Weiser, the interpreter, asked whether the pro- 
prietary government had heard of a letter which he and Sassoonan 
had sent to Harris, asking him to desist from making a plantation 
at the mouth of the "Choinata," where he had built a house and 
was clearing fields. They were informed that Harris had only 
built that house for carrying on trade ; that his plantation on 
which were houses and barns was Pextang (now Harrisburg), 
where he dwelt and from which he was not supposed to remove, 
and that he had no order or permit to make a settlement on the 
"Choinata." Even if he had built his house for trading purposes 
Shikellamy said "he ought not to have cleared fields." He was 
informed that Harris had probably only cleared as much land as 
was needed for raising corn for his horses, to which Shikellamy 
rejoined that he "had no ill will to John Harris, in fact it was not 
his custom to bear ill will, but he is afraid that the warriors of the 
Six Nations, when they pass that way, may take it ill to see a settle- 
ment made on lands which they had always desired to be kept 
free from settlement." He was further informed that care would 
be taken to issue the necessary orders. 

In 1806 Robert C. Duncan, a son of the celebrated jurist, 
Thomas Duncan, of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (having 
married Rebecca Hulings), moved to Duncan's Island, where he 
spent the remainder of his days. It is from him that the island 
takes its name. His brother Stephen resided in what is now Perry 
County, near the mouth of Sherman's Creek, and was the founder 
of the Duncannon Forges, the forerunner of the Duncannon Iron 
Company. He subsequently removed to Washington, D. C, where 
he died. Robert C. Duncan had two sons, one of whom was Dr. 
Thomas Duncan, born in 18 14, a celebrated physician and a promi- 
nent member of the Pennsylvania Legislature. The other was 
Benjamin Stiles, horn in 1816, who went to Arkansas in his boy- 
hood, where he resided until 1858. He was a real estate operator 
and laid out a section of Arkadelphia, which is known to this day 
as "the Duncan Addition," He returned to Duncan's Island and 
9 



130 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

engaged in fanning, residing in the house in which he was horn 
until his death, which occurred in 1870. 

Sherman Day, in his Historical Collections of Pennsylvania 
( [843) pays to Mrs. Duncan, widow of the late proprietor of 
Duncan's Island, the following tribute : 

"About half a mile above the village (Benvenue), Mrs. Duncan, 
' the accomplished widow of Robert C. Duncan, still resides in the 
family mansion, where the traveler who chooses to tarry in this 
delightful region may find accommodations — not a hotel, with its 
bar and bottles, and blustering loafers; but in a comfortable, well- 
furnished gentleman's home, with its quiet fireside, and books, and 
intelligent society and amiable tea table." 

The old register of this hotel, beginning with February 6, 1841, 
is in the possession of Mr. P. F. Duncan, her grandson, and is a 
matter of much curiosity to the present day generation. Travel 
was then either overland or by packet. One entry reads thus : 
"Rev. Thomas C. Thornton and lady;" also four children, "all 
the family on the way to Clinton College, Mississippi." On an- 
other line is "Dr. D. L. N. Reutter, residence, Breach at Dun- 
can's Island." Susan Ickes Harding, a daughter of Dr. Jonas 
Ickes, was one of the travelers. Mrs. Harding later became a 
noted philanthropist in Central Illinois. Another name of interest 
is that of Lucretia Mott, a pioneer in woman's suffrage, "on her 
way to Clearfield." 

Among the earlier residents of the island during the past cen- 
tury were the Garmans, who settled there in 1828, Samuel Gar- 
man, long ticket agent and telegrapher for the Northern Central 
Railway at Clark's Ferry and now living retired at Millersburg, 
being a descendant. A man by the name of Updegraff built the 
"point house" in 1834. This was the house where the late J. L. 
Clugston lived, he who long kept a general store at the inlet lock. 
The Carpenter family came from Newport in "the forties," and 
of some of that family more appears in the chapter devoted to 
"River and Canal Transportation." Their sons who grew to man- 
hood were James, John, Thomas and George, and their daughter, 
Elizabeth, became the first wife of Stiles Duncan, owner at that 
time of Duncan's Island. She died September 25, 1857, aged 
twenty-four years. 

The channel between the two islands once was deep and swift, 
but years of constant deposit of silt has left it far less deep and 
its waters seem not nearly so swift as in the days of yore. Dun- 
can's Island has gone through some famous flood experiences, of 
winch there is an account in the chapter devoted to Rivers and 
Streams, elsewhere in this book. 

Both Duncan's and Haldeman's Islands are a part of Reed 
Township, Dauphin County, which was created by an act of the 



DUNCAN'S AND HALDHMAN'S ISLANDS 



13' 



Legislature on April 6, 1849. It was named in honor of William 
Reed, who resided midway between Clark's Ferry and Halifax. 
Historically there appears to he little relating separately to llalde- 
man's Island. It was named for one of the early owners. It is 
separated from Duncan's Island by a narrow channel and unlike 
Duncan's Island it is not of alluvial origin, but is elevated high 
above the neighboring low-lying lands. It comprises 775 acres, 
which is divided into five farms each of 155 acres, the ownership 
of which remains in P. F. Duncan (two farms) and Mrs. Mary 
Haldeman Armstrong (three farms). A. Stephen Duncan once 




LOWER END OF HARDEMAN'S ISLAND, NEAR DUXCAXXOX. 

owned the Haldeman Island also, but sold it to John Haldeman 
for $11,775. It was then known as Baskins' Island. It was first 
surveyed in 1760. 

In the latter part of the eighteenth and the beginning of the 
Nineteenth Century, before the era of internal improvements in 
the state, which destroyed our fisheries, these islands were noted 
for their shad fisheries, where great catches were made. 

The assessment list of 175 1 describes everything above Peters' 
Mountain as "Narrows of Paxtang." Those on and around the 
islands at that time were Widow Murray, Robert Armstrong, 
Thomas Gaston, William Forster, Thomas Clark, John McKen- 
hedy, Robert Clark, Thomas Adams, Albert Adams, John Watt, 
William Baskins, George Wells, Francis Glass, George Clark, John 
Mecheltree, Francis Baskins (trader), John Clark, James Reed, 
James English, John Gevins, John Baskins, Thomas McKee, and 



I3 2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

| (»hn Kelton. Charles Williams and John Lee (trader) are desig- 
nated as "Freemen." John Kelton was the collector. 

The dam across the Susquehanna, at the mouth of the Juniata, 
generally known as the Clark's Ferry Dam, was originally known 
as Green's Dam, by reason of the contractor's name having been 
Abbott Green. Mr. Green was born at Penn's Creek, Snyder 
County, and there grew to manhood. During the spring seasons 
he floated rafts down the river and thus became familiar with river 
traffic. He moved to Lewisburg and engaged in contracting upon 
the public works then under construction by the state. The con- 
struction of this dam — in that period a noted undertaking — was 
the crowning work of his life. 

Duncan's Island Methodist Church, Rebecca Duncan, a resi- 
dent of Duncan's Island, at a very early day of Methodism, opened 
her home for the preaching of that "faith. Through her efforts 
and at her expense the school board later added a second story to 
the public school building, which she donated to the cause for the 
use of the Methodists. In it regular services were conducted until 
the great flood of 1865, when, on March 16th, it was destroyed by 
the onrushing waters. The word was preached by the pastors of 
the Duncannon charge. At various times, and sometimes for long 
continuous periods, there have been Sunday school sessions of an 
undenominational character held in the public school building on 
Duncan's Island. 

The Clark's Ferry Bridge. The building of the Clark's Ferry 
bridge was, in that day, a considerable undertaking. It was to 
span the Susquehanna at a point above the location of the ferry 
conducted by the Clarks, and, as it was to be a part of a great 
highway across the state, men from five counties composed the 
commission which was organized forks erection. The commis- 
sioners appointed for that purpose were as follows: Christian 
Gleim, Archibald M'Allister, Innis Green and Abraham Gross, of 
Dauphin County; Robert Clark. John Boden, and Dr. Samuel 
Mealy, of Cumberland County (then including Perry, from which 
section these three men came) ; William Bell, Lewis Evans, David 
Hidings, Robert Robinson, and John Irwin, of Mifflin County 
(then including Juniata); William -Steel, Patrick Gwinn, and 
Maxwell Kinkead, of Huntingdon County, and James Potter, 
John Rankin, and John Irwin (Penn's Valley), of Centre County. 
The commission organized on Wednesday, May 22, 181 8, by 
electing John Boden, chairman, and Christian Gliem, secretary. 
They began their duties by holding their first view of a site on 
June 3, 1818. On April 17, 1837, a span of the bridge gave way 
and one end lodged upon a pier and could not easily be removed. 
It was then set on fire and floated down the river as it fell, a mass 



DUNCAN'S AND HALDEMAN'S ISLANDS 133 

of flaming timber. Destruction of parts of the bridge by fire and 
flood at various times is told in the chapter devoted to "Rivers 
and Streams." 

While to the present generation it is a very, very ordinary struc- 
ture, yet it is described in a noted State History of 1844 as "a 
wooden bridge on the Barr plan, resting upon many piers, the 
whole constructed with an elegance and strength equal to if not 
surpassing any public work in the country." Harry McKee long 
kept a hotel at the east end of the bridge and also owned the first 
farm below the point of Peters' Mountain, which had descended 
from his ancestor, Thomas McKee, the trader, spoken of in our 
Indian chapters. 

When the Clark's Ferry bridge burned on May 14. 1846, the de- 
struction being credited to incendiarism, an arrest was made and 
the verdict of guilty in the Dauphin County courts — for both land- 
ings of the bridge are. in Dauphin County — doomed the defendant 
to a term of years in the Eastern penitentiary, although he then 
and in after years protested his innocence. According to two men 
who have long resided in Perry County, one (Jesse M. Pines) re- 
cently passing away, his contention may have been right. The inci- 
dent is printed here for that reason and also as showing methods 
of travel, etc. 

Many years afterwards, over forty years ago, in the later seven- 
ties, George Boyer, now an associate judge of Perry County, and 
Jesse Pines took an extensive horseback ride over parts of central 
and northen Pennsylvania. In the upper part of the state in a 
mountainous section known as Seven Mountains, above Towanda, 
they came upon a mountain tavern near a place known as Unity- 
ville, where they stopped for lodging. In a forlorn, forsaken sec- 
tion of the forest they took turns at sleeping, as the proprietor and 
the Negro porter's appearance seemed to forbode anything but 
good. They were the only occupants of the hotel. During the eve- 
ning one of the travelers chanced to refer in some way to Clark's 
Ferry. The colored fellow became agitated and, when asked if 
he had ever been there, replied that he had, but that he left the 
night that the bridge burned. Further questioning was of no avail, 
as all efforts to get him to say another word about Clark's Ferry 
were futile. Why did he leave the night the bridge burned ? 

The Mining of River Coal. 

Farther up the Susquehanna lay the rich anthracite coal beds. 

From them for generations down the river with the tide drifted 

' deposits of the very smaller sizes of coal, which settled in various 

places where the current was not swift, forming coal beds upon the 

river's bottom. When coal from the mines was selling very 



134 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

cheaply and when the canals were hauling it at a very low rate the 
mining or digging of this coal by pumping from the river bed would 
have been unprofitable and was not even considered, but with coal 
prices going up annually about 1890 there sprang up a business of 
pumping this coal by suction, and several outfits followed it for 
years. The coal is from the Wilkes-Barre and Wyoming districts, 
principally. In the early days of coal mining, sizes smaller than 
pea were thrown to the huge dumps until they became virtual 
mountains, containing millions of tons. Many of them were lo- 
cated along the Susquehanna and contributary streams, and from 
these immense culm banks spring freshets and rainy seasons car- 
ried the deposits of coal, which rivermen say exist clear to the 
Chesapeake Bay and at some places have been found to be five 
feet in depth. 

The coal operations at Green's Dam, commonly known as the 
Clark's Ferry Dam, commenced in the vicinity of Benvenue in 
1890. Like many other industries it began in a small way, the 
coal being taken out by hand scoops and canoes, followed by small 
flats of three-ton capacity, for stove use. Shortly after Santo & 
Pease, of Harrisburg, arrived with a steam outfit, with which they 
loaded canal boats for transportation to Harrisburg. This was 
followed by others and, in [894, a Mr. Squires, a Wilkes-Barre 
machinist, built and put in operation the largest plant on the river, 
with the late George B. Lukens as foreman. This plant was bought 
in June, 1897, by B. F. Demaree, a Newport business man, who 
retained Mr. Lukens, and added four fifty-ton flats to the plant. 
With these and two canal boats the coal was conveyed to Harris- 
burg, where it was largely sold to the public utility plants. Rail 
shipments followed in 1902, and the orders were at times for 
amounts from 500 to 5,000 tons. This coal found its way to such 
buyers as Dickinson College, the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Com- 
pany, the Arbuckle Coffee Company, etc. The beginning of the 
erection of the stone arch railroad bridge across the Susquehanna 
near Marysville necessitated the closing of the canal and the end 
of that method of shipping. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company 
then put in a siding near Clark's Ferry, where the coal was loaded 
by derricks, operated by both horse-power and steam. With in- 
creased automobile traffic the State Highway Department stopped 
the swinging of derricks over the highway, and it became necessary 
to introduce the hydraulic system of loading, which has materially 
increased the output. The ice flood of 1919 made a breach in the 
dam and injured the coal business materially, which for thirty 
years flourished there, and may, eventually mean its ending. There 
has been an annual increase in the production ; in 1897 it was as 
little as 8,000 tons, while in 1920 it totaled 150,000 tons. An 



DUNCAN'S AND HARDEMAN'S ISLANDS 



135 



average of thirty men have been employed by the various firms 
operating. The Demaree plant is now owited by Harry V. Lukens, 
who purchased it in 1908. Another operator is H. E. Lukens, his 
father, who, about 1899, purchased the outfit started by a Mr. 
Seiler, of Dalmatia, in 1893. The third plant still in the business 
is that of Hicks Brothers, of Auburn, Pennsylvania, who pur- 
chased out the plant of John Zeigler, about 1912, which he had 
operated as early as 190 1. In fact, Mr. Zeigler and John Briner 
had converted an old river steamer, known as the "Shad Fly," into 
a coal dredge, the previous year, but had dissolved partnership, Mr. 
Briner retaining the outfit, but retiring from the business about 
1904. 

Bald Eagle Island. 

While Bald Eagle Island is a part of Dauphin County, yet its 
location in the Susquehanna River at Montgomery's Ferry is but 
a few hundred feet from the Perry County shore line. That it is 
a part of Dauphin County comes from the fact that the county line 
is stated in the act creating the county as "to the westward of the 
Susquehanna." The order of survey dated October 23, 1809, to 
George Eckert, "of Strasburgh Township, and county of Lancas- 
ter," and John Shura, "of the township of Upper Paxton, and 
county of Dauphin," describes it as "Bare Island, opposite the lands 
of John Huggins, on the Cumberland County shore and about a 
quarter mile below Berry's Falls or riffles." It is signed by Gov- 
ernor Snyder, the third governor of Pennsylvania. Through this 
earliest of records one learns the fact that it was once known as 
Bare Island. It is now owned by Mr. James D. Bowman, of Mil- 
lersburg, who has a fishing lodge there, which was erected by Mr. 
Christian S. Albright, about 1902, and which he remodeled and 
enlarged in 1909. Mr. Bowman is an adept fisherman and seldom 
fails to furnish to the many large and joyous gatherings assembled 
there at his command, a luncheon of black bass. 

Bald Eagle Island has long been a source for finding many In- 
dian relics, which would imply that it was probably an Indian 
camping ground. From an Indian standpoint it possessed two 
distinct advantages; one being the lookout both up and down the 
river, and the other that it was an ideal fishing ground, which it 
still is. There was also an early fording here, the width of the 
river at this point during low water being not over five-eighths of 
a mile. The island contains approximately five acres, not includ- 
ing the sand bar at the north end. A third of a century ago the 
Harrisburg Young Men's Christian Association used it as their 
annual camping ground. The name Bald Eagle was given to the 
island by reason of the fact that there once stood on it a large and 
high pine tree, on which for many years the eagles had their nests 



136 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

and hatched their young. The tree was blown down, but the stump 
of it remained as late as 1899. There and at Mt. Patrick, that high 
and steep end of Berry Mountain — about a mile north — these birds 
bred and reared their young for many years. Since the pine tree 
is no more they still have their habitat at Mt. Patrick, and during 
the summer of 19 19 Mr. Bowman, the owner of the island, ob- 
served six of them, while during 1920 he could locate but one pair. 
He has often seen them dart from the air at great speed and dive 
for fish, almost always with success, coming up with a large fish 
in their talons. One of the largest of the eagles in the Zoological 
Gardens at Philadelphia for many years was captured at Berry's 
Falls, above the island and below Mt. Patrick, having hurt its wing 
in diving for fish. Just below this point is where William Mont- 
gomery established his ferry, soon after 1827, the village there 
still bearing that name. On the Dauphin County side this ferry 
was known as Morehead's. 




"WHERE THE RIVERS MEET." 

Landscape showing the junction of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers, the Clark's 

Ferry Dam and Bridge, and Duncan's Island. 



CHAPTER VII. 
COMING OF THE TRADER. 

WHO the first white man was that set foot upon the soils of 
present Perry County must forever remain a mystery, for 
there were no records kept of matters of that nature. 
However, it must have been some trader or adventurer. In the 
davs of the early settlement of the province the Indians even from 
afar journeyed to the seaboard to trade with the newcomers. The 
skins and furs they brought became so valuable abroad that, many 
years before settlements in the interior were even dreamed of, the 
trader traveled the fastnesses of the mountains and ascended the 
rivers in quest of gain. Often the worst class of men went into 
the business of trading and penetrating the forests, built up a 
business with the Indians. 

There is record of James LeTort, a trader who "went out" from 
Carlisle as early as 1727. As the "Allegheny Path" was the route 
of travel to "Allegheny on the branch of the Ohio," where he 
traded, he was evidently among the first white men to travel this 
territory. LeTort's date of settlement at Carlisle is said to have 
been in 1720. By 1735 there were over twenty regular traders 
journeying back and forth across the county to the Ohio 

In fact, even earlier — as early as 1704, Joseph Jessup, James 
LeTort, Peter Bazalion, Martin Chartier and Nocholas Goden, all 
Frenchmen, were traders with the Indians on the Susquehanna 
and with those west of the Alleghenies, via the old Indian trail, 
supposed even then to have been the "Allegheny Path." 

That traders even carried on a traffic in rum at that early day is 
substantiated by a protest made July 23, 1727, at a council held at 
Philadelphia by the Chiefs of the Five Nations, with Madame 
Montour as interpreter. It follows : 

"They desire that there may be no settlements made up Susquehannah 
higher than Pextan (now Harrisburg), and that none of the settlers there- 
abouts be suffered to sell or keep any rum there, for that being the road 
by which their people go out to war, they are apprehensive of mischief if 
they meet with liquor in these parts. They desire also, for the same rea- 
sons, that none of the traders be allowed to carry any rum to the remoter 
parts where James Letort trades, that is Allegheny, on the branch of the 
Ohio. And this they desire may be taken notice of, as the minds of the 
chiefs of all the Five Nations, for it is all those nations that now speak 
by them to all our people." 

After considering the matter over night the governor, on the 
following day, replied, through the same interpreter : 

i37 



138 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

"We have not hitherto allowed any settlement to be made above Pextan, 
but, as the young people grow up, they will spread, of course, yet it will 
not be very speedily. The governor, however, will give orders to them all 
to be civil to those of the Five Nations, as they pass that way, though it 
would be better if they would pass Susquehannah above the mountains. 
The sale of rum shall be prohibited both there and at Allegheny; but the 
woods are so thick and dark we cannot see what is done in them. The 
Indians may stave any rum they find in the woods, but, as has been said, 
they must not drink or carry any away." 

These old documents are the basis for the inference that pio- 
neers were even then presuming to settle above the Kittatinny or 
Blue Mountain; at least, the Indians were apprehensive and were 
early going on record as opposed to any such aggression. 

More than one of these traders had ulterior motives. The 
French and the English were contending for the lands of the great 
West, and to the Quaker — who largely ruled the province — it be- 
came almost a necessity, owing to religious convictions and per- 
sonal interests, that traders' licenses be given only to English set- 
tlers and traders and to those of the Protestant faith, barring the 
French Papists and with them communication to the French on the 
Ohio. 

The traders carried their goods on packhorses and the Indians 
were an easy prey to their cupidity and avarice. In fact, many of 
the early troubles of the province were reaped by reason of seed 
sown by unprincipled and inconsiderate traders. Among promi- 
nent early traders were George Croghan, Thomas McKee, Jack 
Armstrong, Francis Ellis, and William Baskins. 

Of Three Provincials. 

So closely were three early interpreters associated — one the first 
authorized settler of the territory which now embraces Perry 
County — with the provincial life of the district that it is deemed 
expedient to briefly give a few facts about them and their actions 
during that important epoch of Pennsylvania life, when "the bor- 
der" was the term used in referring to the lands along the Kitta- 
tinny or Blue Mountains.. The names of Conrad Weiser, George 
Croghan, and Andrew Montour are inseparably associated with the 
pioneer life of the section, as well as of the province in general. 

Conrad Weiser, the Diplomatic Interpreter. 
Conrad Weiser, of all the Indian interpreters who were inter- 
ested in this territory, was the most prominent. In fact, he was 
the most prominent in the provincial annals of Pennsylvania. 
That he crossed and recrossed the county's territory via the old 
Indian trail past Gibson's Rock there is evidence. He kept a diary, 
and in August, 1754, he stopped at Andrew Montour's, the fol- 
lowing entry being dated September 1 of that year: 



COMING OF THE TRADER 



139 



"Crossed the Kittatinny Mountains at George Croghan's (now Ster- 
rett's) Gap and Sherman's Creek, and arrived that day at Andrew Mon- 
tour's, accompanied (from Harris' Ferry) by himself, the half-king, an- 
other Indian and my son. I found at Andrew Montour's about fifteen In- 
dians, men, women and children, and more had been there, but had gone. 

"Andrew's wife had killed a sheep for these some days ago. She com- 
plained that the Indians had done great damage to the Indian corn, which 
was now ready to roast." 

Weiser had much to do with the Indian affairs which attended 
the early settlement of Perry County soil. Three different pro- 
vincial governors had entrusted him with manifold Indian affairs 
where diplomacy was required and Weiser, the peacemaker, had 
succeeded. What William Penn preached about treating the In- 
dians squarely Conrad Weiser practiced. Had he not induced the 
Five Nations to remain neutral, and had they cast their lot with 
the French the chances are that to-day we would be a French de- 
pendency, as the occasion for the Revolution might not have arisen, 
and we would have likely remained a more or less weak French 
dependency instead of a virile English-speaking nation which soon 
became independent. When George Washington came to Berks 
County in 1760 to attend the funeral of Conrad W r eiser, the future 
father of his country stood at the open grave and made the re- 
mark, "Here lies a man whom posterity will never forget." 
Weiser was a farmer, an interpreter, a trader and a merchant, 
having a store in Reading. As he was so great a factor in the In- 
dian negotiations relating to the Perry County territory it is 
deemed .expedient to give this concise account in this book. 

He was born in Germany in 1696, and came to America with his 
parents during the reign of Queen Anne, when fourteen years of 
age. His father was a blacksmith and lived on the Mohawk River, 
near a settlement of the Mohawk Indians. Conrad was sent by his 
father to reside with an Indian named Tajuajanont, that he might 
learn the Indian tongue. He became popular with the Indians and 
obtained great influence over them even as a boy. When twenty- 
six he was adopted by the family of the Turtles, a distinctive caste. 
In 1729 he came to Pennsylvania, and for the remaining thirty 
years of his life he was connected with the provincial government 
of Pennsylvania as an interpreter. He made his home — but he 
was seldom there — at Heidelberg, in Lancaster (now Berks ) 
County. His duties kept him continually going to the most distant 
localities, and sometimes farther than the boundaries of the prov- 
ince, to attend conferences with the Indians, principally the Six 
Nations. As a man of honor and trust he had the implicit confi- 
dence of both the settlers and the Indians. He was withal, adroit, 
skillful and diplomatic. 

In March, 1748, instructions were given to Weiser for a pro- 
jected trip to the Ohio, the object being to cement further the good- 



140 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

will of the Indians for the English. As he was ready for depar- 
ture the Provincial Council sent for him and delayed the trip. 
George Croghan was ready with twenty pack horses laden with 
goods for the Indians and, on learning of Weiser's detention, went 
alone, but returned in time to accompany him later in the summer 
on his mission. It was August 1 1 before Weiser finally got started 
from Heidelberg, and he undertook the trip with misgivings, as he 
considered it a perilous journey, and only the necessity caused him 
to go at all. On this trip he passed over the famous "Allegheny 




i*/ 



Photo by Win. A. liberty. 
A WINTER SCENE AT SHERMAN'S CREEK AND GIBSON'S ROCK. 
This road is on the old "Allegheny Path" of Indian Days. The part shown is within 
a quarter-mile of the historic Gibson Mill, where Chief Justice John Bannister Gibson 

was born. 

Path," that old Indian trail which crossed Perry County territory 
to the great West. In a letter to Richard Peters, secretary of the 
province, dated "Tuscarora Path, August 15, 1748," he says, 
among other things: "I may be obliged to pay the debt of human 
nature before I get home," which shows that his duties must have 
been of a telling nature, as he was then but fifty-two years of age. 
However, he escaped such misfortune and lived over a decade, 
dying in 1760. While traders crossed this "path" before, yet Con- 
rad Weiser is the first white man to visit Perry County soil who 
has left a record of it. 

For his first employment as an interpreter, in 1731, he was al- 
loted forty shillings as payment. When Reading, Pennsylvania, 
was laid out, in 1748, Conrad Weiser was appointed one of the 



COMING OF THE TRADER 141 

commissioners for that purpose, and built a house and store there 
which stood until recent years. One of the men who accompanied 

Weiser on one of these trips through Perry County territory is 
named as William Franklin, a son of Benjamin Franklin, and who 
later became governor of New Jersey. 

George Croghan, Trader and Interpreter. 

Of the men who had much to do with Indian affairs in what is 
now Perry County, next in importance to Conrad Weiser stood 
George Croghan, the trader and interpreter. He was an Irishman 
by birth and came to this country in 1742, stopping at the Harris 
Ferry (now Harrisburg) for a while. Soon after becoming an 
Indian trader he located in Cumberland County, near what is now 
Hogestown, and about eight miles from Harris' Ferry. He first 
traded in a rather restricted district, the limits of which were to 
Aughwick (near Mt. Union) and Path Valley, later going as far 
as the Ohio River. As early as June, 1747, he is mentioned "as 
a considerable trader." His long residence among Indians enabled 
him to become thoroughly familiar with both the life and the habits 
of the Delaware and Shawanese tribes. For that reason he became 
invaluable to the province. Later on he is supposed to have lived 
at Sterrett's Gap for a time, as the gap was long known as Cro- 
ghan's. Afterwards he removed to Aughwick. 

His first letter while in the employ of the province is dated 
"May 26th, 1747," and is addressed to Richard Peters, secretary 
of the province. With it he enclosed a letter from the Six Nations, 
some wampum and a French scalp taken along Lake Erie. 

Governor Hamilton, in a letter to Governor Hardy, dated July 
5, 1756, in speaking of Croghan, who was at one time suspected of 
being a spy in the pay of the French, says: 

"There are many Indian traders with Braddock— Croghan among others, 
who acted as a captain of the Indians under a warrant from General 
Braddock, and I never heard of any objections to his conduct in that 
capacity. For many years he had been very largely concerned in the Ohio 
trade, was upon that river frequently, and had a considerable influence 
among the Indians, speaking the language of several nations, and being 
very liberal, or rather, profuse, in his gifts to them, which, with the losses 
he sustained by the French, who seized great quantities of his goods, and 
by not getting the debts due him from the Indians, he became bankrupt, 
and since has lived at a place called Aughwick, in the back parts of the 
province, where he generally had a number of the Indians with him, for 
the maintenance of whom the province allowed him sums of money from 
time to time, but not to his satisfaction. After this he went, by my order, 
with these Indians, and joined General Braddock, who gave the warrant 
I have mentioned. 

"Since Braddock's defeat, he returned to Aughwick, where he remained 
till an act of assembly was passed here granting him a freedom of arrest 
for ten years. This was done that the province might have the benefit of 
his knowledge of the woods and his influence among the Indians; and 



142 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

immediately thereupon, while I was last at York, a captain's commission 
was given to him, and he was ordered to raise men for the defense of the 
western frontier, which he did in a very expeditious manner, but not so 
frugally as the commissioners for disposing of the public money thought 
he might have done. He continued in the command of one of the com- 
panies he had raised, and of Fort Shirley, on the western frontier, about 
three months ; during which time he sent by my direction Indian messen- 
gers to the Ohio for intelligence, but never produced me any that was very 
material; and having a dispute with the commissioners about some ac- 
counts between them, in which he thought himself ill-used, he resigned 
his commission, and about a month ago informed me that he had not re- 
ceived pay upon General Braddock's warrant, and desired my recommen- 
dation to General Shirley, which I gave him, and he set off directly for 
Albany; and I hear he is now at Onondago with Sir William Johnston." 

On his return from the Johnston conference he bore a commis- 
sion as a deputy agent of Indian affairs. 

Croghan had settled permanently at Aughwick in 1754 and had 
built the fort and stockade there. He was appointed by the prov- 
ince, in 1755, to locate three forts in what was then Cumberland 
County — one at Patterson's, on the Juniata; one at or near Lewis- 
town, to be known as Fort Granville, and one at Sideling Hill, now 
Bedford County. He recruited men and garrisoned them very 
quickly. In December of 1754 he had written Secretary Peters, 
asking that no one sell liquor to the Indians on account of the 
bad consequences, but admitting that he gave them a keg once a 
month for a frolic. As an official he was noted for promptness. 
After the evacuation of Fort Pitt we find Croghan there for a 
while. On a trip down the Ohio the French captured him and 
took him to Detroit. When liberated he returned to New York. 
He died in 1782. In March, 1749, he was appointed a justice of 
the peace of Lancaster County, to which the soil of Cumberland 
yel belonged. In 1748 there is record of him having a trading 
house on the Ohio. Croghan and Andrew Montour were largely 
associated in business. 

France claimed the vast country west of the Alleghenies, watered 
by the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, and was attempting to estab- 
lish her claim by locating military posts from the great lakes to 
the Mississippi and along the Ohio and Allegheny Rivers. The 
Indian tribes were numerous and war-like. Croghan saw the im- 
portance of detaching them from the French by means of presents 
and the most favorable trading terms. His suggestions were wisely 
heeded by the Provincial Council. He had a thorough knowledge 
of all the Indian trails and the territory of the tribes between the 
Susquehanna and the Ohio. At Carlisle, on April 4, 1756, he filed 
an account of his "losses occasioned by the French and Indians 
driving the English traders off the Ohio." While two of the items 
of probable great value have no actual valuation named, those which 
do total 881 pounds. 



COMING OF THE TRADER 143 

( )n I une 27, 1767, Croghan and two kinsmen petitioned the New 
York Council, on behalf of themselves and others, to purchase 
40,000 acres of land between Otsego Lake and "Caniadcuagy" 
Lake, and between the head branches of the Susquehanna. On 

November 25, 1767, a return was made of a survey for him and 
his associates for 100,000 acres. 

In fact, the journals of George Croghan are an epitome of the 
Indian history of the period. In 1750, according to it, he was on 
the Ohio, enroute to the Shawnee towns ; the next season he out- 
witted Joincaire on the Allegheny. In 1754 he was on the Ohio, 
after Washington had passed, and in 1760-61 he was on a trip to 
Detroit, via Lake Erie, in the company of Roger's Rangers. In 
1765 he toured down the Ohio towards Illinois and was captured 
by Ouiatanon, later making peace with Pontiac and returning. 

Next to Sir William Johnson, George Croghan was the most 
prominent figure among the British Indian agents during the pe- 
riod of the later French wars and Pontiac's conspiracy. A pio- 
neer trader, traveler and government agent, no other man of his 
time knew as much of the coming great West and the counter cur- 
rents, intrigues, etc., connected therewith. It was as deputy of Sir 
William Johnson that he conducted the difficult negotiations at 
Fort Pitt and Detroit in 1758-61 and those in Illinois in 1765, by 
which Pontiac was brought to terms. His winning adherents for 
the English among the wavering allies of the French, beyond the 
bounds of the province, at Sandusky and Lake Erie, was but one 
of his diplomatic feats. He first won the attention of Conrad 
Weiser, who recommended him to the provincial authorities, where 
his first service began in 1747, continuing through the active years 
of his life. At the beginning of the Revolution he appeared as a 
patriot, but later became the object of suspicion, and in 1778 he 
was proclaimed officially by the colony as a public enemy. 

Andrew Montour, First Authorized Settler. 

Andrew Montour was the first authorized settler of the lands 
which now comprise Perry County. He was a half-breed, the old- 
est son of Madame Montour, and the brother of the celebrated 
Catharine Montour. There was a conference held at George Cro- 
ghan's (Sterrett's Gap) in May, 1750. and among those present 
were Richard Peters, secretary of the province ; Conrad Weiser, 
James Galbreath, George Stevenson, William Wilson, Hermanns 
Alricks, George Croghan, Andrew Montour, three Indian delegates 
from the Five Nations, and one from the Mohawks, when the ef- 
fort was made to drive from the lands north of the Kittatinny 
Mountain those who had settled there, the territory not having as 
yet been purchased from the Indians. 



144 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

They were driven from the lands on which they had settled, and 
on April 18, 1752, Andrew Montour was commissioned by the 
governor to settle and reside upon these Indian lands, the Indians 
on July 2, 1750, having petitioned for such occupation, and ar- 
rangements having been made with them for such occupation, at 
a place considered most central, to see that the lands were not set- 
tled upon and to warn off any who had presumed to settle there. 
He was also to report the names of any who did settle there that 
they might be prosecuted. He chose to settle on a stream which to 
this day bears his name, Montour's run, flowing through Tyrone 
Township. Just how honest Montour was in fulfilling this respon- 
sible position is a matter of conjecture, but there is evidence that 
the Indians were still protesting a year later at a Carlisle council 
about encroachments. In fact, Montour was not only suspected 
by the provincial authorities of neglecting his duty here, but he- 
was on more than one occasion suspected of double dealing with 
the Indians of the West and the province. 

He was present at the conference at George Croghan's probably 
in the capacity of an interpreter for Tohonady Huntho, the repre- 
sentatives of the Mohawks from Ohio, for he was an expert in- 
terpreter, speaking the language of the various Ohio tribes as well 
as the Iroquois. His name will be found in our Indian chapters. 
He was an interpreter and later a trader. Hanna, in The Wilder- 
ness Trail, says: "Madame Montour and her son, Andrew Mon- 
tour, were the most picturesque characters in the colonial history 
of Pennsylvania." 

There is evidence that William Patterson, John and Joseph 
Scott, James Kennedy, Alexander Roddy, Thomas Wilson and 
< 'hers bad located in Sherman's Valley during 1753, not a great 
distance from the Montour place, but whether he notified the au- 
thorities is not known, but it is a fact that be brought in his 
brother-in-law, William Dason, and allowed him to locate a claim, 
according to an affidavit of William Patterson some years there- 
after. 

His mother, the famous Madame Montour, was not a daughter 
of a governor of Canada, as sometimes stated. Her father, 
Pierre Couc, a Frenchman, emigrated to Canada. By an Indian 
wife lie had a number of children, some of whom took the name 
of Montour. In 1694 bis son, Lewis Couc. or Montour, was se- 
verely wounded by the Mohawks, near Fort Lamotte, on Lake 
Champlain. Madame Montour (a daughter of Lewis), then a 
ten-year-old girl, is supposed to have been captured at this time 
by the Five Nations and adopted. Her first appearance in history 
is at an Albany conference, August 24, 171 1, where she acted as 
interpreter. She seems to have been educated. She married 
Carondowana, or the "Big Tree," who had adopted the name of 



COMING OF THE TRADER [45 

Robert Hunter, governor of New York. He was of the Oneida 
tribe, a great captain of the Five Nations, and fell at the hands of 
the Catawbas in 1729. When a treaty was made in Philadelphia in 
1734 the proprietess of the province publicly condoled with the 
widow — a rather belated function, as viewed in our day. She 
was handsome and spoke French, being the object of some social 
activity while in Philadelphia. Her duplicity later became apparent 
to the provincial authorities. 

The settlement of Andrew Montour on Montour's run was 
never surveyed to him, although he took out a warrant for 143 
acres adjoining the site of Landisburg. By a warrant dated July 
11, 1761, he was granted 1,500 acres of land on the Juniata River 
in what is now Mifflin County. He took it in two separate tracts, 
the aggregate of which was over 2,500 acres. His Indian name 
was Sattelihu. In 1753 the French had set a price of £100 on his 
head. In the French and Indian War he was a captain of a com- 
pany of Indians on the English side. He accompanied Conrad 
Weiser on his mission to the settlements of the Six Nations. He 
was for almost forty years in the service of Pennsylvania, Vir- 
ginia, and under Sir William Johnson. He often accompanied the 
Moravian missionaries, Count Zinzendorf and Bishop Spangen- 
burg, to the Indian towns. To Count Zinzendorf posterity is in- 
debted for a pen picture of Andrew Montour. His description : 
"His face is like that of a European, but marked with a broad 
Indian ring of bear's grease and paint drawn completely around it. 
He wears a coat of fine cloth of cinnamon color, a black necktie 
with silver spangles, a red satin vest, pantaloons, over which hangs 
his shirt ; shoes and stockings, a hat and brass ornaments, some- 
thing like the handle of a basket, suspended from his ears." He 
died prior to 1775. 

Andrew Montour's first wife was a daughter of Allumoppies, 
King of the Delawares. The Province of Pennsylvania educated 
his children in Philadelphia as proteges of Governor Robert 
1 funter Morris. These were the first children to be sent away to 
school from the soil which now comprises Perry County. Even 
in that day the call for an education was in the atmosphere of 
these lands. 

He is first mentioned by Conrad Weiser in 1744 when he inter- 
preted his Iroquois into Delaware. He assisted in nearly all the 
important Indian negotiations from that time until the treaty of 
Fort Stanwix in 1768, being employed in turn by the Pennsyl- 
vania, Virginia, and New York governments and the Ohio Com- 
pany. In 1754 he was with George Washington at the surrender 
of Fort Necessity. Several times he warned the settlers of im- 
pending raids, among other services bringing word of the Pontiac 
outbreak. He accompanied Major Rogers as captain of Indian 
10 



146 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

forces, when the latter went, to take possession of Detroit, and in 
1764 commanded a party against the recalcitrant Delawares. He 
received for his services several grants of land in western Penn- 
sylvania, as well as money. 

In the autumn of 1750 Conrad Weiser reported to the governor 
of the province that the French agent Joincaire was on his way to 
the Ohio with a present of goods and orders from the governor 
of Canada to drive out all English traders. Governor Hamilton 
detailed George Croghan and Andrew Montour to hasten thither 
and by use of a small present and promise of more to try and 
counteract the intrigues of the French and retain the Indians in 
the English interest. 

At a meeting of the commissioners of the province at Carlisle, 
October 1, 1753, Montour was associated with such illustrious 
lights as Richard Peters, Isaac Norris, and Benjamin Franklin. 
Conrad Weiser said of Montour "that he was faithful, knowing 
and prudent." He operated among the more western Indians and 
was rewarded financially for keeping track of their movements. 

While Andrew Montour was sometimes under suspicion of 
double dealing he always maintained his position with the provin- 
cial government in one capacity or another. In proof of his con- 
nection at the time of the French and Indian troubles, also of his 
actual residence in what is now Perry County before the Albany 
treaty of July 6, 1754, as the authorized representative of the 
provincial authorities, the following letter is here reproduced : 

Sherman's Creek, 16th May, 1754. 

Sir: T once more take upon me the liberty of informing you that our 
Indians at Ohio are expecting every day the armed forces of this province 
against the French, who, by their late encroachments, is likely to prevent 
their planting, and thereby render them impossible of supporting their 
families. And you may depend upon it as a certainty, that our Indians 
will not strike the French, unless this province (or New York) engage 
with them ; and that by sending some number of men to their immediate 
assistance. The reasons are plain ; to wit : that they don't look upon 
their late friendship with Virginia, sufficient to engage them with a war 
with the French ; I therefor think, with submission, that to preserve out- 
Indian allies tbis province ought instantly to send out some men, either 
less or more, which I have good reason to hope, would have the desired 
effect; otherwise, I doubt there will, in a little time, be an entire separa- 
tion; the consequences of which you are best able to judge, &c. I am in- 
formed by my brother, who has lately come from the Lakes, that there is 
at that place a great number of French Indians, preparing to come down 
to the assistance of the French, at Ohio. I am likewise informed, by a 
young Indian man (who, by my brother's directions, spent some days with 
the French at Monongahela), that they expect a great number of French 
down the river very soon. I have delayed my journey to Ohio and waited 
with great impatience for advice from Philadelphia, but have not yet re- 
ceived any. I am now obliged to go to Colonel Washington, who has sent 
for me many days ago, to go with him to meet the half-king, Monacatootha, 
and others, that are coming to meet the Virginia companies ; and, as they 



COMING OF THE TRADER 147 

think, sonic from Pennsylvania — and would have been glad to have known 
the design of this province, in these matters, before 1 had gone. 

I am, sir, your very humble servant, 

Andrew Montour. 
To Gov. H. R. Morris. 

He had correspondence with the governor and council, and this 
letter to the governor was copied from Montour's autograph letter 
on file in the office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth at the 
State Capitol in Harrisburg. 

As early as 1744 we find that "Andrew Montour, Madame Mon- 
tour's son, interpreted an Indian message from the Mohawk lan- 
guage to that of the Delawares." During the same year he was 
also the interpreter in the Jack Armstrong murder case, which ap- 
pears earlier in this book. In that year we also find him as captain 
of a party of Iroquois warriors, marching against the Catawbas, 
of Carolina. lie fell sick and was obliged to return to Shamokin. 
In May, 1745, he accompanied Weiser and Shikellamy to Onon- 
daga with a message and instructions from the governor of the 
province. In June, 1748, he was introduced by Weiser to the 
president of the council of the province, at Philadelphia, and rec- 
ommended as "faithful and prudent." During 1754 George Wash- 
ington sent for Montour to meet him at Ohio, and he (Montour) 
wrote to Secretary Peters, of the province, from his residence on 
Sherman's Creek, the above letter, urging the immediate necessity 
of sending men and arms to resist the impending French invasion. 
Montour and George Croghan proceeded to Monongahela and 
there, on June 9, found Washington. He commanded a mixed 
company of whites and Indians under Washington. 

At a conference, October 24, 1759, at Pittsburgh, Montour and 
George Croghan met General Stanwix, and Montour lit the "pipe 
of peace." In 1761, May 22, at a conference at the State House 
in Philadelphia, Montour was the official interpreter. In 1768, at 
a conference at Fort Pitt, between George Croghan, deputy agent 
Indian affairs, and the Six Nations, Delawares and Shawnees, 
Montour was the interpreter. He filled the same position October 
24, 1768, at a great congress with the Indians at Fort Stanwix. 

During 1769, on November 3, at the junction of Loyalsock 
Creek and the West Branch, a tract of land was surveyed to An- 
drew Montour. It contained 880 acres and was called Montour's 
Reserve. 



CHAPTER VIII. 
COMING" OF THE PIONEERS. 

THE frontier of the early Eighteenth Century was still east 
of the Susquehanna. Beyond lay the forests, the hills, the 
rivers and bands of Indians sometimes hostile when they 
emerged. By the middle of the century adventurers — mostly 
Scotch-Irish — had carried settlement across that river and were 
clamoring for the right to cross the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain 
to settle. When that section was thrown open they not only quickly 
settled it, but passed on, and crossed the Alleghenies to the Ohio. 
While that was happening in Pennsylvania the New Englanders 
made their way to the Mohawk Valley of New York, then on to 
the Seneca territory and along the shores of the Great Lakes, and 
to the south through the Cumberland pass and over the hills of the 
Carolinas was trickling civilization from the southern seaboard to 
Kentucky and Tennessee. 

*The date of the opening of the laud office for the settlement of 
the lands which comprise Perry County was February 3, 1755, 
early in the very year of Braddock's defeat, and almost coincident 
with the time when that noted general was moving towards Brad- 
dock's Field — as it later came to be known — where the British, 
because of their pride and contempt for the advice of experienced 
officers, paid for the Indian dissatisfaction of the previous year at 
Albany, in connection with the purchase of these very lands. Has 
it ever occurred to the reader how closely the Perry County lands 
are related to the historic Braddock defeat? 

Settlers had come in in large numbers during 1755; but owing 
to the defeat of Braddock and the attending defection of the sav- 
ages, which created a reign of terror and bloodshed throughout the 
province, few claims were located and settled upon between that 
year and 1761. While there was still much land open to settle- 
ment south of the Blue or Kittatinny Mountain there was a scar- 
city of water as compared to the north side. These earliest set- 



*Legendary and traditional information, unless backed up by supporting 
facts, is not to be relied upon. Various persons have furnished statements 
that their ancestors were settlers of the Sherman's Valley and other parts 
of Perry County as early as 1741, 1743, and various other dates. Careful 
investigation has been made in provincial records, and nowhere can there 
be found any permanent settlements prior to the late summer of 1753, save 
those who came in as squatters and intruders and were dispossessed, men- 
tion of which appears in the chapters relating to the Indians, elsewhere in 
this book. 

148 



COMING OF THE PIONEERS 149 

tiers were mostly Scotch- Irish, and it is a remarkable fact that 
they invariably sought lands near the headwaters of streams, a 
characteristic likely instilled deep in the race. If they could but 
get their habitations near springs or running water they regarded 
it of more advantage than having them on more fertile soil where 
the matter of water was a question. And it must be remembered 
that in Perry County these springs and streams come welling to 
the surface of the earth, pure, and clear, and cold, from vast sub- 
terranean caverns in the heart of the hills. 

Prof. Wright, in his history, states that there is not a single 
farm in Perry County of one hundred acres or more which does 
not have running water upon it. 

With these early Scotch-Irish came a few English, many Ger- 
mans coming in later. The provincial government at first made 
an effort to place the different nationalities in different sections, 
hut soon found it difficult of accomplishment and a failure when 
done. The Scotch-Irish, as spoken of in America, are not Irish 
at all, but Scotch and English, who fled religious persecution at 
home at the hands of Charles I ( 1714-1720) and found refuge in 
Ireland, and their descendants. The term is of American origin 
and use and is identical with the English term, Ulstermen. It de- 
notes no mixture of blood of the two races, as they did not inter- 
marry. They entered Ireland and took up the estates of Irish 
rebels, confiscated under Queen Elizabeth and James I. James I, 
by the way, was king of Scotland, and as James VI encour- 
aged his Presbyterian subjects to do this. Many of them had mi- 
grated early in the Seventeenth Century, about seventy-five years 
before the founding of Pennsylvania. Towards the middle of 
the same century Cromwell confiscated Irish lands and emigration 
increased further, many English being among them. The Scotch 
were principally Saxon in blood and Presbyterian in religion, de- 
vout Christians, while the native Irish are Celtic in blood and Ro- 
man Catholic in religion. The races are distinct in Ireland to this 
day, which accounts largely for the eternal Irish question, which 
at" this very time (1920) has the British Kingdom at wit's end. 

The settlement of Irish and Germans north of the Kittatinny 
was often the cause of neighborhood and family feuds, which ex- 
isted even after the organization of the county, as there is record 
of such a fight in the spring of 1823, when one of the participants, 
fearing that he "had killed the dutchman," fled to Indiana, where 
he became an honored citizen. 

In his Making of Pennsylvania, Sydney George Fisher says : 
"The thought and enterprise of New England has been built up 
entirely by Congregationalists ; well on to one-half of the social 
fabric of Pennsylvania has been built up by Presbyterians, and 
there is scarcely a state in the Union where the influence of Cal- 



150 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

vinism had not been powerfully felt." In the original settlement 
of Perry County territory this Scotch-Irish element was a large 
factor and their descendants are among the foremost in its affairs 
and among those sent out to wider fields, one of whom, when this 
is written, occupies the Vice-Presidential chair of the United 
States. See biography of Thomas R. Marshall further on in this 
volume. 

The struggle for the possession of the new world was at first 
confined to six nationalities: the Spanish, French, English, Dutch, 
Swedes, and Portuguese. The Germans, distracted by their own 
political divisions, seemed to have no desire to colonize. They 
finally appeared in Pennsylvania half a century after most of the 
English colonies had been established, but they came as immigrants 
under the protection of the Bnijlisli nation, at first encouraged by 
the Quakers, and later by the British Government, says Fisher. 
They came principally from the Palatinate ; from Alsace, Swabia, 
Saxony, and Switzerland. They had been held in more or less 
subjection at home, and many of the earlier immigrants were a 
very crude people. Pastorius tells of the Indians even considering 
them so. He relates : "An Indian promised to sell one a turkey 
ben. Instead he brought an eagle and insisted it was a turkey. 
It was refused, and the Indian to a Swede, a bystander, remarked 
that he thought a German, just arrived, would not know the dif- 
ference." Later they came in larger numbers and of a more in- 
telligent class. The German element, often referred to in our 
state, as the Pennsylvania Dutch, lias been variously estimated as 
composing from one-third to one-half of the population of Penn- 
sylvania, and has had a great influence in the development of the 
state and of Perry County, where their descendants are a thrifty 
and enterprising element. In the blood of thousands of Perry 
Countians and their descendants who have gone abroad is a strain 
of German steadfastness and perseverance which has sent men to 
the gubernatorial chair of not only our own state, but of others, 
and to the highest legislative body in the world. See biographies 
of noted men. In some counties the German element has lived 
unto itself, using the German language, with little or no inter- 
marriage with other elements, thus causing practically no advance- 
ment. This was not so in Perry County. The children attended 
the public schools and soon learned to use English, the parents 
learning it in turn, and to-day of this original German stock not 
one family uses the German language in the home. However, 
about 1890 a German colony located in Watts Township, built a 
small church, and a few of the parents of these families may still 
use it, while the children speak English. The Germans were 
mostly of the Lutheran and Reformed faith. These older settlers 



COMING OF THE PIONEERS 151 

and their descendants have had considerable contempt for a few 
of the newer who continually talked of "The Fatherland." 

Thomas Kilby Smith, in his "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," 
says of the type of Germans which settled Perry County: 

"The members of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches, who represent 
the second phase of German emigration to Pennsylvania, were of a higher 
type than their predecessors, most of them belonging to the middle classes 
and not to the peasantry, as were the great majority of the sects who pre- 
ceded them. Like the Scotch-Irish and the Welsh, they have mingled with 
the community in general and have been absorbed into the population of 
the state, abandoning any peculiarities of language or custom that they 
may have had at the time of their arrival. They have engaged in various 
occupations, with a tendency, however, to remain in the towns rather than 
in the country districts. Being less numerous than the Pennsylvania Dutch 
and more rapidly assimilated, they have made less impression, as a sepa- 
rate people, on the civilization of the state than the Germans who pre- 
ceded them. Generally speaking, they have been prosperous, have adhered 
closely to their respective churches, relinquished their native tongue, and 
pursued industriously their various occupations. With a few exceptions, 
they have not taken a prominent part in politics or public affairs, except in 
lines of philanthropy, education and music." 

In the matter of noted men from the county the two races, now 
much intermarried, vie with each other as to the number which 
the county has sent forth. 

Speaking of the German element, Prof. Wright, in his history 
(1873), says: "Pfoutz's Valley is still characteristically a Ger- 
man settlement, though there are many persons unable to con- 
verse in any hut the English language. For our fertile soil the 
German is slowly exchanging his language ; his children receive 
an English education in the free schools, without dissent. In fact, 
many of our best scholars were the children of German parents." 
He adds, "Although the soil of Perry County was first settled by 
English-speaking people, the farming population is now largely 
composed of German origin." 

Prof. W. C. Shuman, -formerly of Perry County, in his "Gene- 
alogy of the Shuman Family," says of the Germans: "The Ger- 
mans have profoundly influenced the history of Pennsylvania for 
about 200 years. They have been slow, self -centered and non- 
progressive ; but they have also been honest, industrious and 
thrifty; and in the main, they have been on the right side of all 
great issues." 

The Indian troubles of 1763 again retarded settlement, but the 
victory of the noted Colonel Henry Bouquet in Ohio, in 1764, 
caused the Indians to pretty generally desert the central Pennsyl- 
vania territory, and a tide of immigration from the eastern section 
of the province began, and, owing to imperfect titles to their lands 
in Chester County, later brought to the territory such men as 
John Hench, Jacob Hippie, Jacob Hart man, Frederick Shull and 



152 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY,- PENNSYLVANIA 

Zachariah Rice, whose descendants are legion, and hundreds of 
others. By 1767 many of the best plots were taken, and by 1778 
the greater part of the lands. 

The selling of emigrants into servitude for the payment of their 
passage across the ocean was practiced. George Leonard, an early 
settler of the lands which comprise Perry County, was sold in that 
manner when but six years old, his father having died while aboard 
.and his body cast into the sea, according to the custom. 

The western part of Perry County, generally speaking, im- 
presses one with the fact that it was settled before the eastern sec- 
tion, or the part lying between the rivers, and records verify it. All 
through western Sherman's Valley are to be found stone houses 
more than a century old, built by artisans whose work has stood 
the test, whose wage was likely a very meagre one and whose hours 
possibly were numbered only by the number of hours of daylight. 
Their work will ever stand a monument to early craftsmanship. 
At only one other part of the county are there many of these old 
landmarks, and that is Millerstown. (See chapter on Millerstown.) 
The one on the Solomon Bower farm, in Jackson Township, now 
owned by Assemblyman Clark Bower, was built in 1794, when 
George Washington was President. An end was built to it in 1834 
and a second story added in 1870. The large stone house on the 
C. A. Anderson farm, at Andersonburg, is another fine example. 
It was built in 1820. The adjoining barn was erected in 1821. 

It is difficult for the present generation, with its modern homes, 
many lighted by electricity and gas ; with water piped through- 
out and a multitude of accessories to make life easy and comfort- 
able ; with its modern method of travel in parlor cars at fifty 
miles an hour; with automobiles equipped and finished finer than 
the grandest carriage, and traveling thirty miles an hour (accord- 
ing to law) ; with stores and shops existing at which anything 
may be purchased ; with telephones in one's home whereby he may 
talk to another state in a few minutes, and hundreds of other con- 
veniences unnamed and unenumerated, to realize the extreme needs 
and crude methods and equipment of these pioneers of civilization, 
who braved the rigors of the early winters and the dangers of the 
redskins to build in the wilderness a home and to wrest from the 
savage a state. 

When the pioneer wended his way over the Kittatinny or Blue 
Mountain the country was a vast forest, whose creeks and rivers 
were destitute of bridges and could only be crossed with safety 
at given points, and not at all when the waters were high. There 
were no roads, but only the trails and paths used by the red men 
and the traders. There were no houses, no cleared lands, no 
schools, nothing but the eternal stillness which one yet experiences 
when traveling afoot in the fastnesses of the mountain. Upon 



COMING OF THE PIONEERS 153 

entering the forest their very first act was to cut the timber and 
hew boards with an axe for the erection of their homes, for at 
first there were even no sawmills. Instead of their floors being 
sawed and planed, as are ours, they were split and hewed. Indeed, 
there were some that had no floors save the earth upon which they 
were built, even the old church at Dick's (jap being floorless. 

While the little log house was yet in course of erection the trees 
were being felled on "the clearing," which was to be the first field 
of the new home, and by the time of its finishing a "patch" was 
ready for planting or sowing. Then, while it was growing, there 
were other lands to clear, a barn and other buildings to be built ; 
and eternal vigilance was necessary to prevent the coming of the 
savage with his tomahawk, in search of scalps. There was no 
machinery and the crudest methods of slow and tedious operation 
were necessary to the raising and threshing of crops. In fact, the 
threshing of a crop, which is now done in a day or two on the 
great majority of farms, then required months, as the tramping 
out of grain on the barn floors, with horses, and the use of the 
"flail" were the only available methods of extracting the grain. 

The furnishings of the pioneers were as crude as the cabins 
themselves, the tables and benches being of wood, split and hewed, 
until the advent of the "up-and-down" sawmill. Dishes, plates and 
spoons were of pewter, bowls were fashioned from wood, and 
squashes and gourds supplied receptacles for water. The clothing 
was of homespun and homemade, the women and girls being busy 
with spinning wheel and needle during the long winters. The men 
dressed in hunting shirts and moccasins, later in knee pants with 
buckles. When the first schools were established the clearing of 
lands and threshing during the long winters, and the spinning and 
sewing to make the family clothing, kept many from school, even 
the few months when schools were in session. Tallow candles 
were used as lights, and there are many men and women yet living 
who can well remember when their people used tallow candles as 
their only lights, save perchance a rare oil lamp "when company 
came." 

Gradually roads w T ere built and travel was either afoot, on horse- 
back or by wagon, all of which was slow and required much time. 
Settlements were widely separated and the nearest town was in the 
Cumberland Valley, then known as the "Kittochtinny Valley." 
Large families were the rule and it was no uncommon thing for 
a family to have over a dozen children, five or six children being 
considered a small family. Many of the most prominent families 
of the district were large. To-day the reverse is the case and hun- 
dreds of families in the same territory number from one to three 
children, the family of a half-dozen being considered large. Mr. 
William Morrison, of New Germantown, a man of mature years. 



154 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

to whom we are indebted for much information, was the father of 
fifteen, twelve sons in succession, then a daughter, a son and a 
daughter. There were many families of this size and larger. 

The method of heating the first rude homes was the open fire- 
place fashioned from huge stones. There were no matches, fire 
being produced by the use of flint. On many occasions neighbors 
borrowed fire from each other, if located in close proximity. Peo- 
ple yet live who remember this. Over these rude fireplaces swung 
a kettle in which the family meal was boiled. Later air-tight stoves 









Ti 




















% 








3sL 






IjSHg 


--:_ 


i - * ^ 


y 


-WH 



A PIONEER BRIDE AND GROOM. 

(Copied from Miniature of 1802, when on their "honeymoon.") 
Joseph Martin (1 77 7-1831), born on the "Big Island" while his father, Capt. Joseph 
Martin was in the Army, his mother being Ann (Nancy) Baskins. The bride, Rachael 
Gillespie (1785-1851), who in later years married secondly Rev. Jacob Gruber, 

circuit rider, 

were introduced, which were also very imperfect at first. Maple 
sugar was extracted from trees during the early spring, and in very 
rare cases its manufacture continues in the county. Hand weaving 
was practiced by the housewife, and there exist to-day throughout 
the county many of the finest counterpanes, of exquisite design, 
heirlooms from a former generation. 

Hospitality, not only to one's kin, but to strangers, was practiced 
everywhere, and exists to a great extent to-day, save that a stranger 
must have credentials, as many of "the gentry" took advantage of 



COMING OF THE PIONEERS 155 

those who took them in. In fact, hospitality in the early days was 
not confined to any one section, and it is said of our first Presi- 
dent, General Washington, that his family "did not sit alone to 
dinner for twenty years." In the provincial days the public stop- 
ping place was an "ordinary," later it became a "tavern," and still 
later a "hotel," which name it retains, with variations, such as 
"hostelry," "road house," "tea room," etc. 

Some folks attached considerable importance to certain days and 
certain signs, "planting in signs" being largely practiced. The 
modern way of planting in fertile ground, well prepared and duly 
cultivated, seems to be an improvement. These signs were re- 
garded as foretelling the state of the weather, of health, and 
whether seed should be planted. One certain day broke ice if it 
found it, and formed it if there was none (rather a contrary sort 
of day and emblematic of a certain type of people) ; other days 
were "bad days" or "good days" for planting or sowing seeds, 
others for building fences and roofing buildings, and still others 
for slaughtering stock and weaning stock and even babies. It is 
not strange that many of these old notions prevailed, for they 
were bequeathed from sire to son and from mother to daughter 
for centuries ; they came with the Pilgrim and the Cavalier from 
across the sea and formed a sort of tradition among all classes. 
The belief in witchcraft and sorcery is practically gone, yet once in 
too was a part of the belief of many in widely scattered sections 
of the Union. Even in our own day certain customs known to 
our earlier years have since been replaced and proven fallacious, 
and things now generally acceptable will, in the coming years, seem 
as strange to the populace as does witchcraft to us now. 

For many decades Bear's Almanac, a Lancaster publication, was 
a part of the literature of every farm home, and largely con- 
tinues so. 

In the early days the currency was "eleven penny bits," "fi' 
penny bits," "levies" and shillings, eight shillings making one dol- 
lar. The big cents of copper appeared in 1792 and bore on their 
face the head of Washington, and on the reverse side a chain of 
thirteen links, emblematic of the thirteen original states. 

Wild animals roamed at will and some were beasts of prey, 
among them being bears, panthers, wolves, wild cats, etc. Bears 
were seen in Horse Valley as late as 1885. Wolves were bad and 
even the graves had to be covered with stones in early times to 
insure their safety from these animals. "The Narrows," below 
Mt. Patrick, was once a dangerous place owing to its being the 
habitation of wolves. Near Crawley Hill, in Spring Township, 
there is a small area of rocks, probably fifteen feet high, known 
to this day as "the wolf rocks," and which tradition says was so 
named by reason of it having been a rendezvous for wolves when 



156 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

they still inhabited the forests. It is yet a den for foxes. The 
Fishing Creek Valley (Rye Township) was a place noted for 
wolves even to the present generation, and there are men of fifty 
years who can remember them. On January 21, 1829, George 
Ilollenbangh, of Toboyne Township, was hunting, and entered a 
cavern in the mountains, but quickly retraced his steps, a bear fol- 
lowing him out. He shot it, and another appeared. It too was 
despatched. He then went for help to carry away the animals, 
when a third appeared and was shot, according to the Perry For- 
ester, Perry County' first paper. 

There is record of a Mr. Magee, who was grandfather of Alex- 
ander Magee, sheriff of Perry County in 1841-43, going to the 
door of his home, in Toboyne Township, one night when he heard 
a scream. He stepped out, axe in hand, and killed a panther, which 
was just ready to pounce upon him. Deer, rabbits and squirrel 
were common, and venison graced the table of the pioneer on 
many occasions. The meats of these animals were salted down 
for use during the long winters. Wild turkeys, pheasants and 
partridges roamed the forests, and during certain seasons wild 
pigeons collected in vast numbers. The streams, unpolluted and 
at first free of dams, were alive with fish, principally bass, pike and 
trout. After the severe winters shad, rockfish, salmon and perch 
ascended the streams, thus probably augmenting a supply of pro- 
visions which had become largely depleted. 

During the summer of 1919 the late George Bryner (born in 
1X32) recalled how his Grandmother Hench, who resided near the 
McMillen farms, in the vicinity of Kistler, Madison Township, 
used to describe the howling of the wolves and tell of using powder, 
which they would ignite at night, to scare the animals from their 
cattle. It appears that wolves scent trouble with the smell of 
powder, as do many other wild animals. 

The Susquehanna and Juniata country was once the home of 
that great and picturesque bird, the American eagle, and to this 
day Bald eagles inhabit the shores, including Perry County terri- 
tory, but in very small numbers. Their passing is attributed to 
the propensity for killing by a certain class of hunters, who never 
should have been permitted to shoulder a gun. The Bald eagle 
was here when the pioneer came, and unmolested, continued until 
the last century was well passed, when they began to be viewed as 
thieves, with the result that only a few stragglers remain. In an 
interesting booklet, by that wonderful lover of outdoor life. Col. 
Henry W. Shoemaker, appears this paragraph relating to the 
method of their passing, which is of interest to this section : 

"Charles Lukens, of Duncan's Island, near the mouth of the Juniata 
River, states that a hunter, now residing at Halifax, killed a Bald eagle 
on Peters' Mountains in 1910. He made ready to take the carcass to Har- 



COMING OF THE PIONEERS 157 

risburg to claim a bounty, but on learning tbat it was a protected bird 
abandoned the trip, and it is not known what became of the eagle. Charles 
Smith, an intelligent farmer residing on Haldeman's Island, states that it 
was formerly not an extraordinary occurrence to see Bald eagles soaring 
over the island and the river, but for several years he has not seen any. 
The Rev. B. H. Hart, of Williamsport, who owns an island not far from 
Liverpool, says Bald eagles were formerly seen in fair numbers along the 
river and at his i-sland, though he cannot recollect having seen any for 
several years." 

Slowly sailing across the heavens their eagle eyes would detect 
a fish in the water hundreds of yards away, and at one fell swoop 
would fasten it between their beaks, and carry it to their young in 
the crags of the mountain where they nested. Their nests were 
built of sticks and twigs and were huge affairs when compared 
with the nests of other birds. It is related that when a tree upon 
which a pair nested, in a neighboring county, was cut, a small 
wagonload of kindling was gathered from the nest. Naturalists 
tell that these birds would tear down and rebuild their nests en- 
tirely, every third or fourth year, and in the intervening years 
would only rebuild the top or finishing part. 

Passing of the; Buffalo. 

Many, many years ago this land was overrun by great herds of 
Buffalo, especially that portion of Pennsylvania which comprises 
the tablelands lying between the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers. 
Part of Perry County, of course, is included in this domain, and 
Buffalo Township, Perry County, was named to perpetuate the 
memory thereof. There is a chapter in this book relating to Buf- 
falo Township, which was, by the way, the author's birthplace. 
Its lands belonged to Greenwood Township, which was a part of 
Fermanagh Township — one of the original townships of Cumber- 
land County, when that county was formed. Buffalo Township 
became a separate unit in i/<j<j, the very year in which the illus- 
trious Washington, the first President of the Republic, passed 
away. Even before one of the county's townships was named 
Buffalo, we find in annals relating to the pioneers and the Indians 
the name of Buffalo Creek, which rises in present Madison Town- 
ship, in the section known as Liberty Valley, and flows into the 
Juniata above Newport, and which was most probably named 
by the red men themselves. Then, besides Buffalo Creek and 
Buffalo Township, there is Buffalo Church, Buffalo Mills, New 
Buffalo, etc., within the limits of Perry County. 

In 1655 a man named Vonder Donk published a history, in 
which he said: "Many of the Netherlanders have been far into the 
country more than seventy or eighty leagues from the river and 
seashore. We frequently trade with the Indians who come more 
than ten and twenty days' journey from the interior." He says 



i 5S HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

that half of the buffaloes have disappeared and left the country, 

and now "keep mostly to the Southwest, where few people go." 
The heavers, of which eighty thousand are killed annually, are also 
mostly taken far inland, there being few of them near the settle- 
ments. 

Vast herds of buffalo once roamed the Susquehanna Valley, as 
they later did the plains of the great West, ever receding before 
the westward sweep of the pioneer. W. T. Hornaday says that 
the animals used to roam the country west of the Susquehanna, 
between Harrisburg and Sunbury, and the West Branch country 
of the Susquehanna. Other writers say that as late as 1773 there 
were probably as many as twelve thousand bison in the herds that 
came to this part of the country. Like Terry, Union County per- 
petuates the name in three of its nine townships and in other ways. 
According to Col. Henry W. Shoemaker, along Buffalo Path Run, 
in that county, can be plainly seen the marks made by the herd, al- 
though none have traveled it for almost a century and a half. 

The country between Buffalo Township, in Perry County, and 
the three Buffalo Townships in Union County, and westward in 
northern Snyder and southern Union Counties, will ever be 
memorable as the scene of the "last stand" in Pennsylvania of the 
dwindling buffalo herd, in December, 1799. A coincidence, not 
strange however, is that Buffalo Township was created by the 
Cumberland County court — for Perry was yet a part of Cumber- 
land — within ninety days prior to this incident. Almost four hun- 
dred animals, unable to escape because settlements had grown up 
which entirely surrounded them, had remained hidden in the fast- 
nesses of the mountains to the west of Snyder and Union Coun- 
ties. That last winter of the closing Eighteenth Century was se- 
vere and, desperate for want of food, they braved the Middle 
Creek section of that territory, scenting a barnyard haystack of a 
settler. They broke through the stump fence and trampled to death 
the cattle and sheep within the enclosure. The owner and a neigh- 
bor succeeded in killing four. 

The shots and attacking dogs drove them further down the val- 
ley to a cabin which stood near where Troxelville, Snyder County, 
is now located, being in the northwest section of that county. 
There the wounded leader of the herd, wild with rage, broke down 
the door and entered the cabin. As many as could enter followed. 
They were so tightly jammed in the cabin that the only way to get 
them out was to tear it away and release them. The mangled 
bodies of the wife and children of the owner, crushed beyond de- 
scription, were beneath them when released. 

Naturally this state of affairs needed immediate attention, and 
messengers went up and down the valley summoning hunters to 
help exterminate the herd. Fifty men responded and started to 



COMING OF THE PIONEERS 



159 



hunt the bison which had fled to the mountain. In the meantime 
more snow had fallen and their tracks were obliterated. After a 
two-day search they were found, buried to their necks in snow, 
at a spot near Weikert, along Penn's Creek, in the southwest sec- 
tion of Union County — the "blind end" of Buffalo Valley. Sur- 
rounded by snow of awful depth, almost frozen and at the verge 
of starvation thus perished the last herd of buffalo in the lands of 
William Penn. In January, 1801, a straggler was found and de- 
spatched at Buffalo Crossroads, near Lewisburg. A strange coin- 
cidence in this connection is that the last elk in the state was killed 
near the same spot, though not until almost a century later — 1878. 

Early Maps Showing Locations. 

Modern map makers for the great trunk lines of railroads show 
almost straight lines of these arteries of travel, yet the tourist finds 
his train taking innumerable curves while traveling over these 
"straight lines." Naturally all maps radiate from the given centre 
in the eye of the producer, and it is not strange to find, in the 
many old maps available, some things which are practically cor- 
rect, and much that is drawn from conjecture and description, sur- 
rounding the known locality. The inaccuracies of these old maps, 
with the facilities at hand for securing information, can be much 
more readily excused than the modern ones "with intent afore- 
thought to deceive." A man named Visscher published a map of 
New Netherlands in 1655 which shows with some degree of ac- 
curacy the course of the Susquehanna River, but with no west 
branch of ( it or no Juniata. During the following half century 
about fifteen different maps all contain the same river outline. 
West of the river, about where the Juniata belongs, he locates an 
Indian tribe known as the "Onojutta Haga." 

Lord Baltimore had a map maker named Augustine Herman 
make a map of Maryland for him in 1670, and it shows Maryland 
coming up to the Blue or Kittatinny Mountain, including part of 
the Cumberland Valley. It shows a group of mountains about 
where Perry County is located and a note along the edge carries 
the information that "beyond these mountains the streams run to 
the west, either into the Bay of Mexico or the South Sea ; that 
the first one discovered, a very great stream, is the 'Black Min- 
quas' River (the Ohio), on which lived the tribe of that name; 
that there was a branch of this river (the Conemaugh) opposite 
the Susquehanna (Juniata), which entered at some leagues above 
the fort." In 1698 Gabriel Thomas published a map, which places 
at least a part of Cumberland County in Virginia; in fact, Vir- 
ginia long claimed a large part of western Pennsylvania. 

A man named Nicholas Schull, probably the most noted map 
maker of those early days, made a map of the new county of Cum- 



160 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

berland which was authorized by an act of Parliament in January, 
1759. Of the present names we find Kittatinny and Tuscarora 
Mountains, Horse Valley, Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers. 
Where the Cocolamus Creek is located he has a stream named the 
"Kakonalamus Creek." "Shareman's Creek" is also on this map. 
In the Blue Mountain he designates one gap and names it "Steven- 
son's." At a point near the present Perry-Juniata County line a 
lone settler is designated as "Barber's." 

In 1770 a map appeared by W. Schull, with practically the same 
outlines but another settlement marked "Logan's," located on the 
line of the trail from Carlisle to Fort Shirley. The Conococheague 
Mountain is also marked and Logan's appears close to it. Cro- 
ghan's Gap ( Sterrett's) also appears for the first time. Other 
streams added are Juniata Creek, Buffalo Creek and Wild Cat 
Run. Near the site of Millerstown, on the bend of the Juniata 
below Newport, and near Marysville appears the word "Saut." 
(Salt, in Scotch.) 

When the commonwealth was new and its first governor, Thomas 
Mifflin, was in office, a map appeared which contained the names 
of the four townships then existing in what is now the county of 
Perry, as follows : Toboyne, Tyrone, Rye, and Greenwood. 
"Buffalo Hills," "Mahanoy Hill," and "Limestone Ridge" appear 
for the first time. Many mills are already marked, an account of 
which appears in our chapter relating to "Old Landmarks, Mills 
and Industries." 

On a map in the Book of Deeds, page 128, in the office of the 
Secretary of the Commonwealth, the territory opposite the Cove 
and located in Dauphin County, between the Blue and Peters' 
Mountains, is designated as "Saint Anthony's Wilderness." 



CHAPTER IX. 
PERRY COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR. 

IT has virtually been handed down to us from father to son, 
even from Plymouth Rock and Jamestown, that somewhat like 
another nation, we were in a sense a chosen people — that some- 
thing- greater than human foresight, something greater than finite 
wisdom had guided a persecuted people to these shores and be- 
stowed vision and faith upon those in whom rested the stupendous 
and responsible task of erecting a new government upon an un- 
heard of scheme and following a new standard of life. 

Strangely enough, the first suggestion of a union of the Ameri- 
can colonies came from the Province of Pennsylvania, and from 
its proprietor, William Perm, who, as early as 1697, suggested it. 
The pioneers had crossed the ocean to be free, but as the colonies 
grew in size and in trade they found that the same forces that 
drew them from the mother country now drew them together. In 
1754 Benjamin Franklin, another Pennsylvania!!, elaborated upon 
the Penn idea. 

When the first congress of deputies assembled at New York on 
October 7, 1765, the discerning ones saw in it a gleam of coming 
independence. When the heel of British oppression had descended 
with heavy tread upon the rights and privileges of the provinces 
and they arose in their wrath against the mother country, the pio- 
neers who inhabited that part of Cumberland County which is now 
Perry, were unable to offer much cash, as the Indians had twice 
driven them from their homes, scalped and carried off many, stolen 
what they could conveniently remove and burned or destroyed the 
remainder. Under such circumstances they were a people who 
really needed the help of others instead of being called upon for 
help, yet notwithstanding they gave of their substance, and to the 
first blast of the bugle calling recruits they responded. The first 
settlers to return after the second Indian invasion in 1763 went 
back in 1765, so that but ten years had elapsed until the necessity 
arose to defend the colonies. An effort, fathered at Philadelphia, 
to have the different sections of the province send delegates to a 
meeting there on July 15, 1774, to consider the indignities perpe- 
trated upon the provinces, was no doubt responsible for the fol- 
lowing described meeting: 

. Echoing down the centuries is this first official record relating 
to independence coming from Cumberland County, of which the 
Perry County territory was an integral part. England, through 

161 
11 



162 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

its German-speaking king, was oppressing the colonies, especially 
New England, and a public meeting "of the freeholders and free- 
men" was held Tuesday, July 12, 1774, at Carlisle, with John 
Montgomery, Esq., in the chair. These resolutions show the pa- 
triotic spirit of those days, just as boys from Perry showed it in 
1918 at Chauteau Thierry and the Argonne Forest in the World 
War, and as it was shown by Perry Countians in all the interven- 
ing wars. The resolutions : 

1. Resolved, That the late act of the Parliament of Great Britain, by 
which the port of Boston is shut up, is oppressive to that town, and sub- 
versive of the rights and liberties of the colony of Massachusetts Bay; 
that the principle upon which the act is founded, is not more subversive 
of the rights and liberties of that colony, than it is of all other British 
colonies in North America; and therefore the inhabitants of Boston are 
suffering in the common cause of all the colonies. 

2. That every vigorous and prudent measure ought speedily and unani- 
mously to be adopted by these colonies for obtaining redress of the griev- 
ances under which the inhabitants of Boston are now laboring; and secur- 
ity from grievance of the same or of a still more severe nature, under 
which they and the other inhabitants of the colonies may, by a further 
operation of the same principle, hereafter labor. 

3. That a congress of the deputies from all colonies will be one proper 
method for obtaining these purposes. 

4. That the same purposes will, in the opinion of this meeting, be pro- 
moted by an agreement of all the colonies not to import any merchandise 
from nor export any merchandise to Great Britain, Ireland or the British 
West Indies, nor to use any merchandise so imported, nor tea imported 
from any place whatever till these purposes shall be obtained ; but that 
the inhabitants of this county will join any restriction of that agreement 
which the General Congress may think it necessary for the colonies to 
confine themselves to. 

5. That the inhabitants of this county will contribute to the relief of 
their suffering brethren in Boston, at any time when they shall receive inti- 
mation that such relief will be most seasonable. 

6. That a committee be immediately appointed from this county to cor- 
respond with the committee of this province, or of the other provinces, 
upon the great objects of the public attention; and to cooperate in every 
measure conducting to the general welfare of British America. 

7. That the committee consist of the following persons, viz: James Wil- 
son, John Armstrong, John Montgomery, William Irvine, Robert Callen- 
dar, William Thompson, John Calhoon, Jonathon Hoge, Robert Magaw, 
Ephraim Blaine, John Allison, John Harris, and Robert Miller, or any 
five of them. 

8. That James Wilson, Robert Magaw, and William Irvine be the depu- 
ties appointed to meet the deputies from other counties of this province 
at Philadelphia on Friday next, in order to concert measures preparatory 
to the General Congress. John Montgomery, Chairman. 

The new nation, the United States of America, had come into 
being because the people could not help it, and as a protest against 
indignities, taxes and officers forced upon them by the mother 
country, rather than because of a great desire for it. In the reso- 
lutions adopted at this Cumberland County meeting, including what 



PERRY COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 163 

is now Perry, the colonies, it will be noted, are named "British 
America." Most Americans then held allegiance to their states 
more so than to a union of all, and many believed it possible to 
continue thus, independent of each other except pledged to work 
together on foreign affairs. For a period of eleven years — from 
1776 to 1787 — such a government, in fact, existed. George Wash- 
ington, soon to be the first President of the United States, in the 
meantime was conducting a movement for a united nation, by tak- 
ing the matter up with the various state governors and otherwise. 
But there was no unanimity. When the Constitutional Convention 
met in Philadelphia in 1787 two great men — Adams and Jefferson 
— were absent in Europe as envoys ; Patrick Henry, wedded to 
"state's rights," refused to attend, and John Hancock, Richard 
Henry Lee, and Samuel Adams, all fearing a too central govern- 
ment, remained away. Perry Countians will do well to remember 
that among the representatives was James Wilson, then only 
twenty-three years of age, of Cumberland (then their county), 
whom all historians agree was the most learned lawyer in the con- 
vention and who afterwards became a justice of the United States 
Supreme Court. In 1778 he removed to Philadelphia. He was 
elected to Congress in 1775 and 1782. He died in the South, in 
1798, and his remains rested there until within the last two dec- 
ades, when they were disinterred and removed to Philadelphia. 

James McLene was a member from the county to the Provincial 
Conference of June, 1776, and of the Constitutional Convention 
of the same year, as well as a member of the Supreme Executive 
Council from Cumberland County in 1778-79, serving in the last 
named body from Franklin County from 1784 to 1787. 

Continental Congress adopted resolutions on May 15. 1775, rec- 
ommending the adoption of a state government by each colony. 
This resulted in a provincial conference held at Philadelphia on 
Tuesday, June 18, which met at Carpenters' Hall, and chose Thomas 
McKean president. It was unanimously resolved that a convention 
should be called to form a new government. The qualification for 
voters or electors were made as follows : must have attained the 
age of twenty-one years, have lived in the province one year or 
more, must have paid either a provincial or county tax, and swear 
that he would no longer bear allegiance to King George. Repre- 
sentatives to the convention needed the same qualifications, and in 
addition an affidavit that he "would oppose any measures that 
would interfere with or obstruct the religious principles or prac- 
tices of any of the good people of the province," and still further, 
sign a declaration of faith in the Trinity and in the Divine inspira- 
tion of the Old and New Testaments. It was determined that each 
county should have eight representatives or members, the election 
of whom should be held on Monday, July 8, and that four thou- 



1 64 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

sand, five hundred militia be raised to join a flying camp to con- 
sist of ten thousand men in the middle colonies. 

The convention met on Monday, July 15, in Philadelphia, and 
Benjamin Franklin was chosen president. It continued, including 
adjournments, until September 28, when the Constitution of Penn- 
sylvania was adopted and signed. The lawmaking power of the 
state was vested in a House of Representatives, the members of 
which were to be chosen annually by ballot on the second Tuesday 
of October, to meet the fourth Monday of the same month, no 
member of which could serve over four years. This body was to 
choose annually the state treasurer and delegates to the United 
States Congress, of which no one could be a member for more 
than two years successively and not be eligible for membership 
again until three years had elapsed. Until a proper apportionment 
could be made each county was to have six members of this 
Assembly. 

When the threatened storm approached, our people were equally 
firm in their determination to resist all oppression. They made 
preparations, adopted measures and organized for defense. From 
the American Archives, Vol. II, page 516, the following is repro- 
duced, being the contents of a letter from a gentleman writing 
May 6, 1775, from Carlisle, the county seat: 

"Yesterday the county committee met from nineteen townships, on the 
short notice they had. About three thousand men have already associated. 
The arms returned amount to about fifteen hundred. The committee have 
voted five hundred effective men, besides commissioned officers, to be im- 
mediately drafted, taken into pay, armed and disciplined, to march on the 
first emergency ; to be paid and supported as long as necessary, by a tax 
on all estates, real and personal, in the county ; the returns to be taken by 
the township committees ; and the tax laid by the commissioners and as- 
sessors ; the pay of the officers and men as usual in times past." 

"This morning we met again at eight o'clock; among other subjects of 
inquiry this day, the mode of drafting or taking into pay, arming and 
victualling immediately the men, and the choice of field and other officers, 
will among other matters be the subject of deliberation. The strength or 
spirit of this county, perhaps may appear small, if judged by the number 
of men proposed ; but when it is considered that we are ready to raise 
fifteen hundred or two thousand, should we have support from the prov- 
ince; and that independent, and in uncertain expectation of support, we 
have voluntarily drawn upon this county, a debt of about £27,000 per 
annum, I hope we shall not appear contemptible. We make great improve- 
ments in military discipline. It is yet uncertain who may go." 

On June 22, 1775, the "Colony of Pennsylvania," the name prov- 
ince having become obsolete, was authorized to raise eight com- 
panies of expert riflemen, instead of six companies, as authorized 
by the Continental Congress on the preceding June 14, to proceed 
to join the army near Boston. The result was that nine companies 
responded. Cumberland (always remembering that it still included 
Perry) sent one under command of Captain William Hendricks, 



PERRY COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 165 

its first offering upon the altar of liberty. It was one of two com- 
panies to be assigned to accompany General Benedict Arnold (he 
who later became a traitor) in his difficult and historical march 
through Maine to the stronghold of Quebec. Captain Hendricks 
is recorded as a brave and good officer, but doomed to be killed in 
the attack January 1, 1776. These men were all enlisted in Tune 
*775- 

Cumberland County then embraced all of Perry, and this com- 
pany was composed also of men from the present counties of 
Juniata and Mifflin (also a part of Cumberland), and at this late 
date there is no way of distinguishing the sections to which each 
inhabited, hence the entire list is reprinted. 

Roster of Captain Hendricks' Company. 

Captain, William Hendricks. Killed at Quebec 

First Lieutenant, John McClellan. Died on march, November ■* 177, 

Second Lieutenant, *Francis Nichols vcinuer 3 , i 7/5 . 

Third Lieutenant, George Francis 

ter S o7T"7^'. D /H Th0m r? S Gib |? n ' °! L Carlisle < died at V *^' Forge, win- 
ter of i /7 8) ; ♦Henry Crone, *Joseph Greer, *William McCoy. 

at- j j a Privates: 

*Edward Agnew. 

George Albright. 

♦Thomas Anderson. 

♦Philip Boker, w. at Quebec. 

*John Blair. 

^Alexander Burns. 

♦Peter Burns. 

♦William Burns. 
John Campbell, k. at Quebec. 

♦Daniel Carlisle. 

♦John Corswill. 

*Roger Casey. 

*Joseph Caskey. 

♦John Chambers. 

♦Thomas Cooke, later a lieutenant 

*John Cove. 

John Craig, later a lieutenant 
*Matthew Cumming. 

Arthur Eckles. 
♦Peter Frainer. 
♦Francis Furlow. 
*William Gommel. 
*John Gardner. 
♦Daniel Graham. 
*James Greer. 
♦Thomas Greer. 
*John Hardy. 
: Elijah Herdy. 

*John Henderson, w. at Quebec 
*James Hogge. 
*James Inload. 
*Dennis Kelley, k. at Quebec. 
*Wm. Kirkpatrick. 
♦Robert Lynch. 
♦David Lamb. 
♦Thomas Lesley. 
Those marked with an asterisk (*) were captured 



John Lorain. 
*John McChesney 
♦Daniel McClellan. 
*Richard McClure. 
Henry McCormick. 
Henry McEwen. 
♦Archibald McFarlane, escaped. 
♦Barnabas McGuire. 
♦John McLinn. 
John McMurdy. 
♦Jacob Mason. 
♦Philip Maxwell. 
♦George Morrison. 
♦George Morrow. 
Edward Morton. 
♦Thomas Mordoch. 
♦Daniel North. 
♦Daniel O'Hara. 
♦William O'Hara. 
♦John Ray. 
♦James Reed. 
George Rinehart. 
♦Edward Rodden. 
♦William Shannon. 
♦William Smith 
♦William Snell. 
♦Robert Steel. 
Hugh Sweeney. 
Edward Sweeney. 
♦Abraham Swaggerty, w.at Quebec 

Matthew Taylor. 
♦Henry Turpentine. 
♦Michael Young. 
♦Thomas Witherof. 
♦Joseph Wright. 



166 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Colonel William Irvine was commissioned in [anuary, 1776, as 
commander of the Sixth Battalion, Pennsylvania Troops. One of 
the companies, under Capt. William Bratton, of what is now Mif- 
flin County, contained soldiers whose homes were within the con- 
fines of present Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry Counties. The roster 
of that company follows : 

William Bratton, Capt. Henry, Francis. 

Thomas McCoy, Lient. Higgins, James. 

Amos Chapman, Sergt. Lee, Fergus. 

Thomas Giles, Sergt. Lloyd, Peter. 

Timothy O'Neil, Sergt. Lowden, Richard. 

Edward Steen, Drummer. McCay, Gilbert. 

John Waun, Fifer. McCay, Neil. 

Privates: f r C r^ iald ' ? a ? ick 

McGhegan, John. 

Beatty, John. McKean, John. 

Carman, William. Martin, Peter. 

Carter, Patrick. Moore, Fergus. 

Daley, John. Prent, John. 

Donovan, Daniel. Redstone, William. 

Edgarton, Edward Rooney, Peter. 

Elliott, James. Ryan, John. 

German. Henry. Shockey, Patrick. 

Giles, Thomas. Simonton, James. 

Gilmore, Michael. Simonton, Thomas 

Hall, David. Taylor, John. 

On March 15, 1777, the battalion was reorganized at Carlisle, 
and became the Seventh Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental 
Army. The men composing it were paid and mustered out, at 
Carlisle, during April, 1781. Captain Bratton was wounded at 
the Battle of Germantown, and a township in Mifflin County was 
named in his honor. 

In several other companies there were a few men from what is 
now Perry County territory, but how to distinguish them is a 
question. In the above roster, however, any one familiar with the 
names of Perry County families will easily distinguish many of 
them. 

After January I, 1776, this company became a part of the First 
Regiment of the Army of the United Colonies, commanded by 
General George Washington, later to become first President of 
the United States. 

Thacher's Military Journal described the men of this battalion 
as follows : 

"Several companies of riflemen have arrived here from Pennsylvania 
and Maryland, a distance of from five hundred to seven hundred miles. 
They are remarkably stout and hardy men, many of them exceeding six 
feet in height. They are dressed in rifle shirts and round hats. These 
men are remarkable for the accuracy of their aim, striking a mark with 
great certainty at two hundred yards' distance. At a review a company 
of them, while on a quick advance, fired their balls into objects of seven- 
inch diameter, at a distance of two hundred and fifty yards. They are 
now stationed on our lines and their shot have frequently proved fatal to 
British officers and soldiers." 



PERRY COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 167 

Colonel William Thompson, of Carlisle, was in command. The 
Continental Congress had determined to reenlist the regiment, but 
General Washington, unaware of their intentions, wrote: "They 
are indeed a very useful corps; but I need not mention this, as 
their importance is already well known to the Congress." On the 
following July 1 the entire regiment reenlisted and became the 
First Regiment of the Pennsylvania line in the Continental service. 

Almost every Perry County school boy and girl is familiar with 
the historical facts relating to Benedict Arnold's treason and the 
attending execution of Major Andre, the British officer who was 
apprehended while engaged in the nefarious project, yet how many 
of even the grown people know that he was once imprisoned at 




THE OLD STATE HOUSE AT PHILADELPHIA. 

Here sat Gen. Frederick Watts, whose home was in what is now 

Wheatfield Township, Perry County, as a Member of the Supreme 

Executive Council, which governed the new State until the Union 

was formed. 

Carlisle and that a company of soldiers from what is now Perry 
County, under command of an officer from the same territory, 
threatened to take his life? The facts are these: 

During the Revolution Carlisle was made an important post for 
American troops, and, by reason of its being far from the line of 
actual hostilities, British prisoners were frequently confined there. 
Among such were two officers, Major Andre and Lieutenant 
Despard, who had been captured by Montgomery at Lake Cham- 
plain. While there in 1776 they occupied a stone house on the 
corner of South Hanover Street and Locust Alley, and were on 
parole of honor with a six-mile limit, but required to wear military 
dress. 

In the same neighborhood lived Mrs. Ramsey, an unflinching 
W 7 hig and even a greater American, who detected two tories in 
conversation with them and made information to the authorities. 
The tories were pursued and arrested near South Mountain, 
brought back, tried at once and imprisoned. Letters written in 



[68 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

French were found upon them, but no one was able to read them. 
Arnold and Despard had been in the habit of going hunting within 
the limits of their parole, but were now barred from leaving town. 
Accordingly they broke their fowling pieces, declaring that no 
d rebel should ever burn powder in them. During their con- 
finement there a man named Thompson, from what is now 
I Vrry County, enlisted a company of militia in that district and 
marched them to Carlisle. Whether eager to display his recruits 
or not we know not, but at night he drew his company up in front 
of this stone house and "swore lustily," records tell us, "that he 
would have their lives, as Americans who were prisoners in hands 
of the British were dying of starvation." 

Through the entreaties of this same Mrs. Ramsey, Captain 
Thompson, who had formerly been an apprentice to her husband, 
was induced to leave. He departed, with a menacing nod of his 
head, and the exclamation, "You may thank my old mistress for 
your lives." The next morning she received a very polite note 
from the British officers thanking her for saving them from the 
valiant Captain Thompson. They were later removed to York, 
and before leaving sent to' Mrs. Ramsey a box of spermacetti 
candles, a rare article in those days, with a note thanking her for 
her many kind favors. She returned them with a polite note to 
the effect that she was too staunch a Whig to accept a gratuity 
from a British officer. Despard was executed in London in 1803 
for high treason, and with Arnold's fate the reader is familiar. 

Committees of Observation were appointed throughout the colo- 
nics, the committees representing the home county being composed 
of James Wilson, John Montgomery, Robert Callendar, William 
Thompson, John Calhoun, Jonathan Hoge, Robert Magaw, Eph- 
raim Blaine, John Allison, John Harris, Robert Miller, John Arm- 
strong, and William Irvine. 

Throughout the colonies there appeared here and there sympa- 
thizers with the mother country, known in their day as "tories," 
and the prototype of their ilk known as "copperheads" during the 
war between the States and as "German-Americans" and "paci- 
fists" during the recent great World War. The English language 
does not contain words loathsome enough to describe men of that 
class, who gladly enjoy the pleasures, advantages and protection 
which their land affords, and yet are traitors of the foulest stripe. 
That such an one had settled north of the Kittatinny Mountain, 
in the territory which later became Perry County, is recorded with 
deep regret, but from the public records his infamy passes to pos- 
terity. The affidavit is self-explanatory: 
"Cumberland County, ss. : 

"Before me, C.eorge Robinson, one of His Majesty's Justices, for said 
county, personally appeared Clef ton Bowen, who, being duly exam- 



PERRY COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 169 

ined and sworn, doth depose and say : that some time in the month of 
January last, he, this deponent, was in the house of John Montgomery, in 
Tryone Township, in company with a certain Edward Erwin, of Rye 
Township, and this deponent says he then and there heard said Erwin 
drink damnation and confusion to the Continental Congress, and damn 
their proceedings, saying they were all a parcel of damned rebels, and 
against spring would be cut off like a parcel of snowbirds, and more such 
stuff. 

"Sworn and subscribed before George Robinson, 19th February, 1776. 

"Clefton Bowen." 

In addition to Erwin there were a number of others of the same 
ilk who left the territory soon after the British gained possession 
of Philadelphia and joined them there. The list includes, accord- 
ing to the Pennsylvania Archives, Alexander McDonald, Kennet 
McKenzie, and Edward Erwin, all of Rye Township, farmers on 
small farms, and William McPherson, William Smith, and Hugh 
Gwin, of Tyrone Township. The latter was a laborer and Mc- 
Pherson and Smith, blacksmiths. Their property was confiscated. 

A citizen by the name of Job Stretch, who had taken up lands 
in what is now Juniata Township, was an intense loyalist during 
the Revolution, but began finding things getting "too warm" for 
him and left for Canada, where he settled. 

Leads Cornwalljs' Army Into Captivity. 

To one from within the limits of what now comprises Perry 
County was accorded one of the greatest honors of the entire 
Revolution. When the army of the mighty Cornwallis, the British 
general, laid down their arms, at Yorktown, the entire army, save 
the officers, was placed in charge of the command of Colonel 
George Gibson (father of the late Chief Justice Gibson), under 
whose command they were marched to York, Pennsylvania, where 
they were prisoners of war. Imagine, if you can, the army of that 
great empire, prisoners, in the hands of a native of the soil which 
comprises our little county of Perry. 

*Almost seventy years after the ending of the Revolution, on 
March 2, 1856, the last funeral in Perry County of a soldier of the 
Revolution occurred. It was that of William Heim, of Jackson 
Township, father of Rev. John W. Heim, who was the last sur- 
vivor. He was aged about ninety-five years and could relate from 
memory many of the incidents which resulted in the declaration 
of war. The funeral of Andrew Losh, of Wheatfield Township, 

*William Heim was not recruited from this territory, however, but 
moved here from Northumberland County in 1815 and became a citizen. 
He was ninety-five years of age, and 150 horsemen escorted his funeral 
cortege, this being the only instance of this kind on record here. He is 
said to have asked the national government for a pension in his later years, 
but being unable to furnish other evidence than the existence of his name 
on the company roll, he never received it. The state rewarded his services 
with a small annuity. 



i;o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

occurring after his death on April 12, i8a<), at the age of ninety- 
eight, was the next last of Revolutionary veterans. 

Another prominent name connected with the Revolution from 
the local territory was that of Capt. Alexander Stephens, who had 
located near the Baskins' Ferry (now northern Duncannon). He 
wed a daughter of James Baskins and became the grandfather 
of Alexander H. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy, to 
whom a chapter in this book is devoted. The head of this par- 
ticular Stephens clan in America was an intelligent man, as evi- 
denced by various documents from his pen which we have been 
privileged to read. He entered the war as a private in the Fourth 
Company of the Fifth Battalion of the Cumberland County con- 
tingent. He was also in the French and Indian War, being present 
at Braddock's defeat as a member of Capt. Joseph Shippen's com- 
pany of Col. William Clapham's regiment. 

Some; of the; Patriots. 

George Albright, one of the first settlers of Buck's Valley, went to 
serve his country, his wife, a servant girl and several small boys doing the 
farming. Mrs. Albright and the servant girl carried bags of grain to the 
river on horseback. Leaving their horses there they placed the grain bags 
in canoes and went down the river to the nearest mill, then at Dauphin. 
While they waited until the grain was ground and they rowed the precious 
load of flour up the river, the distance being about fifteen miles. Albright 
returned home at the close of the war and was a respected citizen of the 
little valley the balance of his days. 

Benjamin Bonsall, Sr., of Greenwood Township, served at Valley Forge 
with Washington during the dark days when they had little to wear and 
little to eat. Aged eighty-nine years, he died in 1845. 

Thomas Brown, of Tyrone Township, patriot to the core, provided in his 
will for the reading of the Declaration of Independence over his open 
grave, after which the minister was to pray for him and his beloved 
country. 

Andrew Burd, a fourteen-year-old boy from Greenwood Township, en- 
tered the army as a fifer and served seven years, being mustered out in 
time to get his first vote. 

Edward Donelly, of Buckwheat Valley, was a member of the Colonial 
militia. 

The Smiley family, of Carroll Township, -had five members in the Revo- 
lution, as follows: Thomas Smiley, an ensign in Colonel Watts' battalion; 
John, George, William, and Samuel Smiley. 

William Wallis, who was a resident of what is now Juniata Township, 
Perry County, served through the Revolution and received for pay a cer- 
tificate of service, which he exchanged for a set of blacksmith tools later on. 

David Focht, one of Perry County's first settlers, a resident of Jackson 
Township, was in the army. 



Note. — According to information given to Mrs. Lelia Dromgold Emig, 
author of the Hench-Dromgold genealogy, a number of Revolutionary sol- 
diers are interred in the following cemeteries : Loysville cemetery, John 
Hench, Michael Loy, John Hench II, and John Yohn ; Donnally's Mills, 
Edward Donally and George Hench ; cemetery on ridge near Elliottsburg, 
Frederick Shull ; George Hench, Duncannon. 



PERRY COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 171 

Benjamin Kssick, of Liverpool Township, served in the militia and lived 
to be ninety-three. 

Alexander Gaily, a resident of the Cove, Penn Township, served in the 
Revolution and lived until 1842, being then 102 years old. 

Andrew Lynch, of Tuscarora Township, was in the service of his coun- 
try during the Revolution. 

"William Patterson, of Petersburg, Rye Township (Duncannon), was in 
the service a year, and in later years used to tell of "the tories" mustering 
on Young's Hill. 

Frederick Watt, later general in the patriot army, whose biography ap- 
pears elsewhere in this book, was wounded in the mouth at the Wyoming 
massacre, where he served with Colonel Zebulon Butler, who fought Brit- 
ish, tory, and Indian forces of thrice his strength. 

Englehart Wormley, one of the first settlers, was in the battle of Long 
Island. He died in 1827. 

Greenwood Township also furnished John Buchanan, whose descendants 
long lived in the same vicinity; Robert Moody, William Rodgers, William 
Philips, and others. 

The state pensioned disabled Revolutionary soldiers, and among the 
documents in the Bureau of Public Records at Harrisburg, is a deposition, 
No. 317, relating to Robert Pendergrass, a sergeant, pensioned April 12, 
1821, at $48 per annum. The oath of Hugh Sweeny is executed before 
Jacob Fritz, a Perry County justice, which makes it practically certain 
that Sweeny was from Perry. Pendergrass was likely from Cumberland. 
Part of the deposition verifieth "that he (Sweeny) was well acquainted 
with Pendergrass, that he enlisted in Capt. John Hays' company, that they 
both marched from Carlisle on the sixth of April, 1776, on their way to 
Kenedy (Canada), that Pendergrass remained in the service four years, 
all of which time they were acquainted and part of the time messmates." 

Capt. Jonathon Robison, of Sherman's Valley, was a son of George 
Robinson, and suffered much in the Indian wars. Although above fifty 
years of age he entered the Colonial Army. With his company he was in 
the battle of Princeton, being stationed there for some time to guard 
against the British and to act as scouts and intercept foraging parties. 

Joseph Martin, a resident of what is now Howe Township, who became 
a captain in the Revolution, sold a house on the south bank of the Juniata, 
March 26, 1776, for fifty pounds, with which to purchase his horse and 
equipment for the army. After spending that bitter winter with Washing- 
ton's army at Valley Forge, he was taken with camp fever, and started for 
home, but never arrived. Whether he perished in the wilderness or was 
captured and tortured to death by the British, as tradition says, will never 
be known. 

*Silas Wright, in his History of Perry County, says: "The Tories 
mustered their troops during the Revolutionary War on Young's Hill," 
adjoining Duncannon. He probably based the statement upon that of one 
William Patterson. That fact, often quoted, seems legendary, as Dun- 
cannon (then known as Clark's Ferry) was not laid out in lots until 1792, 
and according to a reliable tradition, there were only eight houses from 
the cabins surrounding the old forge to Clark's Run as late as 1830. When 
the Revolution was taking place there evidently were very few houses 
there, and just where these Tories came from would be hard to determine. 
Furthermore, there are provincial records of all Tory movements and 
Tories and nothing like that appears in the annals of the province, while 
even the few British sympathizers within the territory are recorded as 
will be seen in the foregoing pages. 



172 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

In the Loysville cemetery also rests Abraham Smith, a Revolutionary 
soldier, but from what territory is not known. John Ramsey, who resided 
in the county, was another. Valentine Ritter was in the Revolution from 
Berks County, and after the war located near Loysville. 

Adam Smith, great-grandfather of the late John M. and Alvin Smith, 
of Newport, served in the Continental Army, but not from what is now 
Perry County. 

Peter Kipp served with the Sixth Company of Second New York Ar- 
tillery in the patriot army, his name appearing on the rolls until July 10, 
1783. At the close of the war he settled in Buck's Valley, Buffalo Town- 
ship, where he married Margaret Finton. He was a tailor and followed 
his trade, going from house to house, as was the custom. His brother 
Jacob, who enlisted in the same unit on the same day, was killed in the 
battle of the Brandywine. 

George Hench, who had settled in Perry County before the Revolution, 
was a fifer in the army. 

John Stewart, a Revolutionary soldier of Carlisle, settled in Perry 
County prior to 1800, and his descendants live in the county. 

In the Millerstown cemetery, besides Benjamin Bonsall, who died in 1845, 
aged 89 years, are buried two other Revolutionary patriots. Ephraim 
Williams, a cabinetmaker, died August 15, 1843, aged 86 years, and Robert 
Porter (grandfather of the late T. P. Cochran), who was 86 at his death 
and said to have been an officer. 

Francis DeLancey, located on a farm near Kistler, after serving in the 
Revolution under General Lafayette, with whom he came from France. 
He was first married to a French woman in New York, from whom are 
descended William and Oliver DeLancey, attorneys, whose father was 
Bishop DeLancey. Dr. C. E. DeLancey and brothers are his grandsons 
from the second marriage. He lived to be eighty-three. 

David Mitchell, who first resided upon the farm from which the lands 
for the county seat of Perry County were taken, was in the Provincial 
Army under Forbes and Bouquet, as a subaltern officer, and served in the 
Revolution as a major in Colonel Frederick Watts' battalion. He was 
appointed by Governor McKean, in May, 1800, as brigadier general of 
the militia of Perry and Franklin Counties. He represented his county 
(then Cumberland) continuously in the legislature for twenty years, from 
1786 to 1805, and was a presidential elector in 1813 and 1817. He was a 
son of John and Agnes Mitchell, and was born July 17, 1742, in what later 
became Cumberland County. He died May 25, 1818, on the Juniata, above 
Newport. 

That the territory which later became Perry County did well in 
the way of furnishing men who then resided there or had previ- 
ously been residents, as officers, is not a matter of question. By 
referring to the chapter in this book devoted to the Blaine family 
it will be noted that Ephraim Blaine,* once a resident of the vicin- 
ity of Blain, Perry County, was Commissary General of the Colo- 
nial Army and the associate of General George Washington. There 
appears the story of his wonderful saving of the Revolutionary 
army, which places him second only to Washington himself. Near 
the close of 1776 or the beginning of 1777, when battalions began 



*In the Manuscript Division of the Congressional Library, Washington, 
there is a valuable collection of Letters of Col. Ephraim Blaine. (See 
page 629.) 



PERRY COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 173 

to be designated by numerals, we find Col. Epbraim Blaine in 
charge of the First Battalion. His service must have been brief 
there as he is soon found to be filling the responsible post of Com- 
missary General. The Second Battalion was commanded by Col. 
|ohn Allison, described as "a justice of the peace of Tyrone Town- 
ship, over the mountain, and a judge of the county, but after his 
retirement, for he was. now past middle life." In 1778 we find 
the Fourth Battalion commanded by Colonel Jonathon Robison, 
"of Sherman's Valley." The battalion composed entirely of men 
"from north of the mountain," was commanded by Col. Frederick 
Watts, and another by Major David Mitchell. 

While the Revolution was waged by the British government, yet 
it was largely a personal war of the German-speaking George III, 
who could not get enough of his own people interested to fight 
their own kinsmen, but had to fall back on hirelings — the Hessians 
— who fought for pay. Strangely enough, the histories in our 
public schools are not specific upon that fact, which is largely re- 
sponsible for the feeling against Great Britain in America, al- 
though we dwell alongside of one of their great dependencies and 
not a single fort worthy of the name guards the four thousand- 
mile border on either side — unlike that of the old German mon- 
archy, along whose borders frowned huge fortresses on every 
hand. The writer, however, holds no brief for the British Em- 
pire, neither has he any patience with those who would give that 
nation equal rights in the Panama Canal. 

The Continental Congress, July 18, 1875, recommended that 
"all able-bodied, effective men between sixteen and fifty years of 
age should immediately form themselves into companies of militia, 
to consist of one captain, two lieutenants, one ensign, four ser- 
geants, four corporals, one clerk, one drummer, one fifer, and 
about sixty-eight privates ; the companies to be formed into regi- 
ments or battalions, officered with a colonel, lieutenant colonel, two 
majors, and an adjutant or quartermaster; all officers above the 
rank of captain to be appointed by the provincial authorities." 

Colonel Frederick Watts' Battalion. 

Although occupation of the county territory was in its primary 
stage practically the whole of the Seventh Battalion of Cumber- 
land County Militia, with Colonel Frederick Watts in command, 
was recruited here, and the battalion became a unit July 31, I777> 
in the patriot army, although many of the men had been in the 
service at an earlier date. There is record of some of them as 
early as the beginning of 1776, and Colonel Watts was present at 
.the surrender of Fort Washington, November 16, 1776. Early in 
1776 there is record of the forwarding of an order for funds to 
cover the expense of forwarding his men to camp. 



•74 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



The Staff. — Colonel. Frederick Watts; Lieutenant Colonel, Samuel Ross; 
Major, David Mitchell; Adjutant, Thomas Bolan ; Quartermaster, Albert 
Adam. 

First Company. — Captain, James Fisher; First Lieutenant, Thomas 
Fisher ; Second Lieutenant, Robert Scott ; Ensign, Joseph Sharpe. 



John Montgomery. 

James Baxter. 

Francis McGarvey. 

William Robertson. 

Ross Mitchell. 

James Shields. 

Samuel Hutchinson. 

James Gaudy. 

Benjamin Chambers. 

James Edmondstone. 

James Roddy. 

James Menoch. 

Edward Nicholson. 

Thomas Mclntire. 

William Ferguson. 

John Black. 

Mathias Sweezy. 
The rank and file of this company is named as fifty-eight, yet the 
above-named is a copy of the roll of July, 1777, as printed in the State 
Archives. 



Patrick Cree. 
Hugh Evans. 
Alexander Akins. 
George Brown. 
Robert Boggs. 
Thomas Williams. 
John Campbell. 
James Rhea. 
Robert Purdy. 
Isaac Somers. 
Robert Walker. 
Robert Chew. 
Robert Heatly. 
James Ardery. 
John Piper. 
George Biddle. 



Second Company. — Captain, James 
Marshall ; Second Lieutenant, Samuel 

David Carson. 

Andrew Shaw. 

James Smith. 

William Elliott. 

William McConnell. 

John Crawford. 

Samuel Byars. 

Archibald Kinkead. 

Andrew Everhart. 

Robert Creigh. 

James Horn. 

John McNaughton. 

Alexander Fullerton. 

Daniel Mulhollin. 

James Barker. 
The number of this company is na 
names are all that appear in the State 



Power ; First Lieutenant, David 
Shaw; Ensign, John Kirkpatrick. 

John Hunter. 

Thomas McKee. 

William McCoy. 

John McCoy. 

George McLeve. 

David Baird. 

David McClintock. 

Samuel Glass. 

James White. 

Robert Johnstone. 

John Phillips. 

Benjamin Hillhouse. 

Patrick Killian. 

Richard Taylor. 

William Smiley, 
med as sixty-seven, yet the above 
Archives, as of September, 1777. 



Third Company. — Captain, Wil 
Black; Second Lieutenant, John 
William Murray. 
George Dixson. 
George Wallace. 
Michael Kirkpatrick. 
Thomas McTee. 
Robert McKebe. 
William Miller. 
William Chain. 
John Sanderson. 
John McLean. 
John McCown. 
David Miller. 
Thomas Noble. 



liam Sanderson ; First Lieutenant. George 
Simonton ; Ensign, Archibald Loudon. 

David McClure. 

George Brown. 

Thomas Adams. 

David Hartnis. 

Samuel Galbreath. 

William Cams. 

James Gaily. 

John Sedgwick. 

Robert McCabe. 

William Gardner, Jr. 

John Neeper. 

Alexander McCaskey. 

Thomas Hamilton. 



PERRY COUNTY IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR 175 

Thomas Smiley. John Ewing. 

John Devlin. James Maxwell.- 

Hance Ferguson. 
The total enrollment of this company is named as forty-six, but the 
above are the only names on the State Archives list of October, 1777. 

Fourth Company. — Captain, William Blain ; First Lieutenant, James 
Blain; Second Lieutenant, William Murray; Ensign, Allen Nesbit. 

Tames Cameron. Hugh Gormly. 

Michael Marshal. John Marshall. 

John McCallaster. William McClintock. 

John Ardery. James McClure: 

John Baker. John Smith. 

Joseph Childers. William Brown. 

Charles McCarty. Robert Galbreath. 

William Galbreath. Abram Johnston. 

Robert Boyd. John McBride. 

Robert McClurg. David Martin. 

James Findley. William Cunningham. 

John Douglass. John Taylor. 

The above is the list as recorded in the Pennsylvania Archives for Oc- 
tober, 1777, although the number is quoted in some records as fifty-one. 

Fifth Company.— Captain, Frederick Taylor; First Lieutenant, Daniel 
Hart; Second Lieutenant, Matthew McCoy; Ensign, Thomas Watson. 

Hans Kilgees. William Spottwood. 

Edward O'Donald. Thomas Shedswick. 

Pattrick Grant. Andrew Linch. 

Robert McClintog. V Robert Irwin. 

James Wymer. Hugh McCraghan. 

Matthew Merrot. James Miller. 

Richard Morrow. Thomas Purdy, Jr. 

William Watson. William Taylor. 

Hugh Miller. James Maxwell. 

Clifton Bowen. William Martin. 

Richard Stewart. Andrew Irwin. 

Robert Huev. John Faddon. 

William Williams. Samuel Glass. 

Daniel Graham. Robert Adams. 

Hugh Gibson. William Neeper. 

Joseph Nelson. William Adams. 

Andrew Kinkead. John Gardener. 

Evidently the clerk of this company erred in spelling proper names; 
O'Donald is likely O'Donnel ; McClintog, McClintock ; Wymer. Weimer ; 
Shedswick, Sedgwick ; Linch, Lynch ; McCraghan, McCracken ; Faddon, 
McFadden, and Gardener, Gardner. 

Sixth Company. — Captain, Edward Graham: First Lieutenant, Samuel 
Adair; Second Lieutenant, Samuel Whittaker ; Ensign, George Smiley. 

William Cree. John Jamison. 

William Lewis. Henry Heatly. 

Francis McQuoan. Alexander Brown. 

John Coulter. John Kellem. 

Thomas Boyd. James Nelson. 

Matthew White. Thomas Shaw. 

Hugh Law. Samuel Rayney. 

William McKee. Joseph Gormely. 

James Kerr. John Marshall. 

Thomas Barnet. Michael Marshal. 

Robert Dawson. William Carson. 

Samuel Ewing. William Blaine. 



176 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA 



Hugh McClintock. 
John Rea, Jr. 
John Elliott. 
John Smylie. 
Alexander Gaely. 
Moses Hays. 



Edward West. 
Henry Glass. 
Alexander McCoy. 
James Thompson. 
John Nelson. 
John Nelson, Jr. 



In January, 1778, according to the Pennsylvania Archives, the enroll- 
ment was as above, yet it is quoted at some places as seventy-eight. 

Seventh Company. — Captain, John Buchanan; First Lieutenant, William 
Nelson; Second Lieutenant, James Ewing ; Ensign, Benjamin Junkin. 



Samuel McClelland. 
Daniel Stuard. 
Tames Hodkins. 
John Riddle. 
Matthew Kerr. 
John Miller. 
James Hamilton. 
Samuel Neesbit. 
John Cowburn. 
William Shehan. 
Joseph Kirkpatrick. 
John Smith. 
David McKee. 
Henry Kelly. 
Alexander Kelly. 
John Ross. 
George Logan. 
John Cord. 



Samuel Fisher. 
Robert Graham. 
John Camble. 
Daniel Marrit. 
Thomas Elliott. 
Patrick Kain. 
Alexander Murray, Esq. 
William Erwin. 
Henry Savage. 
Moses Kirkpatrick. __ 
Peter Patterson. 
William McKee. 
Archibald Marrin. 
Robert Cumins. 
Thomas Willson. 
John Kinkead. 
Adrew Kinkead. 
Robert Neelson. 



James Byard. 

The State Archives contained the above list only, yet the roster is quoted 
at some places as containing fifty-five names. 



Eighth ( 'ompany. — Captai 
Neeper ; Second Lieutenant 
James Officer. 
George Morrah. 
Robert Wiley. 
Samuel Barnhill. 
James Carson. 
John McKebe. 
William Kerr. 
Henry Skivington. 
Robert Murray. 
John McCurry. 
Joseph Kilpatrick. 
William Murphy. 
Matthew McBride. 
Michael Walters. 
John Wright. 
William McKebe. 
William Logan. 
Thomas Townsley. 



n, Thomas Clark ; First Lieutenant, Joseph 
William Hunter; Ensign, James Fergus. 
George Douglas. 
John Cree. 
Robert Holliday. 
John Mitchell. 
Joseph Patten. 
Joseph Shields. 
Matthew Morrison. 
Michael Baskings. 
Alexander Maxwell. 
George Miller. 
Richard Stuard. 
John White. 
Andrew McKee. 
James McKebe. 
Thomas Mclntire. 
Joseph Sharp. 
John McClintoch. 



CHAPTER X. 
PERRY COUNTY TERRITORY IN THE WAR OF 1812. 

JUST what part the lands which now comprise Perry County 
played in the War of 1812, or more properly, the Second War 
with Great Britain, is of interest. Not only did it furnish 
many men, but across it ran the nearest route to Niagara, whence 
sped United States government couriers from the National Capi- 
tal to the frontier. Coming from Washington, the route lay 
through Sterrett's Gap, via the site of New Bloomfield and over 
Middle Ridge, to Rider's Ferry, thence across the Juniata. There 
was then no valley road from Bloomfield to Newport as at present, 
for there was no Bloomfield and no Newport at that time. One 
of the relay places, where horses were exchanged, was at Sterrett's 
Gap. Whether there was another before Middle Ridge it is not 
possible to say. On the top of Middle Ridge (now in Juniata 
Township), three-fourths of a mile south of Milford, on the 
Carlisle-Sunbury road, stood the White Ball Tavern, then kept by 
Philip Clouser. There horses were again exchanged. Just at the 
foot of Middle Ridge, on the same road, located on the north bank 
of the Little Buffalo Creek, John Koch (Kough) kept the Blue 
Ball Tavern, and as the courier would pass his place a horn sig- 
naled the White Ball Tavern (Clouser's) at the top of the ridge, 
so that on the arrival of the courier there the steed would be in 
waiting, and scarcely a minute consumed in resuming the journey. 
There were no telegraph or telephone lines in those days, and that 
was the only available method of sending dispatches. It is re- 
markable how quickly the journey was made by the frequent 
change of horses and the occasional relief of messengers. 

This war was occasioned largely by the British policy of search- 
ing American vessels and impressing seamen, on the subterfuge 
that they were British subjects. Anticipating the war, President 
Madison had called the American Congress a month earlier, in 
181 1, and it authorized a call for 100,000 volunteers, the quota of 
Pennsylvania being 14,000. Governor Simon Snyder issued a call 
for that number of troops on May 12, 1812. Three times the num- 
ber responded. The Perry County companies which responded 
were not assigned until 1814. The United States declared war 
June 18, 1812. Early that year Governor Simon Snyder called 
for a force of one thousand militia to help repel the British inva- 
sion of the northern frontier. Cumberland County (to which 
Perry then belonged) raised over half that number, a large part of 

i77 
12 



l 7 8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

whom came from the lands which now constitute Perry, and all of 
whom were volunteers. The others came from Franklin, York, 
and Adams, being drafted men, principally. These soldiers con- 
stituted the Eleventh Regiment, or Division, under the command 
of General Porter. They were in immediate command of Colonel 
James Fenton, Lieut. Colonel Robert Bull, and Majors Galloway 
and Marlin. Lieutenant Colonel Bull was from what is now Tus- 
carora Township, Perry County, his father having been Henry 
Bull, who built the first grist mill in Raccoon Valley, now known 
as the Donnally Mill, being owned by L. E. Donnally, a former 
member of the General Assembly. They were mustered in at Car- 
lisle, marched to Pittsburgh, and from there to Black Rock Fort — 
now the site of the city of Buffalo, New York — which they 
reached about April I. 

This expedition consisted of two brigades. They embarked 
July 2. The first landed about a mile below Fort Erie and the sec- 
ond about a mile above. A battery of "long- sixteens" was soon 
placed in position and under a flag of truce the fort was given two 
hours to capitulate. When the time expired 137 men, including 
the officers, marched out and surrendered. At three o'clock, on the 
5th, delay having been occasioned by getting supplies of food, the 
army of 3,500 men marched against the enemy'^ army. Indians 
had annoyed the pickets by firing upon them from concealed 
points. Volunteers were called for and three hundred from the 
Eleventh Regiment responded, among them officers who exchanged 
their swords for guns. This was the beginning of the Battle of 
Chippewa, in which Colonel Bull, the brave. Perry Countian, fig- 
ured. Every man who went with General Porter was ordered to 
leave his hat behind and go with head uncovered. The Indians 
tied up their heads in muslin and blackened their faces with 
burned wood. In less than an hour General Bull, Major Galloway 
and Captain White, with a number of private soldiers, were sur- 
rounded by the redskins, who had concealed themselves in high 
grass and permitted the main body to pass, so that they might 
secure the officers. They were made to disrobe and their clothing 
divided. Major Galloway and Private Wendt were stripped of 
their boots and compelled to march through thorn and stubble 
"until their feet were pierced through and through," as Wendt 
afterwards said. Silas Wright, in his History of Perry County 
(1873), further describes the event: 

"The party had advanced their prisoners but a. short distance 
until they were halted, and there was evidently an Indian dissat- 
isfied about something. They started again and had scarcely gone 
more than half a mile when the dissatisfied Indian, then in the 
rear, whooped loudly, raised his rifle and shot Colonel Bull through 
the body. The ball entered the left shoulder and come out through 



PERRY COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1812 



179 



the right breast. After he was pierced by the bullet, Colonel Bull 
raised himself on his elbow, readied out his band to Major Gallo- 
way, and said, "Help me, Wendt, I am shot." The help implored 
by the dying man was prevented by the Indian who bad shot him, 
coming up, sinking his tomahawk into bis head and scalping him. 
This act, so contrary to all laws of human warfare, was no doubt 
in compliance with the order of General Riall, which was in sub- 
stance, not to spare any who wore the uniform of militia officers, 
while those who wore the regular officers' uniform were to be 
brought into camp in safety. To this fact we ascribe the fate of a 
brave soldier and a good officer." Colonel Bull was a religious 
man and during his service was often among the sick, encouraging 
and helping them. His age at the time was thirty-five years. 

Those from within the confines of what is now Perry County 
who served there, are as follows : 

Captain James Piper's Company. 



Privates: 

Frederick Burd, Greenwood. 
John Staily, Liverpool. 
Jacob Potter, Buffalo. — 
Jacob Liddick, Buffalo. 
Peter Werner, Buffalo. 
Andrew Hench, Buffalo. 
Joseph Fry was killed by the Indians at Chippewa, July 5th. 

Captain David Moreeand's Company. 



Michael Donally, Tuscarora. 
Jacob Hammaker, Watts. 
Daniel Fry, Greenwood. 
Abraham Fry, Greenwood. 
Joseph Fry, Greenwood. 
George Wendt, Liverpool T. 



David Moreland, Capt., Jackson. 

Robert Thompson. 

John Neiper. 

Amos Cadwallader. 

John Kibler, Landisburg. 

John Steigleman. 

Richard Rodger. 

George Strock. 

James Adams. 

John Abercrombie. 

Sebastian Waggoner. 

James Rodgers. 

David Beems. 

John Myers. 

Pr'watcs: 

Barkley, William, Saville. 
Bower, Jacob, Saville. 

Comp, , Centre. 

Dissinger, George, Tyrone. 

Dissinger, , Tyrone. 

Evinger, Peter, Jackson. 
Gutshall, George, Jackson. 
Gutshall, Jacob, Toboyne. 
.Garland, John, Madison. 
Goodlander, John, Madison. 
Hockenberry, Jos., Toboyne. 
Jacobs, John, Saville. 
Johnston, William, Toboyne. 



Kiner, Jacob, Tyrone. 
Kessler, Peter, Toboyne. 
Kessler, David, Toboyne. 
Kessler, Adam, Toboyne. 
Mealy, Dr. Samuel, Millerstown. 
Otto, Peter, Toboyne. 
Ruggles, Moses, Madison. 
Robinson, George, Saville. 
Ross, Samuel, Tyrone. 
Strock, George, Saville. 
Strock, Joseph, Saville. 
Stump, William, Toboyne. 
Schreffler, John, Toboyne. 
Schreffler, George, Toboyne. 
Stambaugh, Philip, Tyrone. 
Sheafer, Jacob, Tyrone. 
Sheafer, Wm, Tyrone. 
Swanger, Peter, Tyrone. 

Stroup, •, Madison. 

Scott, , Liverpool. 

Sponenberger, , Liverpool. 

Stewart, Richard, Tyrone. 
Topley, John, Landisburg. 
Weaver, Michael, Toboyne. 
Wolfe, Adam, Tyrone. 
Wolfe, George, Tyrone. 
\\ ilson, Joseph, Tyrone. 
Welch, Robert, Tyrone. 



i8o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



The following additional names are found on a muster roll, 
made out September 22, 1814: 



Askins, William. 

Bergstresser, George. 

Bower, Jacob. 

Bergstresser, Solomon. 

Bice, Samuel. 

Bower, Peter. 

Buck, George. 

Dougherty, Robert. 

Deckard, Philip. 

Dunbar, Robert. 

Dansville, Thomas. 

Ewens, Moses. 

Fry, Daniel. 

Fry, Joseph (killed July 5th). 

Fry. Abraham. 

Gillam, Jacob. 

Gurnard, Isaac. 

Gallagher, John. 

Hollenbaugh, Henry. 

Hoobler, John. 

Hollenbaugh, Mathias. 

Hays, Robert. 

Hammaker, Joseph. 

Hamilton, John. 

Hockenberry, Joseph. 

Irwin, George. 

Jordan, David. 

Kennedy, Archibald. 

Kelsey, George. 

Kenny, Jacob. 

Ledech, Jacob (Liddick). 

Mores, John. 



Buck, Robert. 

Burd, Frederick. 

Byers, Joshua. 

Baughman, John. 

Comp, Daniel. 

Kiner, Jacob. 

Clark, Thomas. 

McMurray, Ezekiel. 

McCoy, Thomas. 

Morton, James. 

Miller, William. 

Neeper, James. 

Potter, Jacob. 

Presser, Henry. 

Gray, George. 

Rogers, Robert. 

Ross, Henry. 

Shaw, George. 

Sleighter, John. 

Shumbaugh, George. 

Sheets, Samuel. 

Stambaugh. Jacob. 

Tate, William. 

Taylor, Joseph. 

Wilson, Joseph. 

Wendt, George (taken prisoner 

July 5th). 
Wilson, Samuel. 
Wallace, William. 
Young, Abraham. 
Rouse, Godfrey. 
Shreffler, John. 



That these men were in action and at the front is proven by the 
notations as to Joseph Fry being killed and George Wendt cap- 
tured. The company was also in the field at the date of the roster. 

When Washington had been burned by the British and the news 
reached Landisburg, Dr. John D. Creigh enrolled an entire com- 
pany in the short space of two days. It was known as the Landis- 
burg Infantry and completed its organization on September 6, 
1814. It was at once accepted by Governor Snyder and assigned 
to the second post of honor in the Pennsylvania line. Upon Octo- 
ber 2 it was encamped on Bush 1 [ill, near Washington. The roster : 

Captain John Creigii's Company. 



John Creigh, Capt., Tyrone. 
Henry Lightner, Landisburg. 

Thompson, , Jackson. 

Carl, Isaiah, Tyrone. 

Neeper, , Tyrone. 

Lackey, Henry. 
Cadwallader, Amos, Tyrone. 

Privates: 

Bollinger, Daniel, Millerstown. 
Curry, John. 



Carl, David, Tyrone. 
Dunbar, George. 
Dunbar, John. 

Dunkelberger, Benj., Tyrone. 
Ernest, Jacob, Landisburg. 
Foose, Michael, 
Frederick, Jacob. 
Fullerton, Joseph. 
Gibson, Francis, Landisburg. 
Henderson, Wm., Tyrone. 
Hippie, John. 



PERRY COUNTY IN THE WAR OF 1812 181 

Holman, Conrad. Power, John, Tyrone. 

Ickes, Samuel. Roddy, Alex., Tyrone. 

Jones, Nathan, Landishurg. Stambaugh, Daniel, Tyrone. 

Jones, Samuel, Landishurg. Smith, Philip, Tyrone. 

Johnson, John, Saville. Sheibley, Barnett, Tyrone. 

Jennings, Israel, Millerstown. Sheibley, Solomon. 

Keck, Stephen. Sheer, . 

Lightner, Jacob, Landishurg. Swarner, George. 

Landis, John, Landishurg. Simons, George, S., Tyrone. 

Landis, Samuel, Landishurg. West, George, Tyrone. 

Lynch, . Wilson, William, Tyrone. 

Mahoney, John, Landishurg. Whitmer, Barney, Tyrone. 

M'Cracken, Benj., Tyrone. Zeigler, . 

Marsh, Joseph, Tyrone. 
John Gabel, of Howe Township, also served in this war, but with what 
unit is unknown. 

Michael Donnally, of what is now Tuscarora Township, was one 
of the men who volunteered to go aboard Commodore Perry's 
fleet, then operating on Lake Erie, expecting to stay a few days at 
the utmost, but just four weeks elapsed before he got back to his 
company. 

Perry Countians and residents of the Juniata Valley have reason 
to be proud of their record in this war. Although the British never 
set foot on Pennsylvania soil, the state at one time had more men 
in the field than any other, as well as having paid a larger share of 
the expense. On the pretext that they were not obliged to leave 
their own state, General Van Rensselaer, of New York, refused to 
cross the line into Canada. General Tannehill, with a brigade of 
two thousand Pennsylvanians, including local men, welcomed the 
chance and promptly crossed into the enemy's country. 



CHAPTER XI. 
THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND." 

A HISTORY of Perry County would be incomplete without 
reference to the founder of the province, the province itself, 
and to Cumberland County — Mother Cumberland — during 
the sixty-six years when Perry County soil was an integral part of 
its domain, before attaining countyhood in its own right. William 
Penn, the proprietor, has left his impress upon the land and its 
people, never to be effaced. He was born in London, England, 
October 16, 1644, being a son of Sir William Penn, an admiral in 
the English Navy, and Margaret Jasper Penn, daughter of a Rot- 
terdam merchant. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, 
where, on hearing Thomas Loe, an eminent Quaker, he thought 
well of his principles, and a few years later publicly professed 
them. In consequence of this action he was twice turned out by 
his father. In 1668 he began preaching and writing on the prin- 
ciples of the Quakers. For this he was twice imprisoned and once 
brought to trial. 

In 1680 Penn petitioned Charles II for a grant of land in Amer- 
ica, the Crown being in the debt of his father to the extent of some 
sixteen thousand pounds. On March 4, 1681, the great seal was 
affixed to the document which gave to him a grant in America — 
practically the Pennsylvania of to-day, which the king named in 
honor of his father. It gave to Penn almost unlimited powers, 
the exceptions being the levying of taxes and the vetoing of legis- 
lation. Here he founded a province where men might worship 
God according to the dictates of their individual conscience. Until 
1776 Penn and his heirs were the feudal lords of the land, with an 
exception of two years under William III. Penn died in England 
in 1718. The provincial history is largely that of the pioneers and 
the Indians, the part of which relates to Perry County territory 
appearing in the early chapters in this book devoted to the Indians. 
Prior to the establishment of the Constitution of 1790 Pennsyl- 
vania had various methods of government. The Dutch began to 
rule in [609 and continued until 1638; the Dutch and Swedish 
rule covered the period from 1638 to 1655, when the Dutch author- 
ity again became absolute and lasted until 1664. The chief execu- 
tive was then known as Vice Director. The conflict between the 
English and the Dutch led to the establishment of English rule 
from 1664 to 1673, when the Dutch Deputy Governor reestab- 
lished the rule of his race. The English, in turn, regained their 

182 



THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND" 183 

lost authority in 1674 and continued it until 1681, when the pro- 
prietary government under Penn was established, with various 
deputy governors (including members of the Penn family) until 
1777, when the Supreme Executive Council was organized. 

Execution of the laws then devolved upon the president and the 
supreme executive council, consisting of twelve persons, one from 




WILLIAM PENN, THE FOUNDER OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

the city of Philadelphia and one from each of the eleven counties 
into which the province was then divided. They were, however, 
chosen by district, the model of our senatorial districts in embryo. 
Every member of the council was a justice of the peace for the 
whole state. The president and vice-president of the state were 
elected in a joint meeting of the Assembly and the Council. The 
president had the judge appointing power, sat in impeachment 
cases and could grant pardons. The term of the supreme court 
judges was made seven years. Two or more persons were elected 
in each township as justices of the peace and the Council commis- 



1 84 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

sioned one or more of them for seven years. They held the courts. 
Two persons were to be voted for for sheriff and the Council was 
to commission one. The county commissioners and assessors of 
taxes were to be elected by the people, thus embodying in the State 
Constitution the principles which brought on the revolution, the 
right of the people to tax themselves. 

This early province is now the great Commonwealth of Penn- 
sylvania, with its sixty-seven subdivisions known as counties. It is 
one hundred and seventy-six miles in width from the New York 
State line to Maryland, and three hundred and three miles in 
length from Ohio to New Jersey. It contains 45.215 square miles 
of territory and is almost as large as England and Wales com- 
bined ; it is one-third larger than Ireland and larger than Holland, 
Denmark, and Belgium combined. It is the only one of the thir- 
teen original states having no coast line along the Atlantic Ocean. 
( >f the thirteen it has exerted greater influence upon the nation 
than any other, and its history has been more interesting. The 
Maryland and Virginia claims to a part of the Pennsylvania domain 
in the south and west and the claims of Connecticut in the Wyom- 
ing Valley, and the various Indian troubles and wars, were some 
of the early difficulties of the province. The pioneers and later 
settlers, unlike many of the other colonies and provinces, were not 
a single people but those of many nationalities. Here were to be 
found the types and sects of more religious beliefs than anywhere 
else, and that is largely .true to this day. Here were the beginnings 
of popular government by the people. Here transportation first 
developed and manufacturing started. On Pennsylvania soil were 
fought battles which helped in making the Union and the greatest 
battle in helping preserve the Union. Within its borders liberty 
was proclaimed and that great compact between' the states — the 
Constitution, was adopted. No other state in the Union has been 
so typical of world progress. It is second in population, while in 
land area it stands thirty-second. 

Pennsylvania originally had but three counties. When William 
I'enn first visited the province in 1682 — his visit covering almost 
two years — he laid out three counties, Philadelphia, Bucks, and 
Chester, whose boundaries were not clearly defined, but Chester 
had charge of the legality of everything as far west as settlements 
were then made. While there were no settlements at that time in 
what is now Perry County, had such been the case it would have 
been necessary to journey to West Chester to have legal action. 
These original counties had seals, adopted by the provincial legis- 
lature. That of Philadelphia was an anchor, of Bucks a tree, and 
of Chester a plough. 

The settlements of the colonists were pushing farther and far- 
ther into the wilderness, as immigrants came in from across the 



THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND" 185 

seas, and the necessity of having official and legal advantages closer 
at hand in order to avoid far journeys to the courts caused the 
citizens to petition for the erection of a new county out of the 
"upper part of Chester." The petition was granted and by an act 
of the Provincial Assembly, May 10, 1729, Lancaster County be- 
came the fourth county of the present great commonwealth, then 
in embryo. It extended westward as far as the province. From 
that date any legal matters from what is now the territory compris- 
ing Perry County would necessarily have been adjusted at Lan- 
caster, the county seat of Lancaster County. But the territory 
was uninhabited. 

The continual westward trend, which has practically continued 
to this day, with the attending desire for local courts, caused the 
residents west of the Susquehanna to petition for the formation 
of separate counties, and in 1749 York County, including the pres- 
ent county of Adams — it being the fifth county and formerly a 
part of Lancaster — was laid out. Cumberland, a year later — 1750 
— was the sixth county created. Thus the nearest county seat to 
the territory comprising Perry County, was that of Chester, then 
that of Lancaster, and later that of Cumberland. It became a part 
of Cumberland in 1754, where it was destined to remain for sixty- 
six years, or until 1820, when it "came into its own." 

In presenting a petition to the Provincial Assembly representa- 
tions were made by the inhabitants of the "North Valley," as the 
territory was then known, who resided west of the Susquehanna 
River, that "owing to the great hardships they laid under, of being- 
very remote from Lancaster, where the courts were held — some 
of them one hundred miles distant — and the public offices kept," 
etc., a new county was to be desired. The act of January 27, 
1750, creating Cumberland County, gave the boundaries as follows : 

"That, all and singular lands lying within the Province of Pennsylvania, 
to the westward of Susquehanna, and northward and westward of the 
county of York, be erected into a county, to be called Cumberland ; 
bounded northward and westward with the line of the province, eastward 
partly with the river Susquehanna, and partly with said county of York ; 
and southward in part by the line dividing said province from that of 
Maryland." 

Literally that would have included all of Perry and of Pennsyl- 
vania to its northern border, but the lands north of the Kittatinny 
or Blue Mountain had not then yet been purchased from the In- 
dians. Consequently no townships were designated in the old rec- 
ords as lying north of the mountains, until after the Albany pur- 
chase of 1754. Neither were any justices appointed in or for 
that territory. Notwithstanding that fact the author of the bill 
creating Cumberland County used poor judgment, in including 
within its borders, lands which were not yet purchased from the 



r86 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Indians, and there is little wonder that squatters went into the ter- 
ritory and located claims. Mention of a number of these squat- 
ters occur throughout this book, and among the nanus are the 
forefathers of man)- present day inhabitants. Information was 
not disseminated nearly so easily in provincial days and it is un- 
fair to charge these squatters with disobeying the laws, when they 
probably inferred from the language creating Cumberland County 
that it meant just what it said, which was not the case. 

This wonderful domain, when taken literally, included all of 
Pennsylvania lying west of the Susquehanna River, except York 
County. From it all the counties west of the Susquehanna have 
been carved, either directly or indirectly, Perry being the last to 
attain separation. 

Cumberland County was named after a maratime county of 
England, on the borders of Scotland. When the Scotch-Irish be- 
gan settling the Cumberland Valley at first the Six Nations still 
inhabited it. This was about 1730 or 1731. When Cumberland 
County was organized it had but 807 taxable citizens. 

The first Cumberland County courts, after the county's estab- 
lishment in 1750, were held at Shippensburg, but were transferred 
to Carlisle in 175 1, when the town was laid out. In those days the 
session of Orphans' Court were sometimes held in the various dis- 
tricts, and there is at least one reference to it being held on the 
north side of the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain while the lands yet 
belonged to Cumberland. The records state that it was held "at 
William Anderson's," which location was at what is now Ander- 
sonburg. 

Carlisle, the new county seat, early became an educational centre, 
which it is to this day. Dickinson College opened in 1783, and in 
[833 came under the influence of the Methodist Church. 

While Perry was yet a part of Cumberland "the Father of 
His Country," President George Washington, visited Carlisle. 
Incidentally, that title — the Father of His Country — was first ap- 
plied to him in Baer's Almanac, published at Lancaster, Pennsyl- 
vania. It was quickly adopted by the public press and will be 
used as long as time lasts. It was but fit and proper that that ap- 
propriate title should be first applied to him by a Pennsylvanian, 
for while he was born in Virginia and died in Virginia, yet he 
spent the greater number of his mature years in Pennsylvania. 
No less a historian than Ex-Governor Pennypacker is responsible 
for the latter statement. 

In 17S7, in a list of field officers selected to command the militia 
of Cumberland County, is the following: Toboyne, Tyrone, and 
Pie (Rye) — Lieutenant Colonel. John Davidson; Major, Michael 
Marshall. 



THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND" 187 

Tn [795 the Senate of Pennsylvania voted to make Carlisle the 
State Capital, but the House refused to concur. 

During the period immediately prior to the Revolution, during 
that war and afterwards, while Perry County was yet a part of 
Cumberland, its residents had great reason to admire a fellow 
citizen who was a noted lawyer, a statesman and a patriot who 
was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, that 
great document which has given civilization everywdiere a new 
impetus. James Wilson was born in 1742 and was foremost in 
all matters pertaining to the province, later to the colony, and still 
later to the state. His influence upon the Constitution of the 
United States — second only to that of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence — was probably greater than that of any other member 
of the convention. Largely to his addresses, efforts and public ar- 
ticles was due the ratification of the Constitution by Pennsylvania, 
in 1 791 he established the first law school in America in connec- 
tion with the University of Pennsylvania. In 1789 President 
Washington appointed him a justice of the United States Supreme 
Court. 

It was from Cumberland County, remembering that Perry 
County was an integral part at that time, that "Molly Pitcher" 
went forth tc the army and the battle of Monmouth, from whence 
has come her fame. Her maiden name was Ludwig, and she was 
wed to a man named Hays. At that time a number of wives of 
soldiers were allowed to accompany the army on errands of mercy 
— to care for the wounded. They were the forerunners of the 
Red Cross nurses of our time. Mrs. Hays was one of these 
women and was carrying water to the soldiers when she saw her 
husband fall at the battle of Monmouth. She immediately took 
his place and fought courageously until the close of the battle, and 
her name, "Molly Pitcher," came by reason of her carrying water 
for the soldiers. She later married again, but it is as "Molly 
Pitcher" that her name will descend for all time as one of the 
heroines of that great conflict. 

During the first thirty-two years that Perry County territory 
was a part of Cumberland County there stood in Carlisle a pillory, 
a whipping post and stocks, where offenders paid the penalty for 
crime. The Act of 1786 did away with that form of punishment. 
A considerable crime of that day was larceny, and the law provided 
that for the first offense of that nature the person so convicted 
should be publicly whipped on his bare back, with stripes well laid 
on to the number of twenty-one. Later offenses carried a larger 
number. Murder, arson, burglary, robbery and witchcraft were 
-punishable by death. After 1785 the public whippings ceased, but 
records show that 150 persons were so punished. Of these seven- 
teen were in addition sentenced to stand in the pillory for one 



1 88 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

hour, and six of them had both ears cut off and nailed to the pil- 
Lory. These latter were convicted of horse stealing and passing 
counterfeit money. 

From 1779 to 1 7&7< m Cumberland County, eleven men and 
women were sentenced to be hanged, three for murder, three for 
robbery, two for burglary, two for counterfeiting, one for rape, 
one for arson, and one for an unmentionable crime. The early 
judges were laymen and were known as justices of the peace. Ac- 
cording to a statute three were required to preside at trials. The 
Act of April 3, 1791, provided for a president judge, learned in 
the law. The old guardhouse, near one of the entrance gates of 
the Carlisle Indian School, now again a military post, was built 
by Hessian soldiers, captured by General Washington's army at 
the battle of Trenton, and sent to Carlisle as prisoners of war. 

A signer of the famous document known as the Declaration for 
the Colony of Pennsylvania was John Creigh, one of the nine rep- 
resentatives. Creigh was the father of Dr. Creigh, long a physi- 
cian at Landisburg, and the grandfather of Rev. Dr. Thomas 
Creigh, born in Landisburg, a noted divine. Of German origin, 
transplanted to Ireland, he came to this country in 1761. He was 
a lieutenant colonel of the Continental Army and a member of the 
Provincial Conference which met in Carpenter's Hall in June, 
1776. In February, 1778, directed by Congress, he administered 
the oath to six hundred and forty-two citizens of Carlisle and 
vicinity. He died February 17, 1813. 

At the last election for Governor of Pennsylvania while Perry 
was yet attached to Cumberland, in 18 17, William Findlay was 
nominated by the (then) Republicans, and General Joseph Heister, 
by the disaffected branch of the party known as "The Old School" 
and the Federalists. Findlay was elected and was the governor 
who signed the act creating the new county of Perry, but at the 
following election for governor, in 1820, General I leister was 
elected as his successor. 

•Even during the term of George Washington as first President 
of the United States insurrection broke out — and in our own fa- 
vored Pennsylvania. Historians term it "the Whiskey Insurrec- 
tion" of 1794. The farmers, and especially of western Pennsyl- 
vania, distilled whiskey in large quantities, that being their prin- 
cipal source of revenue. When the United States passed an act 
laying an excise on liquor the measure was very unpopular in that 
section, and although a people of a generally peaceful disposition, 
they resisted the law. Perry County's territory, as stated, was still 
a part of Cumberland, and Carlisle was its county seat. Troops 
were raised at once to stand by the government and force submis- 
sion of the insurrectionists. This was the occasion of President 
Washington's visit to Carlisle, where he reviewed four thousand 



THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND" 189 

men under arms, many of them from north of the Kittatinny or 
Blue Mountain. 

Among these troops was the young attorney, David Watts, son 
of General Frederick Watts, born in Wheatfield Township, and 
the first lad from Perry County territory to secure a college edu- 
cation, who joined the troops as a private. Alive to the danger 
of any refusal to support the government and resolute in his oppo- 
sition to the "whiskey boys," who planted a "liberty pole" near 
Carlisle, he shouldered an axe and alone, unaided and unarmed, 
rode to the spot where it stood and felled it to the ground, al- 
though there was a public threat to shoot any one who offered to 
disturb it. Whether the planting of this "liberty pole" of 1794 
was the forerunner of the "personal liberty" party of the begin- 
ning of the Twentieth Century the reader must be left to conjec- 
ture. Another member of the Cumberland militia company, the 
Carlisle Infantry, who helped quell the insurrection was Francis 
Gibson, eldest son of George Gibson, who died at Gibson's Mill 
in 1856. 

As the territory now comprising Perry County was yet a part 
of Cumberland during the agitation attending the adpotion of the 
Constitution of the United States the following episode from 
Rupp's History will be of interest to the reader : 

"In December, 1787, a fracas occurred between the Constitutionalists 
and, Anti-Constitutionalists. A number of citizens from the county as- 
sembled on the 26th (at Carlisle), to express, in their way, aided by the 
firing of cannons, their feelings on the actions of the convention that had 
assembled to frame the Constitution of the United States, when they were 
assaulted by an adverse party; after dealing out blows they dispersed. 
On Thursday, the 27th, those who had assembled the day before met again 
at the courthouse, well armed with guns and muskets. They, however, 
proceeded without molestation, except that those who had opposed them 
also assembled, kindled a bonfire and burned several effigies. For that 
temerity several, styled as rioters, were arrested and snugly lodged in jail. 
They were subsequently, on a compromise between the Federalists and 
Democrats, liberated. The Federalists were the Constitutionalists." 

While Perry was a part of Cumberland, Jacob Alter was elected 
to the Pennsylvania Legislature twenty-one consecutive times upon 
the Whig ticket. His only sister became the wife of Governor 
Joseph Ritner, of Pennsylvania. Cashier James T. Alter and D. 
Boyd Alter, of the First National Bank of New Bloomfield, arc 
of the third generation of this noted family. William Anderson, 
who resided at Andersonburg, also represented Cumberland in the 
legislature. 

Among others located north of the Kittatinny or Blue Moun- 
tains who represented Cumberland County in the legislature 
* before Perry County was formed was David Mitchell, who served 
for more than twenty years. (See chapter on Revolutionary 
War.) He resided first on the Barnett farm at New Bloomfield, 



I (jo HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

but sold it to Thomas Barnett and removed, first to Raccoon Val- 
ley, but soon to the well-known Mitchell place, in the Juniata, north 
of Newport, in Oliver Township. His father was Colonel John 
Mitchell, commander of the Cumberland County Militia, whose re- 
mains lie in the Poplar Hill graveyard, on the McKee farm, west 
of New Bloomfield. An interesting document, the text of which 
is here reproduced, refers to soldiers from north of the mountain, 
as well as south, all of which was then Cumberland County. It is 
in connection with the military career of the elder Mitchell, who 
came to America from Ireland, because while enraged at a mem- 
ber of parliament who voted against an issue to which he was 
pledged, struck him, which either meant banishment or death. It 

follows : « T n -, . , _ 

In Council, September 2, 1780. 

"Sir: His excellency, the President of the State, having received or- 
ders from General Washington to dismiss the militia for the present, but 
to hold themselves in readiness to march at an hour's warning; we hereby 
direct you to discharge the Cumberland Militia now under your command 
at Lancaster on the conditions above expressed. At the same time ex- 
pressing our warmest acknowledgments of the readiness with which your 
militia have turned out on this occasion and make no doubt, but on every 
future call, they will manifest the like zeal in the cause of the country. 
"Your Most Honorable Servant, 

"William Moore, Vice-President. 

"To Colonel John Mitchell, Commanding the Cumberland Militia at Lan- 
caster." 

Robert Mitchell, of the third generation, being a son of David, 
was one of the first board of county commissioners of Perry 
County, and was interviewed by Prof. Silas Wright, the historian, 
in 1872, from which interview we quote: 

"I am now in my ninetieth year; was one of the first board of county 
commissioners of Perry County ; have lived on this place since I was three 
years old. I remember when the deer were so plenty that, from Septem- 
ber to January, thirty-seven were driven into the Juniata River below the 
rope ferry." 

Cumberland County, its people and its traditions, more than any 
other in the state, resembles the original counties of Rucks, Phila- 
delphia, and Chester, formed by William Penn, along the Dela- 
ware. Just as that section was the nucleus of the millions east of 
the Susquehanna, so was Cumberland the nucleus of that vast 
population west of the Susquehanna, occupying a far greater ter- 
ritory. Just as that section takes pride in its traditions, its insti- 
tutions and its ancestry, so does Cumberland. And why not? 
With its institutions, dating back almost to the time of Penn; its 
traditions and its location, as the very outpost of civilization for 
decades, and again at the very borderland of sectional strife, its 
importance historically is self-evident. 

Inextricably intertwined with the history and development of 
the province and of old Mother Cumberland is the series of war- 



THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND" 



l 9 I 



rants, patents, sales and land grants of this then frontier of civili- 
zation. In a volume the size of this it has been impossible to give 
any great number of them, yet, in the history of each township, 
some of the more important are recorded. While squatters or in- 
truders had presumed to settle within the borders of the county, 
as now constituted, and had been dispossessed and in some cases 
their cabins burned, yet there is evidence that a considerable num- 
ber again went in before the opening of the land office on Febru- 
ary 3, 1755. The purchase of 1754, consummated on July 6, had 
likely no sooner been proposed than the lure of the land, like a 
magnet, drew the hardy pioneer across the Kittatinny Mountain 
tor a choice parcel which his eyes had previously feasted upon. 
The fact that claims of that very first day mention the names of 
others as "adjoining them" is in itself evidence that entry had al- 
ready been made. As an example, take the very property on which 
the county seat is located. According to an affidavit of Janus 
Mitchell, taken before David Redich, prothonotary of Washington 
County, Pennsylvania, October 19, 1801, and read before the 
Board of Property, which met at Lancaster : 

"In September, 1753, William Stewart, father of John (party to the 
suit), made an improvement, which was the first made in that part of the 
county, on a tract of land now lying in Cumberland County, bounded as 
follows: Beginning at the mouth of Stewart's branch of Little Juniata 
(Creek) ; then northerly, to a gap in the Mahanoi Mountain, and not to 
cross said mountain, which line was agreed between John Mitchell, father 
of the deponent, who assisted Stewart in building a house on said tract 
some time in the fall of 1753, and Stewart moved in with his family the 
next spring, cleared ground and raised a crop that season." 

The land here in dispute consisted of 348 acres and was known 
as the Bark Tavern tract, being located in Centre Township, the 
lower boundary being near the stone house formerly owned by 
Andrew Comp. 

This affidavit, however, specifically states that the line "was 
agreed between John Mitchell and William Stewart" and names 
the date as September, 1753, which proves that Mitchell had then 
already located the county seat tract. While he had located it and 
agreed with "an adjoiner" upon the line, yet he had not then 
erected an improvement upon it as the affidavit by James Mitchell 
(the son of John) says that William Stewart "made an improve- 
ment, which was the first made in that part of the county." If the 
affidavit is accepted at all from a historical standpoint, and there 
appears no reason why it should not be, then it must be accepted 
in its entirety, which establishes 1753 as being the exact date of 
the entry of the Mitchells and many others into Perry County ter 
ritory, the advance guard of the pioneers. 

There is quite a distinction attached to the original territory — 
Perry and Cumberland Counties. In the capital at Washington — 



1 92 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

in the Hall of Fame — provision has been made for the various 
states to place statues of their two most illustrious sons. The State 
of Georgia has chosen Alexander H. Stephens — congressman, 
statesman, governor — and Dr. Crawford Long — discoverer of 
anaesthesia — as Georgia's most representative citizens. Both are 
the sons of natives of this original county. As stated at a num- 
ber of places in this book and in a separate chapter devoted to 
Mr. Stephens, his father, Andrew Stephens, was born at Dun- 
cannon. Mr. Long's ancestry were from Cumberland County. 
Three brothers named Long — Samuel, Andrew, and another — 
with their father, emigrated from Ulster, Ireland, to Cumberland 
County before the Revolution. They came of staunch stock — 
Sc< itch-Irish Presbyterians — and their name in Britain is associated 
with shipping and banking through generations. Of these broth- 
ers, Samuel went to Georgia, another went West, and the third re- 
mained in Carlisle. Samuel was born in 1753 and fought in the 
Revolution as an ensign, from which one would infer that he was 
barely grown to manhood when he came to America. He married 
Ann Williamson about 1776. About 1790 a colony of Scotch- 
Irish Presbyterians left the Cumberland Valley and went to Geor- 
gia, settling in Madison County. Of that colony Samuel Long 
was one of the leaders. With him went his small son, James, who 
became the father of Dr. Crawford Long. A few years earlier 
another colony had preceded these people to Georgia, where they 
suffered many hardships, yet, in spite of settling in a wilderness, 
they built at Paoli, the second Presbyterian church to be erected 
in the state of Georgia — the New Hope Church, of which Samuel 
and later James Long were elders. With the Longs there went to 
Georgia the Groves, McCurdys and Cartlidges, all reliable fami- 
lies who in after years left their impress on the state. Ansestbesia, 
as the reader is aware, causes insensibility to pain and other ex- 
ternal impressions. Before the discovery of surgical anaesthesia 
surgery was very painful and many patients died from shock due 
to pain. There has long been a contention as to who was the dis- 
coverer of anaethesia, but Dr. Long's experiments and regular use 
of it date to March 30, 1842, predating the actual use by the others 
of from two to four years. Four Americans — Jackson, Wells, 
Morton, and Long — claimed the discovery. The Medical Asso- 
ciation of Georgia, in 1910, unveiled a marble monument to the 
honor of Dr. Crawford Long at Jefferson, Georgia, and in the 
infirmary connected with the University at Athens, Georgia, is a 
Long Memorial. In 1912 the University of Pennsylvania unveiled 
in its medical building a bronze medallion with the inscription. 
"To the memory of Crawford W. Long, 
who first used ether as an ansethetic in surgery, 
March 30, 1842." 



THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND" [93 

A life-sized marble statue of Dr. Long stands in Paris and the 
state of Georgia has well chosen him one of its two immortals for 
the Hall of Fame in the National Capitol. 

James Long, the lad who left Cumberland County, married 
Elizabeth Ware and became a state senator of Georgia. Llis noted 
son, Dr. Crawford Long, was born at Danielsville, Georgia, No- 
vember 1, 181 5. At the University of Georgia, where he gradu- 
ated at nineteen, his roommate and best friend was Alexander I I. 
Stephens, later vice-president of the Confederacy. At the age oi 
twenty-three he was graduated at the University of Pennsylvania 
in the medical course. He specialized in surgery in the New York 
hospitals for two years. In 1841, then twenty-six, he located at 
Jefferson, Georgia, and in 185 1 he located at Athens, Georgia, 
where he practiced until his death on June 6, 1878. When Georgia . 
decided to go out of the Union Dr. Long said, "This is the saddest 
day of my life," He was a Whig in politics. 

Old Election Districts. 

The Continental Congress in session in Philadelphia passed a resolution 
on May 15, 1776, in reference to the election of representatives from each 
county. Prior to that time the proprietary government ruled and prac- 
tically everything was done by appointment instead of by election. A new 
regime had now begun and at the provincial conference held in Carpen- 
ter's Hall, Philadelphia, June 18 to 25, the counties were divided into dis- 
tricts. Cumberland County was divided into three districts, the third being 
composed of the townships of Tyrone, Toboyne, Rye, Milford, Greenwood, 
Armagh, Lack, Derry, and Fermanagh. This district comprised all of what 
is now Perry, Juniata and Mifflin Counties. The voting place was to be 
"at the house of Robert Campbell, in Tuscarora Valley," being in what is 
now Juniata County. 

The Act of June, 1777, changed the county from three to four districts, 
the third being composed of Tyrone, Toboyne, and Rye, the voting place 
to be at William McClure's— the farm now occupied by the county home 
at Loysville. All the territory east of the river which then comprised 
Greenwood Township was in the fourth district, the voting place being at 
James Purley's, in Fermanagh Township, now in Juniata County. 

lU By the Act of September 13, 1785, entitled 'An act to regulate the 
general elections of this commonwealth and to prevent frauds therein,' 
the state redistricted, and voting places fixed in each district. Cumberland 
County was thrown into four districts. The first was within her present 
limits. The second was composed of the townships of Rye, Tyrone, and 
Toboyne, with the voting place 'at the house of William McClure, Esq., 
in the township of Tyrone.' The third district embraced Greenwood, with 
the townships of Fermanagh, Milford, and Leek (Lack) (now Juniata 
County), with the voting place fixed at the house of Thomas Wilson (Port 
Royal), in the township of Milford.' 

"The citizens of Rye and Greenwood were much inconvenienced by the 
long distance to the voting places, especially Greenwood, and petition was 



1. For much of the information as to old election districts we are in- 
debted to William H. Sponsler's historical article on the subject, prepared 
and read before the Philomathean Literary Society at New Bloomfield 
Academy, many years ago, 
13 



1 94 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

made to the legislature asking relief, which was granted by Act of Sep- 
tember 10, 1787, of which Section IV is in these words: 'And whereas, 
a number of the freemen of the townships of Greenwood and Rye, in the 
county of Cumberland, have, by their petition set forth that their distant 
situation from the place of holding their general elections is found incon- 
venient, and have, therefore, prayed this General Assembly to enact a law 
by which the said townships shall be made a separate district for the 
holding of their general elections. Therefore,' etc. 

"The fifth section accordingly erects Rye and Greenwood into the sixth 
district of Cumberland, with its voting place 'at the mill late the property 
of David English, and known by the name of English's Mill' (at the mouth 
of Buffalo Creek, near Newport). 

"By the Act of the 19th of September, 1789, this sixth district was be- 
reft of a portion of the territory, that part of Greenwood lying north of 
Turkey Hills, which, by an act passed 29th of same month, was made into 
a separate election district of Mifflin County. 

"After Rye was taken from Tyrone and Toboyne, it was found that Mc- 
Clure's, which had, no doubt, been selected with a view to accommodate 
the Rye Township people, as well as the other two townships, was incon- 
venient and the inhabitants asked that a more convenient place be estab- 
lished. The Act of September 30, 1791, was enacted to remedy this among 
others, and the place of election was fixed 'at the house now occupied by 
George Robinson, in Tyrone Township (now Edward R. Loy's, Madison 
Township). 

"In 1787 the township of Rye and that part of Greenwood lying south 
of the Half Falls Mountain were erected into a separate election district, 
with its voting place 'at the Union schoolhouse, in the town of Petersburg, 
in Rye Township.' 

"The next change was made by the Act of March 8, 1802, Juniata Green- 
wood and that part of Buffalo Township lying north of the Half Falls 
Mountain had their place of holding elections fixed 'at the house now or 
lately occupied by William Woods, at Millerstown, in the township of 
Greenwood.' 

"By the Act of March 21, 1803, the townships of Tyrone and Toboyne 
heretofore together, are separated, each to constitute an election district 
of itself. Tyrone was to vote 'at the schoolhouse in the town of Landis- 
burg,' and Toboyne 'at the house now occupied by Henry Zimmerman, in 
said township.' 

"By the Act of February 11, 1805, Buffalo Township was made a sepa- 
rate election district, with a voting place 'at the house now occupied by 
William Thompson, in Buffalo Township.' 

"By the Act of March 19. 1816, it was provided that 'the electors re- 
siding within the eastern part of Greenwood Township be divided as fol- 
lows: beginning in the narrows of Berris (Berry's) Mountain; thence 
westerly above the summit of the said mountain, six miles; thence north- 
erly by a line parallel with the river Susquehanna to the line of Cumber- 
land Count}- ; thence easterly along the said line to said river ; thence 
down said river to the place of beginning, shall hold their general elec- 
tions at the house of Henry Raymon,' now in Liverpool Township. 

"By the thirty-second section of the Act of March 24, t8i8, the voting 
place of Buffalo Township was changed to the house of Frederick Deal, 
in said township, and by the twelfth section of the Act of March 29, 1819, 
the township of Saville was erected into a separate election district, with 
voting place 'at a schoolhouse near Ickesburg, in said township.' 



THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND" 1^5 

"hi [820, when the county was separated from Cumberland as a new 
county the election districts and voting places were as follows: Toboyne, 
house of Henry Zimmerman; Tyrone, schoolhouse, Landisburg; Saville, 
schoolhouse. North Ickesburg; Buffalo, house of Frederick Deal; East 
Greenwood, house of Henry Raymon; Rye, Union schoolhouse, Peters- 
burg; Juniata and West Greenwood, W. Woods' house, Millerstown. 

"A change was made in i860, and the following were made the voting 
places: At the schoolhouse in Germantown district; at Zimmerman's 
tavern for the lower district of Toboyne; at the schoolhouse in Landis- 
burg for Tyrone Township; at the schoolhouse near Ickesburg for Saville; 
at John Koch's (Kough's) tavern for the northern district of Juniata 
Township; at the Union schoolhouse near the Methodist Church in 
Wheatfield Township; at Colonel Bovard's tavern for Rye Township; 
at the house of Straw, for Buffalo Township; at the house of John Gard- 
ner, Millerstown, for Greenwood Township; at the house of John Eber- 
ling. in Liverpool Township. 

"At this time a new district was made composed of parts of Juniata, 
Wheatfield, Tyrone, and Saville Townships, bounded as follows : Begin- 
ning at the mouth of Little Buffalo Creek in Juniata Township; thence 
up said creek to the house of John Smith, in Saville Township, including 
said house; thence by a straight line to the house of Abraham Kistler, 
in Tyrone Township, including said house ; thence by a straight line to 
Jacob Shatto's sawmill in said township; thence down the summit of 
Iron Ridge, to the house of John Greer, in Wheatfield Township, includ- 
ing said house; thence along the summit of Dick's Hill to Johnston's saw- 
mill in said township ; thence by a straight line to Dick's Gap, in Juniata 
Township; thence along the summit of Mahanoy Hill to the house of 
Alexander Watson, on the bank of Juniata River, including said house; 
thence up said river to place of beginning. 

"A few years later, as townships were erected, separate election dis- 
tricts were made embracing the townships, and, with the exception of 
Madison Township, each township is an election district to-day. The 
north end of Madison was cut off into a separate district called Sandy 
Hill or Northeast Madison, which practically is a separate township, with 
the single exception of in the election of justices of the peace, both dis- 
tricts voting for the same candidates for this one office." 

Newport borough is the only town in the county which has two separate 
election districts, the first and second wards. 

Several special acts relating to polling places in Perry County were 
passed by the Pennsylvania Legislature. That of March 4, 1842, added 
Henry's Valley to Tyrone Township for voting purposes, and that of 
March 12, 1849, added part of Juniata Township to Saville Township, 
and made Ickesburg the polling place. An Act of March 6, 1849, annexed 
to Greenwood Township for election purposes "all that part of Juniata 
Township, commencing on the Juniata River, on division line of Perry and 
Juniata Counties, thence along said line on Tuscarora Mountain until it 
comes opposite the upper line of Samuel Black's farm, thence along said 
upper line to top of Raccoon Ridge one mile, thence south to Patton's 
schoolhouse, thence along the Oliver Township line to the Juniata River." 

In a general election district bill vetoed by Governor Bigler and passed 
over his head by the House on January if), 1844. and by the Senate, Janu- 
ary 22, 1844, parts of Tyrone, Saville, and Madison Townships were made 
an election district, with the voting place at Andesville (now Loysville), 
It was repealed by an Act of March 9, 1844, less than sixty days later. 



196 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Lewis, The Robber. 

The history of Lewis, the robber, is of no consequence in this 
hook, except in so far as his depredations and abode concerns the 
territory, as lie was a native of Carlisle, but even left there when 
he was but three years old. The year of the organization of Perry 
County was, strangely enough, coincident with the passing of 
Lewis, who died July 13, 1820, in the Bellefonte jail, when only 
thirty years of age, a victim of his own bad life. The very first 
issues of the Perry Forester tell of his capture and later of his 
death. There are those who uphold him as a gentleman robber, 
who stole from the rich to give to the poor, but his own confession, 
dated the day before his death, belies that assertion, as he pleads 
guilty to almost the whole category of crime, save murder. How- 
ever, in some instances he did steal from the rich to give to the 
poor, if tradition be true; and tradition is persistent, in news- 
paper and locality. This story appears with slight variations at 
various places. 

On one occasion Lewis dropped in to rob a home and the lady 
occupant told him she was a widow, had no money and that the 
constable was coming to take her cow for her overdue taxes, 
accompanying the statement with tears. Lewis asked her the 
amount of the taxes and gave her an amount of money sufficient 
to pay them, telling her to say nothing of the fact that he had been 
there or where she had gotten the money. As he was hungry she 
gave him a meal. Shortly after he left, the expected officer of the 
law came, the taxes were paid and he departed, but on his way 
home Lewis held him up and not only got the tax money, but all 
that he had. Lewis is said to have remarked that that was the best 
investment he ever made. 

He roamed the country from the Susquehanna west as far as 
Fayette County, and was a notorious counterfeiter, according to 
his own confession. ITe was always in search of victims to rob. 
One of his favorite resorts was in the Kittatinny or Blue Moun- 
tains, north from Doubling Gap Springs, where there was a cave, 
which was the size of an ordinary living room, being formed by a 
projecting rock. The spot is known to hunters to this day, its 
location having been handed down from one generation to another. 
Time has wrought much in its destruction by the disintegration 
of the rock by the elements, partly filling the cave. From a point 
not far from the cave he had a fine view of the valleys below and 
the trails up the mountain. From that point he watched for offi- 
cers of the law, and confederates in the valleys below used to dis- 
play danger signals to him when strangers were in the vicinity. 
One of these confederates was reputed to be a man named Moffitt, 
and on entering the cave at one time officers found anions: other 



THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND" 197 

things an almanac bearing his name. Near the big spring at Mt. 
Patrick is one of the places where tradition would have a rendez- 
vous of Lewis. This may have been possible, as there is a well 
founded tradition that a stranger once called on Peter Musselman, 
at Liverpool, to have a tooth drawn, and that he "later found it to 
have been Lewis, upon whose head was a price." Mr. Musselman, 
by the way, was in France as a student during the trying period 
of the French Revolution. 

But Lewis didn't learn his deviltry in this vicinity, as the follow- 
lowing brief account of his life will show : 

David Lewis was born in Carlisle, Cumberland County, Penn- 
sylvania, March 4, 1790, and was one of a numerous family of 
children; and according to his deathbed confession he grew up 
"without regard for men and little fear of God." Three years 
later his father was made a deputy district surveyor and removed 
to Northumberland County, where he died several years later, 
while David was yet a small boy. He remained with his mother, 
doing occasional farm labor for farmers until 1807, when he left 
home. After trying several avocations he enlisted in the army at 
Bellefonte. A petty offense caused the sergeant to endeavor to 
arrest him, but he ran away. Some time later, using the assumed 
name of Armstrong Lewis, he enlisted in Capt. Wm. N. Irvin's 
company of artillery in the United States service, at Carlisle. He 
did this in order to get the bounty money and then decamp, but 
failed. He then decided that he would study law and tried to get 
out of the army for that purpose by having a writ issued. After 
a tedious hearing before John D. Creigh, then associate judge of 
Cumberland County, he was remanded into the army. This hear- 
ing caused an inquiry to be made into his past life and it was dis- 
covered that he had once before enlisted in the army under his 
right name and deserted. 

The rumbling of the second war with Great Britain was already 
heard, and according to the strict military discipline of the time 
Lewis was sentenced to be executed. His mother, then living in 
Centre County, rode overland on a horse loaned by Judge Walker, 
to aid him. Eventually he was reprieved in so far as the death sen- 
tence was concerned, but was sentenced to life imprisonment. He 
was first imprisoned, attached to a ball and chain, but gradually 
ingratiated himself into the good graces of the guards and effected 
his escape. Once free Lewis escaped to a small cave north of 
Carlisle, where he remained until long after nightfall when hunger 
drove him forth. Arousing a woman who lived by the wayside 
he was served a cooked meal and given a bed, but before morning 
he decamped and departed for Centre County, where his mother 
lived, crossing the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain, and traveling 
across what later became Perry County. 



198 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Later, meeting an itinerant tin peddler of a nomadic elan which 
frequented the countryside in those days, he learned of a concern 
at Burlington, Vermont, which issued counterfeit hills, and forth- 
with made a trip there and in due time headed for Pennsylvania, 
a counterfeiter with his wares ready for the market. While pass- 
ing through New York State he bought a horse of a General Root, 
then a candidate for office and paid for it with counterfeit bills. 
He was soon detected and jailed in Troy, where, through a girl 
friend of the sheriff's daughter, he effected his escape on a Sun- 
day night while the sheriff was at church. In company with the 
girl, whom he promised to marry, he arrived in Albany the next 
evening and kept his word and had the marriage ceremony imme- 
diately performed. 

The next day Lewis imparted to his unsuspecting girl- wife the 
less criminal of his actions. Up to this time he had kept her in 
ignorance of any previous improprieties and insisted that his 
prosecution in the horse purchase was really persecution on account 
of politics. During the several days following, Lewis and his wife 
traveled to New York, the latter having secured passage on the 
wagon of a Yankee, bound to New York with his wares. In New 
York Lewis soon associated with his kind and became an ordinary 
sneak thief and burglar, according to his own confession. There 
he belonged to a gang which signed a parchment with their own 
blood. 

After a time in New York, where he had personally robbed Mrs. 
John Jacob Astor of much finery which she had purchased, he was 
accused by his accomplices of not turning in all of the same to the 
general "fund." He became disgusted and with his wife traveled 
to New Brunswick, New Jersey, and set up housekeeping. Leav- 
ing his wife there he journeyed to Princeton, posed as a Southern 
planter and by gambling fleeced the students out of hundreds of 
dollars. As soon as the holiday recess was over at Princeton Lewis 
moved on to Philadelphia, where he resumed sneak thieving. He 
had conceived a plan there to lure to the country Stephen Girard, 
the wealthy banker, and hold him for a ransom, but his small 
daughter's illness recalled him to New Brunswick. 

After spending some time at home he started for the Canadian 
lines, hut became penniless .and hired to a farmer. Hardly had he 
done so until the farmer's team was impressed into the service of 
the United States Army. Lewis drove it away, and when it was 
no longer needed he "drove it away" again, but towards his old 
haunts in Pennsylvania, selling it as soon as he could. He was 
then traveling under the fictitious name of Peter Vanbeuren. He 
landed at Stoyestown, Pennsylvania, where he learned from an- 
other crook that his wife was dead and buried. 



THE PROVINCE AND "MOTHER CUMBERLAND" 



199 



In the mountains near there he joined a band of counterfeiters 
and, when they made some accusation against him, he waited until 
they slept and robbed them. This wealth he claims to have put in 
a bottle and buried, forgetting the place, but as his whole life was 
crooked his statements, too, must not be taken too seriously. In 
his confession he tells of stealing a horse in Maryland, coming to 
Cumberland County and getting arrested for passing counterfeit 
money, escaping to see his family, returning to Cumberland Count v 
with other counterfeiters and embarking in the business there. 

This establishment was in the South Mountain. Lewis then tells 
of proceeding to Landisburg, where he passed a $100 counterfeit 
note to a Mr. Anderson, a merchant, whose place was in the build- 
ing owned by the heirs of George Patterson. Passing through 
Roxbury, Strasburg, and Fannettsburg, he gathered in $1,500 in 
real money, which he deposited in the Bedford bank. He was 
arrested and found guilty of counterfeiting, his sentence being 
ten years in the penitentiary, but Governor Findlay pardoned him 
after serving a year. He returned to Bedford to get his money, 
but it was refused. Here he fell in with a man named Rumbaugh, 
but traveling under the name of Conelly, and another who called 
himself Hanson. The three overtook a drover, who was return- 
ing westward on horseback, and robbed him, tying both man and 
horse to a tree, with a threat of death if he tried to get away. 
Lewis here prevented the other two from killing the drover, say- 
ing they would have to kill him first. The drover got away and 
aroused the community. The robbers made for the Juniata River 
country but were captured and returned to Bedford. They escaped 
from there and after some more robberies, recaptures and escapes, 
they turned to the Juniata River country again, with which they 
were familiar, and made an effort to reach New York State. Ac- 
cording to the "Life and Adventures of David Lewis," being ex- 
hausted they stopped at a tavern below Lewistown. Sheriff Samuel 
Edmiston learned of it and with a posse of about thirty men went 
In the hotel. One man was sent in to carelessly discover whether 
or not they were there. He returned and reported them in bed. 
The posse closed in and a half-dozen brave men quietly ascended 
the stairs and found them sleeping. On awakening Lewis he im- 
mediately reached for a weapon, but the sheriff overpowered him. 
When taken to the Bedford jail, he said it wouldn't hold him long, 
and it didn't. The sheriff, as an extra precaution, had handcuffed 
him, but he slipped the cuffs and escaped. They later got to Clear- 
field County, and one day recklessly began shooting at a mark, 
which aroused the neighborhood and they were surrounded, but 
.defied the posse. The result was that Lewis was shot through the 
arm, which shortly thereafter, July 13, 1820, caused his death, and 
that Conelly was shot in the groin and died in a few hours. 



200 HISTORY OP PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

When Lewis escaped from the Bedford jail he was in irons, 
according to the public press of the period. He succeeded in get- 
ling' to a near by woods, where, by use of a hie, he cut the irons 
fi'i mi his person. The advertisements describing him make him 
"six feet tall, square shoulders, reddish hair, speaks quick and has 
a fierce look." 

While Lewis is supposed to have had no education, his confes- 
sion belies that supposition, both from the standpoint of language 
and logic. He flays the Carlisle lawyers and the public officials, 
naturally, for had it not been for them he might have had easier 
sailing. Endeavoring to find a cause for what he terms his "mis- 
fortunes and crimes," he says: 

"When I look back upon my ill-spent life, and endeavor to dis- 
cover the cause or source from which all my misfortunes and 
crimes have sprung and proceeded, I am inclined to trace their 
origin to the want of early instruction. Had my widowed mother 
been possessed of the means of sending me to school, and afforded 
me the opportunity of profiting by an education during the early 
part of my youth, instead of being engaged in idle sports and 
vicious pursuits, I might have been employed in the studies of use- 
t nl knowledge, and my mind by this means have received an early 
tendency to virtue and honesty from which it would have not 
afterwards been diverted. But, alas! She was poor, and the Legis- 
lature of Pennsylvania — I blush with indignation when I say it — 
had made no provision, nor has she yet made any adequate one, 
tor the gratuitious education of the children of the poor. Until 
this is done and schools are established at the public expense for 
teaching those who are without the means of paying for instruc- 
tion, ignorance will cover the land with darkness, and vice and 
crime run down our streets as a mighty torrent." - 

The writer feels like apologizing for publishing this account, 
but it it will show at least one boy the value of his free schooling, 
where his mind is kept on useful things, instead of those of a 
vicious nature, it is not done in vain. The fact that Lewis' life, 
through dissipation, vice, exposure and crime, was only thirty 
short years, will also impress the youth of the land as they see 
about them men and women of sixty, seventy, and even eighty, 
enjoying all the comforts of life, a tribute to lives of honesty, dis- 
cretion and labor. 

This chapter would not be complete without adding that Lewis 
came of good people, that he was the only member of his family 
who trod the crooked pathway and that his children lived honest 
and straightforward lives. About 1845 a handsome young woman 
— a daughter of the robber by a second marriage — resided with her 
mother at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital, where she attracted 
much attention by her frank, open, womanly bearing. 



CHAPTER XII. 
PERRY COUNTY ESTABLISHED. 

BY an act of the State Legislature of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania Perry County was created, the act being signed 
by the governor, William Findlay, on March 22, 1820. It 
was the fifty-first county of the state. The territory was a part 
of the lands covered by the Indian treaty at Albany, New York, 
)ulv 6, 1754, of which mention is made elsewhere. The lands 
covered by this treaty were all embraced in Cumberland County 
at that time, and the northern part was formed into counties, the 
last one being Mifflin, in 1789. 

When Perry County was formed it comprised the seven town- 
ships of Cumberland County lying north of the Blue Hills, or 
Kittatinny Mountains. Tyrone, early being known as "the ever- 
lasting State of Tyrone," was the oldest of these townships, being 
erected in 1754. The other six were Toboyne, 1762; Rye. 1766; 
Greenwood, 1767 ; Juniata, 1793; Buffalo, 1798; and Saville. 
1817. 

The population of these townships was considerable, and with 
the incoming of new settlers, frequent trips to the county seat at 
Carlisle were necessary in connection with the new claims, over 
roads which were at some seasons of the year almost impassable. 
The fact that most of the changes in property in those days occurred 
around the first of April, when the roads were at their worst, and 
that the shortest routes lay over the Kittatinny Mountain, no doubt, 
actuated the movement for the new county, with a county seat 
within easy distance. In conformity with this desire petitions 
were presented to the State Legislature then in session and the act 
creating Perry County was passed. 

With the passing years the residents of what is now Perry — of 
the Sherman's Valley and the land between the rivers — became 
discontented as a part of a county whose seat of justice was south 
of that great natural barrier, the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain, 
and not at all central. In fact, the physical features of the entire 
territory of Cumberland at that time were such that there could 
be no logical central point to locate a seat of justice ; nature had 
decreed it otherwise. Those located north of the Kittatinny had 
to travel distances which were as far as forty miles to the county 
'seat ; unlike those of the south side they could not return to their 
homes the same day, and were thus necessitated securing hotel 
accommodations, which cost thousands of dollars annually. The 

201 



202 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

expense of both time and money required for legal action at the 
far-away seat of justice (with the then methods of travel) often 
was the cause of those guilty of crimes going unpunished. These 
and many other reasons are enumerated in the petition praying 
for the new county. 

Comprising practically half of Cumberland County, the citizens 
of what is now Perry contributed approximately half of the 
taxes. The public buildings at Carlisle had been built by funds 
supplied by taxation on both sides of the mountain, yet those early 
settlers of the north side, sometimes referred to in derision as 
"Hoop-Pole Perry" by those of the southern side, did not ask a 
commission's action in stating just what part of their cost should 
be refunded to the northern section — as is often done in this mod- 




Photo by M. C. Shoivalter. 
EANDISBURG, THE FIRST COUNTY SEAT. 
Central section of Landisburg. To the left, the Reformed church, once the seat of 
Mt. Dempsey Academy. 

ern age and rightly so — but specifically stated "all of which they 
are willing to give up," an everlasting credit to their magnanimity 
and financial independence. Such were the sons of the pioneers! 
As the population of the northern section increased, murmurings 
— at first considered a mere passing whim — were heard. Gradu- 
ally separation from the mother county became a matter of bitter 
contention in local affairs and in elections, often causing bitterness 
which passed from one generation to another. It seems strange 
that in a few of the older people a trace of resentment is still to 
be found, a heritage from the generation that is gone. Those who 
advocated a new county were at first considered fanatics and later 
— when their number had become worth reckoning with — were 
known as "separatists" on the north side of the mountain and as 
"seceders" on the south side. At the general elections the matter 
was uppermost, and often upon it hinged defeat or political ad- 
vancement. Of the bitterness, as the years passed, there is evi- 
dence here and there. The story is told of an early settler and 
wife visiting her people in Carlisle and of a hasty departure for 



PERRY COUNTY ESTABLISHED 203 

home on account ot a vow that "no child of mine shall first open 
his eyes on the Cumberland side of the mountain." 

Eventually, after years of consideration and when the small 
body of original enthusiasts had grown to a vast majority of the 
residents of the northern section, petitions were prepared and cir- 
culated, with the end in view of presenting them to the Pennsyl- 
vania General Assembly in session at Harrisburg, praying that a 
new county be formed. The petitions were printed and a time- 
worn one is in the possession of W. H. Sponsler, a New Bloom- 
field attorney-at-law. At several places words are obliterated by 
the ravages of time, but are supplied for the purpose of making 
clear the meaning of the instrument, the contents of which follow : 

The Petition, 

Of the subscribers residing in that part of Cumberland County called 
Shearman's Valley, situate on the north side of the Blue Mountain, to the 
Honorable the Senate, and House of Representatives, of the Common- 
wealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met, at their session of 
1819-20, 

Humbly Showeth, 
That your Petitioners again renew their prayers for a division of Cum- 
berland County, because its local situation, and the convenience and pros- 
perity of the people of Shearman's Valley, imperiously require a division. 
The local situation of Cumberland County, is as follows, viz: It is bound 
on the north by the Tuscarora Mountain, on the south by the South Moun- 
tain. The Blue Mountain runs through the County, nearly east and west, 
making a natural division of said County into two valleys, nearly of equal 
territory and population. Carlisle, our present seat of Justice, is situate 
in the Valley on the Southern side, not more than six miles from the 
south boundary, and in the most eligible and central part of it, on the very 
spot where it ought to be, had Shearman's Valley never been attached 
thereto. On the north side of the Blue Mountain, lies Shearman's Valley, 
our proposed new county, which is in length east and west, from forty 
eight to fifty miles; and the general breadth, from sixteen to eighteen 
miles ; containing twenty-two hundred taxable inhabitants. We have 
forty-eight Grist and Merchant Mills, sixty Sawmills, ten Fulling Mills, 
eight Carding Machines, four Oil Mills, one Forge, one Furnace, two 
Tilt-hammers and one Powder Mill; we have beautiful settlements, 
fertile and well cultivated lands, and wealthy inhabitants, yet notwith- 
standing all our local advantages for want of a division the people from 
the upper end of Shearman's Valley have to travel thirty-six, and the peo- 
ple from the lower extreme, have to travel about forty miles, to Carlisle, 
our present seat of Justice; and that is not all, we have to cross and re- 
cross, that almost insuperable barrier, the Blue Mountain, besides the Con- 
nodoguinet Creek, which is often times not fordable and in going by 
Bridge, those from the upper end of Shearman's Valley, have to travel 
seven additional miles in going to or coming from Carlisle. 

There are a number of counties in the State, which have neither the 
population, extent of territory nor fertility of soil that either the old or 
new counties would have if divided, and a great many more, that the 
whole amount of lands, are not valued so high, as is the land in Cumber- 
land County. 

Therefore, in point of numbers and wealth, we consider ourselves alto- 
gether competent to support a County and the administration of Justice ; 



204 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

for if a division was granted, our saving in travelling expenses, and lying 
at Court in Carlisle, at so great distance from home, would amount in 
short time to a sum sufficient, to make our Public Buildings; and Justice 
could be administered, for much less than one-half the expense, that the 
whole County now costs. For the intercourse between the people on tins 
side, and the people on the other side the Blue Mountain, is so trifling, 
that it rarely happens, that any suit of importance comes before the Court, 
where persons from both sides are concerned. But the Court being occu- 
pied by parties both from one side or the other; so that while causes 
from the south side of the Blue Mountain are before the Court, the people 
from the north side, who have causes depending, are obliged to lie with 
their witnesses, at great expense, very often for several courts succes- 
sively, which in most cases increases the expenses above the matter in 
controversy: and moreover, it gives the wicked, unjust and troublesome, 
a complete triumph over Justice, because many would rather give up their 
just rights, than seek Justice at such a vast expense, and further, the peo- 
ple on this side of the Blue Mountain, have been at their full share of ex- 
penses, in building a Court House, a house for the public offices, a Jail 
and Penitentiary at Carlisle; all which they are willing to give up their 
part of, to the people on the other side, if the Legislature will pass a law 
to divide the County. 

It would be a moderate computation, to say that each taxable inhabitant 
of our proposed new County, would have to go to Carlisle, at least once 
a year, on business, either to Court, or some of the public offices; the ex- 
penses upon the average, with loss of time, cannot be computed at less 
than three dollars per man. If we were divided, there would be a saving 
of at least one-half, say 3300 dollars, to the people of this side, in the bare 
item of travelling expenses and loss of time. Besides there would be a 
saving of at least double that sum in Mileage of Sheriffs, Jurors, and Wit- 
nesses, to say nothing of the saving to the estates of widows and orphans. 
Upon the whole, the people on this side of the Blue Mountain, at a mod- 
erate calculation sustain a loss of at least 10,000 dollars per annum for 
want of division. 

We ask part of no other County, we ask barely what nature intended, 
by rearing a stupendous Mountain, dividing the present large boundary of 
Cumberland County into two Valleys nearly equal; each of which being 
sufficiently large for a County, and the people on our side, labour under 
the most intolerable inconvenience, by reason of their having to cross the 
Mountain, whenever business of a public nature is to be transacted. 

Therefore, your petitioners most sincerely pray that your Honorable 
body, will pass a law, to divide Cumberland County, making the summit 
of the Blue Mountain the division line. 

And we further pray, that the Governor be authorized to appoint three 
or five disinterested, respectable, Judicious and honest men, living out of 
the County, to explore our new County, and fix a scite for the seat of 
lustice, and your petitioners as in duty bound will ever pray. 

We, the undersigned living on the south side of the Blue Mountain pray 
the representatives of Pennsylvania, in general assembly met now in ses- 
sion of 1819-20 to grant the people of Shearman's Valley a County north 
of the Blue Mountain separate from Cumberland County and your peti- 
tioners as in duty bound will pray, etc. 

The words ''that your petitioners again renew their prayers," 
in the beginning of the petition, imply that previous effort or ef- 
forts had been made towards separation from Cumberland County, 



PERRY COUNTY ESTABLISHED 205 

but attempts to find facts relating thereto have been unavailing. 
While the language of the petition is more or less crude, the rea- 
sons presented were plausible, as any person having even a small 

knowledge of legal procedure must readily sec. Who were the 
leading spirits that urged it and later saw it an accomplished fact ? 
No records remain to tell, but a perusal of the early citizens whose 
names stand forth in the county's first years must necessarily in- 
clude many of them. Having pressed to success their design it 
would be but natural to see them play a leading part in the affairs 
of their new county. 

To the south lay Carlisle — staid, pedantic, historic, aristocratic 
and the seat of a government military post. It seemed strange to 
that town "that a country of sparse population, with no towns of 
importance and only a river or two and a few mountain streams 
for transportation and selling mostly 'hoop poles' and furs" should 
have a desire to become a separate county. Its formation would 
be a great blow to the commerce and trade of Carlisle, as to it 
went largely the trade of the entire Sherman's Valley, taken thence 
by those who went on legal errands ; and from Carlisle came the 
opposition to the birth of the new county. Until then the Sher- 
man's Valley people were largely tied economically to Carlisle ; 
but the building of the canals and later the railroad changed the 
course of trade. The automobile has again somewhat reversed 
trade conditions for residents of the vicinity of Shermansdale. 
At the time of the passage of this act William Anderson, of the 
Perry County territory, was one of the three members of the legis- 
lature from Cumberland County. 

The text of the act creating the new county follows : 

The Legislative Act Creating Perry County. 

An act erecting part of Cumberland County, into a separate county to be 
called Perry. 

Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met. and it is hereby 
enacted by the authority of the same, That from and after the first day of 
September next all that part of Cumberland County lying north of the 
Blue Mountain, beginning on the summit of the Blue Mountain, where the 
Franklin County line crosses the same, and running thence along the sum- 
mit thereof an eastwardly course to the river Susquehanna, thence up the 
west side of the same to the line of Mifflin County, thence along the Mifflin 
County line to the summit of the Tuscarora Mountain, thence along the 
summit of the same to the Franklin County line, thence along the same to 
the place of beginning, be and the same is hereby declared to be erected 
into a separate county to be called Perry. 

Sec. 2. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That the 
inhabitants of the said county of Perry from and after the first day of 
September next, shall be entitled to and at all times thereafter have, all 
and singular the courts, jurisdictions, offices, rights and privileges, to which 



206 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the inhabitants of other counties of this state are entitled by the Constitu- 
tion and laws of this commonwealth. 

Sec 3. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That the 
several courts in and for the said county of Perry, shall be opened and 
held at such house in the town of Landisburg, as may be designated by 
the commissioners of said county, to be elected at the next general elec- 
tion, until a courthouse shall be erected in and for said county, as is here- 
inafter directed, and shall be then held at said courthouse, at which place 
the returns of the general election in and for the county of Perry shall 
be made. 

Sec. 4. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the 
suits which shall be pending and undetermined in the Court of Common 
Pleas of Cumberland County, on the first day of September next, where 
both parties in suit or suits shall at that time be resident in the county of 
Perry, shall be transferred to the Court of Common Pleas of Perry 
County, and shall be considered as pending in said court, and shall be 
proceeded on in like manner as if the same had been. originally commenced 
in said court, except that the fees on the same due to the officers of Cum- 
berland County, shall be paid to them when recovered by the prothonotary 
or sheriff of Perry County; and the prothonotary of Cumberland County 
shall on or before the first day of September next purchase a docket, and 
copy therein all the docket entries respecting the said suits to be trans- 
ferred as aforesaid, and shall on or before the first day of November 
next, have the said docket, together with the records, declarations and 
other papers respecting said suits, ready to be delivered to the prothono- 
tary of Perry County; the expense of said docket and copying to be paid 
by the prothonotary of Perry County, and reimbursed by the said county 
of Perry, on warrants to be drawn by the commissioners of Perry County 
on the treasurer thereof. 

Sec. 5. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all 
taxes or arrears of taxes laid or which have become due within the said 
county of Perry before the passing of this act, and all sums of money due 
to this commonwealth for militia fines in the said county of Perry, shall 
be collected and recovered as if this act had not been passed: Provided 
always, That the money arising from county taxes assessed or to be as- 
sessed within the limits of the county of Perry, subsequently to the first 
day of November last, shall from time to time, as the same may be col- 
lected, be paid into the treasury of the county of Cumberland for the use 
and benefit of the county of Perry; until a treasurer shall be appointed 
in the county of Perry, and the treasurer of the county of Cumberland 
shall keep separate accounts thereof, and pay the same to the treasurer 
of the county of Perry as soon as he shall have been appointed; and 
whatever part of said taxes may remain uncollected in the county of 
Perry at the time of the appointment of the treasurer thereof, the same 
shall be collected in the usual manner, and paid into the treasury of the 
county of Perry. 

See. 6. And he it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the 
sheriff, treasurer, prothonotary and all such officers as are by law required 
to give surety for the faithful discharge of the duties of their respective 
offices, who shall hereafter be appointed or elected in the said county of 
Perry, before they or any of them shall enter on the execution thereof, 
shall give sufficient security in the same manner and form and for the 
same uses, trusts and purposes, as such officers for the time being are 
obliged by law to give in the county of Cumberland. 

Sec. 7. And be if further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the 
sheriff, coroner and other officers of the county of Cumberland, shall con- 



PERRY COUNTY ESTABLISHED 



2< >; 



tinue to exercise the duties of their respective offices within the county 
of Perry, until similar officers shall be elected or appointed, as the case 
may be, agreeably to law within the said county; and the persons who 
shall be appointed associate judges for the county of Perry, shall take 
and subscribe the requisite oaths or affirmation of office before the pro- 
thonotary of the Court of Common Pleas of the county of Cumberland, 
who shall file a record of the same in the office of the prothonotary of 
the Court of Common Pleas of Perry County. 

Sec. 8. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the 
inhabitants of the county of Perry shall elect one representative and the 
county of Cumberland two, until otherwise altered, and in conjunction 
with Cumberland County one senator to serve in the legislature of this 
commonwealth in the same mode, under the same regulations, and make 
return thereof in the same manner, as is directed by the fifteenth section 
of this act. 

Sec. 9. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That the 
governor be and he is hereby authorized and required, on or before the 
first day of September next ensuing, to appoint three discreet and disin- 
terested persons, not resident in the counties of Cumberland or Perry, 
whose duty it shall be, to fix on a proper and convenient scite for a court- 
house, prison and county offices within the aforesaid county of Perry, as 
near the centre thereof, as circumstances will admit, having regard to the 
convenience of roads, territory, population and the accommodation of the 
people of the said county generally; and said persons, or a majority of 
them, having viewed the relative advantages of the several situations con- 
templated by the people, shall on or before the first day of September 
next, by a written report under their hands or under the hands of a ma- 
jority of them, certify, describe and limit the scite or lot of land which 
they shall have chosen for the purpose aforesaid, and shall transmit the 
said report to the governor of this commonwealth; and the persons so as 
aforesaid appointed, shall each receive three dollars per diem for their 
services out of the monies to be raised in pursuance of this act: Provided 
always, That before the commissioners shall proceed to perform the du- 
ties enjoined on them by this act, they shall take an oath or affirmation 
before some judge or justice of the peace, well and truly and with fidelity 
to perform said duties without favor to any person, according to the true 
intent and meaning of this act. 

Sec. 10. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That it 
shall and may be lawful for the commissioners of the county of Perry 
who shall be elected at the next annual election, to take assurance to them 
and their successors in office of such lot, or lots or piece of ground as 
shall have been approved of by the persons appointed as aforesaid, or a 
majority of them, for the purpose of erecting thereon a courthouse, jail 
and offices for the safe keeping of the records; and the county commis- 
sioners are hereby authorized to assess, levy and collect in the manner 
directed by the acts for raising county rates and levies, a sufficient sum to 
defray the expenses thereof, and also are hereby authorized to assess, 
levy and collect for the purpose of building a courthouse and prison, which 
they are hereby authorized to erect, a sufficient sum to defray the ex- 
penses thereof. 

Sec. 11. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the 
said county of Perry shall form a part of the district composed of the 
counties of Cumberland, Franklin and Adams for the election of members 
of congress. 

Sec. 12. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That the 
judges of the Supreme Court shall have like powers, jurisdictions and 



2o8 HISTORY OF TERRY COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA 

authorities within the said county of Perry, as hy law they are vested 
with and entitled to have and exercise in other counties of this state; 
and the said county is hereby annexed to the southern district of the Su- 
preme Court. 

Sec. 13. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the 
county of Perry shall be annexed to and compose part of the ninth judi- 
cial district of this commonwealth and the courts in said county of Perry 
shall be held on the Monday after the courts in Franklin County. 

Sec. 14. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all 
certioraries directed to and appeals from the judgment of any justice of 
the peace of the said county of Perry, and all criminal prosecutions which 
may originate in the said county before the test day hereinafter mentioned, 
shall be proceeded in as heretofore in the Courts of Common Pleas and 
Quarter Sessions of the county of Cumberland, and all process to issue 
from the courts of the said county of Perry, returnable to the first term 
in said county, shall bear test on the third Monday of November next. 

Sec. 15. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the 
judges of the district elections within each of the said counties of Cum- 
berland and Perry after having formed the returns of the whole election 
for senator within each county in such maimer as is or may be directed 
by law, shall on the third Tuesday in October in each year send the same 
by one or more of their number to the courthouse in the borough of Car- 
lisle in the county of Cumberland, when and where the judges so met 
shall cast up the several county returns, and execute under their respec- 
tive hands as many returns for the whole district as may be requisite, and 
also transmit the same as is by law required of the return judges in other 
districts. 

Sec. 16. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That in 
all cases when it would be lawful for the sheriff, jailor, or prison keeper 
of the county of Perry, to hold in close custody the body of any person 
in the common jail of the said county, if such jail were at this time erected 
in and for the said county, such persons shall be delivered to and kept in 
close custody by the sheriff, jailor or prison keeper of the county of Cum- 
berland, who upon delivery of such prisoner to him or to them at the 
common jail in said county of Cumberland shall safely keep him, her or 
them until they be discharged by due course of law, and shall also be an- 
swerable in like manner and liable to the same pains and penalties as if 
the persons so delivered were liable to confinement in the common jail of 
Cumberland County; and the parties aggrieved shall be entitled to the 
same remedies against them or any of them, as if such prisoner had been 
committed to his or their custody by virtue of legal process issued by 
proper authority of the said county of Cumberland: Provided always. 
That the sheriff of Perry County be allowed out of the county stock of 
said county, ten cents per mile as a full compensation for every person 
charged with a criminal offense which he may deliver to the jail of Cum- 
berland County by virtue of this act, on orders drawn by the commis- 
sioners of Perry County on the treasury thereof. 

Sec. 17. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the 
sheriff, jailor and prison keeper of the county of Cumberland shall receive 
all prisoners as aforesaid, and shall provide for .them, according to law, 
and shall be entitled to the fees for keeping them, and also to such allow- 
ance as is by law directed for the maintenance of prisoners in similar 
cases, which allowance shall be defrayed and paid by the commissioners 
of the county of Perry out of the county stock. 

Sec. 18. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid. That the 

sixteenth and seventeenth sections of this act shall be and continue in 



PERRY COUNTY ESTABLISHED 209 

force for the term of three years, or until the commissioners of Perry 
County shall have certified to the court, that a jail is erected and ready 
for the reception of prisoners and approved of by the court and grand 
jury, who shall enter their approbation, signed by them, on the record of 
said court; and from thenceforth it shall be lawful for the sheriff of 
Perry County, to receive all and every person or persons who may then be 
confined in the jail of Cumberland County, in pursuance of this act, and 
convey them to the jail of Perry County, and to keep them in custody 
until they be discharged by due course of law. 

Sec. 19. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the 
poorhouse establishment, which will be included in the county of Perry, 
shall be and continue to be conducted as heretofore for the term of four 
years, from and after the passage of this act, and at the expiration of the 
said four years, the commissioners of Cumberland County shall remove 
their paupers into their own county. 

(Passed March 22, 1820. Recorded in Penna. Laws, No. XVIII, 
p. 11.) 

The northern bonndary of the new county, described as "thence 
along the Mifflin County line," refers to the present Juniata 
County line, as Juniata had not then yet been taken from Mifflin 
and made a separate county. 

When Cumberland County was erected in 1750, the eastern 
boundary line was made specific, as Cumberland's lands were to 
lie "to the westward of the Susquehanna." Whether that was the 
intention of those who drew the act or not will never be known, 
but when Perry County's territory was taken from Cumberland, 
it inherited that boundary line. This line has never been changed 
by man, save that by two special acts of the Pennsylvania Legisla- 
ture, islands in the Susquehanna River have become a part of 
Perry. The Act of March 7, 1856, detached from Upper Paxton 
Township, Dauphin County, an island "by the name of Crow's 
Island, to be attached to and hereafter become a part of Perry 
County." The Act of March 21, 1868, detached from Middle 
Paxton Township, Dauphin County, and annexed to Perm Town- 
ship, Perry County, the island below Duncannon, known as Wis- 
ter's Island. Just where the county line would be drawn at these 
two points has never been determined. 

The northern line, as stated in the act erecting Perry County, 
starts at the Susquehanna at the line of Mifflin County (now the 
southern line of Juniata County), "thence along the Mifflin County 
line to the summit of the Tuscarora Mountain." The act creating 
Mifflin County designated the southern boundary thus : "Begin- 
ning at the Susquehanna River where the Turkey Hill extends to 
said river; thence along said hill to Juniata, where it cuts Tusca- 
rora Mountain, thence along the summit of said mountain to the 
line of Franklin County." Consequently, on Turkey Hill, the 
ridge which lies between Liverpool and Greenwood Townships of 
Perry County and Susquehanna and Greenwood Townships of 
14 



210 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Juniata County, is the county line of that part of the county lying 
east of the Juniata. To residents of that section of the county 
"Turkey Hill" is known as Turkey Ridge, and the first valley north 
of it (in Juniata Count}) is known as Turkey Valley. 

An act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, December 23, 1824, 
authorized the appointment of John Harper, of Cumberland 
County ; John Cox, of Franklin County, and Robert Clark, of 
Perry County, to run the. line dividing Cumberland and Perry. 

Perry County had been erected for fourteen years before the 
northern boundary line was run by surveyors. An act of the 
Pennsylvania Legislature of April 14, 1834, authorized its survey, 
and David Hough, of Mifflin County; Samuel Wallick, of Juniata 
County, and Jason W. Eby, of Cumberland County, were ap- 
pointed commissioners to conduct it. They were required to run 
the line before June 15, 1834. They were to make duplicate drafts 
of the survey, inserting the courses and distances "in words, at 
length," and to furnish a copy to the prothonotary of each county, 
to be "thereafter considered a public record." Evidently their 
task was not entirely completed until the time limit, yet the fifth 
section of an act of April 4, 1835, ratified it and declared it to be 
of the same effect as if finished at the appointed time. According 
to records Jason W. Eby did not act, the other commissioners 
running the line. In all probability the line then designated did 
not meet with the approval of all, for on April 2, i860, an act 
was passed by the legislature to rerun that part of the line located 
west of the Juniata river. James Woods and Mitchell Patton, of 
Perry County, and George W. Jacobs, of Juniata County, were 
appointed commissioners for that purpose. The line was to be 
located by September I, i860, and was to be marked "upon the 
ground, by distinct and permanent marks, wherever and as often 
as the said division line crosses any public road or highway and 
at other convenient distances, on the aforesaid line." Like the 
previous commissioners, they were instructed to make duplicate 
drafts, but with the specific provision that they were to be "with 
courses and distances plainly laid down, with reference to the im- 
provements through which said line may pass, one of which they 
shall deposit in each of the prothonotary's offices of the aforesaid 
counties, as soon thereafter as practical, which shall be considered 
as a public record." The courses and distances are merely statis- 
tical and are not considered of enough importance to reproduce 
here. They may be referred to at the courthouse in either Perry 
or Juniata Counties. The survey of i860 differed little from that 
of 1834. 

The western county line was the original line between the an- 
cient township of Fannett and Toboyne, Cumberland County. 
Fannett became a part of Franklin County and Toboyne, a part of 



PERRY COUNTY ESTABLISHED 211 

Perry County. This old line sufficed until [841, when, on April 
28, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed an act "for the purpose of 
running and marking the lines between Franklin and Perry Coun- 
ties." Abraham S. McKinney, of Cumberland Comity; John 
Johnston, of Terry Comity, and Andrew Wilson, of Franklin 
Comity, were appointed commissioners to run the line. To them 
was left little but the actual surveying, as the language of the act 
commanded them to leave the entire Amberson Valley in Franklin 
County, and the entire Sherman's Valley in Ferry County. The line 
was to start "at the corner of Cumberland and Franklin Counties, 
on the top of the Blue Mountain ; thence by a line in the direc- 
tion of Concord, to the summit of the next mountain ; thence along 
the summit of said mountain as far as practicable, so as to leave 
the entire valley of Amberson, in the county of Franklin, and to 
divide the mountain territory as equally as possible between the 
two counties ; thence along the summit of the Round Top, to the 
most practicable point on the Conococheague Mountain, leaving 
the entire valley called Sherman's Valley, in the county of Perry ; 
and thence to the corner between Franklin, Perry and Juniata 
Counties; and said commissioners are required in all cases (in 
running said division line), to keep as near possible to the sum- 
mit of said mountains." A year's time was allotted in which to 
complete the task and triplicate copies of the survey made, one 
each for the offices of the prothonotary of Perry and Franklin 
Counties and a third for the office of the surveyor general. This 
survey was a complicated affair to tackle, as anyone familiar with 
the various laps of the mountains there can readily realize. 

There is a legend that at the northeastern corner of Perry 
County, in the river, there is a rock which is supposed to be the 
corner stone of five counties : Northumberland, Dauphin, Perry, 
Juniata, and Snyder. This is another of those local legends 
which is not borne out by facts. The fact is that but three, 
Dauphin, Perry, and Juniata Counties, meet at the river shore at 
that point. Juniata has a short stretch of river frontage, which 
bars Snyder from touching, and the Dauphin-Northumberland 
line would touch the shore considerably below the Perry-Juniata 
line. A similar legend, relating to the northwestern boundary, 
would have four counties, Perry, Juniata, Huntingdon, and Frank- 
lin, centre at a common corner. Save that of Huntingdon, the 
other three do meet there. 

When Perry County was formed Landisburg was designated 
as the temporary county seat, pending the selection of a permanent 
site, and its residents immediately, as noted elsewhere, began a 
campaign to secure that advantage permanently. During the time 
the town was the county seat, the courts were held in a log build- 
ing, located at the northwest corner of Carlisle and Water Streets. 



212 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

It was unfinished, "chunked and daubed." The entire first floor 
was occupied by the court room, while the second floor was di- 
vided by board partitions into an office for the county commis- 
sioners, a room for the grand jury and a room for the traverse 
jury. The entrance to the second story was by a rude open stair- 
way from the court room. The judge's "bench" was made of un- 
planed boards and was located on a raised platform at the north- 
ern end of the room. At its front was a shelf, the top of which 
was used to write upon or for placing documents, etc. The coun- 
sel table was an ordinary pine dinner table. The clerks' desks 
were very ordinary wooden affairs and the seats in the court room 
ordinary board benches. A small one-story dwelling adjoined it 
on the west, on Water Street, in which lived a tanner by the name 
of Allen Nesbit, whose small tanyard was located on the same lot. 
He rented the building to the new county for fifty dollars a year. 
With the exception of the commissioners' office the other county 
offices were located in the homes of the officials. The first sheriff, 
Daniel Stambaugh, and also his successor, Jesse Miller, had the 
office in the house located on the northeast corner of Centre Square, 
the first sheriff dying there during his term. The house is now 
owned by the S. P. Lightner estate. Mrs. Lightner occupying the 
property. 

The register and recorder's office was located on Water Street, 
in a stone house belonging to Mrs. Robert Shuman at this time. 
This building had once been a hotel operated by W. P. West. Its 
erection was started in 1794 and it was completed in 1809. The 
rear part, or addition, was built of logs and in it at one time was 
a factory in which nails were made by hand, machine-made nails 
being then unknown. 

The prothonotary's office was located in the parlor of the Pat- 
terson brick building, on Carlisle Street, until 1826, when removed 
to the new courthouse at New Bloomfield. William B. Mitchell 
was the prothonotary. This lot was bought December 11, 1811, 
by Jacob Fritz and sold to Samuel Anderson, who built the brick 
building. After 1826 it passed to Henry Fetter, who was a mer- 
chant there for years. 

John Topley, Sr., was the court crier. Court was called by small 
boys ringing a bell along the street. Until each obtained a church 
building of its own the court room was the place of worship of 
the Presbyterian and Methodist congregations. When the court- 
bouse at New Bloomfield was completed and the county seat re- 
moved the old courthouse became the property of Robert Gibson, 
who used it for a cabinet maker's shop until 1840, when he razed 
it and built the present building, which is now owned by D. B. 
Dromgold. 



PERRY COUNTY ESTABLISHED 213 

The first court of common pleas ever held in Perry County 
was convened in Landisburg on December 4, 1820. John Reed, 
originally of Westmoreland County, was the president judge, and 
William Anderson and Jeremiah Madden were the associate 
judges. David Stambaugh was sheriff. The first grand jurors 
were William English, Henry Bellin, William Brown, Jacob Weib- 
ley, and Joshua Jones, of Juniata Township ; Andrew Linn, Peter 
Moses, Philip Fosselman, Christian Simons, Henry Hippie, 
Thomas Kennedy, and John Eaton, of Tyrone Township; Con- 
rad Rice, John Milligan, Thomas Milligan, Moses Oatley, Jacob 
Burd, and Jacob Keiser, of Saville Township ; William Arbigast, 
of Greenwood Township ; William Potter, of Buffalo Township ; 
Samuel Willis, of Rye Township; Nicholas Burd, John Kogan, 
and Daniel Motzer, of Toboyne Township. 

The first traverse jurors were George Beard, John Linn, John 
Staily, Josiah Roddy, Jacob Reiber, George Arnold, Charles El- 
liott, John Moses, Peter Baker, John Elliott, John Holland, Robin- 
son Black, Samuel Linn, Andrew Mateer, Thomas Black, Nicholas 
Ickes, Frederick Peale, Samuel Grubb, John Purcell, Jushua 
North, Jr., Charles Wright, John Keiser, William McClure, Jr., 
Michael Horting, Benjamin Leas, Sr., Daniel Bloom, Owen 
Owen, Philip Deckard, John Hallopeter, John Snyder, John Rum- 
baugh, Jacob Dubbs, and Samuel Thompson. They were paid for 
five days, except Nicholas Ickes, who was present only four days, 
at the rate of $1.00 per day and twelve and one-half cents per 
mile, one way, and the total cost of this jury was $223.25. 

The constables at this time were: George Fetterman, Buffalo 
Township; John O'Brian, Greenwood Township; Thomas Mar- 
tin, Juniata Township; Daniel McAllister, Rye Township; Ma- 
thias Moyer, Saville Township; John Cree, Tyrone Township; 
Abraham Kistler, Tyrone Township, and James McKim, Toboyne 
Township. The grand jury were paid $1.00 per day and six cents 
per mile circular, and for two days, the total cost of the first grand 
jury having been $7348. The auditors were paid $2.00 per day, 
and the constables were paid $1.00 per day, but no mileage, for 
attending court. 

The first record of a conveyance was a recorded deed from 
Jacob Sole, of Juniata Township, to Elizabeth Sole, of Millers- 
town, dated March 11, 1820, for three acres of land in Juniata 
Township, the consideration being $1,00. The first mortgage re- 
corded was given by Samuel Stroop. of Tyrone Township to John 
Shuman, of Greenwood. The first proceedings in Orphans' Court 
was on December 4, 1820, when Caleb North, of Greenwood, was 
appointed guardian of Julia Power, minor daughter of James 
Power, late of Juniata Township. The first letters testamentary 
issued by the register of wills were those of Christian Seiders, of 



214 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Buffalo Township, on December 7, 1820, his executors being David 
and Samuel Seiders, and his will dated November 26, 1820. The 
first will recorded was that (if Abraham Grassel, dated September 
26, 1819, letters not briny issued thereon until January 11, 1821. 




ROBERT MITCHELL. 

Our ul the first Board of County Commissioners. Mr. Mitchell 

was born in 1782 and was Commissioner at 38. He died in [872, 

over fifty years after the county's beginning. 

The second court was held on the last Monday of January, 1821, 
and there were nine suits on the trial list, one of them being Mel- 
choir Miller (the grandfather of the future governor of Minne- 
sota) against James Murphy. 

The first board of county commissioners was composed of Rob- 
ert Mitchell, Thomas Adams, and Jacob Huggins. 

The register and recorder's office was removed to New Bloom- 
held on March 6, 1827, and the prothonotary, treasurer's and 
sheriffs offices on March 12 and 13, 1827. The first court was 
held in New Bloomfield, April 2, 1827. 



1'KRRY COUNTY F.STABUSHED 



215 



The first justices of the peace of the new county were as fol- 
lows, the transcript being taken from the Executive Minutes: 

Friday, November 17, 1820. 
The governor this day appointed and commissioned the following named 
persons to the office of justice of the peace in and for the districts here- 
after mentioned in the county of Perry, that is to say : David Bloom, 
Robert Adams, and Jacob Bargstresser for the district composed of the 
township of Toboyne, in the said county, lately district number ten, in the 
county of Cumberland; Jacob Fritz, John Taylor, Jacob Stroop, William 
Power, and Henry Titzel for the district composed of the township of 
Tyrone, including the township of Saville, in the said county of Perry, 
lately district numbered eleven, in the county of Cumberland; John Ogle, 
John Owen, and John White, in and for the district composed of the town- 
ship of Rye, in the county of Perry, lately the district numbered twelve, 
in the county of Cumberland; George Monroe, Benjamin Bonsall, Fred- 
erick Orwan, and James Black in and for the township of Juniata, in the 
said county of Perry, lately the district numbered thirteen in the said 
county of Cumberland; Caleb North, John Huggins, John Purcell, Samuel 
Utter, John Turner, Abraham Adams, Willian Linton, and Richard Bard, 
in and for. the district composed of the township of Greenwood and Buf- 
faloe, in the said county of Perry, lately the district numbered fourteen, 
in the county of Cumberland. — Executive Mmutes, Volume Eleven, 
pa<je 254- 

Other justices of the peace commissioned during the county's 
very first years were as follows : 

1822. John Kooken, Toboyne; Robert Thompson, Buffalo; Francis 
Gibson, Tyrone ; Thomas Gallagher, Liverpool. 

1823. Andrew Linn and George Baker, Saville ; Frederick Speck, Wheat- 
field. 

1824. Joseph Martin, Juniata ; Alexander Rogers, Wheatfield ; George 
Mitchell, Liverpool. 

1825. Jacob Bloom and James R. Scott, Toboyne ; Alexander Branyan, 
Rye. 

Just why Perry County was so named has often been asked. 
Why was this name selected rather than some other? It will be 
remembered that the battle of Lake Erie was one of the greatest 
events of the War of 18 12, or our Second War with England, 
that Commodore Perry was the hero, and that the war was over 
but six years before the erection of the county. But the great out- 
standing reason was that Commodore Perry died on August 23, 
1 8 19, at the Port of Spain, Island of Trinidad, and the news of 
his death had just reached our shores in the year of the county's 
creation; and that his death, like that of Ex-President Theodore 
Roosevelt in 1919, was the occasion of much grief, the erection of 
memorials, etc. Not only was he honored by the naming of Perry 
County, Pennsylvania, in memory of him, but counties elsewhere 
are so named. There are Perry Counties in nine other states, 
as follows: Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mis- 
sissippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. 



2i6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

And so it was named Perry — after Commodore Oliver Hazard 
Perry, who in 1812, as a young lieutenant, was sent to take charge 
of the fleet of boats on Lake Erie, who unfurled a blue flag bear- 
ing in white letters the dying words of the gallant Lawrence, 
"Don't give up the ship ;" who succeeded in overcoming the 
powerful British boats and sent to General Harrison the famous 
dispatch, "We have met the enemy and they are ours — two ships, 
two brigs, one schooner and one sloop;" and who saved the young 
nation from an enemy's entrance over the lakes. He was in 
charge of the whole West Indian fleet as commodore at the time of 
his death. 

A newspaper notice of the period, relating to the death of the 
hero for whom the new county of Perry was named, may not be 
inappropriate here : 

Norfolk, September 25. 

Died. On the 23 of August, on board the United States schooner, Non- 
such, at the moment of her arrival at Port of Spain, in the Island of 
Trinidad, Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry. He was taken with yellow 
fever on his passage from the town of Angostura, and although he was 
attended by two able physicians, he was reduced to the greatest extremity 
on the fourth day of his illness. Sensible to his approaching dissolution, 
he called his officers together, and communicated his last wishes. His re- 
mains were interred at Port of Spain, on the 24th of August with naval 
and military honors. 

Pennsylvania counties have been named under probably eight 
distinct classes, as follows : First, after English shires or counties ; 
second, from Indian derivation ; third, of sentimental suggestion ; 
fourth, geological, geographical or faunal titles; fifth, topographi- 
cally; sixth, of local historical connection; seventh, of political 
significance; eighth, in honor of patriots, etc. It is the last named 
and largest class which includes Perry. 

A story, in connection with the locating of the temporary county 
seat at Landisburg, which is persistent, coming from a dozen 
widely separated sources, and always the same, is, it is believed, 
worthy a place here. The reader may pass judgment upon it. On 
all occasions the scorner turns up, but when this one turned up 
Perry Countians were in no humor to be ridiculed, having just 
came into their own after the opposition of Carlisle citizens, espe- 
cially. The new county had just been created and the first court 
was to be held in an improvised courthouse in Landisburg. A 
number of young men from Carlisle came over and one of them 
kept up a continual interrogation, "Where's the town clock?" 
This angered a man named Power, and strangely enough Power 
was the next man to whom he put the question. A brawny arm 
shot out and the inquirer went down, but true to the species, he 
retorted, "There it is; it struck one." 



PERRY COUNTY ESTABLISHED 



217 



Strange as it may seem, within two years after the separation 
of Terry County from "Mother Cumberland," there were peti- 
tions out for their merging, and strangest of all, the plan advo- 
cated was to annex Cumberland to Perry. A copy of the petitions 
was printed in the Perry Forester, Perry County's first paper, on 
l'YI unary 7, 1822. It follows: 

Petition. 

"To the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, in General Assembly met. Sheweth: 

"That on account of the great dissatisfaction which prevails in the bor- 
ough of Carlisle, and the surrounding country, by reason that they have 
been separated from the county of Perry, and which has much increased 
our taxes, and not only this, but our once thrifty and flourishing old bor- 
ough of Carlisle, has become delirious and inconsolable on account of the 
separation — and further, as we would prefer the name of Perry to that of 
Cumberland, because the latter savors something of royalty, being taken 
from the Duke of Cumberland in England, which your petitioners deem to 
be repugnant to the principles of our republican government; we there- 
for pray your honorable bodies to pass a law annexing Cumberland to 
Perry County, and that the seat of Justice may be located at Landisburg. 

"And your petitioners in duty bound will pray, &c." 

When the new county of Perry was formed the keepers of tav- 
erns, as they were then known, were holding licenses granted by 
the Cumberland County court. Accordingly the first licenses 
granted in Perry County were in 1821. From the Divisions of 
Records at the State Capitol a copy of the return to the state is 
made. It follows: 

A list of the tavern keepers of Perry County to whom licenses have 
been granted by the Court of General Quarter Sessions of the Peace for 
said county, at January and April terms, 1821, and for which licenses have 
been delivered to William Power, Esqr., Treasurer of Perry County, viz : 

At January Sessions, 1821. 
David Pfautz, John Woodburn, George Eckerd, John Flurie, Henry 
Zimmerman, Anthony Brandt. 

At April Sessions, 1S21. 

Andrew Tressler, John Foose, Thomas Craighead, Jr., Michael Sypher, 
John Hippie. 

Henry Lightner, John Strawbridge, Gilbert Moon, Henry Long, John 
Dunkelberger, Thomas Paul. 

Christian Hippie, Peter Wolf, John Miller, Peter Musselman, Frederick 
Rinehart, Henry Landis, George Wilt. 

Benjamin Leas, James Baird, Peter Shively, John Snell, Daniel Gallatin, 
Jonathan Harmon. 

Frederick Smiley, George Billow, John Neiper, John Rice. 
County of Perry, S.S. 

I, Henry Miller, Esquire, Clerk of the Court of General Quarter Ses- 
sions of the Peace, held at Landisburg for the County of Perry, -do hereby 
certify that the within is a true statement of the tavern keepers of Perry 
County licensed by the Court at the January and April sessions, 1821, and 



2i8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

that thirty-four licenses have accordinglj been delivered to William Power, 
F.sqr., Treasurer of Perry County. 

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and 
affixed the Seal of said Court this fifteenth day of May, 
(Seal) in the year of our Lord, one thousand, eight hundred and 

twenty-one. Henry Millkk, 

Clerk of the Quarter Sessions. 
To James Duncan Esq., Auditor 
General of the Commonwealth of 
I 'ennsylvania. 

The following is the first return from the new county of Perry 
tti the State Treasurer, being copied from the original document 
in the Bureau of Records at the State Capitol : 

Wm. Powers, Esq., Treasurer of Perry County in account with the State 

of Pennsylvania. 

Dr. With amount of eight licenses to retail foreign merchandise 
and liquors to the following persons, viz: to Robert H. 
McClelland, Henry Fetter, Abraham Fulweiler, George 
Tharp, Henry Walters, Philip Bosserman, Edward Purcell, 

Isaiah Clark, at fifteen dollars each cash $120.00 

With amount of ten licenses to retailers of foreign merchan- 
dise only to the following persons, viz: to Thomas Coch- 
ran, David Moreland, William Irwin, Nathan Van Fossen, 
Daniel Okeson, Thomas Gaulagher, John Rice. Anthony 
Black, Robert Welch, Peter Beaver, at ten dollars each, 

cash 100 . 00 



Cr. With treasurer's commission, $217.75, at five per cent, $10.88 
With amount paid constables for making returns of 
eighteen retailers of foreign merchandise and 
liquors at \2 l />z each 2.25 



$220 . 00 



13-13 

Balance due stale $206.87 

Settled and entered at the Auditor General's office, 
December 14, 1821. 

First Records of tiik Commissioners' Office. 

*The first minute book of the commissioners of Perry County, which, 
according to the inside of the cover, cost $3.75, has the following inscribed 
on page t : 

" Landisburg , Oct. 26th, 1820. 
"Agreeably to previous arrangements Thomas Adams, Jacob 
Huggins & Robert Mitchell, Esquires, duly elected Commis- 
sioners for the County of Perry met at the house of Michael 
Sypher and after having taken and subscribed the oaths of 
office required by the Constitution and laws of the Common- 
wealth of Pennsylvania, 



lor the interesting data from this first minute book of the first Board 
of Count_\ Commissioners we are indebted to Walter W. Rice, attorney- 
at-law. New Bloomfield, Pa. 



PERRY COUNTY ESTABLISHED 



219 



"Appointed Jesse Miller Clerk to their Board for the term 
of one year and agreed to allow him Forty eight dollars pr. 
annum. 

"Oct. 27th. 

"'Commissioners met. A full Board. 

"Agreed with Jacob Albert for him to make the necessary 
seals for the different county offices at seven dollars per seal 
to be delivered on or before the 1st of Dec. next. 

"Oct. 28th. 
"Commissioners met. A full Board. 

"Appointed William Power, Esqr., Treasurer for one year 
(commission 2 per cent for all monies by him rec'd and paid 
_ out according to law)." 

This old minute book further shows that, on Nov. 6 and 7, 1820, Messrs. 
Huggins and Mitchell, Commissioners, "attended at Carlisle for the pur- 
pose of obtaining the original assessments of 1820 to get them tran- 
scribed, and that, on Nov. 8, 1820, Mr. Mitchell, having obtained the said 
assessments together with a transcript of the Treasurer's book of Cum- 
berland County for the monies paid by the collectors of Perry County, 
returned to Landisburg and met Mr. Adams. These two met on the 9th, 
10th, nth and 12th of Nov., 1820, and on the 21st "a full Board" met and 
agreed with George Dunbar "for the making of a bench for the Judges 
of the Court & a counsel table." On Nov. 24th, 1820, the Board met for 
the purpose of "selecting jurors and comparing assessments." On that 
day the first order on the county treasury was granted to Robert Mitchell 
for $28.00 for pay as Commissioner from Oct. 26th, 1820, to Nov. 24th, 
1820. On Nov. 25th, 1820, the Commissioners bought of William Power 
"6 candlesticks & 3 pair snufiiers for $4.00," which were paid for by order 
No. 41 given on Feb. 2d, 182 1. On Dec. 4th, 1820, order No. 2 was given 
to James Beatty "for $26.90 pay of the election officers of Juniata District 
for holding 2 elections in 1820." In the first part of the minute book the 
words "order given" were used, but later on "O. G." indicates that pay- 
ment was ordered. On Dec. 5th, 1820, order No. 4 was given to David 
Grove, return judge for Toboyne Township, for $25.20 "pay of election 
officers of said District for holding 2 elections in 1820." On the same date 
an order was given to Alexander Magee, for $12.00 "for a transcribing 
docket to transfer suits from Cumberland County to Perry County." On 
Dec. 6th, 1820, orders for $20.00 and $26.00 were given to Thomas Adams 
and Jacob Huggins respectively for their pay as Commissioners from 
Oct. 26th, 1820, to Dec. 6th, 1820, "both days inclusive." These bills of 
the Commissioners evidently included their expenses, as no bills were 
presented for expenses. On Dec. 8th, 1820, orders were granted to Jacob 
Albert for $49.00 for seven seals for the county offices, George Dunbar 
for $9.00 for carpenter work and Andrew Martin $9.75 for making chairs. 
Robert McCoy was paid $50.00 for transcribing into a docket for the 
Court of Common Pleas of Perry County the record of the suits in the 
Cumberland County Court between persons residing in Perry County. 
On Jan. 30th, 1821, John Diven was paid $12.00 for making a jury wheel. 
and Alexander C. Martin was paid $2.58 "for the tuition of paupers as 
per acct." The witnesses were paid 50 cents per day and 3 cents per mile 
circular. An ink stand was bought from Samuel A. Anderson for 31 cents. 

On Feb. 2d, 1821, Abraham Fulweiler was paid $106.87 for stoves, pipes. 
etc., and William Power $6.45 for candlesticks, wood, etc. 

On Feb. 17th, 1821, the Commissioners met to lay the tax for 1821, and 
apportioning the rates on the different townships. Messrs. Huggins and 



220 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Mitchell held appeals on April 16th, 1821, at Clark's Ferry, on the 17th 
at Montgomery's Ferry, on the 18th at Capt. Frederick Rinehart's for 
Greenwood Township, on the 19th at the Blue Ball for Juniata Township, 
and all three Commissioners held appeals on the 20th at Ickesburg for 
Saville Township, on the 21st at Zimmerman's tavern for Toboyne Town- 
ship, and on the 23d at their office for Tyrone Township. On the latter 
day they paid Robert Kelly, Teacher, $5.91 for tuition of paupers in Sa- 
ville Township. On the 24th they paid William Charters 20 cents for 
candles. On April 30th, 1821, they paid John Jones $12.00 for a wolf 
scalp, and on May 1st, they paid William B. Mitchell $0.75 for two old 
fox scalps. 

The records show that the office of tax collector was not a very de- 
sirable one in those days. Henry Kline, the Collector selected for Tyrone 
Township, refused to serve and paid a fine of $20.00. Robert Cree was 
then selected; he refused, and a suit was commenced against him for 
the fine. 

The County Commissioners in the first few years of the existence of the 
County received $1.50 per day, and their yearly compensation averaged 
about $107.00. The Commissioners now receive $1,000.00 and their ex- 
penses per year. 

The amounts of the tax duplicates and collectors for the year 1821 
were as follows : 

Daniel Motzer, Toboyne Township $1,200.26 

Henry Kline, Tyrone Township 1.575-89 

Nicholas Ickes, Saville Township 692.54 

Philip Bosserman, Juniata Township, 915.22 

Anthony Kimmel, Rye Township, 754-71 

Isaac Pfoutz, Greenwood Township, 863.99 

Henry Steaphen, Buffalo Township, 421 .25 

Total, $6,423 .86 

A total of the duplicates for the county in 1920 was $62,950.64. 

On Sept. 7, 1821, an order was given to Jacob Bishop, Keeper of the 
prison of Cumberland County, for $102.15 for maintaining 5 prisoners sent 
from Perry County. The daily charge was 20 cents. Among the items 
104 lbs. beef at 5 cents per lb. and 8 quarts of soap at 6% cents per quart. 
One of the prisoners made 45 pairs of shoes in 15 weeks, and a credit at 
the rate of 40 cents per pair was allowed for his labor. 

The election boards in those times consisted of 3 judges, 1 inspector and 
2 clerks. 

On Oct. 24, 1821, Jesse Miller was reappointed Clerk to the Commis- 
sioners and his salary was increased to $100.00 per annum. 

On Nov. 3d, 1821, $10.00 was paid for one year's rent for the office of 
the Commissioners. On Dec. 6, 1821, $51.50 was paid to Allen Nesbet 
for one year's rent for the Court House and 6 mos. interest on the first 
semi-annual payment. 

On Dec. 7, 1821, $27.00 was paid to William McClure, Deputy Attorney 
General, as his fees in 9 criminal cases. 

On Dec. 7, 1821, $5.00 was paid to John Albert for "a bell to call the 
court." 

On March 12th, 1827, the Commissioners held their last meeting in Lan- 
disburg and removed their offices to Bloomfield. 



CHAPTER XIII. 
THE FIGHT FOR THE COUNTY SEAT 




IN the locating of its county seat Perry County had almost as 
much trouble as the United States had had just three decades 
before, when for a long period Trenton, New Jersey, and the 
present site were rivals; when, in 1789, the Commonwealth of 
Pennsylvania, in the United States Senate, offered to deed ten 
miles square around any one 
of seven towns, which in- 
cluded Harrisburg and Car- 
lisle, and when it was pro- 
posed to select a site on the 
Susquehanna instead of the 
Potomac. 

In accordance with the pro- 
visions of the act creating the 
county Governor William 
Findlay was empowered to 
appoint a commission of 
three men from without the 
county to select a location for 
the county seat. This com- 
mission was appointed eight 
days later and was composed of William Beale, of Mifflin County ; 
David Maclay, of Franklin County, and Jacob Bucher, of Dauphin 
County. The following extract from the Executive Minutes, 
Volume 11, page 168, records the appointment: 

Thursday, March 30th, 1820. 

The Governor this day appointed and commissioned the following named 
persons to the offices annexed to their names, respectively, that is to say. 

William Beale of Mifflin County, David Maclay of Franklin County, and 
Jacob Bucher of Dauphin County, to be commissioners to fix upon a 
proper and convenient site for a Court house, prison, and County offices, 
within the County of Perry, as near the Centre thereof as circumstances 
will admit, having regard to the convenience of roads, territory, population 
and the accommodation of the people of the said County generally; and 
the said Commissioners, or a majority of them having viewed the relative 
advantages of the several situations contemplated by the people, were re- 
quired on or before the first day of September next by a written report 
under their hands or under the hands of a majority of them, to certify, 
describe and limit the site, or lot of land which they shall choose for the 
purpose aforesaid, and to transmit the said report to the Governor; and 
to do all other matters and things required of them in and by an act of 



courthouse; at new bloomfii-;i v d. 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the General Assembly, passed on the 22c! day of March last, entitled, "An 
Act erecting part of Cumberland County into a separate County to be 
called Perry." 

There have been many political fights in Perry County during 
the past century, but from what can be gleaned from old news- 
papers and records that county seat fight eclipsed them all. The 
many different locations proposed complicated the situation. 
Landisburg, with a taste of the dignity attached to the temporary 
seat of justice, put up a stiff fight. An old subscription list shows 
that the citizens obligated themselves for $1,610.00 to help secure 
it. Cedar Run (vicinity of Cisna's Run, Madison Township), 
then in Toboyne Township, raised the sum of $2,907.00. There 
was a provision that the plot to be used was to be that of Helfen- 
stine and Ury (now Wm. H. Loy's), who agreed to raise the 
amount to $5,000.00, on such condition. 

Casper Lupfer offered a free site on his "plantation" which was 
adjoining the present site of New Bloomfield, later owned by W. 
A. Sponsler, then John R. Adams, and now in the possession of 
Robert E. McPherson. Inhabitants of Millerstown and vicinity 
offered a site in Raccoon Valley, Tttscarora Township, opposite 
Millerstown, owned by Henry Lease. Other proposed locations 
were Clark's Ferry (now Duncannon), Reider's Ferry (now 
Newport), George Barnett's (the present site). Captain William 
Powers', west of New Bloomfield, Elliottsburg, and Douglas' 
place, near Green Park. 

Before the matter was finally decided and the present location 
selected there were four different commissions appointed to select 
a site. Public meetings were held at various places over the new 
county and petitions gotten out protesting against different sites 
and favoring others. The first commission, after examining the 
various sites offered, which required twelve days of their time, 
which shows that they covered it pretty thoroughly, decided on the 
site on the farm of William Powers, about two miles west of New 
Bloomfield. On the hack of the report are the signatures: David 
Maclay, W. Maclay, W r . Beale and J. Bucher. How "W. Maclay" 
came to have an interest in it records do not tell, but he was not 
on the original appointment. Their first meeting was in June, 
[820, and they made their report August 26, 1820. Millerstown 
held a meeting, December 2, and resolved "that the commission 
did its duty by locating it at the centre of the county." 

Hardly had the report been made public when Landisburg, on 
December 2, held a public meeting to protest. A resolution was 
passed opposing the site as a place "having no intersection of roads. 
110 direct intercourse with adjacent counties — a strong point with 
Landisburg — destitute of good water, good mills or even mill sites." 
Protests came from all over the new county. At the meeting 



FIGHT FOR THE COUNTY SEAT 



223 



of the next legislature many citizens of the county petitioned for 
another commission, which was granted by an act dated April 2, 
iSji. which required that the new commission should examine 
sites and report before June 1. This commission was composed of 
William Irwin, of Centre County; Isaac Kirk, of York County, 
and Christian Ley, of Lebanon County. 

At times a story has been told of William Powers and the com- 
mission digging a well and getting no water, of Lowers and his 
negro servant hauling water into the well and of the commission, 
"discouraged, resolving to stop work on the well." Nothing in 
any record, in any newspaper, or used by the opposition at the 
time would help to substantiate that story, and it is one of those 
mythical stories which sometimes gain considerable circulation, but 
which are unfounded and will not stand when scrutinized. Had 
such been the case the other points seeking the location would have 
grasped the information quickly and utilized it. Furthermore, the 
commission had neither the authority nor the time to go into the 
well-digging business. 

The following entry appears on Executive Minutes of the State, 

Volume 11, page 359: 

Saturday, April 28th, 1821. 

Under the authority contained in an Act of the General Assembly passed 
the second day of the present month, entitled, "A supplement to an Act 
entitled 'An Act erecting part of Cumberland County into a separate 
County to be called Perry,' " the Governor this day appointed William 
Irwin, of the County of Centre; Isaac Kirk, of the County of York, and 
Christian Ley, of the County of Lebanon, Esquires. Commissioners to re- 
view the scite lately determined upon by the Commissioners appointed in 
pursuance of the original act aforesaid, for the seat of justice of the 
County of Perry, and if they, or a majority of them shall be of opinion 
that the said scite does not combine the interests and advantages of the 
inhabitants of the said County generally, then, and in that case, they or a 
majority of them, are authorized and required to select and fix upon some 
other scite for a Court house, prison, and County offices, within the said 
County of Perry, as near the Centre thereof as circumstances will admit. — 
they, the said Commissioners to execute the said Commission according to 
the true intent and meaning of the above recited Act of Assembly, and of 
the ninth section of the Act to which the same is a supplement ; and to 
make a report to the Governor in writing, under their respective hands and 
seals, on or before the first day of June, next, certifying, describing and 
limiting the scite or lot of ground which shall have been chosen by them 
as aforesaid. 

Sites were proposed by a committee of one from each township, 
lint in the voting the result was as follows: Clark's Ferry (now 
Duncannon), 5; Barnett's, 2; Landisburg, 9; county poor 
farm, o. 

This second commission located the site at Reider's (now New- 
port ), which resulted in indignation meetings being held in the 
other sections of the county. The fact that it was seven miles 
from the centre of the county resulted in another lot of petitions 



FIGHT FOR THE COUNTY SEAT 225 

to the Slate Legislature, which, at the next session, on March 11, 
[822, passed an act which created the third commission, the mem- 
bers of which were named in the act. 

On Friday, September 14, 1821, a meeting was held at the home 
of Captain William Powers to protest against the site at Reider's 
Ferry. The delegates to this meeting were: 

Buffalo. — Col. Robert Thompson, Frazer Montgomery. 

Juniata. — Wm. English, Finlaw McCown, John Kyser. 

Rye. — John Chisholm, Abraham Brunner. 

Saville. — Robert Hackett, Andrew Linn, Conrad Rice. 

Toboyne. — Wm. Anderson, Robert Adams, Col. John Urie. 

Tyrone. — Francis Gibson, Allen Nesbit, Wm. Wilson. 

This third commission was composed of Moses Rankin, of 
York; James Hindman, of Chester; Peter Frailey, of Schuylkill; 
David Fullerton, of Franklin, and James Agnew, of Bedford. 
They were to report before June 1, 1822. From Executive Min- 
utes, Volume 11, page 527, is reproduced their official notification 
from the chief executive: 

Wednesday, March 27th, 1822. 

A certified copy of the Act of the General Assembly passed the eleventh 
instant entitled "A supplement to an Act entitled 'An Act erecting part of 
Cumberland County into a separate County to be called Perry,' " was this 
day transmitted by mail to each of the Commissioners named therein, to 
wit : Moses Rankin, of York County ; James Hindman, of Chester 
County; Peter Frailey, of Schuylkill County; David Fullerton, of Frank- 
lin County, and James Agnew, of Bedford County; who were at the same 
time respectively notified that the Governor by virtue of the power in the 
said Act of Assembly given to him, has fixed upon the seventh day of 
May, and the Town of Landisburg, in the said County of Perry, as the 
time, and place of meeting of the said Commissioners. 

This commission — the third — decided upon Landisburg as the 
proper location. A few days later, on June 5, citizens from the 
five eastern townships held a meeting at the home of John Koch, 
which history tells us was at Blue Ball, Juniata Township, and ap- 
pointed a committee to draw up an address to the citizens of the 
county on the subject. Frazer Montgomery, John Harper, and 
William Waugh composed the committee, whose report recited at 
length reasons why the county seat should not be located at Lan- 
disburg, which was within three miles of the Cumberland County 
line, and protested the unjustness of the location to the county at 
large. On October 16, 1822, a meeting of the citizens of Juniata 
and Buffalo Townships was held at the home of Meredith Dar- 
lington to discuss the merits and demerits of the various proposed 
sites. Of this meeting there is some record; Francis McCowen 
was the chairman and William Power, Jr.. secretary. Resolutions 
were' passed proposing the site first selected on the Power farm, 
west of New Bloomfield. This site, we are told, is at the exact 
centre of the county. 
15 



226 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Thai weapon of every canst', the petition, was again brought into 
being and stated that three different commissions had been ap- 
pointed under acts of the Pennsylvania Legislature, the last com- 
mission having moved the location to Landisburg, a place which 
is within three miles of the Cumberland County line and a dis- 
tance of thirty-four miles from the eastern settlement. The •pro- 
posed place for its location on the Power farm is named as the 
admitted centre of territory and population as near as circum- 
stances will admit. 

On November 16, 1822, a public meeting of protest was held at 
the home of John Fritz, at the Bark tavern, in Rye Township (now 
Centre, near New Bloomfield), for the purpose of electing dele- 
gates and recommending or requesting the citizens of the other 
townships to do likewise, such delegates — two from each township 
— to meet at the home of John Fritz on December 10, 1822, to 
designate a place for the location of the county seat, and draft a 
petition accordingly. No record of the meeting is handed down to 
posterity, yet it evidently was held, for on December 23, 1822, 
Mr. Mitchell, a member of the legislature, presented to the House 
twenty-one petitions, signed by eight hundred of the inhabitants 
of the county, praying that the seat of justice for the new county 
be fixed at the point suggested by the first commission. The mem- 
ber of the General Assembly from Perry County at that time was 
not Mr. Mitchell, but F. M. Wadsworth, and again history fails 
to tell us why the petitions was not presented by him. The com- 
mission having fixed the site at Landisburg, as far as they were 
concerned, reported, and an act for the confirmation thereof came 
before the House on Monday, February 24, 1823, and after con- 
siderable discussion passed first reading. It came up on Tuesday 
for second reading, and a Mr. Todd proposed a substitute for the 
act, naming Barnett's farm instead of Landisburg. On a vote this 
proposition for the Barnett farm was defeated fifty-six to thirty. 
The bill was killed in the Senate by a proposition to create another 
commission. 

The fourth commission was appointed by Governor Joseph 
Heister, in accordance with an act passed March 31, 1823, being 
composed of the following men : Joseph Huston, of Fayette ; Ab- 
ner Leacock, of Beaver; Cromwell Pearce, of Chester; Henry 
Sheete, of Montgomery, and Dr. Phineas Jenks, of Bucks. The 
first stated meeting of this commission was to be at the home of 
Meredith Darlington, on Wednesday, May 28, 1823, but the 
weather being stormy, they postponed business until Friday. On 
that day they met at Landisburg and decided to ignore all three 
of the sites previously chosen. Then, on Monday, June 2, 1823, 
they decided to locate the county seat on the farm of George Bar- 



FIGHT FOR THK COUNTY SEAT 



227 



nett, in Juniata (now Centre) Township, within about two miles 
of the Powers location, the one named by the first commission. 

They reported, and in January, 1824, the act was introduced in 
the legislature, when Jacob Huggins, then the member of the Gen- 
eral Assembly from Perry County, presented nine petitions for 
confirmation of this site and nine petitions for the site at Landis- 
burg. On February 5, 1824, he again presented petitions, which 
shows that those early Perry Countians had contracted the petition 
habit. On this occasion there were nine for the New Bloomfield 
(or Barnett) site and seven for Landisburg. On February 27 he 
presented seven for Landisburg and one for New Bloomfield. 
The matter had now narrowed down to the two sites and Mr. 
Huggins stated that he was privileged to withdraw the petitions 
of Abraham Reider and William Power. 

The report of this fourth commission is on record in the office 
of the custodian of public records at the State Capitol and is repro- 
duced below : 

To Joseph Hiester esquire Governor of the Commonwealth of Penna. 

Sir: In compliance with an Act of the Legislature of this State passed 
the 31st day of March, 1823, entitled An Act Supplementary to an Act 
entitled A Supplement to an Act entitled an act erecting a part of Cum- 
berland County into a separate County to be calld. Perry and in accord- 
ance with our appointment we the undersigned Commissioners wiz : Ab- 
ner Laycock, Cromwell Pearce, Henry Sheets and Phineas Jenks, having 
met (for the purpose of carrying the requisitions of the said act into ef- 
fect) at the house of Meredith Darlington in Juniata Township on the 
28th day of May and after taking the requisite oaths proceeded to view 
the several sites contemplated by the people as well as those fixed upon 
by former Commissioners. 

And from the view we have taken of the territorial bounds of said 
County, the relative situation of its inhabitants, convenience of roads, 
waters etc. we are of opinion that neither of the sites fixed upon by 
former Commissioners are calculated to combine the interests or render 
that satisfaction and accommodation to the Citizens of said County con- 
templated by the law under which we act. 

Therefore we have after due deliberation unanimously agreed, and 
have located a site for the seat of Justice of Perry County on the farm 
of George Barnett in Juniata Township described and bounded as follows, 
viz : Beginning at a Post in the field west of the barn South 68 degrees 
West 9 perches & two tenths from a wild Cherry tree then from said post 
South 64 degrees West 34.2 perches to a post thence North 26 degrees 
West 41 perches to a post thence North 64 degrees East 34.2 perches to a 
post thence South 26 degrees East 41 perches to the place of beginning, 
which lot or parcell of ground as above described we do hereby adjudge 
and confirm as far as our power extends as laid down by said act to be 
the proper site to erect the Court house, prison and County offices of said 
County of Perry upon, and as such make report and return the same to 
the Governor as we are by law directed. 

Given under our Hands this second day of June An dom 1823. 

A. Lacock. Henrv Scheetz. 

Cromwell Pearce. Phs. Jenks. 



228 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Apropo of the local ion having been finally determined the fol- 
lowing documents, in the possession (if the Barnett sisters, of New 
Bloomfield, may be of interest: 

"30th of May, 1823. 

"Know all men by these presents, that I, George Barnett, of Jnniata 
township, in the county of Perry, do bind myself, my heirs, executors, or 
administrators to give as a donation for the use of Perry County, five 
acres of Land in Case the Seat of Justice be Located on my farm, but 
none of the principal springs to be included in said five acres, but is hereby 
Reserved for the use of the Town & I will also Give five acres of wood- 
land for the use of the County of Perry." Geo. Barxktt. 

Present, Jeremiah Madden. 

A copy of the original petition used in order to have the present 
location chosen is also reproduced, the signatures being omitted. 
It follows : 

"May, 1823. 

"To Joseph Huston & others, Esquires, Commissioners appointed by an 
act of the General Assembly passed the 31st day of March, one thousand, 
Eight Hundred and twenty three to fix and locate the Seat of Justice in 
Perry County. 

"The Petition of the Citizens of said County Humbly Sheweth, 

"Whereas the Seat of Justice has been located by three different set of 
Viewers in said County but not to the Satisfaction of a Majority of the 
Inhabitants of our County we therefore Humbly set fourth and Represent 
the Plantation of Mr. George Barnett in our County it being the most 
Centerable scite for the Seat of Justice accommodated with Roads from 
the four quarters of the County and a Variety of never failing springs in 
a wholesome Pleasant situation. We are of opinion had the seat of Jus- 
tice in our County been located on the above said Plantation by any of 
the former Viewers the Contest now would be at an end — and if fixed 
there now it would have the same Effect. 

"We therefore Pray to take the above into Consideration & your Peti- 
tioners will Ever Pray, &c." 

On April 12, 1824, George Barnett conveyed to the commission- 
ers of Perry County eight acres and one hundred and thirty-six 
perches of land which was selected as the county seat site by the 
commission appointed under the Act of March 31, 1823. The deed 
bears the date of April 12, 1824. 

A century has rolled around ; the gig, the phaeton and all of 
their kind have been superseded by the automobile for trips of any 
length and, after all the phases of the contest have been settled, 
the experience of a century shows that in the final conclusion 'twas 
well done, and to-day an automobile from one etid of the county 
can reach the seat of justice as quickly as from the other. 

In 1849 and again about 1886 movements were begun in efforts 
towards having the county seat removed to Newport, but with no 
success. The movement inaugurated in 1849 went so far as to 
have a bill introduced into the legislature changing the county seat, 
but it was reported negatively and died, and with it the attendant 
agitation. The later movement, while resulting in nothing in so 



FIGHT FOR THE COUNTY SEAT 229 

far as the changing of the county seat was concerned, was the 
beginning of the movements which resulted in two railroads, the 
Perry County and the Newport & Sherman's Valley, being built 
into western Perry County. 

Three other near-by Pennsylvania counties, Mifflin, Adams, and 
Franklin, each had three commissions before the sites of their 
seats of justice were finally determined, but Terry County required 
the fourth. 

With the final conclusion of the locution of the seat of justice 
"on George Barnett's farm" the officials of the new county gol 
busy to comply with the sections of the act creating it, one ot 
which — Section "10 — authorized the county commissioners to ac- 
cept title to the site selected and to "assess, levy and collect money 
to build a courthouse and prison." As these matters could not be 
done in a short time the act — Section 16 — provided that "all pris- 
oners of Perry County shall be kept in the Cumberland County 
jail for the term of three years, or until the commissioners of 
Perry County shall have certified to the court that a jail is erected 
and approved by the court and grand jury." Then, on May 17, 
1824, the commissioners of the new county of Perry advertised 
that twenty-five lots on the public ground recently conveyed to the 
county by George Barnett would be sold at "public vendue" on 
Wednesday, June 23, 1824. By referring to the chapter in this 
book relating to "Bloomfield Borough, the County Seat," the 
reader may learn something of the sales of these first lots, also of 
the taking up of this plot of land by the pioneers. 

Three sales of lots were held to dispose of the lands donated by 
I *eorge Barnett to the county of Perry. The first was on June 23, 
[824, and Robert Elliott, Samuel Linn, and John Maxwell, the 
commissioners, sold lots to the value of $1,913, one-third of which 
was payable in cash on August 3d, and one-third annually for the 
two succeeding years. On September 14, 1826, a second sale was 
held by Robert Mitchell, Abraham Bower, and Abraham Adams, 
then commissioners, and lots disposed of to the amount of $594- 
The third sale was on June 28, 1828, when Abraham Bower, John 
' >wen, and George Mitchell, the board of commissioners, sold a 
single lot for the original price, $200, on which the former bidder 
had paid §$2 and then defaulted. Thus it will be seen that the 
county not only received the ground for its public buildings, but 
also $2,539.00 from the sales of lots. In addition $267.50 was 
subscribed and paid in cash into the treasury of the new county. 

The contract for the jail was first let. On July 7, 1824, the 
county commissioners, Robert Elliott, Samuel Linn, and John 
Maxwell, advertised for proposals for erecting a stone jail, the 
dimensions of which were to be 32x50 feet, two stories high, with 
walls two and one-half feet in thickness. The lower floor was to 



?30 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



have four rooms and the tipper one six. John Rice was the con-' 
tractor, the cost to he $2,400. but its final cost proved to be $2,600. 
The few prisoners from the new county were transferred back 
from Cumberland on its completion. John Hippie was awarded 
the contract on October 1, 1827, to build a stone wall enclosing the 
jail yard at a cost of $950, which he completed the following year. 
This original jail, with slight alterations and improvements served 
the use of the county for the remainder of the century. On April 
4, 1902, bids were received for the erection of a new brick jail, 
not to be enclosed by the ancient high wall, in which was also to 
be the residence of the sheriff. Dean & Havens, contractors, re- 
ceived the contract at $26,000, but changes in the plans increased 
its cost to over $30,000. It was occupied January 1, 1903. It is 
modern in every respect, it is said, but not greatly needed in Perry 
County. On many occasions there have not been any prisoners 
within its walls, and the average population is less than two persons. 

At the election of 1824 Robert Mitchell and Abraham Bower 
succeeded John Maxwell and Robert Elliott on the board of com- 
missioners, the other member being Samuel Linn. On April 11, 
1825, they advertised that they would receive proposals until Au- 
gust 30th for the erection of a new brick courthouse, forty-five 
feet square. In September the contract was awarded to John 
Rice for $2,975, but later the height of the walls was increased 
and a cupola added to the contract. The building was completed 
in 1826 at a cost of $4,240. The courthouse then erected was in 
use until 1868, when the grand jury authorized the county com- 
missioners to make any alterations and additions that might be 
necessary for the increasing business of the county, then about to 
enter its second half-century of existence. It was considerably 
enlarged and modernized and including the cost of the clock tower 
cost a trifle over $25,000, the citizens of the town donating ap- 
proximately $300 towards purchasing the clock. While these 
alterations were being done the county offices were installed in the 
basement of the Presbyterian Church, and the sessions of court 
were held in the old Methodist Church on High Street. A new 
addition was erected in 1892 to the north end of the building at a 
cost of about $20,000. In it are the offices of the register and 
recorded and prothonotary, on the first floor, and the jury rooms 
and the law library on the second floor. 

The removal of the public documents from Landisburg to 
Bloomfield took place on March 12 and 13th, 1827. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
TRAILS AND HIGHWAYS.* 

THE story of the settlement of Perry County territory is 
also the story of the first road westward over the Allegheny 
Mountains to the Ohio, which was then the "Far West." 
The travel on streams was by canoe, and on land, following the 
trails made by the Indians through the forests, first on foot, the 
original manner of travel; later on horseback, and with the ad- 
vent of roads, in carriages and wagons. These Indian trails were 
generally direct, reaching the gaps in the mountains and following 
streams, when the route was not too circuitous. The continual use 
of given routes, even afoot, soon created paths, which the Indians 
termed trails, and which often later became pack horse paths, then 
roads or highways, some even becoming main highways or turn- 
pikes. Some were narrow and never became utilized for vehicles, 
but were used by the pioneer circuit rider, who came after the In- 
dians had departed, and by the pioneers before roads became gen- 
eral. These were then known as bridle paths and some of them 
are yet distinguishable. One such is over the end of Bowers' 
Mountain, near Cisna's Run, and another around the foot of Mt. 
Dempsey, opposite Landisburg, in Sheaffer's Valley, and not far 
from Sherman's Creek. Both are known to the oldest residents 
of these localities from their earliest recollections. 

One of these old Indian trails led from New York State, south- 
west across Pennsylvania, to the Potomac, contiguous to Perry 
County soil, through present Juniata County. It was known as 
the Tuscarora Path, hence the names of two of the valleys through 
which it passed, Tuscarora and A////. Its proximity to the county 
territory is largely responsible for the seeming ease with which the 
Indian warriors reached here even from remote points to wield 
the tomahawk and scalping knife. 

The through trail to the West, as far as the Ohio, first known 
as the "Allegheny Path," led through Croghan's (now Sterrett's) 

♦In discussing the inception of this volume with Prof. H. H. Shenk, 
custodian of public records of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to 
whom we are indebted for many suggestions and much encouragement, he 
remarked that the history of roads and highways was very much neglected, 
a fact which has proven true, in so far as Perry County is concerned at 
least. An effort has been made to record the earlier roads with partial 
success. Following the first Indian trails in the province, roads or high- 
ways were laid out, the main ones being at first known as "The King's 
Highways," for the pioneers had not yet arrived at the point where free- 
dom was even considered. 

231 



2^2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

('..-i]). across what is now Perry County, over Tuscarora Mountain, 
through Shade Ciap, Black Log, Aughwiek, Frankstown. and Hol- 
lidaysburg, crossing the Allegheny Mountains at or near Kittan- 
ning Point. It was the great highway to the West and was used 
by George Croghan, Andrew Montour, Conrad Weiser and other 
traders, interpreters and government representatives as far back 
as records arc available. It was in general use by traders in 1740 
and succeeding years. It was then an old Indian trail and it was 
but natural for these men to use it. It became known as the 
"Traders' Path" and as "The Horseway." It descended in turn 
to the pioneers, but they were men of vision and soon regular 
roads were laid out and built. 

Watson's Annals tells of a Mrs. Murphy, who died at the age 
of 100, in 1803, and who remembered "that the first 'Indian track' 
to go westward was across Simpson's Ferry, four miles below 
Harris', then across the Conodoguinet at Middlesex, then up the 
Kittatinny Mountain across Croghan's -(Sterrett's) Gap, thence 
down the mountain and across Sherman's Creek at Gibson's, thence 
by Dick's Gap, thence by Sherman's Valley, by Concord, to the 
burnt cabins, thence to the west of the Allegheny." 

The route westward varied at points, or rather, at some places 
there were several routes, but this oldest of routes over Perry 
Count v's domain, was likely the main trail to which these other 
routes led. 

John Harris, who had been westward in 1748, left a diary which 
mentions the following points with intermediate distances: 

"From my ferry to George Croghan's, 5 miles; to Kittatinny Mountain, 
o; to Andrew Montour's, 5; to Tuscarora Hill, 9 (Conococheague, Moun- 
tain is intended) ; to *Thomas Mitchell's sleeping place, 3; to Tuscarora, 
14; to Cove Spring, 10; Shadow of Death, 8; Black Log, 3; 66 miles to 
this point." 

"Starting at Black Log, to Aughwiek, 6; Jack Armstrong's Narrows 
(so called from his being murdered there), 8; to Standing Stone (about 
14 feet high and 6 inches square), 10; total, 24 miles." 

The "standing stone" referred to is where Huntingdon is now 
located. There was a route from Croghan's via Robert Dun- 
ning's and McAllister's Gap, west of Perry County, to Path Val- 
ley, but six miles of it through the gap were at the bottom of a 
chasm, over a bed of stones and rocks, which the waters of ages 
had washed bare, and the descent into Path Valley was very steep 
and stony for an additional mile, so that the route over the Perry 



*Thomas Mitchell's sleeping place was in that part of Madison Town- 
ship known as Liberty Valley. It is mentioned by John Harris, in his 
table of distances from Harrisburg to Logstown, in 1754, and by Conrad 
Weiser. Mitchell was an Indian trader as early as 1848 and is supposed 
to have made a shelter at this point. 



TRAILS AND HIGHWAYS 233 

County territory became the popular one. This old path, known as 
the Allegheny Path, the Traders' Path, etc., came through Cro- 
ghan's (now Sterrett's) Gap. followed the south side of Sherman's 
Creek to a point west of Gibson's Rock, where it crossed to the 
north, continuing westward to where Montour's Run joined the 
creek; from there it passed onward by Fort Robinson, crossing 
the Conococheague Mountain's end near the present Sandy Hill 
road, past Thomas Mitchell's sleeping place (the old Meminger 
place), in Liberty Valley, via Bigham's Gap to the Tuscarora Val- 
ley. A tradition has the path crossing the Conococheague at a 
point between Andersonburg and Blain, but the late Prof. J. R. 
Flickinger, himself a resident of the immediate vicinity, wrote "it 
seems improbable that a crossing so difficult would be selected, 
when nature had provided an easier passage at a point almost as 
direct." The sleeping places mentioned at various places were 
usually either hollow logs, bark or sapling huts or abandoned In- 
dian shacks, and no record remains as to the nature of the "Thomas 
Mitchell sleeping place." It likely took its name from the fact that 
he either improvised it or that he was the first one known to use it. 
A deed on record in the Perry County courhouse. executed in 
181 1, mentions the Meminger place as the location of "Mitchell's 
Sleeping Place." Thomas Mitchell was an unlicensed trader in 
1747. and in the minutes of the Provincial Counsel for November 
15, 1753, is mentioned as a man of no character. Authorities 
differ as to the route, as the following paragraph shows. 

In describing this old Indian trail across the county Prof. A. L. 
Guss, the historian, says : "The path by way of Bigham's Gap is 
largely misunderstood. Liberty Valley was an impregnable thicket 
of laurel and spruce. No early trader or adventurer passed through 
it. It took much and hard labor to make a path through it. The 
west Tuscarora and the Conococheague Mountains form an anti- 
clinal axis, with Horse Valley scooped out of the crest. Just 
where they begin to separate the broadened mountain has ravines 
on each side, and it was along these ravines that the early path led 
over the mountains. The old 'traders' road' passed up a ravine 
north of Andersonburg and came down a ravine at Mohler's tan- 
nery, in Liberty Valley, and crossed directly over the depressed 
end of the Tuscarora Mountain by Bigham's Gap." 

It was contended by the province at the treaty of Albany in 
1754 and admitted by the Indians (the Six Nations) that "the road 
to Ohio is no new road ; it is an old, frequented road; the Shaw- 
nees and Delawares removed thither about thirty years ago from 
Pennsylvania, ever since which that road has been traveled by our 
traders at their invitation, and always with safety until within these 
few years." The reader will note that it was then already called 
an "old, frequented road." 



234 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

That the first official journey of a representative from the colo- 
nics bordering the Atlantic seaboard to the lands west of the Alle- 
ghenies — that mighty empire of the West — was made over this old 
Allegheny Path, through the territory now comprising Perry 
County, is an historical fact. That notable journey of Conrad 
Weiser at the instance of the English colonies in 1748 was the occa- 
sion. Of course there were other trails to the West, but this was 
at that time the principal one. "There were later three great In- 
dian paths from the East to the West through western Pennsyl- 
vania," says Thwaite's "Early Western Travels." "The southern 
led from Fort Cumberland, on the Potomac, westward through 
the valleys of Youghiogheny and Monongahela, to the forks of 
the Ohio, and was the route taken by Washington in 1753, later 
by Braddock's expedition, and was substantially the line of the 
great Cumberland National Road of the early Nineteenth Century. 
The central trail, passing through Carlisle, Shippensburg, and Bed- 
ford, over Laurel Mountain, through Fort Ligonier, over Chest- 
nut Ridge to *Shannopin's town, at the forks of the Ohio, was 
the most direct and became the basis of General Forbes' road and 
later the Pennsylvania wagon road to the Ohio. But the older, or 
Kittatinny Trail, was the oldest and most used by the Indian 
traders. It was this route that Conrad Weiser followed. From 
Croghan's (in East Pennsboro Township, Cumberland County) 
he passed over into the valley of Sherman's Creek (now in Perry 
County), crossing Sterrett's Gap and the Tuscarora Mountains via 
.Standing Stone (now Huntingdon). There was also a fourth 
trail, still farther north, by way of Sunbury and the West Branch 
to Venango." 

Of the place where the Kittatinny Trail, more generally known 
as the Allegheny Path, crossed the Allegheny Mountains, Jones, 
in his History of the Juniata Valley (1889) says: "It is still visible 
in some places where the ground was marshy, close to the run ; the 
path is at least twelve inches deep and the very stones along the 
road bear the marks of the iron-shod horses of the Indian traders." 
As late as 1796 Carlisle was an important point for the starting of 
pack horse trains for Pittsburgh and the Ohio region. 

There are records to show that this old Allegheny Trail was 
taken by the northern section of Liuet. Col. John Armstrong in 
his expedition against the Indians at Kittanning in 1756. They 
show that the expedition left Carlisle in August, Colonel Arm- 
strong being personally in charge, "going via Sherman's Valley." 
At Fort Shirley .additional recruits were received. 

*Shannopin's town was named after a chief of that name, who died in 
1749. It was situated on the Allegheny River where the present city of 
Pittsburgh stands. 



TRAILS AND HIGHWAYS 235 

When the English and French rivalry for the possession of 
America came to its inevitable end — war — Conrad Weiser, an 
agent for the provincial government, was sent to the Ohio for the 
purpose of conciliating the Indians, as was the custom, with valu- 
able presents. At the same time his duties were not unlike those 
of a spy. He was to ascertain their strength, location, mood and 
prestige, and at the same time learn the objects of the French. 
With the party on this trip was a son of Benjamin Franklin, 
George Croghan, and Andrew Montour, and there is record of 
their using this route over Perry County soil. 

When there was pressing need of military operations against the 
French on the Ohio, in 1754, and ways and means were under 
consideration, there was no other highway ; and Governor Morris 
described it as "only a horseway through the woods and over the 
mountains, not passable with any carriage." Travel was not di- 
verted from this road or trail until a year later, 1755, when the 
southern route was made, over the Alleghenies via the route which 
is to-day known as the Lincoln Highway, in order to enable Brad- 
dock and his army to march against Fort Duquesne. In May of 
that year the province agreed to send three hundred men, in order 
to cut a wagon road from Fort Loudon, Franklin County, to join 
Braddock's Road near the "turkey foot," three miles from the 
forks of the Youghiogheny. 

In the introductory remarks in the chapter relating to churches, 
there is an account of a Presbyterian missionary, Rev. Charles 
Beatty, passing over this route in 1766. It was then only an In- 
dian trail over which the pioneers had entered the county's terri- 
tory. However, it became the first road to be laid out in the new 
purchase covered by the Albany treaty. In 1761 the Cumberland 
County court ordered it laid out as a public highway between Car- 
lisle and Sherman's Valley. Viewers appointed by the court rec- 
ommended that the road be opened "through the lands of Francis 
West (vicinity of the Gibson mill) and others, from Carlisle, 
across the mountain, and through Sherman's Valley, to Alexander 
Logan's, and from thence to the gap in the Tuscarora Mountain, 
leading to Aughwick and Juniata, as the nearest and best way 
from the head of Sherman's Valley to Carlisle." The removal of 
the timber was about all that was required in making a roadway in 
those days. 

This old Allegheny Path should be taken over in its entirely by 
the State Highway Department, if for no other reason than that 
it was the first roadway to the West, but another great reason is 
that a good road is needed, not only by the public but by the state, 
whose reserve — the Tuscarora Forest — it passes through. There 
are, only certain small links which need to be improved. From 
Carlisle to a locality known as Dromgold there is already a state 



236 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

mad. The stretches from Dromgold to Landisburg, from a mile 
wesl of Landisburg to Loysville, and from the Waggoner Mill 
bridge, via Fort Robinson, Kistler and Walsingham, to Honey 
Grove, in Juniata. County, is all that requires to be taken over. A 
fair road already exists over these stretches, but there is no reason 
why the entire old Allegheny Path should not be kept up at state 
expense. Representative Clark Bower introduced a bill to that 
effect in the legislature of 1920-21, but it failed. That bill should 
be introduced at each and every session until the great common- 
wealth, in a way, perpetuates the first great highway to the West. 
There were trails along the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers, en- 
tering the county above Duncan's and Haldeman's Islands, the lat- 
ter going into the Susquehanna country and New York State and 
known as the Susquehanna Trail, and the former being of a local 
nature, as the traffic from Harris' Ferry westward preferred the 
more direct line across present Perry County, via Black Log and 
Aughwick. Hardy, in "The Wilderness Trail," says another traders' 
path north of the Juniata was joined by the Shamokin Path near 
what is now Mifflintown, and was crossed by the Tuscarora Path 
near present Port Royal, Pennsylvania. He also says: "One 
branch may have led directly up the river from the Shawnee towns 
on Big Island (now Haldeman Island), and on the mainland, oppo- 
site, at the mouth of the Juniata; if so the first stage may have 
been by canoes, as the river, from the island to what is now New- 
port, is hemmed in in some places by mountains." Tradition dif- 
fers from that statement and we are inclined to be with tradition 
in this case. The Indians had a fording, known as "Queenashawa- 
kee," where Clark's Run enters the Susquehanna in Duncannon 
Borough, and there was a trail from there through the hills via the 
old Dick's Gap Church, to below the present location of Newport, 
which was four miles shorter than the river route, and it was but 
natural for the Indian to take the shorter route. That there was a 
trail over this route is proven by the fact that the church was 
located along the old trail and that the first stage line likewise fol- 
lowed the trail. Furthermore, the average Indians hardly found 
canoes available for "through traffic." 

Further on in "The Wilderness Trail" is this reference to a 
branch of the Allegheny Path which connected with the Susque- 
hanna Trail : "Bishop Cameroff, who traveled along the east bank 
of the Susquehanna from Paxtang to Shamokin in the winter of 
1748, notes in his journal that after crossing to the north side of 
Wiconisco Creek, near its mouth, on January 12th, he came to a 
bouse a short distance beyond, where he halted. Here his host 
informed him that on the west bank of the Susquehanna, opposite 
to his home, 'began the great path to the Allegheny country, esti- 



TRAILS AND HIGHWAYS 237 

mated to be three or four hundred miles distant.' This must have 
been in what is now Buffalo Township, Perry County." 

The inception of the first road to what is now Juniata and Mif- 
flin Counties dates to 1767, when a petition was presented to the 
Cumberland County court to open a road from Sherman's Valley 
to the ECishacoquillas Valley. In May, 1768, viewers reported in 
favor of "a carriage road from the Sherman's Valley road, be- 
ginning two and three-quarter miles from Croghan's (now Ster- 
rett's) Gap, running through Rye Township and across the Juniata 
River at the mouth of Sugar Run, into Fermanagh (now Green- 
wood) Township, and thence through the same and Derry Town- 
ship, up the north side of the Juniata into the Kishacoquillas Val- 
ley." This road was the first to be built into these two counties. 
There was also a petition during the same year for a road from 
Baskins' Ferry on the Susquehanna to Andrew Stephens' Ferry 
on the Juniata. 

At the January term of court in 1771 a petition was presented 
asking that a road be opened from James Gallagher's, on the 
Juniata River, to William Patterson's, thence to James Baskins' 
Ferry, on the Juniata River. At the April term of court of the 
same year the request of the petitioners was granted and it was 
ordered opened as a "bridle path." At the same term of court a 
petition was presented asking for a road from William Patterson's 
mill, on Cocolamus Creek, to Middle Creek. This was probably 
intended to extend to Middleburg, Snyder County, 

James Gallagher's was near where Thompsontown is now lo- 
cated, and William Patterson's at Cocolamus Creek, below Millers- 
town. Baskins' Ferry was at the north end of Duncannon. 

Then came the American Revolution and road building was 
farthest from the thoughts of men. Their whole thought was of 
liberty and the preservation of that freedom which had caused 
them to brave the dangers of crossing the sea. During the pro- 
vincial days when the proprietary government was in power slow 
progress was made with the building of roads, but when the change 
was made from province to colony improvements began. In 1787 
a commission was appointed to survey a road to connect the 
Frankstown branch of the Juniata with the Conemaugh at Johns- 
town. A year later it was contracted for, and in 1790 completed. 
Another Frankstown road was authorized in 1792, south of the 
previous one. In 1788, at the January term of the Cumberland 
County courts a road was recommended to be laid out from 
the Reed Ferry on the Susquehanna, to Boston Shade's mill, on 
Cocolamus Creek. There was an act passed April 13, 1791, which 
is known as the Improvement Act. It granted £300 for the im- 
provement of a road from the mouth of the Juniata to David Mil- 
ler's (now Millerstown) on the Juniata, through Dick's Gap. 



238 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

There was a road from Carlisle to Sunbury at a very early date. 
On February 3, 1794, William Long warranted 400 acres of land 
located in what is now Spring Township, which is described as 
"adjoining lands on the west this day granted to John Long, and 
on the north by lands now in the possession of John Caven, and 
to join the great road leading from Carlisle to Sunbury." This 
"great road" passed through Long's Gap over the Blue Mountain. 
It was originally a pack horse route or bridle path from the South 
to the Susquehanna River, thence along to Sunbury. 

In 1803, at the August term of court held at Carlisle, a petition 
was presented, requesting the erection of a bridge across Cocolamus 
Creek, on the post road from Harrisburg to Lewistown, near the 
junction of the creek with the Juniata River. This road was 
washed out by a flood, but its location was between the present 
road and the old canal bed, where the Patterson mill was located. 
Until recently there were traces of it. This old petition set forth 
that during winter this road was almost impassable, by reason of 
backwater from the river and ice blocking the fording. While it 
is here named as "the post-road" yet the fact remains that the 
Juniata Mail Stage Company did not begin operations until 1808, 
but the mails were carried over the route on horseback as early 
as 1798. 

When the first through route was made through the Juniata Val- 
ley to Pittsburgh, now known as the "Old State Road," it did not 
take the river route from Clark's Ferry to Newport, but followed 
the old Indian trail via Pine Grove, in what is now Miller Town- 
ship, where Woodburn's tavern, an old and well-known road house, 
was located. Later this part of the route was abandoned and it 
followed the river bank. 

In the fall of 1806 petitions favoring a turnpike along the Juni- 
ata were in circulation. On March 4, 1807, the State Legislature 
enacted a law to incorporate a company for building a turnpike 
from Harrisburg via Lewistown and Huntingdon, to Pittsburgh. 
This turnpike, which has been known by various names, frequently 
as the Allegheny pike, entered Perry County at the head of Dun- 
can's Island and ran west along the Juniata through Millerstown. 
For many years this was a turnpike, then it relapsed into the town- 
ship road class, and in 1889, the Johnstown flood year, the high 
water washed out a section of five miles in Watts Township, which 
remains vacated to this day, by an order of the Perry County 
court, the township claiming it as a too expensive piece of road 
to keep in order. As this route is now a part of the William Penn 
Highway an effort is under way to have the state rebuild it, which 
should be done. 

The first section, from Harrisburg west, was not built until 
[822, however. By an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, dated 



TRAILS AND HIGHWAYS 239 

in March, 1821, two turnpike companies were chartered, the Ilar- 
risburg & Millerstown Turnpike Company and the Millerstown & 
Lewistown Turnpike Company. The location of two of the toll- 
gates were at the Miller pottery, in Howe Township, and at a 
point above Millerstown, known as "the burnt house." The lower 
company in 1825 had as commissioners: George Mann, of Cum- 
berland County, and the following- Perry Countians: John Fry, 
Robert Clark. Cadwallader Jones, Peter Stingle, Robert Mitchell, 
John Rider, Francis Beelen, Joseph Power, Thomas Power, and 
Caleb North. Among" the fourteen commissioners of the Millers- 
town & Lewistown Company were James Freeland and Abram 
Addams. Mr. Addams, whose eldest daughter became the mother 
of Governor James A. Beaver, was an influential man in the com- 
munity and the new county and took a great interest in turnpike 
affairs. The turnpike was completed in 1825 and the subscription 
books opened at Millerstown. It was in use until 1857, when the 
county authorities took charge, the turnpike companies having 
abandoned it owing to the building of the canal and railroad, which 
took away the principal part of the traffic. 

The Harrisburg & Millerstown Turnpike Company, with a pike 
of twenty-six miles, had $25,000 individual subscriptions and a 
state grant of $40,000, and the Millerstown & Lewistown Turn- 
pike Company had $70,000 individual subscriptions and a grant 
of $39,500 from the state. Shares were $50, and the average cost 
per mile about $2,000. 

Before the advent of the canal and railroad the overland traffic 
was largely done with large covered wagons, known as Conestoga 
wagons, by reason of their being built at Lancaster, on the banks 
of the Conestoga. These wagons, usually with a tar can hanging 
beneath, had four-inch tires and were often drawn by six or 
eight horses or mules, with jingling bells attached to the names. 
Queerly enough the drivers of these wagons fastened the name 
upon a present-day tobacco product. They liked to smoke to while 
away the time, and at Pittsburgh there was a great demand for a 
cigar which would smoke for a long period. As the demand came 
from these drivers of Conestoga wagons a cigarmaker rolled a 
long cigar, which he could sell at a low price — four for a cent — 
and named it the "Conestoga." The product immediately became 
popular, but the word was too long and became Americanized as 
"stogies," and sometimes mistakenly called "tobies." To accom- 
modate these drivers and their teams, road houses sprang up along 
the turnpike at approximately every ten or twelve miles. There 
are records which tell of a dozen or more large Conestoga wagons, 
with six or eight horses each, waiting to be ferried at Clark's 
Ferry, the western end of which was then at Clark's Run, near the 



2 4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

centre of present-day Duncannon. The ferry house, or road house, 
still stands and is occupied by Joseph Smith as a dwelling. 

As an example of what was done over the old mud roads, be- 
fore the building of the turnpikes, in 1817, twelve thousand wagons 
passed over the Allegheny Mountains to Baltimore and Philadel- 
phia, each with four or six horses., and carrying a load of from 
3,500 to 4,000 pounds. The cost from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia 
was $7 to $10 per hundredweight. About 1885 the rate over the 
Pennsylvania Railroad was three-fourths of a cent per mile for 
each ton, or about $2.60. 

When the turnpike was built through the county in the territory 
which now comprises Howe Township, one of the smallest town- 
ships in the county, inns or taverns were opened, known as Fahter's 
Falls tavern, Fetterman's tavern, and Red Hill tavern. The latter 
became a famous stopping place for the picturesque old Conestoga 
wagons on which the traffic of the new nation was largely trans- 
ported. It was later long in the possession of Alfred Wright. 
Fetterman's was in the building now owned by Heister Moretz, 
along the William Penn Highway (now under construction) where 
the roads join, and Fahter's Falls (later Juniata Falls) was later 
kept by John Patterson, and is now known as the Lewis Steckley 
homestead. 

The late Thomas H. Benton, in his "Thirty Years in the United 
States Senate," in discussing the establishment of the first national 
turnpikes, from the Atlantic seaboard to the Ohio, says: 

'The absolute necessity for a public highway from the Atlantic 
seaboard to the inland cities of the republic, which were fast 
springing into existence, in the great West, were so great that the 
Whigs had no difficulty in procuring the necessary appropriations 
for the survey, location and construction of a national road from 
tidewater at Philadelphia and Baltimore to the Ohio." 

An act of the Pennsylvania Legislature dated March 29, 181 3, 
authorized the appointment of commissioners "to make an arti- 
ficial road from Millerstown to the Franklin County line, to go 
through McKessonburg, and thence via Daniel Sprenkle's." 

The road from Perry County, over the mountains to Concord, 
Franklin County, was built in 1820. By reference to the chapter 
in this book entitled Postrider and Stagecoach, it will be seen that 
during the second year following. 1S22, the United States Gov- 
ernment established a mail route over this new highway, from 
Clark's Ferry (now Duncannon) to Concord. 

The McClure's Cap road was built in 1S2T. It connects Landis- 
burg (which was then the temporary county seat) with Newville, 
Cumberland County. The following bond, etc., is published here 
as of historical value and will show the names of the commissioners 
and bondsmen, etc., without further description. It follows: 



TRAILS AND HIGHWAYS 241 

Know all men by these presents that we James W. Allen of Frandford 
township, Cumberland County and State of Pennsylvania and Benjamin 
Rice of Tyrone, Perry County and same State (Commissioners appointed 
by an Act of Assembly for improving the State for to lay out open and 
improve the road over the North mountain between Landisburg and Ncw- 
ville at McClures Gap, and Jacob Alter Esquire of West Pennsboro town- 
ship and James Laird Esquire of Frankford township in the County of 
Cumberland aforesaid, are held and firmly bound unto his Excellency Jos- 
eph Hiester Governor of Pennsylvania in the just and full Sum of Eight 
hundred Dollars money of the United States: To the which payment well 
and truly to be made to the Said Joseph Hiester or to his legal Attorney 
or Successor in office, we do hereby bind ourselves our heirs executors, 
or administrators jointly Severally, firmly by these presents: Sealed with 
out Seals and dated the fifteenth day of May, one thousand Eight hundred 
and twenty one. 

The CONDITION of the above obligation is Such that if the above 
bounden James W. Allen and Benjamin Rice as commissioners above 
Stated, Shall well and truly apply Such monies as may be put into their 
hands for the purpose of opening and improving Said Road agreeable to 
the intent and meaning of Said Law and Settle and adjust their accounts 
in manner therein directed, then the above obligation to be void, otherwise 
to remain in full force and virtue in Law. 

Signed and Sealed in 
presence of 
Paul L. Peirce James William Allen (Seal) 

John Dickson Benjamin Rice (Seal) 

William McCrea Jacob Alter (Seal) 

John Lefever James Laird (Seal) 

(Indorsed) 28th May 1821. The within bond, and Security are approved 
in open Court, by the judge thereof. John Reed 

James Armstrong 
Isa. Graham. 
Cumberland County Vs. 

I do Certify the above and foregoing to be a true Copy of 

the original as the Same remains filed of Record in the office 

of the Court of General Quarter Session of the Peace in and 

for Said County. 

In witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand and the Seal of the 

Same Court at Carlisle the 28th May A. D. 1821. 

J McGinnis Jr. 

Clk C. Q. S. 
James Allen and Benjamin Rice Commissioners under the 71st Section 
of the twenty-sixth day of March 1821 have received credit in this Office 
for four hundred dollars the amount expended for the improvement for 
which money was appropriated in and by that Section. 
Auditor Generals James Duncan 

Office 27th Match, 1823. Auditor Genl. 

The road from the George Barnett farm, on which New Bloom- 
field is located, to Sterrett's Gap, was laid out in 1824. There was 
once a military road to the Canadian frontier projected which was 
to have crossed Perry County. From the Perry Forester of Sep- 
tember 14, 1826, we note the fact, as follows: "Major Long, of 
the engineer department, passed through Bloomfield, in this county, 
16 



242 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

on Thursday last, engaged in the duty assigned to him by the 
United States Government, of viewing a national military road 
from Washington to a point on our northern frontier." 

The Act of April 14, 1827, appointed Solomon Bower, Jacob 
Stambaugh, Jr., and Robert Elliot, of Perry County, and Abra- 
ham Waggoner and John Hays, o£ Cumberland County, commis- 
sioners to lay out a state road from Landisburg to Carlisle, by way 
of Waggoner's Gap. The Perry Forester of May 24, 1827, tells 
of viewers having inspected the Waggoner Gap road and found it 
to have a grade of only four and one-half degrees, or one-half a 
degree less than the specifications, which fixes the time of the 
building of that road. In T829 Nicholas Ickes, J. Kibler, and Rob- 
ert Elliott, of Perry County, and William Wharton and Henry 
Hackett, of Mifflin County, were appointed commissioners to lo- 
cate a state road from Landisburg, by way of Ickesburg and Run 
Gap, to MifHintown. The State Legislature of 1826-27 provided 
for the opening of an additional state road via Long's Gap, which 
was built in 1828. 

During 1827 and 1829 the Pennsylvania Legislature authorized 
the opening of roads from Union County to Liverpool; from 
Innis, Huntingdon County, to Landisburg; from Lewistown to 
Shippensburg, via New Germantown and Three Square Hollow. 
The state road leading from a point opposite Harrisburg to 
Petersburg, now Duncannon, was opened in 1829. The commis- 
sion who viewed the route and located it was composed of John 
Clendenin, A. Wills, Alexander Branyan, R. T. Jacobs and Robert 
Clark. Even before its construction there was a very rough and 
stony way along the river, the last vestige of the old Indian trail. 
Prior to the opening of this state road the main travel was over 
the mountain, about two miles from the river, via Miller's Gap. 
By an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, of April 19, 1844, 
John Wily, Robert Mitchell, Jesse Beaver, Thomas Cochran, and 
Michael Steever were appointed commissioners to lay out a state 
road from Reider's Ferry (now Newport) to the wot end oi Mil- 
lerstown bridge, by the nearest and best route between those points. 
When Carroll Township was laid out in 1843 part of the boundary 
was described as being "along the great road leading to Clark's 
Ferry," which shows it as a then important highway. Its route 
lay through Grier's Point and Wheatfield Township. 

An Act of February 14, 1845. authorized the Perry County 
commissioners to pay Jackson Township $250 to help build a road 
from McFarland's tannery to the Cumberland County line, its 
outlet in Cumberland County being at McCormick's Mill. 

The road across the Blue Mountains at Crane's Gap was for- 
merly a footpath. In 1848 the road was built, but it is now little 
used. About a mile farther west from Crane's Gap is a small gap 



TRAILS AND HIGHWAYS 



243 



known as Sharron's, after James Sharron, who warranted lands 
about I/69. There was once a road there also, but it was vacated 
many years ago. 

The Act of April 12, 1855, appointed Samuel O. Evans and 
William Cox, of Juniata County, and Jesse Beaver, of Perry, to 
lay out a road "from the turnpike gate east of Thompsontown, in 
Juniata County, down Pfoutz Valley to the bridge over the Cocola- 
mus Creek, in Perry County." An act fifteen days later, April 
27th, appointed John P. Thompson and John M. Jones, of Juniata 
County, and Lewis Gilfillen, of Perry County, to lay out a road 
"from a point on the public road leading from Dunn's Mill to Mif- 
llintuwn, at or near Hibbsfield, in the county of Juniata; thence 
from a point on road leading from Thompsontown to Liverpool, 
on lands of Christian Coffman, near the bridge over the Cocolamus 
Creek, in Perry County." 

At the April term of court in 1859 viewers were either appointed 
or reported in the laying out of thirty-four different roads. At 
the January term of 1861 there were thirty-three, with many at 
other courts during the intervening period and shortly before and 
thereafter, which would fix that as the period when the greatest 
road development occurred. 

An Act of March 6, 1873, required the county commissioners 
to appropriate $300 towards the erection of a bridge over the Big 
Buffalo Creek, on the road leading from the tanyard owned by 
Rev. J. J. Hamilton, to Elliottsburg, at Spriggle's fording. 

That part of the William Penn Highway directly opposite New- 
port occupies the old roadway which was often the cause of trou- 
ble. The original road led from Greenwood Township, over the 
turnpike across the hill, and by Red Hill Church, to Newport. An act 
of the legislature was passed March 21, 1865, authorizing the county 
commissioners to pay $500 to aid Howe Township in making a 
road recently laid out, from the east end of the Newport bridge 
to a point on the Harrisburg and Millerstown turnpike, at the foot 
of Buffalo Mountain. Another act, dated March 20, 1869, author- 
ized the county to pay $2,000 more towards the same road and to 
issue bonds for the amount. It named Lewis Gilfillen, Dr. J. E. 
Singer, and Isaac Wright as commissioners to build it. There 
was a provision that as soon as $3,500 was contributed the contract 
was to be let. Michael Hartzell evidently had the contract, as an 
act of April 24, 1873, required that the county commissioners pay 
him $1,865 0I moneys so appropriated. After the 1889 flood it 
was again impassable, but was finally rebuilt largely by the progres- 
sive business men of Newport. 

But one new state highway was granted by the Legislature of 
1 92.1 -22, and that was the one provided for in a bill introduced by 
Representative Clark M. Bower, of Perry County, providing for 



_> 4 4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

a new outlet from western Perry County. The present road, de- 
scending into Path Valley, has a very steep grade and is a danger- 
ous route, with the result that it was little traveled. The new 
route is really a very old one, long since abandoned. It was in use 
by the pioneers. It leaves Perry County by circling Big Round 
Top and drops into Franklin County by an easy grade to Burns' 
Valley and the iron bridge near Doyleshurg, where it joins route 
45 of the highway system. It opens up a route from Dry Run and 
Concord which saves forty miles on the trip to Harrisburg. It 
connects with the Lincoln Highway at Fort Loudon, and to the 
traveler from the Susquehanna and lower Juniata Valleys it means 
a saving of forty miles on a westward trip. It passes through the 
Tuscarora State Forest and through a mountainous section un- 
equaled in Pennsylvania for beauty. 

The reader can readily realize the discomforts of travel in those 
early days, yet they had no terrors for even a woman when she 
had the blood of the brave coursing her veins, as the following will 
show: Peter Hartman, an early settler, had married Elizabeth 
Oelwein, of Chester County, a relative of Gen. Anthony Wayne, 
and who had inherited the vigor and indomitable bravery of the 
Wayne family. In the summer of 1794, when her first child was 
but six months old, she started from Buffalo Mills (located in 
what is now Saville Township, Perry County) on horseback with 
the baby, and traveled 120 miles to see her relatives in Chester 
County, using bridle paths where there were no roads. Being a 
tactful woman she met with kindness all along the route. This was 
a most remarkable journey in that day and under those circum- 
stances. There are many Perry Countians of to-day who can be 
proud that they have coursing in their veins the same blood as 
that of that Revolutionary hero. General Anthony Wayne. 

In those pioneer days, Perry County territory, with the methods 
of travel then available, was as far from Philadelphia as the Mis- 
sissippi Valley is to-day, with our really wonderful and speedy 
railroad trains. In fact, a letter will now go from Philadelphia to 
Denver, Colorado, in the same length of time that was then re- 
quired to carry it from Philadelphia to Carlisle. 

There being only trails at first the horseback method was the 
only one available, even for the transportation of weighty products. 
Lack horses, each of which carried a burden of about two hun- 
dred pounds over the mountains, were usually in groups of fifteen, 
with two men in charge. In passing along hills and mountainsides 
the loads frequently came in contact with the ground. About t8oo, 
at Harris' Ferry. \'wq hundred horses were fed and rested during 
a single night, which shows the extensiveness of the traffic. 

With roads came that first vehicle, known as the "gig," and in 
use when the new county of Perry came into being. Then came 



TRAILS AND HIGHWAYS 245 

the carriage, known as the "Dearborn," for milady, and to be suc- 
ceeded by all varieties of carriages and buggies clown to the fash- 
ionable "Jenny Lind," even to this day in use. Our century, how- 
ever, has brought the motor vehicle into popular use, and the auto- 
mobile is more common to-day than was the good carriage of forty 
wars ago. As early as 1906 there were but 48,000 in the entire 
United States, but to-day (1920) the total approximates almost 
6,000,000. In the interim the bicycle was a popular vehicle for 
personal trips, enjoyment and business from about 1890 until the 
advefit of the automobile, but its use is now chiefly confined to 
business trips of a few blocks. 

"Pack Saddle Path," known to all hunters as far back as they 
ran remember, starts at the lower end of Lew Run. in Tyrone 
Township, and crosses the Kittatinny Mountain to the Wagner 
farms in North Middleton Township, Cumberland County. Evi- 
dently this run should be called Lewis Run, as tradition says that 
a colored slave named Lewis is buried near the run. 

On March 24. 1851, an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature au- 
thorized the formation of the Millerstown, Andersonburg and 
New Germantown Plank Road Company. The capital was to have 
been $25 per share, and the number of shares 800. The road was 
to pass through Ickesburg. The commissioners named in the act 
were Samuel Black, Robert Elliott, Isaac Kinter, Wm. B. Ander- 
son, Thomas Boal, Andrew S human, W. Blair, James Milligan. 
Samuel Liggett, Simon Kell, James Irvin, Jacob Shnman, Kirk 
Haines, T. P. Cochran, Jacob Bixler, W. I. Jones, G. W. Parsons, 
Wm. Rice, Solomon Bower, and George Black. 

A plank road was once projected from a point upon the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad, via New Bloomfield, to New Germantown. By 
an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, dated April 12, 185 1, the 
Sherman's Valley Plank Road Company was incorporated, with 
forty-three stockholders. Section 1 of the act reads : 

"Be it enacted, etc., That Henry Rice, George Stroop, James Macfar- 
land, Benjamin Mclntire, Jonas Ickes, David Lupfer, H. F. Topley, 
George Barnett, Sr., John Campbell, Conrad Roth. Jr., John R. McClintic. 
George B. Arnold, Finlaw McCown, Alex. B. Anderson, A. C. Kling, Wm. 
A. Sponsler, John A. Baker, John B. Topley, Samuel McKnight, C. W. 
Fisher, Lindley Fisher, John Charters, Joseph Bailey, James Black, Jacob 
Smith, Samuel Leiby, Joshua E. Singer, John W. Bosserman, John 
Demaree, John Beaver, Wm. T. Shively, Jesse L. Gaunt, George S. 
Hackett, Daniel Gannt, James F. McNeal, John Rice, David Adams, Joseph 
McClure, James Kay, John Ritter, John Tressler, Wm. B. Anderson, and 
Solomon Bower be and are hereby appointed commissioners to open books, 
receive subscriptions, and organize a company by the name and style of 
'The Sherman's Valley Plank Road Company,' with power to construct 
a plank road from such point on the Pennsylvania Railroad as a majority 
in value of the stockholders shall determine, through New Bloomfield, to 
New Germantown, Perry County, with all the authorities and subject to 



246 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

all the provisions and restrictions of the act regulating turnpike and plank 
road companies, passed the 26th day of January, 1849, and its supplements, 
excepting so much thereof relating to tolls as discriminates in favor of 
wheels of the width of four inches and upwards; and the said company 
shall have power to regulate their tolls within the limits prescribed by 
said act, without reference to the width of wheels in any case, and ex- 
cepting also such other portions of said act as may be inconsistent there- 
with." 

The capital stock was made 550 shares, the par value of which 
was $20. Privilege was given to use any roacl then in existence, 
save that twenty feet was to be left for the public use, free of toll 
as before, and the proportionate cost of the part used to be paid 
for. The road was never built. Many of the older people of the 
present generation well remember these men, some of whom lived 
until very recent years. 

Pennsylvania has long been noted for bad roads, but on May 31, 
191 1, a bill passed the Pennsylvania Legislature creating a State 
Highway Department, and since that time various bills have been 
passed for the rebuilding of the state highways, which have been 
taken over since the passage of the original act. The voters of 
Pennsylvania at an election in 1919 voted to bond the state for 
fifty millions to help construct roads. Through Perry County runs 
two great highways of the state system, the William Perm High- 
way and the Susquehanna Trail. As a part of this great expen- 
diture, during 1920 a contract was let by Lewis S. Sadler, chief 
of the State Highway Department, for the construction of 41,753 
feet of eighteen-foot road from the west end of Clark's Ferry 
bridge (in Dauphin County) to the line between Watts and Buf- 
falo Townships (in Perry County). The contract went to Mac- 
Arthur Bros. Company, of New York, at $481,784.55. It is built 
of one-course, reinforced concrete, and is almost eight miles in 
length, over six miles of which are in Perry County. The present 
governor, Wm. C. Sproul, was always interested in better high- 
ways, and while a member of the State Senate many years ago, 
fathered the "Sproul Good Roads Bill." He may be said to be 
the pioneer good roads enthusiast of Pennsylvania. 



CHAPTER XV. 
OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS AND INDUSTRIES. 

WHEN the pioneers first delved into the forests of what is 
now the county of Perry and hewed from them their primi- 
tive homesteads which soon blossomed forth with vege- 
tables and grain, they, of necessity, had to cross the Blue Moun- 
tain to the Cumberland Valley to have their grain ground into 
Hour and meal. But that condition was short-lived, for at their 
very doors was the force of streams flowing away, which, if 
dammed, would drive the machinery of innumerable mills. Thus 
came the building of the first mill. The lands were not open to 
settlement until 1755. it will be remembered; and after Brad- 
dock's defeat in June of that year, the Indian uprising drove prac- 
tically all the settlers out of the territory until it was thought safe 
to return. The Roddy (Waggoner) mill was built either during 
the first year of settlement, 1755, or in 1762, the year of the re- 
turn of the pioneers, as it was taxed in 1763, while Perry was 
under the jurisdiction of Cumberland County. Its history is as 
interesting as the story of Paul Revere or other tale of province 
or colony with which all are familiar. When the war whoop of 
the wily red men resounded through the forest, the valuable mill- 
stones imported from France were taken from their places and 
sunk in the mill race until all danger had passed and it was safe 
for the family to return. 

The flouring mill was one of Pennsylvania's original manufac- 
turing industries and remains one of importance to this day. Dur- 
ing the growth of the Perry County territory there have been many 
mills erected, and until the advent of the steam mill this section 
had more mills than any other in Pennsylvania. There was a 
reason for this in the many water-power locations available, for 
be it remembered that Perry County has more springs and streams 
than any other, when its comparatively small extent is considered. 
Of some of these mills the history follows, or is contained in the 
chapters of the various townships, but as earlier records are few 
and far between, there will be omissions, of course. 

On a map published in 1791, when the first governor, Thomas 
Mifflin, was in office, no less than ten gristmills are located by 
name, and there are a number merely marked "mill." At the 
mouth of the Cocolamus Creek, in Greenwood Township, was 
Shade's mill, now the J. Keely Everhart mill. Above Duncan's 
Island, on the Susquehanna, is one designated as Vaux's mill, and 

247 



248 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

at Berry's Falls (Mt. Patrick) a third. Along the entire length 
of Sherman's Creek there are four mills, three being merely 
marked "mill," and the fourth designated as West's, now known 
as the Gibson mill, and owned by S. V. Dunkelberger. On Fish- 
ing Creek Shortis' mill appears at the source, and Kincris' mill at 
its mouth, where Marysville is now located. On the Little Juniata 
two are marked, near its mouth, probably being the Duncannon 
mill and the old Haas mill. In the Cove one is also marked. At 
Buffalo Creek's headwaters Linn's mill is designated, and near 
"Buffaloe Hills" is Robinson's. At the mouth of the Little Buf- 
falo is English's mill, later known as M. B. Eshelman's, and now 
as the T. H. Butturf mill. 

As early as 1814 two townships in western Perry, not to men- 
tion the other large extent of the county, had twenty-eight grist- 
mills, Toboyne having ten and Tyrone eighteen. In 1792 the 
county territory had thirteen flour mills. When the county was 
erected, in 1820, there were forty-eight. 

There is record of Marcus Hillings, an early resident of Perry 
County, being authorized to erect a dam and mill at the mouth of 
Sherman's Creek, on September 15, I/84. While there is no rec- 
ord of its building, yet it was probably then already built, as the 
great ice flood in the winter of 1784 is recorded as having "swept 
away gristmill of Marcus Hidings, situated on Sherman's Creek, 
three-fourths of a mile from its mouth," according to the diary 
of Jacob Young, Sr. It either had been built prior to its authori- 
zation, as the year 1784 appears in both cases, or was under con- 
struction at the time, if Mr. Young's date is correct. The authori- 
zation date is from the public records. 

In those early days when roads were few and trails and bridle 
paths were the avenues of traffic, it was no uncommon thing to go 
to mill by horseback, the women frequently performing that duty 
while the husband and sons were carving farms from the forests. 
Many of these trips at first were ten to fifteen miles to the mill 
and back, and some much farther, tiresome journeys, indeed, espe- 
cially by bridle paths and with the probability of even meeting 
redskins on the way. 

At that period the mills were more or less of a rude and simple 
construction. A clumsy water wheel, with intermediate cogs put 
the machinery in motion. From a hopper the wheat was fed to 
the stones, where a rough bolting cloth separated the wheat from 
the bran. The present milling machinery is one of the most re- 
markable inventions and is in general use. 

The Waggoner Mill. Alexander Roddy was the builder of the 
first mill in the territory, upon the site of the present Waggoner 
mill, it having been long known as the Roddy mill. He first came 
to Tyrone Township from Chester County and located on what 



OLD LANDMARKS. MILLS, INDUSTRIES 249 

later became the Stambaugh farm and erected a cabin of poles 
near the spring at the picnic grounds of a generation ago. This 
was before 1754. the year of the treaty with the Indians for these 
lands, and he was accordingly driven out with other "squatters," 
in fact, tradition has him driven out several times. He evidently 
did not return to the Stambaugh tract, for as early as March, 1755, 
he is mentioned as an adjoiner of a warrant just east of this mill 
tract, lie did not warrant the mill tract though until May 13, 
1763. The previous year, 1762, was the time of the return of the 
great number of settlers to the territory, and it is likely that he 
built the mill that year, as it was already on the tax list of 1763. 
The Waggoner mill is located on Roddy's Run, between Centre 
and Loysville, in Madison Township, one and a half miles west of 
Loysville. The warrant calls for "one hundred and forty-three 
acres, including his improvements, and adjoining John Byards 
(Byers), George Robinson, Roger Clark, James Thorn and Wil- 
liam Officier, in Sherman's Valley." In research work it has been 
found that frequently settlers lived for years on a place before 
applying for a warrant. In the case of the adjoining James Thorn 
tract Provincial Secretary Peters attached a note, dated April 22, 
1763, which helps bear this out. It says: "The land for which 
this warrant is granted, having been settled upwards of nine years 
ago, the interest and quit rents is to commence from the 1st of 
March, 1754." 

In March, 1763, the stream is mentioned as the dividing line be- 
tween Tyrone and Toboyne Townships, upon the erection of the 
latter: "Alexander Roddy's mill run to be the line." As the mill 
race had to be constructed and as the dam originally covered 
twenty-three acres of ground, he evidently had been there long 
enough before this to dig the race and build the dam — a task of 
no mere days. The first mill, on the site of the present mill, was 
built of logs, but was torn down and replaced by the present one 
in 1812. There is a reliable family tradition that there was no mill 
yet in the Tuscarora Valley, now in Juniata County, and that 
women came alone to the mill on horseback by way of Bigham's 
Gap (Bealetown). After the erection of the first mill Indian up- 
risings were still occurring, and when conditions became alarming 
the millstones, even in those days imported from France, were re- 
moved from the mill and sunk in the mill race until the danger was 
over. Fort Robinson was less than a half mile to the west, and 
to this the owners fled for protection. 

The dam was washed out by the great flood of 18S9. At times 
when the dam has been cleaned as many as thirty bushels of fish 
have been captured, but those were the days when the game and 
fish laws were less drastic. There was also an old "up-and-down" 



250 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



sawmill and a clover mill here at one time, the clover mill still 
standing. 

Alexander Roddy later located in Virginia, where he died he- 
fore 1786, a> at that date a property transaction refers to his tract 
as "the late Alexander Roddy's." His son, James Roddy, became 
the owner, and for some years it changed hands frequently. In 
1784 James More purchased it at sheriff's sale. In January, 1793, 
James Irvin bought it, but two months later sold it to Henry 
Richard. In 1804 David Showers purchased it, and the next deed 
is from the sheriff to Frederick Bryner, who erected the present 
mill in 1812. In 1816 he sold it to his son, Henry Bryner. At 
executor's sale in 1831, it passed to William Miller, who sold it 
to Jacob Weibley and John Weidman in 1837. 

On March 29. 1839, it was purchased by Benjamin Waggoner, 
and it is still in the ownership of the Waggoners. The new owner 
was an experienced mill man and came from a generation of mil- 
lers. His father, John Waggoner, as early as 1785 had purchased 
the Garwood stone mill, located in Kennedy's Valley, and in 1805 
had built the Snyder mill at Bridgeport (near Lahdisburg). Ben- 
jamin Waggoner's brother, John Waggoner, was the owner of the 
Patterson mill. Benjamin Waggoner operated the Waggoner mill 
until his death in 1850. In August, 1854, Moses Waggoner, a son, 
purchased it from the heirs and erected the commodious brick- 
dwelling house adjoining. He died in possession in 1876. 

The mill is now owned by W. H. Waggoner* (who has since 
died ) and his sister, Harriet B. Waggoner, who purchased it from 
the heirs. Mr. Waggoner can remember when the flour was 
packed in barrels and hauled to Baltimore to market. They are 
descendants of the original owner, Alexander Roddy, who was 
their great-grandfather and who was three times driven from the 
mill to seek protection at the fort at Robinson's. A brother John 
E. Waggoner, is a merchant and postmaster at Centre, to whom, 
as well as the owners, we are indebted for much information. As 
late as 1917 W. IT. Waggoner picked up an Indian skinning knife 
near tin- mill, and Indian arrow darts are frequently found. In 
1900 the mill was equipped as a roller mill and draws a large trade, 
even from points afar. The first mill dam was almost one-fourth 
mile farther up the stream. 

The Martin Mil!. That a gristmill was located in what is now 
Howe Township, then a part of Greenwood, before the Revolu- 
tion, is fully established by public records. That its location was 



*W. H. Waggoner died in 1921. He resided in the Great West for 
many years, being in the cattle business from Texas as far north as British 
Columbia. When the Indians still inhabited the West, train guards were 
employed, and for a time Mr. Waggoner filled that position on the Union 
Pacific. The death of his wife, leaving two motherless girls, one but a 
few months old, necessitated his return to Pennsylvania. 



OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS, INDUSTRIES 251 

at the creek wesl of the farm now or lately owned by Lewis Steck- 
lc\ . near the I lain Moretz place, between the William Penn 1 [igh- 
way and the river, is likewise established. While the work on this 
book was in progress, J. M. Martin, a prominent attorney of Min- 
neapolis, came East, and with Rev. Frank T. Bell, then the pastor 
of the Newport Methodist Episcopal Church, went to the tradi- 
tional location of this old gristmill, the property of their common 
ancestor, Samuel Martin, and still found a part of one side of the 
overgrown foundation, near the month of the run — then "Bright- 
well's Run" — and the spring near which stood the first stone house 
of his son Joseph, afterwards Captain. That the sawmill and 
gristmill were actually built is proven by the fact that they were 
devised by the will of Samuel Martin, dated August 23, 1769, to 
his son Joseph, being designated as "all the plantation which I 
bought from Robert Brightwell, with mills thereon, and all and 
every of the locations in Greenwood Township, etc." Samuel 
Martin also owned the property on the south side of the Juniata, 
on which many years later was located the old Caroline furnace, 
near Bailey Station. Historical records relate to all the properties, 
and for that reason are included in one description, under this 
head. The time of passing of this old mill is veiled in obscurity. 
That it was one of the first few mills within the limits of what is 
now Perry County is a fact. 

Samuel Martin, who located and built the mill, was a son of 
Joseph Martin, one of the first settlers of present Dauphin County 
(then a part of Lancaster), who located 300 acres of land at Pax- 
tang, now a suburb of Harrisburg, in 1738, part of which is now 
known as "Willowdale Farm" and owned by Mrs. Alice Motter 
Lescure, of Harrisburg. The brick house built there by Samuel 
Martin, the son, in 1760, is still standing. From there came 
Samuel Martin, who located, on November 18, 1768, by applica- 
tion No. 5263, 300 acres of land, "on the north side of the Juniata, 
adjoining Brightwell's Run and Buffalo Hill, including the im- 
provements bought of James Mahanna." Samuel Martin, how- 
ever, never resided here. The mills here were in charge of his 
son Joseph, later a captain in the Revolution. On the same day, 
this son, Joseph, made a like location of 300 acres, "on the north 
side of the Juniata, and including a run called Brightwell's Run, 
joining Samuel Martin, Cumberland County." Samuel also located 
200 acres at about the same time, on the south bank of the Juniata. 
This is the land on which the Caroline furnace was long after- 
wards built. Samuel Martin, by his will, dated August 23, 1769, 
proved in Lancaster County, June 6, 1770, devises to his son Jos- 
eph "the plantation I purchased of Robert Brightwell, in Green- 
wood Township, Cumberland County, and mills thereon, with all 
and every of the locations in Greenwood Township," and with one 



252 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

location on the south side of the Juniata, described as being "at the 
1 Ipper Falls, below the Great Bend in the Juniata." By the terms 
of Samuel Martin's will, the devise to Joseph of the two planta- 
tions or locations, together with "the Dam Stalion Colt, and his 
Saddle and Bridle, with a pair of oxen commonly called Duk and 
Brown, also a low Plantation Wagon," was coupled with the pro- 
vision that "my son Joseph shall pay the remaining part of the 
payment due unto John Bowman for the plantation willed and be- 
queathed unto my son John." The devise of the Bowman plan- 
tation is made to the son John on the condition that he "make no 
charge for any part or parcel of his work done by him to or mak- 
ing the mills on the plantation I purchased from Robert Bright- 
well, in Greenwood Township, Cumberland County," which shows 
that he was one of the actual builders of this primitive mill. 

Joseph Martin, evidently, to secure this charge upon his land, 
gave a mortgage to the executors of Samuel Martin, dated Janu- 
ary 24, 1771 (recorded in Book C-i, p. 141, at Carlisle), for 250 
pounds, 19 shillings and 4 pence, mortgaging 300 acres in Green- 
wood Township, "bounded by Juniata on the south, with gristmill 
thereon; also 200 acres in Dublin* Township (now Miller) on 
the south side of the Juniata, above the falls adjoining Dick's 
Hill." 

On March 26, 1776, Joseph Martin and wife, by deed, recorded 
in Book 1, page 101, in Carlisle, conveyed to Hugh Miller, eight 
acres with house, being a "divided fifth of forty acres, bounded 
west by land of Hugh Miller, north by Juniata River, east by 
Samuel Hutchinson, south by William Oliphant." This deed was 
not acknowledged, but proven September 4, 1789, by affidavit of 
Ann Martin (then Ann McCoy), formerly widow and relict of 
Joseph Martin, deceased. This hasty unacknowledged deed evi- 
dently furnished Joseph with the money to purchase his equipment 
for the Revolutionary War. While in the army, the mortgage was 
foreclosed (Carlisle records, D-i, p. 557), but 400 acres on the 



*The name Dublin Township, as recorded at Carlisle, is evidently an 
error of the transcriber, as the location became a part of Tyrone Town- 
ship in 1754, the very year of the purchase of the lands from the Indians. 
Then in 1766, when Rye Township was formed, it was within its borders, 
and when Miller Township was erected in 1852 it was within its confines. 
Dublin Township is located in Huntingdon County. The Evarts-Peck 
History of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, page 731, says of it: 
"The formation of Dublin Township, in 1767, is so imperfectly defined as 
to the eastern limits that nothing can be determined by it. It was to 
bound 'Ayr and Fannett Townships on the one side.' but Lack Township 
is not mentioned, and there are no dividing lines as to Ayr or Lack. The 
first Dublin assessment, in 1768, shows no transfer of names from Lack. 
The only thing that places any part of Dublin east of Shade Mountain is 
that it was to join on Fannett, which lay on the other side of the Tusca- 
rora Mountain." That the Martin property is the one located in Miller 
Township, however, is certain, as the description "above the falls joining 
Dirk's Hill," implies. It is now in possession of Mrs. L- C. Zimmerman. 



OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS, INDUSTRIES 253 

north side with gristmill and improvements, was in 1787 deeded 
hack to the widow, then Ann McCoy, with remainder to the three 
children of Captain Joseph Martin, Samuel, Mary, and Joseph. 

The heirs, in attempting- to sell this land in November, 1805 
(deed recorded Carlisle, Q-l, p. 486), found it necessary in order 
to supply evidence of a lost deed, to take testimony in "Perpetuam 
Rei Memoriam." The record of this is in the docket of Cum- 
berland County, Pennsylvania, at Carlisle, for 1800 and 1803, 
and pertains to 100 acres of the tract on the north shore of the 
Juniata, purchased from Robert Brightwell, who had purchased 
from Frederick Stoner, and recites that the deed from St oner 
bore date between the year 1763 and 1767; "that the title to the 
same tract of land and possession of the same did come by diverse 
deeds of sale and devises to Joseph Martin, father of the peti- 
tioner (Samuel), that in the year IJJJ, the said Joseph Martin 
marched as a captain to serve a tour of militia, and that he died 
before his return; that the petitioner and all the children of said 
Joseph were then infants; that the said deed, during the infancy 
of the children of the said Joseph Martin, has been lost or mislaid, 
so that it can not now be found," etc. 

Capt. Joseph Martin,* after spending the winter at Valley 
Forge, was taken with camp fever, and started home, but "died 
before his return." His fate was never known. Whether he died 
in the wilderness, or according to a tradition, was captured by the 
British and died in a British "black hole," has never been known. 
His three children afterwards moved to Lewistown, Pennsylvania, 
where Samuel and Joseph became rivermen, engaged in transpor- 
tation by arks between Lewistown and Columbia, from 1800 to 
1823. 

This old Martin location is historic in more ways than one. 
While Samuel Martin located this land on an application from the 
province, yet, in his will and in other legal papers it is spoken of 
by him as "having been purchased of Robert Brightwell." The 
fact is that a warrant and original order of survey were first ob- 
tained on April 30, 1765, by a certain Frederick Stoner, who sold 



*Captain Joseph Martin was the great-grandfather of Mr. J. M. Martin, 
of Minneapolis, and of the father of Rev. Bell, the pastor of the Newport 
Methodist Church, spoken of in the beginning of this sketch. The three 
generations named are noted historically in three different fields. Samuel 
Martin erected pioneer mills, almost at the beginning of settlement; Cap- 
tain Joseph Martin, of the next generation, became a martyr to the pa- 
triot cause, and Samuel and Joseph Martin, of the following generation, 
were pioneer rivermen in traffic when it was done with the ancient water 
craft known as arks. Captain Joseph Martin was married to Ann (Nancy) 
Baskins, of Duncan's Island, and his two sons, Samuel and Joseph, were 
born at the home of their grandparents there, while their father was a 
captain in the Continental Army. Their mother, by the way, was* a cousin 
of the grandmother of Alexander H. Stephens, notable as the Vice-Presi- 
dent of the Confederacy. 



254 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

and conveyed his interest to Robert Brightwell on March 17, 1768. 
After eight months it passed to Samuel Martin, it would appear, 
both by purchase of the previous right and by warrant from the 
province, thus assuring title. The improvements of James Ma- 
hanna are taken to refer to an improvement probably made by a 
squatter, who had no title to the lands. On January 2, 1880, it 
was conveyed by Samuel and Joseph Martin, two of the heirs of 
Captain Joseph, to James McGinnes, Sr. (the husband of their 
only sister Mary). He, in turn, sold to William and James Power, 
by agreement dated November 7, 1801, thirty-seven acres, at the 
western boundary, including the mills. On November 16, 1805, 
his executors gave the deed accordingly. The patent from the 
state for a part of this original tract was issued to John Patterson, 
August 19, 1803, of another portion to his son John, July 25, 
1863, and remained in his possession for many years. At its east- 
ern boundary the latter kept a famous road house in turnpike 
days, and there was located the post office known as Fahter Falls, 
and later as Juniata Falls. 

The Patterson Mill, near Miller st own. The first mill erected on 
the Cocolamus Creek, near its mouth, in Greenwood Township, 
was built by William Patterson. Jones' History of the Juniata 
Valley describes it as a "tub mill" and states that it was carried 
away by a flood. It was built prior to 1771, for in that year it is 
named as a point on the road leading from John Gallagher's to 
Baskins' Ferry. Shuman's mill, at the same point, was built be- 
fore 1805, for in that year John S human is assessed with a grist- 
and sawmill. John Shuman had come from Lancaster before 1800 
and, after building the mill, operated it until his death, in 1818. 
In that year Col. John Shuman, his son, bought it and 190 acres of 
land, for $9,000. In 1827 he sold the mill to George Shuman for 
$5,000. It then passed through the hands of George Maus, Syl- 
vester Bergstresser, and others. Its location is a half mile east 
of Millerstown, and it is now owned and operated by J. Keely 
Everhart. 

The Rice Mill. While the Rice mill lays no claim to being the 
first mill to be erected in what is now Perry County, its history is 
over a century and a third in years and it is the oldest original mill 
building to remain standing in the county. It is located near Lan- 
dishurg, in Tyrone Township, on Montour Creek, near the Ken- 
nedy's Valley bridge. It was on this creek that the first authorized 
settler, Andrew Montour, from whom it takes its name, was lo- 
cated, the provincial authorities giving him permission so that he 
would see that no others would settle in the territory until such 
time as the lands were purchased from the Indians. In fact, he 
later warranted 143 acres, located between Landisburg, Mon- 
tour's Creek and Sherman's Creek, which in 1788 was surveyed 



OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS, INDUSTKIKS 



255 



to William Mitchell, and soon passed to Abraham Landis, who was 
the founder of Landisburg. In 1787 Landis had also warranted 
116 acres adjoining. 

( In this property the Rice mill was erected about 1786, as some 
of the machinery had stamped upon it the date, "1786." It was 
probably built by Shipper. Rhine, who operated it until 1795. It 
was then rented to Jacob Bigler, father of the two governors whose 
lives appear elsewhere in this book, and others. On June 25, 1813, 




Photo by Illick. 
THE RICE MILL, NEAR LANDISBURG. 

The Oldest Mill Still Standing, but not the First Mill Built in the County, that 
Having Been the Roddy Mill, now Waggoner's, west of Loysville. 

Zachariah Rice purchased from George Stroop, who then owned 
it, twenty-five acres, being a part of the Abraham Landis tract, on 
which was a house erected partly of logs and partly of brick and 
a gristmill. 

The old mill stands there, the picture of antiquity, with much of 
its original machinery. On a post is painted "1786,'' and on the 
old scale beam were the words "Sbippen Rhine, 1789." Hanging 
against the' old mill is the original scales, first used when the mill 
began operations, the weights being stones, one of which is in 
possession of the author of this book, a gift from the owner while 
there seeking information. The weights were correct, the stones 
being of the same weight as those of the modern scales. The doors 
were hung with wooden hinges which are still doing duty. The 
seventh water wheel was beins: installed at the time of the writer's 



256 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

visit in 1919, the life of a wheel being about twenty-four years, 
according to information furnished by John A. Saucerman, the 
present proprietor. 

These old mills used burrs in the grinding of the grain and were 
not as speedy as modern roller equipment, yet a little incident 
banded down in the Rice family shows that even in that early 
period things were sometimes done with speed, although the facili- 
ties were crude. It was related to us by Mrs. A. K. Rice, whose 
husband was the proprietor until his death a few years ago, she in 
turn having received the information from the preceding genera- 
tion. Jeremiah Rice, of the second generation to own the mill, 
cut wheat in the morning with an old-fashioned cradle, the imple- 
ment in use in those days for that purpose ; threshed it with the 
flail, that crude and noisy implement which extracted the grain 
from the hulls; ground the wheat into flour in the Rice mill and 
turned it over to Katharine, his good wife, who baked bread of it 
and served fresh and warm to the hungry harvest hands for supper 
— the entire operation occurring between sunrise and sunset. 

Adjoining the old mill stands the old Rice distillery, now used 
as a storage room, in the basement of which appears the inscription, 
painted on a beam, "Last stilling, 1822." The brick house, located 
above the mill, along the stream, was erected in 1822. It is the 
equal of any summer residence to be found anywhere, and it is 
little wonder that the fifth generation of the Rice family is still in 
possession, the owner being John A. Saucerman, who is married 
to a daughter of A. K. Rice. 

There was a sawmill there built in 1842. The gristmill is used 
now only as a chopping mill. 

The Stokes Mill, Once the Blaine Mill The mill known to the 
present or recent generation as the Stokes mill was the one built 
l»v James Blaine as early as 1778, as it was assessed in that year, 
and later around it sprang up the settlement now called Blain, the 
final "e" being dropped. This James Blaine is the one and same 
man from whom sprang the famous Blaine family, which pro- 
duced the noted Commissary General of the Revolution, Ephraim 
Blaine, and at a later day a noted statesman and the candidate of 
the Republican party for President of the United States, James 
G. Blaine. The mill later must have come into the possession of 
lames S. Blaine, for on April 20, 1820, the very year of the organi- 
zation of Perry County, it passed to David Moreland. By inherit- 
ance it passed to his daughter. Diana Gitt, who was united in mar- 
riage to Anthony Black, to whom she transferred it on December 
20, 1830. On December 21, 1846, Anthony Black's administrator 
deeded it to Thomas, Wayne, and James Woods. They, in turn, 
sold it to Isaac Stokes on October 1, 1857. He owned it until 



OLD LANDMARKS, Ml U.S. INDUSTRIES 257 

April 1, 1905. at which time it was purchased from him by Wil- 
liam H. Book, the present owner and operator. It is equipped 
with rolls. 

This title is traced for the reason that there has existed a differ- 
ence of opinion as to who built the mill. Silas Wright, in his His- 
tory of Perry County (1873) crediting" William Douglas with its 
building, and Professor Flickinger, as a contributory editor of the 
Evarts-Peck History of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys 
1 [886), asking, "If Douglas built the mill, then where was the 
gristmill situated for which James Blaine was assessed in 1778?" 
Mr. Flickinger was a native of western Perry and long principal 
of the Central State Normal School at Lock Haven. He adds that 
Douglas was the first postmaster, the office being called Douglas' 
Mill. The fact is that the first post office was called Moreland's, 
being established in 1820, the very year of the county's erection, 
but in 1822, when the mail contract was let it was already known 
as Douglas' Mills. 

There is no record of Douglas locating or purchasing lands in 
that vicinity, and the mill is on the original James Blaine location. 
There is a probability that he was the lessee of the mill, probably 
for a long period, and that it came to be known as Douglas' Mill. 
Should there have been an office there before 1820 and Douglas the 
postmaster, then, evidently with Mr. Moreland's purchase in 1820, 
the name was changed to Moreland's, and in a very short time re- 
stored to Douglas' Mills. One fact is clear, and that is that Doug- 
las never owned the mill, else the records of the recorder of deeds 
are wrong. 

Up to the time of the ownership of Andrew Black the mill and 
the farm were always owned by one and the same party, but he 
sold the farm to James McNeal, who conducted a large tannery at 
the northern end of Blain, and the mill passed as previously stated. 

The Endslozv Mill. Before 1778, in which year it was already 
assessed in the name of James Miller, the Endslow mill was built 
in what was then Toboyne Township, but in that part of the town- 
ship which later became Jackson Township. Its location is one 
mile east of Blain. John Moreland, an uncle of the late David 
Moreland, of Blain, married Jane, the daughter of James Miller, 
and her patrimony was this mill and forty acres of land. In 1822 
it passed to James McNeal, whose son-in-law, Samuel Endslow, be- 
came the next owner, obtaining possession about 1840. In 1869 his 
son, William S. Endslow, became the owner and operated the mill 
until about 1908, when he retired from both milling and farming. 
About 1883 the mill, which was already the second one to occupy 
the site, was burned by incendiaries, and was rebuilt by Mr. Ends- 
low. Upon his retirement he sold both mill and farm to his son, 
George S. Endslow, now of Lancaster County, who still owns it 
17 



258 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA "*] 

but never operated it. The farm passed to Harry O. Hench. The 
mill still stands, though idle, a relic of a past pioneer industry- 
It was one of the earliest mills in the county. 

"Westoirr," The Gibson Mill. When William Penn came to 
.America on his second trip, about 1 700, a fellow passenger was; 
Francis West, who came from the family seat at Westover, Eng- 
land, and who, with his family, took up large tracts along Sher- 
man's Creek, as narrated in the chapter devoted to Spring Town- 
ship. His daughter, Ann West Gibson, who became the mother of 
that peerless dispenser of justice, Chief Justice John Bannister 
Gibson, warranted lands in 1787, and before 1779, when it was 
already assessed, had erected what she called the "Westover Mill," 




Photo by W. A. Eberly. 
"WESTOVER MILE," THE GIBSON MILE. 
This Mill was Built by Ann West Gibson, mother of Chief Justice Gibson. 

known generally as the Gibson mill, and which included a sawmill. 
It is located several hundred yards west of Gibson's Rock, a 
mighty profile jutting to the edge of the creek. The water by 
which the mill is run does not come from Sherman's Creek, how- 
ever, but from a smaller stream which flows through the wooded 
hills surrounding. 

It was in regular use as a gristmill until 1850. Then, after a 
period of idleness covering almost twenty years it was turned into 
a spoke and felloe factory by Frank Gibson, and later into a paint 
mill. Then for some years it was destined to idleness, but was 
again put in operation as a gristmill and is now in the ownership 
of S. V. Dunkelberger. An addition was erected to it in 1871, 
and at that time there was no mill machinery in the place. It is 
operated by an eighteen-foot overshot water wheel of the old type. 
Both the burr and modern roller process types of machinery are 



OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS, INDUSTRIES 259 

in use. On a corner of the foundation of this old historic land- 
mark is this inscription plate: "U. S. Geological Survey; Eleva- 
tion above sea level, 471 feet. A. D. 1903." The original mill is 
described as being a "log structure, with only one run of stone." 
It will be noted that the top story is not of stone. The original 
mill tract is spoken of as containing seventy-eight acres. 

The Hshelmmt Mill, now Butturf's. Just when the Eshelman, 
or Butturff mill, in Oliver Township, at Newport's very border, 
was built, cannot be stated exactly. It is built on a tract of land 
which once comprised 185 acres and which was warranted June 5, 
1772, to William West, Jr., from whom it passed on September 3 
of the same year to David English. That the mill was built before 
April 22, 1790, is sure, as on that day the sheriff sold it to Christo- 
pher Myers. In December, 1790, it was purchased from him by 
Dr. Daniel Fahnestock, of Warrington, York County. In 1814 it 
was assessed in the name of Joseph Zinn. At that time the original 
stone building, 50x60 feet in size, included all of the mill, but 
Amos Overholtzer, who purchased it in 1873, built the brick story 
to it and added improved machinery. A sawmill, plaster mill and 
dwelling house with nine acres of land, were a part of the estab- 
lishment. M. B. Eshelman, who purchased it in 1876, from Mr. 
Oberholtzer's administrator for $17,500, added the latter. Mr. 
Eshelman's heirs sold it to T. H. Butturf, in 1902, for $5,200. 

The Alt. Patrick Crist mill. Shall I ever forget it? Not while 
memory lasts. Geo. Blattenberger, Jr., friend of my father's, was 
the miller, and to him came the grists from the countryside to be 
ground into flour for the family bread. Although many years 
have passed since I made my last trip there and heard the jolly 
greeting and the ringing laugh of the miller, who now sleeps the 
sleep that knows no waking, in the cemetery on the heights above 
Liverpool, it seems as but yesterday. The way from home led 
along the Pennsylvania Canal, and in its palmy days many boats 
were passed on the way, and occasionally the nifty little steamer of 
Col. T. T. W'eirman, the superintendent, would be passed. It was 
an innovation in those days. Opposite the mill was an overflow, 
where the waters of the canal fell over the side of an aqueduct 
to the bed of the valley stream crossing beneath, with a swish and 
a roar that drowned ordinary speaking. The trip to the mill was 
never labor, as the welcome of Mr. Blattenberger, whose heart 
was in the right place, far repaid any seemingly hardships. 

Just when this mill was built, or when the first mill was built 
at that site, is unknown, but a map of 1791 shows a mill located 
at "Berry's Falls." As the locations are identical the inference is 
that it was built prior to 1 791. While the property was not pat- 
ented until November 10, 1829, it had been warranted long before 
and made into a farm. It was early owned by a man named Bru- 



2 6o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

baker, and in August, [834, was sold as the estate of Peter Ritner 
(a brother of Governor Ritner) to Simon Gratz, who transferred 
ii m Simon Cameron in trust for the Lykens Valley Coal Com- 
pany, who desired it for a landing' for their coal flats which 
brought coal across the river to the new Susquehanna Canal. In 
1841 it was purchased by George Blattenberger, Sr., familiarly 
known as "Judge," having been an associate judge of the county. 
He owned it until 1889, when it was purchased by Adam Barner, 
who died in 1890. It is now owned by his son, George A. Barner. 
The transfer of 1834 names the place as having a sawmill, a mer- 
chant mill, a plaster mill, a flour mill, a trip-hammer, and a dis- 
tillery. The mill has been dismantled and the building removed 
and, when completed, "the Susquehanna Trail" will pass over the 
site. 

The farm originally included all of Mt. Patrick, the mill prop- 
erty, the Jacob McConnell place, and the S. E. Bucke farm. The 
distillery was located across the creek from the mill, on the mill- 
house plot. The fulling mill was at the forebay of the gristmill and 
the sumac mill at the Jacob McConnell place. 

The Old Snyder or Hackett Mill. John Sanderson, wdio owned 
eleven hundred acres of land in one body, near Elliottsburg, in 
Spring Township, was assessed with two stills and a gristmill in 
1792. Upon his death he devised the land covering this mill site 
to his nephew, George Elliott. In 183 1 George Elliott conveyed 
to George S. Hackett 400 acres upon which was erected the mill 
and a distillery. In 1850 he sold it to Alexander Topley, of Bloom- 
field, and upon his death, in 1854, his administrator conveyed it 
to Robert and Isaac Jones. A year later they sold it to John Sny- 
der, who operated it until about 1873, when it was found to be 
unprofitable to continue operations. Mr. Snyder died on the 
premises in 1882, and in 1907 the old mill property passed to Silas 
W. Moyer, the present owner. 

The Snyder Mill, now Hooke's. In 18135 John Waggoner, the 
father of Benjamin Waggoner, the first of the clan of that name 
to own the Roddy mill, erected a mill near Bridgeport, which is 
now known as Snyder's mill. There is an article of agreement on 
record dated 1805 in which Thomas Ross grants to Mr. Wag- 
goner the privilege of "joining" his mill dam to lands of his. At 
the same time he was the owner of the mill in Kennedy's Valley, 
assessed to Robert Garwood in [782, and which he purchased a 
few years later. There is record of his residence in Kennedy's 
Valley until his death, and the presumption is that he built the 
Snyder mill as an investment. 

Mr. Waggoner died in 1834. and among other things in his ap- 
praisement was ninety-two barrels of whiskey, and one barrel of 
peach brandy appraised at $8.00 per barrel, for which $1.75 per 



OLD LANDMARKS. MILLS, INDUSTRIES 261 

barrel was paid to convey it to Baltimore in wagons. His estate 
was unsettled for years, and in 1X54, the sheriff, by proceedings in 
partition, deeded these lands, "having thereon erected a large brick 
house, log barn, and a large stone merchant mill and other out- 
buildings to Joseph McClure and William W. Snyder. Mr. Mc- 
Clure died and his heirs conveyed his half to James McClure, from 
whom, in 1861, Mr. Snyder secured entire ownership. Mr. Sny- 
der operated the mill until his death in 1893. In 1902 the prop- 
erty was conveyed to Dr. B. P. Hooke (a son-in-law of Mr. Sny- 
der), who died" in 1903, and by will devised it to his son, B. P. 
Hooke, the present owner. 

The Bear Mill. The Bear mill is located on Sherman's Creek, 
in Madison Township, south of Centre, and about one and one- 
half miles from Loysville. It is on a tract warranted by John 
Scouller in 1787. It was erected prior to 1814, at which time 
Englehart Wormley was assessed with it. In 1835 it was in pos- 
session of John Wormley. The brick mill which replaced the first 
structure was erected in 1841. Henry Bear came into possession 
and he and his son, Wm. F. Bear, operated it for many years. In 
1889 it was purchased by Jos. B. Lightner, who in 1910 sold to 
Ida Wolfe, and from her in 191 5 it was purchased by the Tressler 
( )rphans' Home and an electric light plant installed. 

The Patterson Mill. In 1753, as indicated in a case before the 
provincial governor, William Patterson had located on Laurel Run, 
Tyrone Township. He did not, however, warrant lands until 1766, 
when he took up four hundred acres, some of which is still in pos- 
session of the Patterson family. In 18 14 Francis Patterson had a 
sawmill there, and soon after erected an oil mill. These two, and 
a chopping mill were operated by Thomas Patterson in 1825. 
Then, in the period between 1830 and 1840, Fahnestock and 
Ferguson built a scythe and edge-tool factory there. John Wag- 
goner, a son of the sire of the Waggoner family of millers, then 
purchased it and turned the oil mill and the chopping mill into a 
gristmill. After 1840 Solomon Hengst also conducted a foundry 
"there for a few years. William A. and James F. Lightner later 
came into possession of the mill, and in 1887 sold to Martin L. 
Rice, who after operating it for some years, in 1903 sold it to the 
Oak Extract Company, and from that time it has been dismantled 
as a mill. 

Bi.rler's Mill. The old Bixler flour mill is located on Tousey's 
Run, in Madison Township, and is still in operation, the present 
miller being George E. Beck, and the place being often known as 
Beck's Mills. It was built in 1812-1814 by Zalmon and Azariah 
Tousey, brothers, who had purchased the property containing 345 
acres, March 7, 1812, from Hugh Hamilton, whose holdings com- 
prised over six hundred acres and was known as "Hamiltonia." 



262 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

This mill is located on the tract warranted by Hugh Alexander, 
February 3, 1755, the day the land office was first opened to set- 
tlement for Perry County. It contained 344 acres. In 180 1 this 
property was transferred to Hugh Hamilton, a son of John Hamil- 
ton and Margaret Alexander, the warrantee's daughter. The new 
owner was also possessor of the 400 acres which adjoined and 
which was warranted by John Hamilton, which made the tract a 
large one as noted above. Jacob Bixler and John Flickinger, in 
1836 bought it from the administrators of the Touseys and in a 
tew years divided it. the mill going to Bixler with ninety acres of 
land, and the rest of the lands to Flickinger. 

A mute reminder of the early settlement of this young couple 
and the erection of their home lies in the office of the old mill. 
It is the corner stone of the old house, which Bixler tore away in 
1840, it being a two-story log house. It is of marble, with an 
inscription arranged as in the accompanying diagram. 





A 






H 




M 




S 


T/66 




N 



The A is evidently the initial of the family name, Alexander, 
and the II and M on a lower line probably refer to the first ini- 
tials of the builders, Hugh and Martha. The date probably is con- 
nected with the early occupation of the lands. The S. and N. evi- 
dently refer to the directions of the compass, and the stone was 
evidently used to mark their claim. 

In 1846 Jacob Bixler rebuilt the east end of the mill from the 
foundation, and in 1870 remodeled the interior and put in two 
turbine water wheels, the first in the county. He also built the 
adjoining woollen mill in 1853, of which more elsewhere. The 
firm was later known as Jacob Bixler & Sons. 

The present owner, George E. Beck, purchased the property and 
mills from the Bixler heirs in 1888 and does a good business. The 
mill is of the old-fashioned burr variety and the stones used in 
grinding the grain are secured in France, none as satisfactory being 
obtainable elsewhere. 

Before the county was dotted with its many merchandising 
places the Bixler mill made blankets and yarns, and besides whole- 
saling them also ran a wagon over the county doing a retailing 
business. Upon this wagon appeared in neat lettering: "Centre 
Woollen Mills, Bixler & Bro., Blankets, Yarns, etc." Many Perry 
Countians, even of middle age, can remember its regular trips. It 
still stands in a shed at the mills, a mute reminder of a passing age. 
Even the advertisements on its sides link the past with the present, 



OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS, INDUSTRIES 263 

for among the names are those of persons yet living, who were 
then in business. The names: 

"Bentzell & Bro., Tailors. New Bloomfield. 

"Ensminger Livery, New Bloomfield. 

"A. P. Nickel, Undertaking, New Bloomfield. 

"Chas. B. Stewart, Watches, New Bloomfield. 

"Wm. H. Smith, Coach Maker, New Bloomfield. 

"John A. Martin, Harness, New Bloomfield." 

The old woollen mill was operated until 1910. It still contains 
the old looms, hut the only work done there is the carding of wool 
on a small scale and principally as an accommodation, for the rais- 
ing of sheep in the county has decreased as the years have passed. 
The mill contained an old "hand-mule" spinner, with 160 spindles. 
Bixler's Mills was once a thriving settlement, and in 1884 a post 
office was established there named Bixler, since replaced by rural 
delivery. Jacob Bixler was the son of a miller, Jacob Bixler, Sr., 
who came from Dauphin County in 1818 and built the mill near 
Eshcol, in Saville Township. 

Other Mills. The history of the various other mills, many of 
them dating back a century, appears in the various chapters de- 
voted to the townships and boroughs of the county, to be found 
elsewhere in this book. 

Sawmills. 

The lands of Perry County were not long settled by any of the 
white race before there began springing up here and there along 
the various streams, numbers of the old-fashioned water-power 
sawmills, known largely as "up-and-down" sawmills. On. them 
were sawed the huge trees, which were fashioned into boards and 
shingles for the building of the early homes. There were so many 
of these at various times and places that it is impossible to give 
with any degree of thoroughness their locations and owners. 
Through them the primeval forests were turned into dwelling, 
houses, barns, outbuildings, churches, bridges, schoolhonses, and 
the forerunner of the brick and cement pavement — the old-time 
boardwalk. The drainage basins of practically all important 
streams were locations of one or more of these early manufactur- 
ing plants. In a single community of which Shermansdale was the 
centre, there were the McCord mill near Pisgah, the Smiley mill 
on Smiley Run, the McCaskey mill in northern Carroll, the Stauf- 
fer mill in a gorge of the mountain along Sherman's Creek, the 
Rebert (now Smith's) mill west of that village, and that of John 
H. Lonck, two miles east of Shermansdale, where he also had a 
gristmill and post office known as Louck's Mills, to which the mails 
were carried from Carlisle by postrider. The proprietors of four 
of these mills— the McCord, Smiley, McCaskey, and Louck's— 



264 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

now rest within fifty feet of each other, in the Presbyterian ceme- 
tery near Shermansdale, while their mills, later developed into the 
"thnndergust" type, have long since been swept away by the floods 
from the very hills which their industry denuded, and of which it 
was the contributing cause. Some of these old milldams were 
strongly constructed and even the immense force of successive 
floods has failed to remove the large boulders which were used in 
their construction, among those being that at the Louck mill. In 
1814 Tyrone Township alone had eighteen such mills. Later the 
steam mill with its circular saw largely did the work of these more 
primitive mills. 

The date of the probable entry into Perry County forests of the 
steam sawmill, quoted elsewhere as about 1870, is no doubt cor- 
rect, as that is the year in which a Mr. Coulter, of Mechanicsburg, 
put a mill in "Allen's Swamp," at the western end of the Cove 
Mountain, between that mountain and Pine Hill. It took almost 
four years to saw the lumber, and the sale of the outfit took place 
in 1874. When that operation was started deer were still plentiful 
and were often seen by the woodsmen. A heavy growth of timber 
long covered the lands which comprise Perry County. 

In the vicinity of "The Narrows," near the Rye-Carroll Town- 
ship line, there were four of these up-and-down sawmills. They 
were owned by Conrad Brubaker, Adam Nace, Henry Sykes, and 
Adam Luckenbaugh. James Sykes also had a fulling mill there, 
carding wool and weaving blankets. In connection with the settle- 
ment known as "The Narrows," the change in population might 
be noted here. Between forty and fifty persons then resided there, 
while to-day there is one lone house. 

That part of Perry County which included present Juniata 
Township and which in 1795 included all of Tuscarora and Oliver, 
and parts of Centre and Miller Townships, was once heavily 
wooded. In the assessment lists of that year twelve sawmills were 
enumerated. There were also two gristmills, two tanyards and 
two distilleries, the latter both operated by George Hildebrand. 
With the cutting of the timber came the development of the land. 

Sixty years ago there were at least three sawmills on Sugar Run, 
the small stream which empties into the Juniata opposite Cocola- 
mus Creek. All did considerable business, yet to-day there seems 
to be hardly enough water there to turn a wheel. 

Fulling Mills. 

On a previous page of this chapter, in connection with the Bixler 
gristmill, is a description of the Bixler fulling mill, which was but 
one of a number of fulling mills located throughout the county, 



OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS. INDUSTRIES 265 

where wool was carded and clothing manufactured. Mention of 
these mills is made in the various chapters relating' to the townships 
in which they were located. One of these mills was operand by 
George Gutshall, at New Germantown, he also having a chopping 
mill, lie was the grandfather of Mrs. Wilson Morrison, yet living 
in that town, who remembers how they "carded wool into round 
rolls almost a yard in length, from which the women spun the 
yarn." Homespun clothing was then in general use. Mrs. Mor- 
rison also tells of how they sowed flax, pulled, dried and threshed 
it, using a "flax-break" to divest it of the outside shell. Although 
hut a young girl she helped in this work. 

"Stills" and Distilllriks. 

At an early day, before the coming of the canal and the rail- 
roads, the surplus products of the farms in the line of grains and 
fruits were distilled into liquors. Fruits when ripe, had either to 
be dried or distilled into liquors for preservation. Surrounded 
by these conditions the pioneers would either erect stills or take 
their apples and peaches, usually loaded in large English wagon- 
beds which held from forty to eighty bushels, and have them dis- 
tilled into brandy and applejack, for which the distiller received 
one-half the product. It was not unusual to see a long line of 
wagons awaiting their turn at these distilleries. Grains were also 
distilled into liquors, as the product in that condensed form re- 
quired far fewer trips to the far-away Baltimore market. There 
was also a demand for these products and the state even made con- 
cessions to encourage the industry, which has long since passed out 
of Perry County life, and which the Eighteenth Amendment to the 
Constitution of the United States this year — -1920 — eliminated for 
all time. 

Owing to these conditions the Perry County territory teemed 
with "stills" and distilleries. As early as 1814 Tyrone Township 
alone had seventeen stills on the assessment roll. Liquor seems to 
have been in very general use during that early period and the price 
was extremely low. Rye whiskey sold from thirty-three to thirty- 
seven cents a gallon. Peach brandy was quoted at the same prices, 
and applejack at twenty-five cents per gallon. 

The locations of many. of these old stills are to be seen or are 
pointed out by the residents. They were principally in western 
Perry and in a few instances the stillhouses are still standing. 
The one on the Lucian R. McMillen farm at Kistler, Madison 
Township, is in good repair, and those at the Rice mill, in Tyrone 
Township, and Manassas Gap, three miles south of Blain, in Jack- 
son Township, still stand. A partial list of locations follow: 

On the old Shearer farm, now owned by David Beaston, above Mc- 
Laughlin's, in Toboyne Townsbip. 



266 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

On the James Johnston farm, in Toboyne Township, one mile above 
New Germantown. 

On the farm of Clark Bower, in Jackson Township. 

At Manassas Gap, three miles south of Plain. Operated by Philip 
Stambaugh about 1830. The building still stands on the property of David 
Rowe, Jr. 

The Hackett distillery on Reisinger Brothers' farm, in Madison Town 
ship, at a place locally known as Pine Grove, near Kistler. 
A half-mile west of Blain. 
On the J. E. Lyons farm, at Andersonburg. 

The stone distillery on the Lucian R. McMillen farm at Kistler, Madison 
Township. In good condition. 

On George Palm farm, one and one-half miles east of Kistler. 
Near the Lutheran Church at Saville, Saville Township. 
The Conrad Ernest still at Stony Point, three miles east of Blain. 
At Kistler, just west of the Lutheran Church. 

On the J. S. Lightner farm, one and one-half miles southeast of Cisna's 
Run. 

The Baughman distillery, near Rock schoolhouse, in Saville Township. 
Near the M. E. Chapel in Madison Township. 
One on the W. Scott Irvine farm, in Saville Township. 
On the John and Solomon Briner farm on Sherman's Creek, one and 
one-half miles south of Loysville, now owned by Edward Briner. 

On Montour's Run at Rice's mill, near where it joins Sherman's Creek. 
It still stands. 

The Wagner still, later Egolf's, in lower Kennedy's Valley, Tyrone 
Township. In business as late as 1868. 

Keek's distillery, on the Adam Wentzcl farm at Bridgeport, in Spring 
Township. It burned in 1874, but had ceased operations a few years 
previous. 

On the Joseph Lightner place, "Still House Hollow," Tyrone Township. 
In Landisburg, near Water Street. 

( )n the Junkin place in Spring Township, now owned by George Duni. 
On the farm of Samuel Ebert, north of the Tressler Orphans' Home. 
At Elliottsburg, in Spring Township. 

Near Jackson schoolhouse in Saville Township, about a mile north of 
Elliottsburg. 

In "Little Germany," Spring Township, built by John Fuas (Foose). 
On property of S. W. Moyer, a short distance east of Elliottsburg. 
On the Abraham Bower farm, at Falling Springs. 

On Swartz farm, west of New Bloomfield, south of former steam mill. 
On the J. L. Kline farm, in Liverpool Township's eastern extremity. 
On the steam mill property, below Liverpool, a distillery was in opera- 
tion as late as 1869. The property is now owned by Mrs. John Williamson. 
At Mt. Patrick, on the western bank of the creek from the gristmill, 
long known as the Blattenberger mill, now Barner's. 

On the J. R. Wright farm in Greenwood Township. This is the prop- 
erty which was once owned by Rev. Britton E. Collins, but, of course, he 
was not the operator of a distillery, but had only purchased a farm on 
which one had been located. 

At Falling Springs, in Spring Township, where Abraham Bower re- 
sided and operated it. 

Between Pine Hill and Sherman's Creek, at Billow's old fording. 
Sponsler's distillery. New Bloomfield, site of foundry, Carlisle Street. 
Along Little Buffalo Creek, in Juniata Township, owned and operated 
by Abram Flurie. 



OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS, INDUSTRIES 267 

The Tanning Industry. 

The tunning of leather dates back to the time of the red men, 
whose product was so finely tanned that one of Perry County's 
greatest tanners tells us it has never been equaled by the whites. 
Accidentally discovered by letting a hide lie among some oak hark 
over winter the Indians experimented until they had perfected a 
system. Their most delicate work was produced by using the 
brains of the deer. A history of this little mountain-bound county 
without something of its tanning industry and mention of the tan- 
ner's apprentice who became Pennsylvania's most noted journalist 
and a national figure (Col. A. K. McClure), would not be a his- 
tory at all. At first the tanneries followed the bark to be used in 
tanning, locating in the very midst of the forests, but later the 
bark followed the tanneries, as they were located along the trans- 
portation lines, many of the inland tanneries going out of ex- 
istence. 

The tanning industry in America is, in fact, one of the original 
industries, and was from the early days one of the vocations of 
the pioneers. Perry County at one time was among the leading 
counties of the state in the tanning business, and had tanneries in 
many localities, but to-day only three remain, the Beaver tannery, 
near Blain, the Bechtel tannery at Newport, and the Rippman tan- 
nery at Millerstown. Although some of these tanneries are out of 
existence for a half-century an attempt has been made to record 
their locations, in so far as possible : 

Ahl's tannery, in Henry's Valley, Toboyne Township. Samuel Lupfer 
ran it for years. 

Tannery one mile above Fairview Church, in Toboyne Township, now 
run as a chopping mill. Once owned by E. A. McLaughlin, now by Samuel 
Slemmons. 

Tannery in New Germantown, in Toboyne Township, near where M. E. 
Church stands. Once owned by William D. Humes. 

Beaver tannery at Monterey, Toboyne Township. Israel Lupfer ran it 
for years. One of the three tanneries still in operation. Now owned by 
Silas W. Gutshall. 

Cook's tannery, in Horse Valley, Toboyne Township, near church. 

Tannery in Henry's Valley. 

Mohler's tannery in Liberty Valley, Madison Township. Built by Mil- 
ligan & Beale. 

The McNeil tannery at Blain, on the Harry N. Hall farm. Burned in 
1878. 

The George Hench tannery at Centre, on present Robert Hench farm. 
Once the largest tannery in the county. 

The Titzell tannery, between Green Park and Elliottsburg, operated 
until about 1870. 

The Shearer tannery, owned by the father of Ex-Sheriff H. C. Shearer 
between Green Park and Landisburg, in Tyrone Township. 

The Hench & Black tannery in Landisburg. 

The Diven tannery in Landisburg. 



268 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Tannery in Kennedy's Valley, Tyrone Township, last operated by 
"Colonel" Win. Graham, now the Newton Reisinger farm. 

Tannery in Sheaffer Valley, Tyrone Township, where Harry Kiner re- 
sides. 

Tannery at Oak Grove, Tyrone Township, recently owned by Henchs, 
now in the possession of Thomas Bernheisel. 

The Abraham Wertz tannery in Tyrone Township, on Carlisle road, 
three miles from Landisburg, now the Al. Dnnkelberger farm. 

Tannery one mile above Elliottsbnrg, in Spring Township, last owned 
by a Mr. Wentzell. 

Loysville tannery, on property now owned by Mrs. William Kell. 

The tannery of Daniel A. Bear's heirs, in Spring Township. 

The tannery at Dromgold's corner, in Carroll Township, operated by 
T. M. Dromgold. 

The Ickesburg tannery, erected in 1821. 

The tannery above Ickesburg, long known as the Swartz tannery. 

The Eshcol tannery, erected by William Rosensteel. 

The tannery at Roseburg, Saville Township. 

The Millerstown tannery, one of the very first. One of the three still 
in operation. Now owned by J. G. H. and C. A. Rippman, Jr. 

The North tannery, in Greenwood Township. 

The Newport tannery, now owned by the Elk Tanning Company. One 
of the three still in operation. 

The Jordan tannery, at Walnut and Front Streets, Newport. 

The Peale tannery, opposite the old jail, in New Bloomfield. 

Tannery one mile west of New Bloomfield, operated as early as 184,}, by 
Israel Eupfer. 

The tannery near Nekoda store, in Greenwood Township, known as 
Shellenberger's. 

The tannery at Allen's Cove (later Cove Forge, and now Covallen), 
where A. G. White (father of James A. White, of Shermansdale) built 
the Good Hope tannery and carried on the tanning business. 

The tannery which John Bowers built at Mannsville and which he 
operated as late as 1871, when he died. 

The tannery on Hominy Ridge, Juniata Township, operated by Robert 
Stephens. Residents who can remember to 1856 say it had then already 
ceased to operate. One stone building still stands. 

The William Fosselman tannery, in Tuscarora Township, later the prop- 
erty of James Davis, and now owned by McClellan Lineawever. Out of 
business prior to 1870. 

Before the building of the narrow gauge road — the Newport & 
Sherman's Valley — through western Perry County, and after 
the tanneries in western Perry had largely become extinct, the 
transportation of bark from that section to the Newport tannery 
was extensive, and those old bark wagons drawn by four- and six- 
horse teams are well remembered by many yet living. During the 
bark season long lines of them passed down the main valley high- 
way daily. 

The first tannery in the county was built by Joshua North, on 
the James Patterson farm, in Greenwood Township, before 1800. 
The bark was chopped into bits with axes in those days, instead of 
being ground. This tannery was later known as Jordan's. Just 
when North built the tannery is unknown, but in 1776 Joshua 



OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS, INDUSTRIES 269 

North, tanner, and Caleb North, storekeeper, came from Chester 
County and bought a number of tracts of land, including the old 
tannery farm. It probably was built soon after that. The Norths 
also bought the island in the Juniata, long known as North's Is- 
land, and being located at the old Rope Ferry Dam. In 1800 
[oshua North built the MillerstQwn tannery, selling to Isaac Mc- 
Cord in 1816. During the ownership of Mr. McCord he also 
bought the Jordan tannery and closed it down. He also erected 
the stone house, which is the present home of J. H. G. Rippman, 
in 1822. and began the erection of a new tannery in tSj_j. In 
1849 Henry Hopple purchased the plant from the McCord heirs 
for $2,500. and modernized it by the introduction of steam in 1867. 
Two years later he sold it to Joseph Howell, of Philadelphia, for 
$6,000.00. He erected a new steam tannery in 1870. In the mean- 
time it had become Howell & Company, who were overcome with 
financial difficulties, and the property was purchased in 1882 by 
Charles A. Rippman. a skilled tanner and business man, at 
assignee's sale. He put in modern leeches and modernized it 
throughout with improved machinery. In 1901 Mr. Rippman sold 
it to two of his sons, J. G. H. and C. A. Rippman, Jr., who are 
the owners at this time. This tannery has two claims to distinc- 
tion. One is that it was awarded the highest award for its product 
— oak tanned sole leather, at the World's Fair at Chicago in 1893, 
and the other is that it is an independent concern, altogether within 
the control of its owners. Few tanneries to-day lay claim to that 
distinction. Charles H. Rippman has been identified with the tan- 
ning trade in Perry County longer than any other man, and his 
product had a state- wide reputation. 

The Beaver tannery is located in Jackson Township, two miles 
south of Blain. It was established prior to 1835 by a man named 
Ebright, and has been in continuous operation ever since, being the 
only inland tannery in the county from among the large number to 
remain in operation. The present tannery building was erected in 
[849 by Samuel Mateer. The output is rough leather, harness 
leather and lace leather. This tannery has been operated by three 
generations of Gutshalls. Capt. Samuel Gutshall owned and 
operated it for some time prior to i860. His son, David Gutshall. 
then became owner and operated it until 1806, when the present 
owner, Silas W. Gutshall, assumed charge, since which time he 
has operated it. 

The Newport tannery dates back to 1872. when John A. Bechtel 
& Son purchased a plot of three acres of land in Oliver Township, 
adjoining Newport Borough on the west, and extending from 
Third to Front Street. This part of the township has since been 
taken into the Newport Borough. The Bechtels erected on this 
site a two-story stone tannery, which is still in use and now owned 



270 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

by the Elk Tanning Company, Ridgway, Pa. John A. Bechtel 
died in 1875, and the business was then conducted by the remaining 
member of the firm, his son, H. H. Bechtel. After the sale of this 
tannery (and another which he owned at Reed's Gap) to the Elk 
Tanning Company in 1893, he became associated with the Ameri- 
can Oak Leather Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, and at the time of 
his death, July 13, 1914, was vice-president of that company. 
Horace Beard, who was a grandson of John A. Bechtel, was the 
first superintendent appointed by the Elk Tanning Company, serv- 
ing from 1893 to 1900, when he became division superintendent 
of a group of tanneries, including the Newport tannery, which he 
held until his death, April 7, 1911. Edward G. Sheaf er succeeded 
Mr. Beard as superintendent from 1900 to 1914, when he was 
transferred to a Southern tannery, and John G. Culver appointed 
superintendent, serving from 1914 to 1916. Mr. Culver was suc- 
ceeded by George P. Bistline, a native of Perry County, who is 
the present superintendent. This tannery increased its capacity 
and has been kept in first-class condition, employing a large num- 
ber of men steadily from the time of its erection. It has been idle 
only sixty days since its erection in 1872. Oak tanned sole leather 
has always been manufactured at this plant, and from 4,000 to 
5,000 tons of rock oak bark are consumed annually, most of which 
is purchased in Perry and surrounding counties. 

Quite a number of the employees have worked in the tannery 
for a long period of years, four men having an average of over 
forty years' service. While labor troubles throughout the country 
prevail this is a matter of interest. Two of these employees have 
been with it over forty-five years and two others over thirty-five, 
at this time (1920). These men and their length of service are 
George W. Taylor, 48 years ; James Gardner, 46 years ; George 
Shull, y] years, and William Gardner, 37 years. 

Early Iron Industry. 

There is a Jewish legend that when the temple at Jerusalem was 
completed the king gave a feast to the workmen and artificers em- 
ployed in its construction. The story went abroad that the par- 
ticular craftsman who had done the most to complete the great 
structure should have the seat of honor next to the king. A black- 
smith claimed the place and the populace clamored. The great 
Solomon commanded that the man be allowed to speak, whereupon 
he asked how these builders could have erected the temple without 
the tools which he had wrought out of iron. Solomon decreed 
that "the seat is his of right; all honor to the iron worker." Dur- 
ing a residence, while a newspaper proprietor, of more than a 
dozen years in Duncannon, the one iron town in Perry County, 1 
saw men toil amidst red-hot furnaces, while others slept, to pro- 



OLD LANDMARKS. MILLS, INDUSTRIES 271 

duce iron from the raw material. The scene is so vivid in my 
memory to this day that I join in saying "all honor to the iron 
worker," and especially those early pioneers, who wrought better 
than they knew, who established primitive plants within the con- 
hues of our forests and who were the heralds of the present great 
iron and steel industry of the nation. 

The very first one of these primitive plants within the county's 
boundaries, of which we can find record, is the Boyd forge, in 
Carroll Township. In 1793 William Boyd warranted 105 acres 
in eastern Carroll, at Boyd's Fording, and settled there. He 
erected several blacksmith forges and began the manufacture of 
nails. The iron was brought from Carlisle and slit by him into 
rods, and by himself and his three sons manufactured into hand- 
made nails. This plant was still in operation when the county 
was formed. 

As early as 1804 there is record of the Lewis forge, located on 
Cocolamus Creek, in Greenwood Township, near Millerstown, be- 
ing in operation. Its employees were mostly negroes who lived 
in a colony of huts surrounding the plant. In describing it in his 
history (1873) Wright says: "The old forge hammer, broken 
through the eye, still remains in the dried-up race, while the stone 
abutment breastwork of the dam, on the east side of the creek, 
may still be seen." It was known as Mt. Vernon forge and was 
built by General James Lewis in 1804. 

General Lewis was one of the proprietors of Hope furnace, 
west of Lewistown, and operated the Mt. Vernon forge in con- 
nection with it. He was a Berks County ironmaster, and James 
Blaine, of the vicinity of Blain, Perry County, was married to his 
daughter. In fact, Mr. Blaine helped him build Hope furnace in 
1797 and Mt. Vernon furnace in 1804. On the retirement of Mr. 
Lewis, Mr. Blaine operated the forge. He later sold to a man 
named M'Gara, who failed, the property coming into the posses- 
sion of Purcell & Woods. William P. Elliott and William Power 
purchased from them and rebuilt the forge, but failed in 1X17, 
and the property reverted to Purcell & Woods. From then it was 
never operated. The forge had two fires and two large hammers, 
which were supplied with charcoal from Forge Hill and pig metal 
from Hope furnace and Juniata furnace in Centre Township. 

Landisburg was the site of an early nail factory. It was located 
on Water Street, in the rear part of a building started in 1794 
and not completed until 1809. The front part is of stone, and the 
rear was built of logs. It is now owned by Mrs. Robert Shuman, 
and in it was located the office of the register and recorder when 
Landisburg was the temporary county seat. Just when the factory 
moyed therefrom is not known, but in the Perry Forester of June 
21, 1 82 1, appears the advertisement of the manufacturer, Joseph 



272 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

H. Kennedy, who offers "io-penny and 8-penny nails at 10 cents 
per pound." He add that "wheat will be received at 40 cents, and 
rye at 27 cents, in exchange." 

The various chapters of this book covering the townships tell 
of many early industries, among them the construction of a scythe 
and edge-tool factory by Peter Fahnestock and a Mr. Ferguson, 
during the period between 1830- 1840. It was located in Tyrone 
Township and had also a tilt-hammer attached. Between Landis- 
burg and Oak Grove, in Spring Township, Peter Moses built a 
large stone blacksmith shop and manufactured screw augers. At 
his death, in 1824, his son, also named Peter Moses, succeeded him. 

During the first half of the Nineteenth Century various furnaces 
and forges were erected throughout the county, but near its end 
but two remained in business, the furnaces at Duncannon and 
Newport. At this time but one, the Newport furnace, remains, 
and it is in operation but a small part of the time. The first of 
these furnaces to be built was the Juniata furnace. The inland 
furnaces ceased operations owing to the expensive hauls of the 
finished product to railroad sidings, and the Duncannon furnace 
was dismantled owing to the necessity of obtaining the raw ma- 
terials from far distant points at heavy cost. The first geological 
survey of Perry County, made in 1839-40, was largely responsible 
for the extension of the early furnace industry in Perry and ad- 
joining counties, as the existence of deposits of iron ore was fully 
established at that time. 

Juniata Furnace. The lands upon which Juniata furnace in 
Centre Township, was later erected, were warranted by James 
McConaughy in 1766, and later became the property of William 
Power, then a large landowner in what is now Perry County. 
About 1808 Power and David Watts, of Carlisle, erected, on a 
small stream which flows through the property, a small furnace, 
which later came to be known as Juniata furnace. They operated 
it for several years, and in 1824 the Watts heirs and Power leased 
the furnace to John Everhart, of Chester County, for a ten-year 
period. He erected a forge, and in 1825 put the furnace in blast, 
continuing operations for several years. 

During May, 1833. Charles Postley & Son, of Philadelphia, pur- 
chased the furnace property and 3,500 acres of land, which in- 
cluded a gristmill at the mouth of the run, paying therefor $19,500. 
During January, 1834, Postley & Company advertised for "six- 
teen stone and four potter hollowware moulders to work at the 
[uniata Iron Works." From Postley title had passed entirely to 
his sons, who sold it to John McKeehan and Matthew S. Henry 
in 1837. In a year or two James McGowan acquired the interest 
of Henry. Another furnace had been added further up the 
stream, and under McGowan's supervision both furnaces were 



OLD LANDMARKS. MILLS, [NDUSTRIES 273 

operated. This firm built the gristmill, which later came to be 
known as Shoaff's mill. 

There was a large ore bank on the tract. A settlement had 
grown up around it. comprising eleven tenement houses, coal 
house, storehouse, warehouse, carpenter shop, blacksmith shop and 
the gristmill. About 184c; the furnace was abandoned and the mill 
passed to the ownership of William R. Shoaff. In 1855 the cast- 
ing house and the office were destroyed by a cyclone which hit the 
section. The property is now in possession of Ellis Shoaff", the 
mill having long since ceased operations. 

Flo Forge. Fio forge, in Wheat field Township, was built on 
a plot of ground which was warranted in 1766 by Benjamin 
Abram and which contained 207 acres. In 1827 Israel Downing 
and James B. Davis purchased twenty-three acres and began the 
erection of the forge, which they had almost completed in July, 

1828, when they sold to Jacob Lindley and Frederick Speck. They 
owned and operated it until 1841, when it passed to Elias Jackson, 
Samuel Yocum, and Daniel Kough, who at the same time operated 
Mary Ann furnace in Cumberland County. It later passed to a 
man named Walker, who retained Kough as manager. On March 
14. 1846, a great flood on Sherman's Creek carried away the dam 
and the plant was abandoned. 

Oak Grove Furnace. Oak Grove furnace was located in Spring 
Township on a tract of land purchased from Christian Hecken- 
dorn, in February, 1827, by Adam and John Hays. In a paper 
dated October, 1825, Heckendorn advertised three hundred acres 
of land for sale, describing it as an excellent location for a fur- 
nace, having ore within a half-mile. The new owners contracted 
with John Miller February 20, 1827, for "the right for twenty- 
one years to dig and haul iron ore from any part of land on which 
Miller lives and has his tanyard, at twenty dollars per year for 
every year they dig ore." On March 16th of the same year they 
contracted with Thomas March and John Souder to pay each fif- 
teen dollars per year for a like privilege. During the same year 
they built Charlotte furnace, it being put in blast on December 4, 
1827, under the management of Colonel George Patterson. It was 
operated until 1828, its capacity being twenty-five tons of metal 
per week. 

It was refitted during 1828-29 and was again put in blast in 

1829, its name being changed to Oak Grove furnace. It passed 
from the ownership of Adam and John Hays to that of Hays & 
McClure, John Hays remaining in the firm. In 1831 a post office 
was established there with John Hays as postmaster. In the mean- 
time McClure retired from the management and John Hays con- 
tinued until January 6, 1834, when he sold the furnace, his ore 
rights and 2,500 acres of land to Jacob F. Plies, for $22,000. It 

18 



2;4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

was later under the ownership of Plies, Hess & Company and of 
Jacob F. Plies & Company, the latter company being composed of 
Christian Thudium and Frederick Boger. It was abandoned about 
1843 and the property passed to Christian Thudium. With its 
passing also passed the post office, but many years later another 
was established near by and was known as "Lebo." The James 
McCormick heirs obtained possession of the property and owned 
it for many years. During the ownership of both Hays and Plies 
plates were manufactured or cast here for the old-fashioned "ten- 
plate stoves." 

Montebello Furnace. The old Montebello furnace, in Wheat- 
field Township, was located on a tract of land warranted by Wil- 
liam Baskins in 1766, which contained 238 acres. Its location was 
on Little Juniata Creek, several miles above King's mill, and near 
where Montebello Park, a popular amusement resort flourished 
during the early days of the Perry County Railroad. In 1834 
Jacob Lindley, Elizabeth and Hannah Downing and William 
Logan Fisher purchased this and an adjoining tract, "for the pur- 
pose of building a furnace thereon." It was built in a year or two, 
and after a few years passed to Fisher, Morgan & Company, who 
operated it until 1846 or 1848, when it was abandoned. It had a 
capacity of from twenty-five to thirty tons of iron per week. 
When the latter firm secured possession it was run in connection 
with the Duncannon iron plant, then owned by the same firm. 
They built a stave mill near the forge, which was in use until 1875, 
when it was destroyed by fire. The company owned and leased 
large timber tracts, from which the wood was cut and used for the 
burning of charcoal. The limestone and ore was hauled in wagons 
from the canal wharf at Losh's Run Station, on the Pennsylvania 
Railroad, and the finished product transported in the same way to 
the firm's Duncannon plant. In April, 1837, when the entire 
Mahanoy Ridge burned over the industry lost three thousand 
cords of wood by fire. The Forester pronounced this conflagra- 
tion "a grand and imposing spectacle," instead of speaking of the 
great loss. 

Perry Furnace. Perry furnace was located on a tract of land 
warranted by Anthony Shatto, which later came into the possession 
of William Power. In 1837 Jacob Loy, John Everhart, and John 
Rough, trading under the name of Loy, Everhart & Company, 
purchased several hundred acres of land and erected Perry fur- 
nace, where they began the manufacture of hollowware and ten- 
plate stoves. After running the plant for ten years they had finan- 
cial difficulties and the property was sold to Peter Cameron. The 
barn of Edward Comp is located on the site of the old furnace. 

Perry furnace was abandoned about 1S48. During its operation 
the timber was cut from a piece of woodland about three miles 



OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS, INDUSTRIES 275 

long and over a mile wide, and burned into charcoal. The iron 
ore mostly was procured at the Dum farm, in that section of 
Spring Township known as "Little Germany." After being re- 
duced to "pig iron" it was hauled overland by wagon to the Dun- 
cannon rolling mills, a distance of twelve miles. The limestone 
used in melting the ore was secured on the furnace farm. At one 
time a village of a dozen houses was located there, being occupied 
by the employees. On a single acre of ground there are nine 
springs, any one of which would be ample to supply a single farm 
with water. Half of them are phosphorous. 

Caroline Furnace. Travelers over the lines of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad will note that there stands not many rods east of Bailey 
Station a stone stack almost overgrown with vines. It is a mute 
reminder of the early furnace industry of Pennsylvania. There 
stood Caroline furnace. Even the very lands on which it stood 
have a historical setting. Samuel Martin, who located this claim 
of two hundred acres, on a part of which later stood Caroline fur- 
nace, also warranted an extensive acreage on the northern side of 
the Juniata, on which he built a gristmill and a sawmill. The prop- 
erty is described as being "at the Upper Falls, below the great bend 
south of Newport." John Bowman had evidently some prior claim 
on the property at Bailey Station, in Miller Township, as it is re- 
ferred to in Samuel Martin's will as the property purchased of him. 
In a mortgage it is mentioned as "above the Falls, adjoining Dick's 
Hill." Caroline furnace was erected by John D. Creigh in 1836, 
and began operations the same year. It later came-into the 1 Mis- 
session of Joseph Bailey, later a congressman of the United Stales. 
His residence, with numerous additions, still stands. Very little 
seems to have been recorded of this old industry. 

Cove Forge. About 1863 several hundred acres of land were 
purchased in the Cove, Penn Township, about one and one-half 
miles east of Duncannon, by Wm. Mcllvaine & Sons, of Reading, 
who in April, 1864, began the erection of a forge, long known as 
Cove forge. It was put in blast in September, 1865, with six fires, 
being run by water-power. A sexton hammer was operated by 
steam. On their lands they made charcoal for use in their own 
furnaces. It was operated for about twenty years. The large 
dam erected above the plant was put in by this firm, the lands now 
being owned by Robert C. Neal, whose father, Robert C. Neal, 
a Harrisburg capitalist, erected a fine mansion on the property, 
turning it into a gentleman's country estate. It was located upon 
the original Thomas Barnett tract, described in the chapter relat- 
ing to Penn Township. The local passenger station was long 
known as Cove Forge, but within the past decade it has been 
changed to Covallen, significant of Allen's Cove, long the name 
by which the Cove was known. 



276 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The Duncannon Iron Works. The location of this plant is at 
the point of land lying just north of where Sherman's Creek enters 
the Susquehanna. It is on part of a tract of 220 acres, warranted 
June 2, 1762, to George Allen and surveyed to Robert Jones. In 
1827 it passed to Stephen Duncan and John D. Mahon, who imme- 
diately began the erection of a forge, which began operations in 
the summer of 1828. In February of the same year the firm 
bought ninety-four acres and the lower gristmill, a sawmill, and a 
distillery from Robert Clark, and on April 17 they purchased 1,231 
acres of land, comprised in three different tracts, from Andrew 
Mateer. The firm's advertisement called for men to go to work 
on July 31, 1828. The little plant run until July 9, 1829, when it 
was destroyed by fire, the loss being stated as from $1,500 to 
$2,000. It was at once rebuilt and in operation by December 
• if the same year. The firm of Duncan & Mahon then operated 
the forge until 1832 or 1833, when they leased it to John Johnston 
& Company, who also operated and were the owners of Chestnut 
Grove forge, in Adams County. This firm then operated it until 
the dissolution of the firm in September, 1834. The stock on hand 
was disposed of by public sale early in 1835 and in the spring of 
1836 the property of Duncan & Mahon passed to William Logan 
Fisher and Charles W. Morgan. It included the forge, which they 
operated for a short time, and about six thousand acres of land, 
mostly timber land. 

This firm was the forerunner of the Duncannon Iron Company. 
They erected the old rolling mill in 1837-38, on the site of the old 
forge, which they tore down. This first rolling mill was rather 
primitive, being but 60x100 feet. Its capacity was five thousand 
tons of bar iron per year. The first nail factory was erected by 
them in 1839 and began operations in 1840. Prior to its erection 
Fisher & Morgan had been sending their bar iron in flats to New 
Cumberland, where it was manufactured into nails by Roswell 
Woodward. When the Duncannon nail factory was completed 
that plant was dismantled and the twenty-five nail machines taken 
to Duncannon and installed. The new plant then had a capacity 
of twenty thousand kegs per annum. On March 14, 1846, a flood 
coming down Sherman's Creek, washed away the dam and part 
of the rolling mill. The mill and dam were rebuilt. This flood 
also took the Juniata River bridge and the eastern span of the 
Susquehanna River bridge. The furnace was erected in 1853. 
Its capacity was twenty tons per day. It was remodeled in 1880, 
its capacity then being fifteen thousand tons per year. The year 
i860 was a bad one for the plant. The nail factory burned on 
January 10th and the rolling mill dam was again washed out on 
May nth. The nail factory was rebuilt at once and the number 
of machines increased to forty-six, many being added later. The 



OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS, INDUSTRIHS 277 

output then reached 100,000 kegs of nails annually. The dam was 
never rebuilt, as steam had already been used in part in the opera- 
tion of the rolling mill. 

In the meantime the firm had become Fisher, Morgan & Com- 
pany, and on February 1, 186], their interests were purchased by 
the newly organized Duncannon Iron Company, the old firm re- 
taining an interest in the stock of the new concern. The transfer 
of lands included about eight hundred acres. The new firm was 
under the management of John Wister, later for many years its 
president, and without doubt the greatest ironmaster ever inter- 
ested in any Perry County plant. When Fisher, Morgan & Com- 
pany sold to the Duncannon Iron Company they retained Monte- 
bello furnace (which had ceased operations), and 3,469 acres of 
land, which they sold in June, 1885, to John Wister, as trustee of 
the Duncannon Iron Company. The iron storage house was 
burned November 1., 187 r. The old stave mill, built when the first 
nail factory was erected, was burned in the spring of 1875, an ^ a 
new one immediately erected on the south hank of Sherman's 
Creek. On March 12, 1882, the rolling mill was burned down and 
again rebuilt at once. On the evening of November 28, 1888, the 
main building of the nail factory was entirely destroyed by fire 
and the machinery badly damaged. It too was immediately re- 
built, on the opposite side of Sherman's Creek. The large stone 
office building of the Duncannon Iron Company was built in 1866, 
being occupied January 14, 1867. It is 35x54 in size, with the 
main office room sixteen feet in height. The company store dates 
back to the time of the first forge, erected in 1828. Who the early 
managers of the company store were it is impossible to state. W. 
J. Stewart was the manager as early as 1871. 1 1 is successor was 
Ahram Hess, who was succeeded in 1882 by S. A. E. Rife. The 
store closed in 1908. 

John Wister was for over half a century connected with the 
Duncannon Iron Works, rising from errand boy to president and 
general manager. He was born in Germantown, Philadelphia, 
July 15, 1829, the son of William and Sarah Logan (Fisher) Wis- 
ter, the former of German and the latter of English descent. He 
was educated in the Germantown Academy. He arrived at Dun- 
cannon, via packet boat and on foot, November 2, 1845, to enter 
the employ of an uncle, skilled in the iron business, and his first 
position was that of office boy. He was then a tall, athletic young 
lad of but sixteen summers. From that position of office boy 
he became the noted president and general manager of the Dun- 
cannon Iron Company, skilled along every operation of the iron 
business, for he had made it a study. When he first came the 
operation of the plant was still furnished by the waters of Sher- 
man's Creek, and without any tariff on iron the workers at the 



278 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



plant were paid a meagre wage, and that often in scrip. Under 
his management steam was introduced and, witli a tariff placed 
upon foreign production, the Duncannon plant became one of the 
important iron plants of the state. Few labor troubles ever agi- 
tated the Duncannon mills, and in 
1895, upon the fiftieth anniver- 
sary of his connection with the 
plant . all the employees — over 
four hundred — marched to his 
residence to extend their good 
will, and incidentally, present a 
handsome and expensive chair to 
which all had contributed a small 
sum. Mr. Wister died June 4, 
1900, beloved by hundreds who 
had served under him at various 
times. He was not only presi- 
dent and general manager of the 
Duncannon Iron Company, but 
was president of both the Dun- 
cannon National Bank and the 
Trout Run Water Company. He 
attained his majority in 1850, and 
in 1852 the county press records 
that "John Wister III, was elect- 
ed corresponding secretary" of a 
Republican political meeting. It 
was in that small way that he be- 
gan his work in the Republican 
party of Perry County, from 
which he later could have had anything he desired. 

The furnace was run for a half century, ceasing operations in 
1900, and being dismantled in 1901-02. The nail factory made cut 
nails, winch were largely superceded by wire nails, and operations 
in it were discontinued in 1908. The plant was taken over by the 
Lebanon Iron & Steel Company, in 19 10, which has been operating 
it since then, except during slack periods. 

Among the exhibitors at the Centennial Exposition in Philadel- 
phia, in 1776, was the Duncannon Iron Company, which displayed 
a nail machine built and set up by the late William J. Black, long 
in the company's employ. 

An act was passed in 1839 by the Pennsylvania Legislature au- 
thorizing the building of a bridge across the Juniata at Baskins' 
Ferry, and the work was begun at once. On June 21, of the same 
year, another act was passed, which authorized the construction of 
a railroad from the Pennsylvania Canal, at Duncan's Island, to 




johx wister 

Tin- Greatest Iron Manufacturer of 
Perry County. 



OLD LANDMARKS, MILLS, INDUSTRIES 



2/9 



Sherman's Creek. The mad was to begin al the eastern end of 
the bridge, at a point not exceeding one-fourth of a mile there- 
from, and to cross to the west bank of the Juniata, passing through 
or near Petersburg (now Duncannon), and to terminate at or near 
the mouth of Sherman's Creek, the distance being two miles. The 
directors were Cornelius Baskins, president; Amos A. Jones, 
Jacob Keiser, Thomas Duncan, Thomas K. Lmdley, John B. Top- 
ley, John Charters, and Jacob Clay. They were likewise the direc- 
tors of the bridge. This old railroad was used and operated by the 
Duncannon Iron Company in transporting to and from their plant 
raw material and the finished product, shipments being made and 
received at Benvenue by canal boat. The cars were drawn by 
horses and mules. The bridge over which the railroad crossed the 
Juniata River was washed away in 1845 and was rebuilt. On 
March 17, 1865, it was again washed away. The iron company 
then erected a warehouse at Aqueduct, reshipping by rail from 
there to Duncannon. After that the road was no longer used, al- 
though its rails lay for a number of years. 

Marshall Furnace. The lands upon which Marshall furnace, in 
East Newport, was built, was purchased of Elias Fisher, and in 
1872, Egle, Philips & Company erected the furnace, which later 
passed into the possession of the Marshall family, of Philadelphia. 
Major Peter Hiestand was long superintendent of this furnace, 
which ran rather regularly until about 1900, but which has run 
intermittently since, owing to its distance from raw material. 



CHAPTER XVI. 
THE EARLIEST CHURCHES. 

IT seems strange that these shores should have been hidden so 
long and that they should be reserved for settlement until after 
the Reformation. Could it have been mere chance, or was it 
the work of an all- wise Creator? Did He reserve these lands for 
the most enlightened Christian people of that age — for those west- 
ern Europeans, the Pilgrim, the Puritan, the Holland Dutch, the 
Friend, the German, the Scotch- Irish, and all that noble band who 
braved the dangers of the deep and the terror of the red men that 
they might worship God according to their own free will? 

The men who founded Pennsylvania were intensely religious ; 
many of them came here to have freedom of religious worship ; 
they lived in a period when religious doctrines were the great ab- 
sorbing questions of life, so much so that the present generation 
cannot realize the zeal of their ancestry. They had family worship 
in their homes. The Father's business was their first considera- 
tion, and they builded well, for notwithstanding any seeming laxity 
of religion, even the sneering cynic does not enter the state of wed- 
lock nor have the last sad rites for a member of his family occur 
without calling upon the ministry and the church, thus recognizing 
its sanctity and Divine inspiration. 

Those churchmen of generations ago and even of the passing 
generations were men of stability and worth who stood four- 
square in their communities and were as solid and trustworthy as 
the very hills which surrounded them. Even to-day, is it not 
largely so with the active churchmen — those who attend and par- 
ticipate and whose names are upon the church books for more 
than business reasons? Of course there were prejudices in those 
days, but they have largely turned to dust, buried bigotries of a 
departing age. In all the writer's many travels over the territory 
during the past few years in only two cases did he note any evi- 
dence of prejudice in regard to sect upon the part of those inter- 
viewed and one of the interviewed is now numbered with the de- 
parted. Joint services are held in many towns and communities 
by the various denominations, and this passing of prejudice is a 
heritage largely due to the "union Sunday school picnics" of yes- 
teryear, when the men and women of to-day were boys and girls 
and knew their neighbor of another creed was just as good a fel- 
low and that there was really little difference — and no vital one — 
in their beliefs. And this community spirit is growing! 

280 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 281 

Some of the old-time preachers were often loud in their dis- 
courses, and sometimes long. Many of them preached much of 
the relent lessness of God towards evildoers, instead of dwelling 
upon His love and forgiving spirit, ofttimes shouting or thunder- 
ing their remarks. It is, however, even said of Jonathan Edwards, 
the prominent New England theologian, whose life was passed in 
benevolence, that he delighted in describing the fierceness and re- 
lentless cruelty of God. 

Bancroft, the historian, says : "He who will not honor the mem- 
ory and respect the influence of John Calvin knows but little of 
the origin of American liberty," and it was the creed of John Cal- 
vin that first carried the Gospel into the territory now compri sing- 
Perry County. The Scotch-Irish were the first to settle Perry 
County territory, and with them came Calvinism and Presbyte- 
rianism. Here, in the heart of the forests, they planted the first 
churches, one of which is to-day a bulwark of strength in western 
Perry, in the famous Sherman's Valley. In those early days the 
church had more or less dominion as to where buildings should 
be erected and where dividing lines should be drawn in the inter- 
vening territory. That that question came up early in the settle- 
ment is evidenced by the fact that the Presbytery of Donegal — 
practically the predecessor of the Carlisle Presbytery — at a meet- 
ing held April 24, 1766, appointed a committee "to attempt to set- 
tle matters respecting the seat of a meetinghouse or meetinghouses 
to be erected in Sherman's Valley." It was to meet the Wednes- 
day after the third Sabbath of June. It was composed of Rev. 
Robert Cooper, Rev. George Duffield, and the following elders: 
Colonel Armstrong (with William Lyon, alternate), Thomas Wil- 
son and John McKnight, the elders to devote the previous Tues- 
day "to reconnoitre." 

This committee met at George Robinson's — close to the present 
location of Centre church — on July 2. After two days devoted to 
hearing testimony and deliberating the committee came to the con- 
clusion "that there ought to be a church at Alexander Morrow's 
or James Blain's (where there was already a graveyard) for the 
upper end of the valley, and one at George Robinson's for the 
centre." Settling the place of the location for the lower meeting- 
house was deferred until further light could be obtained. (Rec- 
ords of Presbytery for 1766, pp. 186-189.) These incidents pre- 
date the forming of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian 
Church in America, which convened first in 1788. 

To a little book printed in London, in 1768, entitled "The Jour- 
nal of a Two-Months' Tour, with a view of Promoting Religion 
Among the Frontier Inhabitants of Pennsylvania, and of Intro- 
ducing Christianity Among the Indians to the Westward of the 
Allegheny Mountains," we are indebted for a glimpse of the early 



282 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

introduction of religious worship in Sherman's Valley. While the 
title was long the pages were few, only no, and it was in the form 
of a report, hy Rev. Charles Beatty, to the Earl of Darmouth and 
other prominent Englishmen then interested in that work. The 
time covered was in 1766, and after reciting that he was appointed 
by the Synod of New York and Philadelphia to visit the frontier 
inhabitants "that a better judgment might be formed what assist- 
ance might be necessary to afford them, in their present low cir- 




RliV. CHARGES BEATTY. 

The first man to carry the Gospel to the Pioneers west of the 
Kittatinny or Blue Mountain.. 

cumstances, in order to promote the Gospel among them ; and 
likewise to visit the Indians, in case it could be done in safety, to 
know whether they were inclined to receive the Gospel." Accom- 
panied by a Christian Indian, he arrived in Carlisle August 15, 
having traveled 122 miles. From his journal : 

"Monday, August 18. — In the forenoon we were much engaged prepar- 
ing for our journey; sat out with Mr. Duffield. After riding about six 
miles we came to the North Mountain, which is high and steep. The day 
being very warm, and we obliged to walk, or rather climb up it, the 
greatest part of the way, were greatly fatigued by the time we reached the 
top. After traveling four miles into Sherman's Valley, we came, in 
the night, to Thomas Ross's, where we lodged." 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 283 

The statement that they came to the Ross home in the night is 
an example of the perils and discomforts which attended these 
early purveyors of the Word, for it must be remembered that they 
were unattended by any who knew the way and that roads were 
then unknown, the vast forests being broken only by trails and 
paths. 

In the entry following Rev. Beatty tells of his visit to that tem- 
ple in the woods, not built by hands, but where for over a century 
historic Centre Presbyterian Church has stood and where it has 
ministered to a people who braved dangers untold to erect their 
homes in a land still a forest primeval, and to their descendants. 
He says : 

"Tuesday, 19th. — Rode four or five miles to a place in the woods, de- 
signed for building a house for worship, and preached, but io a small 
auditory; notice of our preaching not having been sufficiently spread. 
After sermon, I opened to the people present the principal design of the 
synod in sending us to them at this time ; that it was not only to preach 
the Gospel, but also to enquire into their circumstances, situation, num- 
bers, and ability to support it." 

"The people not being prepared to give us a full answer, promised to 
send it to Carlisle before our return. After sermon we proceeded on our 
way about five miles and lodged at Mr. Fergus's. The house where he 
lives was attacked by the Indians in the late war, the owner of it killed, 
and, if I am not mistaken, some others. While the Indians were pillaging 
the house and plantation, in order to carry off what suited them, a number 
of the countrymen armed came upon them ; a smart skirmish ensued, in 
which the countrymen had the better. The Indians were obliged to fly, and 
carried off their wounded, but left all their booty behind them." 

The place here referred to was the home of Alexander Logan, 
which was later occupied by Mr. Fergus. It is located near where 
Sandy Hill post office was later established, in Madison Township, 
and was long owned by George McMillen. From the Logan place 
the party traveled along the south foot of Conococheague Moun- 
tain, crossing it by the ravine north of Andersonburg, and mis- 
takenly calling it the Tuscarora Mountain. In passing down the 
north side they came to where Mohler's tannery was located in a 
succeeding generation, and crossed Liberty Valley via Bigham's 
Gap to the Tuscarora Valley, now in Juniata County. 

Just how the Gospel came to be first carried west of the Kitta- 
tinny Mountains is of interest to all. The origin of the missionary 
tour of Rev. Charles Beatty and Rev. George Duffield to the dis- 
tressed frontier, harassed by the Indians, and to the Indians them- 
selves, seems to have been an action of The Corporation for the 
Relief of Poor and Distressed Presbyterian Ministers of New 
York, as an extract from their minutes reads : 

"November 16, 1762. — At a meeting of the Corporation in the city, it 
was agreed that the board appoint some of their members to wait on the 
synod at their next meeting, and in their name request that some mis- 



284 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

sionaries be sent to preach to the distressed frontier inhabitants, and to 
report their distresses, and to let us know when new congregations are 
a forming, and what is necessary to be done to promote the spread of the 
Gospel among them, and that they inform us what opportunities there 
may be of preaching the Gospel to the Indian nations in their neighbor- 
hoods." 

It was then agreed that the necessary expenses of these missi 
aries be paid by this board. To many Perry Countian ^ y fee. 
a surprise that the Gospel was first carried to their courv 
missionaries. 

After mentioning the beginning of Centre Church in 170 p QAd 
that of Dick's Gap about the same time, Rev. D. H. Focht, in .. 
valuable and painstaking volume, "The Churches Between the 
Mountains," says : "Besides these two instances we have not found 
a single reference to churches in Perry County (territory) until 
1790." He fails to mention the organization of the Upper Church 
at Blain at the same time, that Limestone Ridge (or Sam Fisher's 
Church") existed co incidentally, and that Dick's Gap joined with 
the Sherman's Creek Church as early as 1778 in calling Rev. 
Thorn, all of which were long prior to 1790. Farther back in his 
own book (page 286) he tells of the St. Michael's Lutheran 
Church in Pfoutz Valley being organized as early as 1770 to 1773, 
and of the purchase of their grounds February 15, 1776, on which 
they erected a building which they used for both school and church 
purposes, also long prior to 1790. This is not mentioned here in 
the way of criticism, but to correct a general misunderstanding 
that prevails by reason of the paragraph cited above, which is 
sometimes quoted. 

Early last century many of the Scotch-Irish had begun to move 
westward and the new population, coming in their wake and often 
purchasing their lands, was mostly of German extraction, whose 
religion was principally Lutheran and German Reformed. At 
first their services were almost exclusively in German, but gradu- 
ally were replaced with English. Then came the Methodist 
Church, with youth, zeal and earnestness, holding its meetings in 
homes and schoolhouses and conducting great camp meetings in 
the woods. Other denominations followed until to-day there are 
ten, eight of which have numerous churches, and of the remaining 
two one has two churches, and the other a single church. 

The Presbyterians had been holding services and building 
churches within the limits of what is now western Perry County 
for several decades before the advent of the Lutherans to any ex- 
tent, although the Lutherans of that section east of the Juniata, 
about 1770, were holding meetings and were about organizing St. 
Michael's Church, in Pfoutz Valley. Rev. Focht, in his "Churches 
Between the Mountains," says the Lutheran people were occa- 
sionally visited by ministers of their own churches before 1774, 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 285 

according to tradition, and that afterwards they enjoyed frequent 
visits from Rev. John G. Butler, who was pastor of the Lutheran 
Church of Carlisle from 1780 to 1788. Shortly after that Rev. 
John Timothy Kuhl, of Franklin County, began visiting the mem- 
bers in Sherman's Valley, and in 1790 he moved among them and 
became the first regular pastor, having a large field and preaching 
once every six weeks at each place. In an old document belonging 
to the congregation at Loysville, it is written: "In the year of our 
Lord 1790, the Germans in Sherman's Valley secured the Evan- 
gelical Lutheran minister, the Rev. John Timotheus Kuhl, as their 
pastor." Rev. Focht, in his volume, further says : "The late Mr. 
George Fleisher, of Saville Township, who died in 1855, aged 
eighty-four years, when nineteen years old, with a team moved 
Rev. Kuril's family and effects from Franklin County to this val- 
ley. Rev. Kuhl resided near where Loysville is now located. 
From the above documentary evidence, we infer that he visited and 
preached to the members scattered at various points in the whole 
valley. Before the erection of Lebanon Church at Loysville, he 
preached in barns and private dwellings at different places in that 
neighborhood. Encouraged by a minister living in their midst, 
and united in their desires and efforts, the membership proceeded, 
in 1794, to build a house of worship at Loysville, which they de- 
nominated Lebanon Church." The history of the building of that 
church appears further on. The George Fleisher referred to was 
the grandfather of the various heads of the Fleisher families lo- 
cated about Newport some years ago and yet, viz : George, John, 
Amos, Prof. Daniel, etc. 

There has never been a Catholic church in Perry County. 
While the canal was building, during 1827-28, services were held 
occasionally in homes, as the employees were largely Irish Catho- 
lics. Their number was occasionally reduced by a death, and they 
purchased from John Huggins a plot of ground on the lands lying 
close to Liverpool and opened a cemetery. There was hut one 
tombstone in it and it marked the grave of John Doyle, a hotel 
keeper. The Liverpool folks have known it as "the Irish ceme- 
tery." 

With the settlement of both- English-speaking and German- 
speaking people in this territory the two languages were in general 
use, but the public business was conducted in English. The Ger- 
man element was loath to give up their language and, although 
their children were learning and speaking English, they contended 
against the preaching of the word in English in their churches. 
The most prominent example of this was that of Rev. John William 
Heim, pastor of the Loysville Lutheran Charge. When the West 
Pennsylvania Synod met at New Bloomfield in September, 1842, 
some of the ministers preached in the English language. Members 



286 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

of the congregation at Bloomfield — also a part of his charge — knew 
the necessity of introducing the English language and urged him 
to have an associate pastor who could preach in English. This he 
refused to do, with the result that an English Lutheran church 
was organized in June, 1844,- and held its meetings in the school- 
In uise, and later in the Presbyterian Church. This condition ex- 
isted until 1850, after the death of Rev. Heim, which occurred the 
previous year, when the two Lutheran churches were again put 
under one pastorate. But, as late as 1853 there was a requirement 
that one-third of the preaching should be in German. 

In the early years of settlement it was a common thing to travel 
long distances to church, over bridle paths and roads hardly worthy 
of the name. George and Alexander Johnston, of Toboyne Town- 
ship, the latter the father of Dr. A. R. Johnston, of New Bloom- 
field, were members of the United Presbyterian Church at Con- 
cord, Franklin County. They were born in 1802 and 1805, and 
died in 1872 and 1864, respectively, so that even to almost the 
middle of last century, it appears, it was not uncommon to travel 
a long way to divine worship. George W. Gehr, long a newspaper 
correspondent, tells of Elliottsburg citizens walking to New Bloom- 
field, before the building of the schoolhouse at Elliottsburg. in 
which the first services were held ; telling how the young ladies 
tripped along barefooted until they came to the gristmill site west 
of the county seat, where they put on shoes and hose and pro- 
ceeded to church. This was a custom in various parts of the 
county. H. E. Sheibley, editor of the Advocate, at New Bloom- 
field, recalls the time when his people attended the United Pres- 
byterian Church at Duncannon, making the ten-mile trip by car- 
riage. Ann West Gibson, the mother of the celebrated Chief Jus- 
tice Gibson, went from the Gibson mill, at the Spring-Carroll 
line, to Carlisle to attend the services of the Church of England 
(Episcopalian). In fact, many of the first pioneers crossed the 
Kittatinny to Carlisle to church before they had churches in their 
communities. 

There seems to be a diminishing of the number of the little 
country churches which once dotted the wayside, as population 
seeks the great centres and since labor-saving machinery has made 
less labor requirements upon the farms ; and in many cases when 
one enters those that remain the attendance seems to be consid- 
erably less than in the years gone by. Of course families are also 
smaller, and the introduction of motor cars has also had its ef- 
fect, but the passing of these churches is indeed to be regretted. 
They were a leading factor in the breaking down of sectarianism, 
they fostered the best in life and were to newcomers in the com- 
munity a refuge from homesickness and loneliness. They were, 
along with being houses of worship, also, to the country just what 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 



287 



the community centres are to the great cities. Men and women, 
boys and girls were better for having gone there, even if they 
were not members. By referring to the chapters in this book re- 
lating to the various townships it will be seen that here and there 
a church that once existed has gone. In several of the smaller 
towns there seems to have been too many denominations with the 
natural result that the population was insufficient to support them. 
Some strange facts stand out in the history of these earlier 
churches of Perry County. The Dick's Gap Church was supposed 




REV. JACOB GRUBER. 

(An early Circuit Rider.) 
Mr. Gruber was born in 1778 and died in 1850. On 
February 22, 1838, he was married to Rachel (Gillespie) 
Martin, widow of Capt. Joseph Martin, whose bust 
appears elsewhere as "The Bride of a Century Ago." 

to be central from the northern boundary to the southern county 
line, as were also Blain (Upper Church) and Centre. Dick's Gap 
had tree stumps for seats. The Millerstown Presbyterian Church 
was organized in a bar room and often had services there. During 
"the twenties," the county's early days, a pastor of that church 
said "there was little or no vital Godliness." Middle Ridge Church 
was practically torn down and carried away by vandals. The 
church at the mouth of the Juniata (Presbyterian) was blown 
down by a windstorm. With large emigration westward, espe- 
cially by the Scotch-Irish element, the Presbyterian churches have 
traveled hard lines in the smaller communities, but seven out of 



288 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

thirteen now holding worship. Groves, homes, schoolhouses, and 
even barns were used for early meetings. Few churches have 
burned. Some have passed away through the loss of population 
in their respective settlements. Several have been removed and 
built elsewhere. Some have been flooded by high waters during 
river floods. 

The clergymen of Perry County are, as a rule, a zealous and in- 
dustrious body, and Sunday school work and the opposition to the 
liquor traffic has had their almost united enthusiastic support. 
Many of them have gone to larger and broader fields. For decades 
ministerial associations have been in existence in Newport and 
Duncannon, and in 1920 the Ministerial Association of Western 
Perry County was organized at Loysville with Rev. G. R. Heim, 
of Blain, as president, and Rev. F. H. Daubenspeck, of Ickesburg, 
as secretary. Rev. A. R. Longanecker, of Loysville, and Rev. E. 
V. Strasbaugh, of Blain, were much interested in its organization. 

The old-time prayer meeting will be remembered by many of 
the readers of this hook, and through the years they will see a 
vision of one and recall the kindly voice of a devout worshiper 
whose presence is no longer felt, but whose example in the com- 
munity is remembered to this day. Many years ago, Jacob Crist, 
one of the good and substantial citizens of New Bloomfield, wrote 
for the Perry Freeman a poem which is here reproduced in part, 
not for any especial literary value, but as a pen picture of an old- 
time prayer meeting : 

PRAYER MEETING OF THE PAST. 

BY JACOB CRIST. 

Only ihe aged ones can know 
<)f prayer meetings, long ago, 
How Christian men, and women too, 
Did worship God, sincere and true. 

Most happy and sincere they felt, 
When side by side in prayer they knelt ; 
Then rise and sing while one would lead, 
"Alas! and did my Saviour Bleed." 

Then one would lead in prayer again, 
Would read a chapter and explain. 
Then sing about that Crimson Flood, 
"There is a Fountain filled with Blood." 

And "Come Thou Fount" they all would sing 
And, "Children of the Heavenly King" 
And ofttimes sing that hymn of praise, 
"Awake my soul in joyful lays." 

Then kneeling down without delay 
In happy mood they all would pray, 
Then sing some brother's favorite choice 
With cheering sound, and strengthened voice. 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES jX< } 

And Cennick's hymn, in highest tone, 
"Jesus, my all to heaven is gone"; 
Then too, well nigh beyond control, 
Sing "Jesus, lover of my soul." 

Then for the mourners all would pray, 
That Christ would wash their sins away ; 
Then rise and make their voices ring, 
"O for a thousand tongues to sing." 

The "mourners' bench" was always there, 
Where penitents would kneel for prayer, 
And Christians would with talk sincere, 
Encourage them to persevere. 

And Jones' invitation hymn, 
Which is pathetic and sublime ; 
"Come, humble sinner, in whose breast" 
Was sung and anxious souls were blest. 

One custom then, seems no more so, 
Then men and women both would go ; 
Now women mostly do attend. 
While men their evening elsewhere spend. 

Schoolhouses then were Bethels true, 
And men did not object thereto; 
The fuel too was not refused. 
But during winter, freely used. 

Lit candles hung around the wall, 
Would dimly shine within the hall, 
And ofttimes when they shone too dim, 
Some brother would with snuffers trim. 

Oft when the meeting knelt to pray, 
Bad boys would laugh, and talk and play, 
And then the leader would complain 
About their want of sense and brain. 

Sometimes his strictures were severe, 
And sometimes earnest and sincere ; 
But boys are boys, as they are yet, 
And good advice would soon forget. 

Near ten, the leader would propose 
To bring the meeting to a close ; 
Then rise and sing — ere they would go — - 
"Praise God, from whom all blessings flow." 

Outside the girls would find their beaux 
Where they would stand each side in rows, 
And when some one would get the "fling," 
Then cheers and laughs and whoops would ring. 

Soon would the people homeward go, 
S<»me better, others so and so, 
And thus repeat it o'er and o'er 
Or find excuse to go no more, 



ig 



2Q0 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Centre Presbyterian Church. This is the oldest church site still 
in regular use in Perry County. It was the first church organiza- 
tion in the territory, but the old Dick's Gap Church, shrouded 
more or less in mystery, is supposed to have been erected first, al- 
though in an uncompleted state as late as 1798. On September 9, 
1766, Thomas Ross, John Byers, Edward Allet, John Hamilton, 




PIONEER COMMUNION SERVICE. 

This was the first Communion Service of "the Church at the Mouth of the 
Juniata," now the Duncannon Presbyterian Church, the history of which ap- 
pears in the chapter relating to Duncannon. Official records of this church 
appear as early as 1804. 

and Hugh Alexander, in trust for the congregation at Tyrone, in 
Tyrone Township, took up the land-- upon which the church 
stands. They were surveyed April 17. 1767. The incorporating 
charter is signed by Governor William Findley, March 24, 1819. 
The grounds originally contained over seven acres, set with a fine 
stand of majestic oaks, many of which still stand. The old Centre 
school stood on the tract as does a parsonage and a home for the 



THF. EARLIEST CHURCHES 



291 



sexton. In the graveyard, with an extant (if several acres, are tomb- 
stones bearing dates as early as 1766. It is the last resting place 
of heroic and prominent people. The church is in the midst of 
the most historic section of Perry County, in itself being the most 
historic of the religions organizations. About the old church 
building there stood on guard two members of the flock with guns 
while the rest worshiped, as protection against the stealthy en- 
croachment of Indians. Worshipers came carrying their guns, 
ready for any attack. 

The trustees of Centre Church in 1819, when it was chartered, 
were John Linn, John Creigh, Thomas Purely, William McClure, 
Charles Elliott, Samuel McCord, David Coyle, Robert Elliott, and 
Samuel A. Anderson. 

I11 1767 the first church was erected of logs, with dovetailed 
corners. There were no arrangements for fire, even in severe 
weather. Two services were held on Sunday and lunches were 
brought along by the attendants who remained for the second serv- 
ice. As early as 1760 there had been requests for a preacher to 
the Donegal Presbytery, but the churches were not organized. 
However, preachers were sent. In '1766 the Presbyterian churches 
of Sherman's Valley asked for organization, and the Missionary 
Board of the Presbyterian Church sent Rev. Charles Beatty to 
visit the frontier settlements. (See previous pages.) 

In 1793 a stone church was erected in place of the log structure. 
It is said that some of the logs of this first church still are a part 
of the barn on the old Wormley farm, below Waggoner's. The 
third church was built in 1850, to which has since been added the 
Sunday school section. The entire church has also been remodeled 
several times. 

After some investigation three churches were organized, as fol- 
lows: the old Dick's Cap Church, Centre Church, and Blain, then 
called the Upper Church. April 14, 1767, Presbytery approved it. 
The "Limestone Church" (Samuel Fisher's), near Green Park, 
had already been partly erected, but Presbytery refused to organ- 
ize it on account of it being too near Centre Church. In 1772. 
however, the request was granted and it. with Centre and Upper 
(also sometimes called Toboyne) united in a call to Rev. William 
Thorn, but he declined. No pastor was secured until 1778, when 
Rev. John Linn was installed and remained until his death in 1820. 
In the meantime the "Limestone" Church was abandoned and in 
1823 the congregation at Landishurg was organized. A Rev. Gray 
filled in as a supply for several years. From 1826 to 183 1 Rev. 
James M. Olmstead was pastor of the Upper churches. From 
183 1 to 1836 Rev. Lindley C. Rutter served, followed by Rev. 
Nelson until 1842. Rev. George D. Porter followed in 1844 and 
remained until 185 1, also preaching for the Millerstown church. 



2i)2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Rev. George S. Ray, a supply, rilled in until 1854, when Landis- 
burg joined in with Centre and Blain. Then came Lewis Wil- 
liams, who was pastor until he died in 1857. Rev. John H. Clark- 
served 1857-62, and Rev. J. H. Ramsey 1863-67. 

Blain then united with Ickesburg. Centre and Landisburg called 
Rev. Robert McPherson, who remained until 1881. It was sup- 
plied until 1883, when Rev. John H. Cooper filled the place until 
1885, first as stated supply, then as pastor. 

From 1867 until the present time — a period covering more than 
a halt -century — Centre Church has had but six ministers, the sixth 
being the present pastor, as follows : 

1868-81 —Rev. R. M. McPherson. 
1883-85 — Rev. John H. Cooper. 
1887-1910 — Rev. Win. M. Burchfield. 
[910-14 ■ — Rev. George H. Miksch. 
1915-17 —Rev. Hugh R. Magill, M.D. 
1919 —Rev. Carl G. H. Ettlich. 

During the pastorate of Rev. Burchfield, in 1895, Landisburg, 
Blain (or Upper Church), and Buffalo (near Ickesburg) were 
detached from Centre Church. 

Of the "old stone church," built in 1793, Rev. William A. West, 
who wrote the History of the Presbytery of Carlisle, said : "The 
writer remembers well its appearance in his boyhood days, when 
he enjoyed the annual treat of a visit at his maternal grandfather's, 
close by. In style, in appearance, and in arrangement it was like 
nearly all the stone churches of that day." Rev. D. H. Focht, in 
his "Churches Between the Mountains," says that "the old church 
building was not erected until 1793," but fails to state that that was 
the second church to be erected there. 

Blain Presbyterian Church. The question of locating the first 
Presbyterian churches in the territory which now comprises Perry 
County came up at Donegal Presbytery's meeting April 24, 1766, 
and the committee sent to "reconnoitre" reported that there ought 
to be a church at Alexander Morrow's or James Blaine's (where 
there was already a graveyard) for the upper end of the valley, 
and one at George Robinson's for the centre." The people of the 
upper end erected their church near James Blaine's, near where 
the "Upper Church" still stands, and adjoining the graveyard 
spoken of. This James Blaine was the father of Ephraim Blaine, 
the Perry Countian who was Commissary General during the 
Revolutionary W r ar, and from him descended that great statesman, 
|"ames G. Blaine, younger generations adding an "e" to' the name. 
See chapter in this book entitled The Blaine Family. 

The early records of this church are missing, but according to 
the annals of Presbytery and early historical records there was an 
organized congregation where Blain now stands as early as 1767, 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 293 

in which year it united in a call with the churches at Centre and 
Dick's Cap to Presbytery for recognition and the services of a 
pastor. There is no evidence of the erection of a church then and 
the meetings, as they were known, were likely held in the homes. 
September 8, 1772, it united with Centre and "Sam Fisher's 
Church" ("Limestone" Church, near Green Park) in extending a 
call to Rev. William Thom to become pastor, hut he did not accept. 
They probably hack a building by this time. In 1777 they called 
Rev. John Linn, and from then to 1868 its pastors were the same 
as those of Centre Church. ( See preceding pages.) In that 
year the Blain and Ickeshurg churches united to form a charge. 
Rev. |. |. Hamilton, residing in Saville Township, was pastor 
from [869-75; Lev. Robt. McPherson, stated supply. 1877-81, 
and Rev. J. II. Cooper, residing in Blain, in 1884-85. Following 
Rev. Cooper, Rev. \Ym. Burchfield was pastor of this church, 
Buffalo (near Ickeshurg), Centre, and Landishurg, from 1887 to 
[895, when Centre became a separate charge, Rev. Burchfield con- 
tinuing until 1910. It then became known as the Landishurg 
charge. The minister resided in that town. The pastors were: 

1896-97 — Rev. Hugh G. Moody, stated supply. 
1898-1902 — Rev. A. F. Lott. 
1904- — Rev. Will H. Dyer. 

Following that period the regular pastors of Centre Church were 
again in charge, as follows: 

1910-14 — Rev. George H. Miksch. 
1915-17— Rev. Hugh R. Magill. 

During 1920-21 Rev. Carl G. II. Ettlich, pastor of Centre 
Church, was the stated supply pastor. In 1921 the Church Hill 
Cemetery Association was chartered and took over all the prop- 
erty of the church, which, as an organization, will cease to exist. 
Through removals and deaths the membership of the Upper 
(Blain) Church had become very weak and the Presbytery had 
proposed selling the same, which resulted in the incorporation of 
this cemetery association, the incorporators being James A. Noel, 
II. M. Hall, Dr. A. R. Johnston, and others. The church will be 
kept in repair for occasional meetings. This is a step in the right 
direction. These old landmarks should he preserved, as nearly as 
possible, in their original state. 

The first church was a long, low, log building near the school- 
house on "Church Hill." The present church, built long ago, 
stands adjoining a small grove. While there is no evidence ob- 
tainable yet, one is inclined to believe that this lot was given for 
church purposes by James Blain, who warranted the tract in 1765 
on which it is located, as the application for recognition by the 
Presbytery is dated early the next year, April 14, 1766. 



294 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

"Limestone Church." There was an early Presbyterian church 
located at Green Park, being located on the site of the old burying 
ground on the John Garlin farm. It was known as the "Lime- 
stone" or "Lower Church," and sometimes as "Sam Fisher's 
Church." and its people formed the first organization in 1766, but 
the Presbytery declined to give it regular standing on account of 
its nearness to Centre Church. The meetinghouse lot contained 
thirty-six acres, and it was surveyed in 1768. A log church was 
erected and after continuous appeals Presbytery consented June 
24, 1772, and this church. Centre Church, and the Upper churches 
called Rev. William Thorn, but he declined. Supply ministers 
then filled in until 1777, when a call was tendered Rev. John Linn, 
who was installed in June, 1778. He was in charge until his death 
in 1820. This church had been abandoned, however, before his 
death, and its place was filled by the organization of the Landis- 
burg church a few years later. It is known in some records as 
"Same Fisher's Church," as it was located upon a thirty-six-acre 
plot which he took up for church purposes. It is about six miles 
below Centre Church. In this old cemetery sleep the Fulwilers, 
Fosters, Neilsons, McClures, and other noted families. 

Dick's Cap. According to all records and to tradition the old 
Dick's Gap Church, in Miller Township, Perry County, was one 
of the first churches to be erected within the borders of what is 
now Perry County, if it could be called a church. It was built of 
logs, but for over thirty years was not filled between the logs with 
mortar. It is said to have had an old-fashioned clapboard roof and 
no floor, the attendants sitting on stumps and logs. 

Rev. John Edgar, who wrote a history of the Presbyterian 
churches of Perry County, made a careful search of all records, 
and considerable information is drawn from his research. 

The pioneer settlers of Sherman's Valley, which includes prac- 
tically all of the county lying west of the Juniata River, asked 
Donegal Presbytery for ministerial instruction in 1760. Six years 
later they again appealed to the same source for church organiza- 
tion. Both appeals were answered. After visits by several pio- 
neer preachers three churches were organized, as follows: Dick's 
Gap, which was located four miles east of New Bloomfield and 
three miles west of Bailey's Station, on the present line of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad ; Centre Church, the present site of the 
same organization, and the Upper Church, at Blain. Presbytery 
approved this arrangement on April 14. 1767, and these churches 
remained under the supervision of Donegal Presbytery until the 
organization of the Carlisle Presbytery, October 17, 1786. 

Dick's Gap was contemporary with the two upper churches 
named above and joined the Sherman's Creek Church in call- 
ing ;i pastor at the same time as the upper churches called the 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 295 

Rev. John Linn. The Dick's Gap Church called Rev. Hugh Magill 
in 1777. and the Sherman's Creek Church called him in 1778. He 
refused to preach during 1777-78-79, and Presbytery all the while 
sent supplies to these two churches. Among these supplies were 
Rev. John 1 foge, Rev. Waugh, Rev. William Linn, Rev. John 
Linn, Rev. Cooper, Rev. Henderson, Rev. Johnson, Rev. Mc- 
Mordie. Rev. Caldwell, Rev. Wilson, Rev. Speer, and Rev. Mc- 
Lane. Near the beginning of the last century Dick's Cap Church 
was abandoned and Middle Ridge Church took its place. 

The church was 18x20 in size, and its exact site is to-day a mat- 
ter of question. It is described shortly after the half of the last 
century had fled as being in "an unenclosed graveyard, in which 
trees of great age are growing near to and even upon graves, and 
many graves are covered with boulders, seemingly to prevent rav- 
ages of wolves." 

Mrs. Jane Black, mother of the late Isaac G. Black, of Dun- 
cannon, remembered this old church in 1797, when still in an un- 
finished state; built of pine logs, the spaces between the logs were 
not filled, but she also recollected that in 1798 a coat of mud plaster 
remedied that. It was, she says, roofless — wherein she differs from 
other accounts — and she remembers that her grandfather, John 
Graham, and Robert Johnson, were two of the elders, having 
heard that they dated back to about 1773, and they were still liv- 
ing in her time. Mrs. Black was born June 3, 1790, and was 
a daughter of John Stewart, who resided near "the Loop" of 
Sherman's Creek. She died May 1, 1881, in Philadelphia, at the 
home of her son, Isaac G. Black. To her memory posterity is in- 
debted for many of the few facts relating to this early church. 
She became a church member in 1805, but her memory dated back 
to when she was about seven, when she went with her mother and 
her grandfather, John Graham, who was an elder, to communion 
services in the old church. This must have been about J797- 
Within the church, which was without floor, the stumps of trees 
had been allowed to remain, and on these were placed split logs 
for seats. This church was a regularly organized one, but the only 
pastor ever called did not accept. The History of Presbytery 
shows it had very little nucleus and no growth. 

According to Mrs. Black she went to church on horseback, rid- 
ing behind her mother, while her grandfather would lead her horse 
by the bridle, passing through "Dick's Gap Trail." She recalled 
being told by her people that in earlier years guards were stationed 
outside the church to be on the lookout for Indians. Long lines 
of people came on horseback, often two on a horse. 

The consensus of opinion is that the old church stood to the east 
or left of the present Church of God, and somewhat nearer the 
rids-e which runs in the rear of the church. The mother of George 



296 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Barrick, of Newport, who lived to a ripe old age, and who died 
almost a half century ago, remembered when the church still stood, 
and gave its location as being near where the present Church of 
God stands. There is a gap in the ridge known as Dick's Hill, 
which probably accounts for the name Dick's Gap. It has long 
since ceased to be known by that name, and is now called Pine 
Grove, an unfortunate change in the eyes of those historically in- 
clined. On account of a man by the name of Stingle warranting 
land near by and building a sawmill, it had been known as Stingle's 
( kip 

As early as 1793 the church on Sherman's Creek was one of 
three churches — the other two being Dick's Gap and the one at the 
mouth of the Juniata — which were supplied pastors by Presbytery. 
The Sherman's Creek Church was so close that it drew support 
from the one at Dick's Gap. In the meantime almost all of the 
communicants lived long distances to the north, and they built 
Middle Ridge Church in 1804, having organized the previous year. 
Thus abandoned Dick's Gap day of usefulness passed with the 
ending of 1803. It stood for some years, an abandoned pile of logs. 
It is said that Marcus Hidings, the pioneer, and his wife, lie 
buried in the surrounding graveyard. According to tradition an 
old Indian trail led by this church, which is probably true, as these 
pioneers seemed to follow the trails of the departing race. Tra- 
dition says also that there are graves of both traders and Indians 
there. There is no way of proving the latter statement and it is 
left to the reader to conjecture. 

The church was built upon lands warranted by Nicholas Robi- 
son, in 1766, according to Rev. Focht's "Churches Between the 
Mountains." According to Mr. T. W. Campbell, a native and 
resident of the neighborhood, the old Indian trail is supposed to 
have passed by the site of Charles O. Houck's home, at the foot of 
Dick's Hill, on the Newport-Duncannon road, the residence once 
having been an old tavern but converted into a dwelling by Mr. 
Houck's ancestors. Rev. Focht erred in stating "by whom or for 
whom it was built it is now impossible to say," as there are many 
records to show that it was of the Presbyterian faith. The cover- 
ing of the graves with stones does not prove that they are Indian 
-raves, as there is record that the pioneers used that method in 
order to keep them from molestation by wolves. 

There are some things about this old church that are hard to 
understand. If it was built in 1767 why was it not "chunked and 
daubed" between the logs until 1798, and why was it yet roofless 
in 1797? Both these statements were made by Mrs. Black, a repu- 
table and religious woman, and are evidently true, yet they nat- 
urally cause inquisitiveness. That a people would meet in that 
kind of a building for over thirty years, without giving it even 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 297 

the ordinary advantages which their homes possessed is indeed 
strange. Might it have been that they early saw their error of 
location and in the following years used it only as a sort of cam]) 
meeting place during the summer months? From the silence of 
the long departed years there comes no voice to tell us. 

Shermansdale Presbyterian Church, The date of organization 
and early history of Sherman's Creek Presbyterian Church — the 
forerunner of the Shermansdale Church — are enveloped in ob- 
scurity. In all probability the location of the church at Dick's ( iap, 
in 1767, was meant to suffice for the lower end of that part of 
Perry County lying west of the Juniata. The language of the 
committee conveys that thought. In October, 1777, a call from. 
Dick's Cap went 'to Rev. Hugh McGill. When its acceptance was 
being considered the following spring the name of the Sherman's 
Creek Church first appears in the minutes of Presbytery (1778), 
in regard to the proportion of his time each should have. Accord- 
ing to these minutes the two churches are referred to as "the united 
congregations of Dick's Gap and Sherman's Creek." In 1779 Rev. 
McGill reported to Presbytery "on account of a disagreement in 
his congregation respecting the places of public worship, and his 
apprehension of their inability to support him," he desired to re- 
linquish his call. A noteworthy fact is that from then on the 
Sherman's Creek Church asked for supplies independently. 

Just when the first church was built is a mystery, but it was 
located between Fio Forge and Dellville (on the Charles Zeigler 
farm), where an old graveyard marks the site. There rests Swiss- 
helm, said to have been a squatter on the Zorger farm. A brown 
stone, on which the name is still legible, marks his grave. The 
church was sometimes referred to as Swisshelm's. Various vol- 
umes mark the date as 1804, but that date is wrong, as the follow- 
ing facts will show: Owing to the congregation's place of worship 
being close to that of "the church at the mouth of the Juniata" 
(the forerunner of the Duncannon Presbyterian Church), in 1801, 
there is record of its being moved, first to Boyd's, now known as 
the Matlack farm, and in 1802 "to Swisshelm's," now the Adam 
Zorger property. Tradition has it that at these first two locations, 
at the graveyard in the Zeigler field, and at Boyd's fording, at the 
Matlack farm, were built small places of worship. On October 8, 
1802, "verbal application was made to Presbytery for supplies 
every month to preach at the house of John Fitzhelm (Swiss- 
helm)." In 1804, at Pine Hill, about one hundred yards from 
Sherman's Creek, and two and a half miles east of their present 
church, a log church was erected. There this people worshiped 
until 1843, when the church was taken down and the best of its 
material used in the erection of the present church. There, in an 
old graveyard, rest the Wests, Smileys, Hendersons, and others. 



298 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

This church is located a half mile north of Shermansdale, upon 
lands donated by William Smiley. The congregation was incor- 
porated by an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature dated April 
16, 1829. 

The church was served altogether by supplies until 1804, when 
Rev. Joseph Brady was installed, on October 3, his call including 
the churches at the mouth of the Juniata and Middle Ridge, which 
comprised one charge until Middle Ridge was abandoned in 1841. 
He served until his death, which occurred April 24, 1 821, being 
pastor when the county was organized. Rev. John Noblock 
served from 1826 to 1830. Rev. Matthew B. Patterson was pastor 
from 1831 to 1853, and Hezekiah Hanson, from 1854 to 1856. 
Then, from 1857 to 1867 Rev. William B. Craig served the Sher- 
mansdale church and the New Bloomfield church, with which it 
had been united. Then Duncannon and Shermansdale were sepa- 
rated from New Bloomfield, and Rev. William Thompson was 
called in 1868 and remained until 1873, when Duncannon was 
separated from it. Rev. S. A. Davenport was pastor from 1878 
to 1880, before and after which it was filled by supplies, two of 
which were Rev. J. J. Hamilton and Rev. J. A. Murray, D.D. For 
one year, covering 1883-84, Rev. J. C. Garver, of the Landisburg 
charge, was pastor, since which time the pastors have been the 
same as those of the New Bloomfield church, with which it is 
united. See New Bloomfield chapter. 

Middle Ridge Church. Dick's Gap Church, in Miller Township, 
was, according to all available records, one of the first churches 
located in what is now Perry County. When services were no 
longer held there Middle Ridge replaced it. The organization was 
effected in 1803, and the church built in 1804. In that year (1803) 
Rev. Joseph Brady was called to the charge, which included this 
church and the ones at the mouth of the Juniata (Baskins') and 
Sherman's Creek (Swisshelm's). He was installed in October, 
1804, and served until his death in 1821, being buried in the Pres- 
byterian cemetery which occupies the bluff above northern Dun- 
cannon. 

Supplies were then sent by Presbytery, among them being Rev. 
Gray, who served Centre and Middle Ridge for six months, cov- 
ering one winter. In November, 1826, Rev. John Niblock was 
installed and served until his death, which occurred in August, 
1830, at the age of thirty-two years. His remains lie buried in the 
Middle Ridge graveyard, near the corner of the old church foun- 
dation. During January, 1831, Rev. Matthew Patterson began 
supplying the three churches, and in November was installed as 
their regular pastor. He filled the position until April 13, 1842, 
when the membership had dwindled and Presbytery dissolved the 
congregation and directed the membership to unite with New 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 



299 



Bloomfield or Millerstown, which churches had come into exist- 
ence in the meantime. 

When the church was no longer used by the Presbyterians, the 
Associate Reformed people — known as the seceders — began wor- 
shiping in it and continued to do so until i860. While the Pres- 
byterians held their services there they were attended by folks 
from as far as New Bloomfield, Millerstown, and other equally 
distant points. There is an authentic account of young folks com- 
ing from New Bloomfield on horseback to catechize, among them 
being Eve, a daughter of John and Catharine (Lesh) Smith. On 
their arrival Samuel Leiby, a youth, helped the fair Miss Smith 
from her horse, and his gallantry won him a wife, who became 
the maternal ancestor of the prominent Leiby families of Perry 
County. By an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature of April 16, 
1829, the churches at Middle Ridge, the mouth of the Juniata, and 
Sherman's Creek were incorporated. The trustees were urged to 
sell the building, but failed to do so, and no longer in use, it be- 
came the object of marauders, who tore out and carried off pews, 
tore the doors from their hinges, and even removed a part of the 
roof. The stove had been loaned to the school board and was 
destroyed when the schoolhouse was burned. Every vestige, save 
the foundation, has gone to decay. 

The mode of journeying to the old church was either on foot 
or horseback. Behind the husband often rode the wife, and per- 
haps a small child, and in many cases a mother rode with a small 
child in her arms. Naturally those residing at the greatest dis- 
tances started first, and as they passed others joined, crossroads 
contributing large delegations. Traveling two abreast they fre- 
quently arrived in great troops from different directions. The 
services were held twice each Sunday, the first one in the morning 
and the other in the early afternoon, lunches being carried along 
to be eaten during the intervening period. Later "the Tilburry," 
a two- wheeler, came into vogue, and a few were in use by at- 
tendants. 

When Rev. Edgar, to whose historic articles we are indebted 
for no little material used in our descriptions along religious lines, 
was a resident of the county, a Miss Black, of Millerstown, sent 
him a relic of that early period. It is described by him as "a little, 
oblong piece of metal, marked 'M. R.,' and distributed to the 
members a day or two before communion, to entitle them to a 
place at the sacramental table." 

This church was, originally, well founded and substantial. 
When the call was sent Rev. Brady in 1803, it offered sixty pounds 
for one-third of his services. Sherman's Creek Church and the 
church at the mouth of the Juniata offered fifty pounds each, later 
raising the amounts to sixty. 




JACOB BUCK. 
(Out- of the best men I ever knew.) 

In almost every community throughout the county there were men 
and women whose constancy and zeal never laxed, and whose com- 
munities were marked by their noble lives. Such a man was Jacob 

Buck, born October 9, i S 1 5 , whose death occurred February 20, 1907. 
The grandson of an original pioneer after whom Buck's Valley was 
named he early followed the Master and for long years was class 
leader of the United Brethren congregation which worshiped at Buck's 
Church, and superintendent of the Sunday School. "Grandfather 
Buck," as everybody knew him, was widely known over the eastern 
third of Terry County for much of his life, over 91 years. 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 301 

There was an early Sabbath school started here in 1823 or 1824, 
which was well attended. Its first, superintendent was Ralph 
Smiley, an unmarried man, and the owner of Fravel's mill, south 
of Witherow's, whose remains lie interred in the old graveyard at 
New Bloomfield. 

The Gap Church. There was an early church located in Half 
Falls Mountain (".a]), erected about 1780, near a beautiful spring, 
on lands which were vacant until near the middle of last century. 
It is supposed to have been burned down in 1800. Professor 
Wright, the historian, states that "the foundation stones may still 
be seen (1880) and the spot recognized." There was no grave- 
yard there. The existence of this church has been questioned, 
but Mrs. William Kumler, all her life a resident of the immediate 
vicinity, was told of it by her aunt, Mrs. Mary Baird, who de- 
scribed how they used to ride to and from the church there on 
horseback, which substantiates its existence. 

That this church really existed, although it has been questioned, 
is further attested by a statement of I. E. Stephens, a life-time 
resident of Bucks Valley, Buffalo Township, who says: "The peo- 
ple in an early day worshiped in a church situated on the top of 
Half Falls Mountain. It was used by the inhabitants of Buck's 
Valley and those of Watts Township. This church was destroyed 
by fire in 1800." Learning of its existence from an old resident 
Mr. Stephens soon found himself at the mountain top, on the road 
leading from Buck's Valley to New Buffalo. At the township 
line, on the crest of the mountain, stands a large oak tree. Taking 
thirty steps due west, and then thirty due south, he found the 
remnant of the old foundation, through which now runs a wood 
road. 

Judging the matter by deduction, it is to be presumed that there 
was an earlier church than either Buck's Church, in Buck's Valley, 
or the old Union Church at the Hill, in Watts Township, for there 
was an early religious spirit pervading the community in the very 
early years and, not far from this location, at the Richard Baird 
place (at the forks of the road near the Richard Callin residence), 
was started one of the first Sunday schools in Perry County. 
Further deduction is possible, for Rev. Focht, in his "Churches 
Between the Mountains," says this primitive Gap Church was 
burned down "about the beginning of the century." From his 
volume it is also to be learned that a graveyard already existed 
where the Hill Church now stands, and that the first church there 
was built during the period from 1804 to 1809. If the Gap Church 
existed and burned about that time, its replacement in the com- 
munity at another and better location within a very few years 
would be logical. Rev. Focht names Rev. Mathias Guntzel and 
Rev. John Herbst, Lutheran ministers, as preaching there, the 



302 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

former from about 1789 to 1796, and the latter from 1796 for a 
few years. 

St. Michael's Lutheran Church. When the land office opened in 
1755 there were at least three Germans who warranted lands in 
Pfoutz Valley. In the succeeding years many others followed, 
and thus that section of Perry County became the pioneer Lu- 
theran community of the county and had the first regularly organ- 
ized congregation. Shortly after the expeditions of the Indians, 
which ceased in 1764, they were visited by ministers who held 
occasional services. Then, some time between 1770 and 1773 the 
congregation was regularly organized. Baptismal records date 
hack to October, 1774. Rev. Michael Enderlin then being the pas- 
tor, and remaining such until April, 1789. This was the seventh 
congregation to organize in what is now Perry County, and the 
first outside of the Presbyterian faith. The deed to the church 
grounds, dated February 15, 1776, reads in part as follows: 

"This Indenture, made the fifteenth day of February, in the year of our 
Lord, one thousand, seven hundred and seventy-six, by and between John 
Fonts, of Greenwood Township, in Cumberland County, and Province of 
Pennsylvania, of the one part, and John Long and Philip Huber and the 
whole Lutheran congregation of the township, county and province afore- 
said, of the other part." 

While the person who wrote the deed wrote the name "Fouts," 
yet inscribed the signature is plainly Pfautz — now spelled Pfoutz. 
It was recorded at Carlisle, June 13, 1788. 

Prior to the deed's execution a large schoolhouse had been 
erected upon the grounds, and in it the early settlers worshipped 
from 1770 until 1798, as the building was their property. After 
the last incursion of the Indians in 1763, when many of the resi- 
dents of this section were cruelly massacred, and prior to the 
erection of the school buildings services were held in the homes. 
It was on these grounds that these victims were buried, before 
either school building or church was there. Fearing surprise from 
the Indians when funerals were held the men carried their guns. 
They also came to church services carrying their guns. At that 
time the surrounding cemetery was the only one in the valley. 
Tradition tells of pioneers being tied to the hickory tree (now 
gone) at the corner of the church land and made targets for the 
deadly arrows of the red skins. It is said that the graveyard was 
started by the interment of their bodies. In "The Churches Be- 
tween the Mountains," Rev. D. H. Focht says : "No graveyard, 
and no place of worship in Perry Count)-, is as old as this," which 
he evidently later found to be incorrect, as his introduction gives 
the credit for the first congregations to Centre and Dick's Gap. 
From the same authority it is learned that "on the 19th of March, 
in the year 1798, the church edifice was erected, and on the 25th 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 303 

of May, 1800, the church was consecrated," the services being in 
German. It was a log building, about 35x45 feet in size, with a 
gallery on three sides. The pulpit was high and supported by a 
post, and the seat- had high and erect backs. The organ was on the 
gallery fronting the pulpit, and was not used as late as 1820, having 
become ruined. This old church stood until 1847, when it was re- 
placed by a new one. In 1802 the congregation purchased an addi- 
tional acre of ground from John Long for one dollar. Witli no 
free school system in sight, it appears the proceeds of the land 
were to go towards the support of the schoolmaster, who was also 
to lead the singing in the church and play the organ. For many 
years a congregational school was maintained there. The min- 
isters were : 

1774-89 — Rev. Michael Enderlin. 
1789-1800 — Rev. Matthias Guntzel. 
1800-04 — R ev - John Herbst. 
1805-14 — Rev. J. Conrad Walter. 
1815-33 — R ev - John William Heim. 

During the pastorate of Rev. Walter, Rev. George Heim was 
his assistant. Other ministers conducted baptismal and other cere- 
monies during these years, but a careful perusal of Rev. Focht's 
book will not show them as regular pastors, although a number of 
historians have so stated. Then followed : 

1833-35 — 'Rev. C. G. Erlenmeyer. 

1 83 5 -42 — Vac ant. 

1842-43 — Rev. Andrew Berg. 

1843-47 — Vacant. 

1847-51 — Rev. William Weaver. 

Rev. Weaver found but three members of the congregation left, 
but immediately began a movement for building a new church. At 
a congregational meeting in March, 1847, a building committee 
was appointed, consisting of David Kepner, Joseph Ulsh, Fred- 
erick Reinhard, John Ulsh, and George Beaver. The carpenter 
work was contracted for at $680, and the masonry done separately. 
The corner stone was laid in June, and in the fall it was dedicated. 
Rev. Weaver resigned in 185 1, and the pastorate was vacant until 
October, 1856. Pastors since then have been: 

1856-59 — Rev. Josiah Zimmerman. 
1859-61 — Rev. Jacob A. Hackenber^cr. 
1861-62— Rev. William O. Wilson. 

In April, 1862, it became attached to the Liverpool charge, since 
which time the ministers have been the same. See Liverpool 
chapter. 

Lebanon Lutheran Church. In 1790 the Lutherans were organ- 
ized at Loysville by Rev. John Timothy Kuhl, who that year began 



304 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

visiting the different sections of Sherman's Valley in the interests 
of that denomination. Rev. Kuril's family came from Path Val- 
ley, and George Fleisher, of Saville Township, who died -in 1855, 
aged eighty-four years, hauled their household goods over the 
mountains, he being then a boy of nineteen. Private homes and 
barns were the scenes of many of these early meetings. Martin 
Bernheisel and Michael Loy donated two acres and forty-two 
perches of laud in 1794 for the erection of a church and school 
building. The building was about 30x40 in size, and in 1808 
was weatherboarded and painted white, from that time on being 
known as "the white church." John Calhoun superintended the 
building and a building committee consisted of Michael Loy, 
George Hammer and Peter Sheibley. While the majority of the 
congregation were Lutherans yet the Reformed denomination was 
an equal owner. It was in use until 1850. 

March 2, 185 1, a new church was dedicated, the pastors then 
being Rev. F. Ruthrauff, Lutheran, and Rev. C. H. Leinbach, Re- 
formed. Its construction was of brick and its cost about six thou- 
sand dollars. In 1883 it was remodeled at a cost of about $2,500. 

Rev. Kuhl served as pastor until 1796. The following five years 
Rev. John Herbst, of Carlisle, acted as supply. Then came Rev. 
Frederick Sanno, and later Rev. John Frederick Osterloh, who 
resided on a farm in Saville Township and also occupied the pul- 
pits at New Bloomfield, St. Peter's (Spring Township), and Fish- 
ing Creek (Rye Township). In May, 1815, Rev. John William 
Heim became pastor, and until 1828 his pastorate included not 
only almost all of Perry County, but all of Juniata and Mifflin. 
In that year he moved to Loysville and died there on December 
27, 1849. 

After Rev. Heim's death Sherman's Valley was divided into 
three charges, the Upper Circuit including Loysville (Lebanon) 
church, Zion, St. Peter's, and Ludolph's (Little Germany). The 
middle, or Bloomfield charge, to include also Ickesburg, Shuman's, 
Bealor's, and Newport, and the lower, or Petersburg charge, to in- 
clude that church, Pisgah, Fishing Creek, Billow's, and New 
Buffalo. 

The congregation at Loysville had built a parsonage and bought 
fifteen acres of land as early as 1828. While Rev. Heim was 
pastor as early as 181 5, he did not reside in Loysville until this 
parsonage was built, and he then gave up his appointments in Mif- 
flin County. While pastor here he found time and money where- 
with to purchase a farm and erect a gristmill. In 1833 he gave 
ui) the congregations east of the Juniata so that they might be 
formed into a separate charge, and in 1835 he gave up those in 
Juniata County for a similar reason. In 1842 he still had eight 
churches in Perry County. 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 305 

The church erected in 1851 was used jointly by the Lutherans 
and Reformed faiths until 1909, when a separation took place, the 
interest of the Lutherans having been purchased by the Reformed 
people, who still use the edifice. In that year the Lutherans 
erected a new church, known as the Tressler Memorial Church, 
the cost of which was v$ 16,000. Its seating capacity is live hun- 
dred, and it is one of the finest churches in the county. 

Until 1850 the services were held entirely in German, hut in that 
year Rev. Frederick Ruthrauff began preaching alternately in Eng- 
iish. 1 fe resigned in 1852. In 1853 Rev. Reuben Weiser followed, 
hut was elected as president of Central College of Iowa in 1856. 
Rev. 1 'hilip W'illard then served two years. The succession of min- 
isters from then on is as follows : 

Rev. G. M Settlemoyer, 1859-61. Rev. John F. Dietrich, 1877-S0. 

Rev. Peter Sahm, 1862-69. Rev - F - Aurand, 1880-83. 

Rev. Daniel Sell, 1869-71. Rev. W. D. E. Scott, 1883-1906. 

Rev. John B. Stroup, 1873-74. Rev. Geo. A. Royer, 1907-14. 

Rev. Isaiah B. Crist, 1875-77. Rev. A. R. Longenecker, 1914-20. 

Rev. J. G. C. Knipple, 1921- 
Rev. John William Heim was the pastor of this church for 
thirty-four years. In the spring of 1824, at Eastertide, he re- 
ceived into membership a class of seventy persons. 

Loysville Reformed Church. The history of the Reformed 
congregation's church home is identical with that of the Lutheran 
Church, described above, as the two bodies were joint owners of 
the old Lebanon Church. The first minister of the Reformed con- 
gregation was Rev. Jacob Scholl, who became pastor in October, 
1819, although there were earlier ministers of that faith who held 
occasional services, one probably being Rev. Ulrich Heininger, who 
traveled Sherman's Valley. Rev. Scholl served until 1841, when 
he was succeeded by Rev. Charles H. Leinbach, who served until 
[859. A list of the pastors since that time will be found under the 
Landisburg Reformed Church. 

St. Peters Church. Two miles east of Landisburg, in Spring 
Township, stood St. Peter's Church, built in 1816-17, and dedi- 
cated in the spring of 1817. While its inception is shrouded in 
obscurity yet it is known to have been a preaching station when 
Loysville Church was formed in 1790, the ministers from Carlisle 
stopping to attend to the spiritual needs of the members. 

Historians place the probable date of first services as 1788, and 
1809 as about when the Lutheran and Reformed congregation^ 
wcia' organized there. Prior to 1815 both congregations had wor- 
shiped in a school building which stood on the site now occupied 
by St. Peter's Union Church. This school building was likely the 
property of the two congregations. 

December 23, 181 5, is the date of an agreement between the 
two congregations to build a church, in which it was staled that 



3 o6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

owing to the increasing number of Germans in that vicinity and 
the rapid growth of the congregations, the schoolhouse was too 
small for further worship. The new church was built on lands 
given for the purpose by John Gamber, and was dedicated in the 
spring of 1817. It was a log structure, 35x40 feet in size, and had 
a gallery on three sides, a cup-shaped pulpit mounted on a high 
post, and high, unpainted seats. The building committee was 
Henry Kell, Reformed, and John Miller, Lutheran. 

This old landmark stood until 1857, when on September 20th 
the present brick church was dedicated, taking its place, and belong- 
ing to the German Reformed people, the Lutherans having at the 
same time erected their own church. On April 28, 1824, $800 was 
paid to Samuel Ickes for fourteen acres of land for a parsonage for 
the pastor of the "German Reformed Presbyterian Church," by 
Philip Stambangh, trustee of Zion Church in Toboyne Township ; 
Henry Kell, trustee of Lebanon Church in Tyrone Township ; 
Philip Kell, trustee of St. Peter's Church in Tyrone (now Spring) 
Township ; William Hippie, trustee of Fishing Creek Church (now 
Rye) Township; Casper Lupfer, trustee of Christ's Church in 
Juniata Township. Here the pastor resided for many years. 

Rev. Alfred Helfenstein, pastor at Carlisle, was the first one to 
come over the mountain and hold services. On October 3, 18 19, 
Rev. Jacob Scholl assumed the regular pastorate of the Sherman's 
Valley charge, which extended as far as New Bloomfield. By 
1838 the work had become so extended on this charge that it was 
divided. Rev. Scholl remained at the Landisburg end until 1841, 
when he accepted a call to the lower end and remained pastor of 
the New Bloomfield charge until his death on September 4, 1847. 
His successor, Rev. C. H. Leinbach, served sixteen and a half 
years. From then on the pastors have been the same as those found 
under the Landisburg Reformed Church. See Landisburg chapter. 

Mt. Zion Lutheran Church. The Mt. Zion Lutheran Church's 
home was jointly with St. Peter's Reformed in the old Union 
church building just previously described, and was known as St. 
Peter's Lutheran congregation. In 1857 this old church was dis- 
mantled and each congregation built its own church. The Lu- 
theran then became Mt. Zion, and was dedicated May 30, 1858, 
Rev. Philip Willard then became the pastor. Stephen Losh was the 
contractor and the contract price was $2,300.00. George Sheaffer, 
Jeremiah Dnnkelberger, and Joseph Dnnkelberger were the build- 
ing committee. It was extensively repaired in 1882 and again in 
1894. Starting with Rev. John F. Osterloh, in 1809, the ministers 
have been the same as those of the Lutheran Church at Loysville. 
See chapter relating to Tyrone Township. 

71//. Pisgah Lutheran Church. The Lutherans of Carroll Town- 
ship were among those who first attended church at Carlisle, cross- 



THE EARLIEST CHURCHES 307 

ing the Kittatinny Mountain. Later they worshiped at Ml. Zion, 
described above, and at St. Peter's, in Spring Township. They 
had preaching services occasionally at Reiber's schoolhouse by Rev. 
Keller and Rev. Heyser, of the Carlisle churches. In 1838 they 
began holding their own services regularly, every four weeks, and 
a year later became a regularly organized congregation. 

Their church is located in Carroll Township, on the southern 
side of Sherman's Creek, and is near the site of Sutch's school- 
house, which was built between 1775 and 1780. There is an old 
graveyard there where many pioneers sleep. In 1842 Abraham 
Jacobs donated a lot for church purposes, with a proviso that 
when the Lutherans were not using it for their services it was to 
be available for any Christian denomination. A frame church was 
built and dedicated September 24, 1842. Its pastors were: 

Rev. John Ulrich, 1838-42. Rev. Levi T. Williams, 1842-45. 

Rev. Jacob kempfer, 1842. Rev. Lloyd Knight, 1845-49. 

Rev. Jacob Martin, 1850. 

In 1851 the church united with the Petersburg (now Duncan- 
non) charge, whose pastors served it until 1870, since which time 
it has had no regular services. During June, 1920, it was re- 
opened for a service by Rev. Longanecker, pastor of the Loysville 
church. Pastors of two other denominations joined in a com- 
munity service, designed to keep this old landmark from passing. 

Other Churches. The history of all the churches throughout the 
county, save these very early ones, appears in the chapters devoted 
to the various townships and boroughs. Where facts are missing, 
and there are some, letters sent out for information remained un- 
answered, with the necessarily attendant result. 

Oldest Buried Ground. Just which is the oldest burial ground 
in the county is at this late date a matter of conjecture. In the 
Evarts, Peck & Richards History of the Juniata and Susquehanna 
Valleys, Horace E. Sheibley says : 

"The site of the old Sherman's Creek Church, near Shermans- 
dale, is marked by an old graveyard, on what is known as the 
Zeigler property, between Fio Forge and Dellville, and where tra- 
dition claims that the first white man buried in the county was 
laid. In it are interred ancestors of the Stewarts and Kirkpatricks, 
of Duncannon." Swisshelms are also among those buried there. 

The Sherman's Creek Church, which was the forerunner of the 
present Shermansdale Presbyterian Church, can be traced back to 
1778, when it first appeared in the records of Presbytery, but it 
may have been organized before that or been a community affair 
for a time. Likewise, it may have been built where burials had 
previously been mack'. 

In 1766 three church organizations were formed within the lim- 
its of the present county; where Centre Church now stands, at 



308 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Dick's Gap, and at or near Blain. In the cemetery at Centre, 
among other old stones, is one bearing the following legend: 



Here lies the body of 

Martha Robison, 

Who departed this life 

December 22, 1766, 

In the 81st year of her age. 



What relation she was to that memorable Robinson family 
which so often befriended the persecuted pioneers and much of 
whose history is recorded in these pages, must forever remain un- 
known, but barring tradition, her interment must have been among 
the first. So soon after the entry of the settlers in 1755 did the 
Indians arrive that there may have been no deaths at that time, 
but the returning settlers came back in large numbers in 1762, and 
it is hardly likely that there were no deaths in over four years 
among all the number, so that in the opinion of the writer the 
death of Martha Robison was not the first, but it is the first of 
which we could find record. Tradition has pioneers buried in the 
St. Michael's Lutheran churchyard in 1763, after massacres by the 
Indians. During the Indian invasion of 1755 there were also 
deaths, but where burial took place is not known. The tradition 
as to the old Sherman's Creek yard containing the first grave of a 
white man may be correct. In the cemetery at Loysville are a 
number of graves of persons who died prior to 1800, which at- 
tests the fact that this was a burying ground already over a cen- 
tury and a quarter ago. The Blain burial ground already existed 
in .1766. 

Wilson College Planned. Eighteen miles north of Mason and 
Dixon's line, at Chambersburg, in the beautiful Cumberland Val- 
ley, Wilson College, a leading women's college is located. Its first 
board of trustees was appointed at a meeting in the Presbyterian 
Church at Duncannon, at which time it was decided to open the 
college. Members of the Presbytery of Carlisle began a move- 
ment in 1868 for the formation of a college, and laid their repre- 
sentations before the spring meeting of Presbytery at Greencastle, 
April 15, 1868. It was favorably received and referred to the 
Committee on Education, which met at Duncannon, in June, 1868. 
There the action was favorable and the first plans of that great 
institution were made in Perry County. The Pennsylvania Legis- 
lature chartered it March 24, 1869. Its location was determined 
by a gift of great value by Miss Sarah Wilson, which enabled the 
trustees to purchase the residence of that former Perry Count ian. 
Col. A. K. McClnre, together with its fifty-two acres of adjoining 
lands, to-day the college grounds. 



CHAPTER XVII. 
THE COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT. 

THE firsl schools anywhere, ordained of God, were families, 
where parents taught their children to live in the fear and 
admonition of the Lord. Undoubtedly, as many facts in this 
book will verify, the early settlers of this territory brought with 
them from their homes Christian principles, which caused them to 
think early of their education along secular as well as religious 
lines. The early churches were used as schools in some instances, 
and where there was a schoolhouse and no church the condition 
was reversed, and the "meetings," as they were then known, were 
held in the schoolhouses. 

When William Penn became the proprietary of the Province of 
Pennsylvania he was not unmindful of the necessity of an educa- 
tional system, for he knew that a free government depended on 
an intelligent people for its success as well as its perpetuity. The 
second Assembly convened at Philadelphia in 1683, and on March 
roth of that year enacted the following law with reference to the 
education of the children of the province: 

"And to the end that the Poor as well as the Rich may be instructed in 
good and commendable learning, which is to be preferred before wealth, 
"Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all persons within this 
Province and territories thereof, having children, and all the Guardians 
or Trustees of Orphans, shall cause such to be instructed in reading and 
writing, so that they may be able to read the Scriptures, and to write by 
the time they attain to the age of twelve years, and that then they be 
taught some useful trade or skill, that ye poor may work to live, and the 
Rich, if they become poor, may not want, of which every county court 
shall take care; and in case such Parents, Guardians or Overseers shall 
be found deficient in this respect, every such Parent, Guardian or Over- 
seer shall pay for every such child five pounds, except there should appear 
an incapacitie of body or understanding to hinder it." 

While the law referred to the province generally yet it is con- 
sidered especially applicable here, as Perry County has ever been 
considered one of the foremost counties in the state in an educa- 
tional way. It shows that the early legislators of the province 
were concerned with education and that the courts by that act re- 
ceived their first authority to require attendance at school. 

When the State Constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted in 
1790 it contained a provision for the establishment of schools 
throughout the commonwealth, that the poor might be taught gratis 
a,nd that the arts and sciences should be promoted through one or 
more institutions of learning, but left to the legislature the fram- 

309 



3io 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



ing of the provisions. Pursuant thereto the act for the education 
of poor children was passed April 4, 1809. It savored more of 
philanthropy than of wisdom. The assessors, according to the 
provisions of the bill, were required to take a census of "all chil- 
dren between the ages of five and twelve, whose parents were un- 
able to pay for their schooling," thus putting both child and parent 
in an equivocal position. Naturally the raising of a class distinc- 
tion between pay pupils and charity pupils made the system odious 




PROF. D. A. K IJ X I •; . Present Co. Supt. of Schools. 

from the beginning, and the object of the law thus became prac- 
tically mill and void. As a whole it developed caste among even 
the children. Many of the poor would as soon have seen their 
children grow np in ignorance as to have had them considered 
paupers. These schools were known as "charity schools." While 
generally a failure yet it did some good, and in later years the 
commonwealth had the spectacle of boys whose fathers had paid 
for their attendance sitting in the highest positions besides boys 
whose tuition had been paid by the public, an everlasting reminder 
that the Creator of the universe gives to neither rich nor poor a 



COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT 311 

superior quality of brains. In our highest position in the land, 

the Presidency, this is well illustrated in the cases of George 
Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Theodore Roosevelt, Wash- 
ington and Roosevelt being children of the more wealthy, and Lin- 
coln being born in a log cabin and poor even when he attained that 
great office. This charity idea had been tried before. About 1750 
about £20,000 were raised in Europe for the purpose of opening 
charity schools among the Germans in America. Some were 
opened, but the Germans did not welcome the idea of charity. 
The object then had a double purpose, that of weaning them from 
their language, and with a political object in view. It ended in 
failure. 

The early settlers of the county territory experienced all the 
privations incident to frontier life. The first settlers were either 
driven out or murdered, and not until after the Revolution was it 
possible to do anything with a view to permanency. The first 
schools were usually community affairs, and the branches taught 
were the rudimentary spelling, reading, writing, and arithmetic. 
The houses were built of logs and were very crude. The desks or 
tables and the seats were made of boards and slabs, and the win- 
dows had greased paper in place of window glass. 

A sparse population extending over a wide extent of country, 
mainly covered with dense forests and destitute of roads and 
bridges, was not conducive to the establishment of good schools 
within convenient distances. The occupations of the pioneers also 
were such that the time to be devoted to education was limited, 
owing to the necessity of clearing lands and erecting houses and 
other farm buildings, while, at the same time planting and harvest- 
ing the products of the soil to maintain a livelihood. There was 
no labor-saving machinery then and agricultural operations were 
of necessity slow and tedious. The threshing of the crops, now 
done in a day or two, then required months, as the "flail" was the 
"machinery" then in use to get the grain from the stalk. The 
daughters of the pioneers were just as much needed in the homes, 
as then all clothing was made by hand, and the operations of the 
spinning wheel and the needle (there being no sewing machines), 
along with the other household duties, required their constant 
attention. 

The schools in those days were ruled to a great extent by cruel 
methods of punishment and humiliation. The "locking out of the 
teacher" was a holiday and last-day custom in many parts of the 
county. At Millerstown, during one of these frolics, Valentine 
Varnes, the teacher, had an arm injured, the use of which was 
impaired for the balance of his life. Many pupils had no books 
at all. Others had perchance a Bible, a speller or an old English 
reader. A few had slates. Fewer still had foolscap paper. These 



3 12 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



were invariably boys, as it was considered unnecessary for girls 
to learn to write or "figure." The few who had copy books were 
also the possessors of goose quills, as Joseph Gillett did not invent 
the steel pen until 1820. By introducing machinery in manufac- 
ture the price became as low as twenty-five cents each, after which 
a few found their way into the schools. There was no uniformity 
in the use of textbooks, each pupil bringing such as the family pos- 
sessed. History, geography, grammar, physiology, and algebra 
were unknown in the schools of that day. In 1823 the Columbia 
Standard spelling book was the one in general use in the new 
county. 

No attention was given to elementary sounds, yet many good 
spellers came out of our earlier schools; in fact, the scholars of 
a half century ago were probably better spellers than are their de- 
scendants of to-day, but the present-day pupils have far more 
branches. When geography was first taught the method was to 
have the pupil learn all the states and their capitals, even singing 
them in order to memorize. Blackboards were practically unknown 
until about 1850. The teachers wrote the copy for the copy books 
of foolscap paper. Shortly after the organization of Perry County 
the old log schoolhouses were gradually replaced by frame struc- 
tures, which had better light, but were not nearly so warm. About 
the middle of the last century the red brick buildings began re- 
placing the frame, being known universally as "the little red 
sehoolhouse." 

For those who disparage these early pioneer schools or "the little 
red sehoolhouse," which followed in their wake the writer has 
little sympathy, as the fine new high school building in many a 
place is but the fruition of the seed sown over a century ago; and 
we know that with the hundreds of disadvantages under which 
they labored, they did well, and builded better than they knew. 
These new high school buildings with plastered and papered walls, 
fine desks, books galore, heated throughout at the same tempera- 
ture, no matter what the condition of the weather, are the logical 
successors of these little log schoolhouses just as much as is the 
line modern passenger train with its vestibuled cars the successor 
of the Conestoga wagon and the packet boat. Without the one we 
would never have progressed to the other. Practically all great 
institutions and machines are the results of progression and the 
products of many minds and years of experience and experiment. 

Throughout the state there was more or less opposition to 
progress in education. A strange coincidence along this line is 
worthy of reproduction here. A number of young men decided 
that they wanted an academy at Bath, Northampton County, so as 
to secure a more advanced education. They decided to canvass the 
community for subscriptions, and among others upon whom they 



COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT 3T3 

called was George Wolf, a German who was located in the neigh- 
borhood. He refused, remarking in broken English, "l)is etication 
and dings make raskels." He later on relented and helped build 
the academy. In inducing the subscription his young caller men- 
tioned his two sons, George and Philip, as probable future bene- 
ficiaries of the school, and suggested that his favorite son, George, 
might get an education and some day become governor, to which 
he replied, "Veil, den, when my George is gobernor, he will he 
queer times." The sequel is that George Wolf got his English 
education in that academy and did become the governor of his 
state, and one of the most illustrious of his time, being the firsl 
governor to call attention to the appalling condition of ignorance 
which faced the commonwealth. 

The passage of the act of 1834 to a great extent can be credited 
to Governor Wolf, who in 1833 had become acquainted with the 
fact that while there were four hundred thousand children of 
school age in the state there were hut twenty thousand in school, 
or while one was getting an education there were nineteen others 
growing up illiterate. In his annual message to the legislature he 
mentioned these facts and appealed for legislation to remedy this 
a] »] tailing condition. 

The first effort at establishing a free school system in the state 
was in 1820, when a Dr. Cummings, a member of the Pennsylvania 
Legislature, introduced a bill to establish one. It failed to pa^s 
and the author was not reelected, as that act caused him to be re- 
garded as a dangerous man and his constituency felt disgraced by 
his actions. Henry Beeson, of Fayette County, introduced an- 
other in 1825. It too failed. 

All the legislative acts prior to 1834 are generally known as acts 
of pauper legislation, but the legislature of that year passed the 
common school act which is to-day the basis of our public school 
law. This act completely revolutionized school affairs. School 
directors were elected in every district, arrangements were made 
for new buildings, taxes were levied and assessed, teachers were 
employed, and the children of the rich and the poor met on a com- 
mon level. In some districts of Perry County for a year or two 
the provisions of the act were not accepted, but generally speaking, 
it was the other way. In some counties it was opposed for many 
years; in one where the population was mostly German, two- 
thirds of the districts did not adopt it until after 1850, and some 
as late as 1864. These German communities had a sort of a paro- 
chial school system of their own which they feared would be de- 
stroyed. As an example, of the local aversion to the free school 
system, John Bair, Sr., father of John Bair, later president of the 
Peoples' Bank of Newport, refused to let his children attend the 
free schools of Buffalo Township for the first two terms. 



314 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

When the free school law became effective in 1834 the court did 
not appoint directors to serve until the necessary elections took 
place the following spring. In 1836, the first year after the intro- 
duction of the system, Perry County stood third in the state in its 
support. Of the thirteen districts then reporting Toboyne Town- 
ship was the only one to stand out against acceptance. In 1837, 
Millerstown, then in Greenwood Township, had a five-months' 
term. As early as that year »Saville Township had twelve female 
and five male teachers. In the remainder of the county there were 
only four other females employed. When it passed the represen- 
tative from Perry County, then but recently formed, was John 
Johnston, the second son of George and Margaret (Russell) John- 
ston, emigrants who had come from Ireland and settled in Toboyne 
Township. He was of athletic build and weighed more than two 
hundred pounds, was well read, and was supporting Thaddeus 
Stevens in the passage of the bill, when he was interrupted by a 
member of slight stature, with the interrogation, "What do you 
raise in Perry County?" Quick as a flash he retorted, "We raise 
men," and his erect and well formed body, coupled with his ability 
and quick wit, at once substantiated the statement. Within recent 
years the writer had a similar experience along the same line. 
Being queried by several companions as to "what Perry County 
produced," the retort was, "The county school superintendents of 
both your counties," for the one interrogater was from Lancaster 
County, Pennsylvania, where Prof. Daniel Fleisher was then 
county superintendent, and the other was from Mercer County, 
New Jersey, where Prof. Joseph M. Arnold is superintendent of 
schools. 

These early schools were open for but short periods, from one 
to three months, but the Act of 1854 made the minimum term four 
months. It was increased to five months in 1872, to six months 
in 1887, and to seven months in 1899. In 1893 a law was passed 
providing for the furnishing of free textbooks to all pupils. 

Every step in advancement along educational lines in the state 
has been fought, and when the Act of 1854 created the office of 
county superintendent of schools it was considered a mighty un- 
popular piece of legislation, and in nearly all of the counties of the 
state the position carried a niggardly wage to the new official, the 
school directors being the final authority on salary. However, 
the influence of the county superintendency soon became apparent 
in the improved condition of the schools, in the higher standards of 
teachers, and in a greater interest in education generally. The 
organization of teachers' institutes and the establishment of normal 
schools were two of the indirect results of the institution of the 
county superintendency. As an example of the salaries first paid 
county superintendents, note the following: Lancaster County 



COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT 315 

paid $[,500, the only county in the state to pay over $[,000. ( )nly 
four counties in the slate paid $1,000, all the rest being below $800 
per annum. For a large county Berks was the most conspicuous, 
paying but $250, or $50 less than Terry County. Wyoming paid 
$150, and Fulton and Pike $100, or less than $9 per month. 

Previous to the creation of the position of county superintendent 
the individual efforts of the teachers and directors, owing to isola- 
tion, were practically lost on account of the lack of supervision. 
Though there were advanced ideas in effect here and there, there 
was 110 way of their getting into general use. Those first county 
superintendents must have found as many varieties of teaching 
methods and customs as there were schools. 

Col. Alexander K. McClure, himself a Perry Countian, in his 
book, "Old-Time Notes of Pennsylvania," published in 1905, 
speaking of the period when the county was young, among other 
things, says : 

"Free schools were unknown and the few who dared to advocate them 
did not venture to seek political preferment. The crossroad schoolhouse 
was found in every community, but it was usually the centre of a neigh- 
borhood five or six miles in diameter. Every schoolhouse had its teacher 
during the winter season, for which he was usually paid so much by the 
parent for each scholar, and "boarded around" with his patrons. Teaching 
was confined to reading, writing, and arithmetic, and I well_ remember the 
hostility aroused among a large portion of my school district (located in 
Madison Township) when the violent innovation of teaching grammar 
was made. It was long resisted, but finally succeeded to the extent of 
permitting the teacher to teach it, although there were very few who ac- 
cepted what was generally regarded as such a needless feature of educa- 
tion for their sons. The one green memory I have of the occasional 
school of that time is that of the holiday frolic. It was then that the 
school children had not only absolute freedom to bar their teacher out and 
keep him out even with hot pokers if he tried to climb through a window, 
until he compromised by giving them a liberal supply of apples and nuts. 
If the teacher had walked away, as he presumably might have done, with- 
out undertaking to force his way into the schoolhouse, he would have been 
promptly dismissed by the school authorities, and, while a majority of the 
parents of children would have flogged their boys severely at any other 
time for the antics they played upon the teacher in the holiday season, 
they were expected even by the strictest of parents to take a full hand in 
the holiday battle, and the boy who gave the teacher the bravest fight was 
the hero of the hour. If the teacher fought his way into the schoolhouse 
or entered it by compromise with the boys, the moment he was within the 
sanctuary of his authority discipline was instantly resumed, but there could 
be no punishment for the scholars who were in the fight. 

"I well remember the early battles in the neighborhood in which I 
lived made for the acceptance of the free school system. The original 
free school law was very crude, but it was the best that could be obtained 
at the time, and it cost the brave Dutch (meaning German) Governor 
(Wolf) who signed it, and many who had supported it, defeat before the 
people. It was not compulsory, and at any spring election a certain num- 
ber, of citizens could call for a vote on the acceptance of the free school 
law, and many times did the few Scotch-Irish in the neighborhood make 



316 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

a brave struggle for the acceptance of free schools, but they were voted 
down half a dozen times or more by the united vote of the Germans and 
others who opposed taxation for free education. Our school system was 
thus of little value, and advancement in it was very slow until Curtin be- 
came secretary of the commonwealth, in 1855, when it was made a distinct 
department and placed in charge of the assistant secretary of the com- 
monwealth, the late Henry C. Hickok, who had heart and soul in the 
cause, and under Curtin's direction gave the free school system of out- 
state a standing that commanded general respect. 

"Strange as it may seem in this enlightened age, with Pennsylvania en- 
joying the most liberal educational policy of any state of the Union, the 
free school system was simply a crude, crippled, and in some localities, 
very generally decried system of free education of the children of the 
state. It had been passed by Thaddeus Stevens a quarter of a century 
before, but the public sentiment of the state was so overwhelmingly against 
it in many communities that it was impossible to make it a homogeneous 
and beneficent system. The same year that the law was passed, the people 
of the state elected a legislature that was openly and positively averse to 
free schools, and a bill repealing the entire system had reached a position 
of final passage in the house, when Stevens, the author of the original bill, 
delivered the most effective speech of his life, and doubtless one of the 
ablest and most eloquent, as it literally made the house take pause and de- 
feat its own openly proclaimed purpose. For many years thereafter, nota- 
bly in the German counties of Berks, Lehigh, and others, delegations were 
chosen to the legislature on the distinct issue of "no free schools." and it 
was nearly or quite a generation after the passage of the original bill that 
the acceptance of the free schools of every district was made mandatory. 

"The law as first enacted authorized any township to accept the free 
school system by the vote of the majority at the spring elections and put 
it into operation, but in some sections of the state there were entire coun- 
ties in which there was not a single accepting district. I well remember, 
when a small boy, the special interest taken by my father and other 
Scotch-Irish residents of the township to have the free school system ac- 
cepted. They called election after election from year to year, but suffered 
defeats for a decade or more, as the Germans, as a rule, were bitterly 
opposed to enforced education. Although Governor Wolf, a distinct rep- 
resentative of the old German element of the state, with his home among 
the Germans of Northampton, had approved the school bill, a very small 
percentage of the Germans of the state supported it, and it cost him his 
reelection, as when he was nominated for a third term a large element of 
the Democrats bolted, nominated Muhlenberg, of Berks, as a second Demo- 
cratic candidate, and thus divided the Democratic vote and elected Ritner 
governor." 

That there never was a school at the old Dick's Gap Church, as 
sometimes stated, is evident from the fact that schools were con- 
ducted only in winter, and that this building was not "chunked and 
daubed" as late as 1797. Just where the first school may have been 
opened in the county will probably never be known, but within the 
limits of what is now Perry County there was opened the first free 
school in Pennsylvania west of the Susquehanna River. It was 
located a quarter-mile west of Barnett's mill, near New Bloomfield. 
on the Carlisle road, and was not only built at the expense of 
George Barnett, owner of the lands upon which it was located, 



COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT 317 

but was proclaimed by him to be free to any and all children of 
the neighborhood. He even paid the salary of the teacher and fur- 
nished the fuel for the heating of the schoolroom. A pioneer and 
real philanthropist among those of his day who believed in educa- 
tion, George Barnett became the progenitor of a family which has 
left its mark in legal, educational, literary, medical and business 
lines. Two of his descendants have been elected president judge 
of the courts of his county. Just when this building was erected 
cannot be told, but as the lands passed to George Barnett on May 
10, 1804 (previous ownership having been vested in his father, 
Thomas Barnett), it was subsequent to that time. During 1815 a 
Mrs. O'Donnell was engaged as teacher, but the school had then 
been in operation for a number of years, which places the date of 
its erection somewhere between 1804 and 1815. Whether Mrs. 
O'Donnell taught as early as Miss Gainor Harris, at Blain, is 
questioned, but the teaching period of the one was practically co- 
incident with that of the other. The school at Blain, however, was 
a pay school then, as all were save the Barnett school at New 
Bloomfield. 

That both the first free school west of the Susquehanna prior to 
the free school act and the first school to be declared a free school 
under that act should have been located within the boundaries of 
the county of Perry is an interesting coincidence, and a fact. In 
the sketch relating to Chief Justice Daniel Gantt, of Nebraska, to 
be found elsewhere in this book, the statement is made which veri- 
fies it. The facts are these, from the diary of the late chief jus- 
tice, now in possession of his heirs, near Lincoln, Nebraska: To 
help pay his expenses while reading law at New Bloomfield, he 
taught a subscription school (as all schools then were save the one 
previously mentioned) in Buffalo Township, at Colonel Thomp- 
son's, in the part which later became Watts Township. Interested 
parties from that community had ridden horseback to Harrisburg 
to learn of the legislation pertaining to free schools. Hearing that 
the bill had passed, they rode home during the night and arrived be- 
fore morning with the news. When the future chief justice opened 
his school in the morning he proclaimed it a free school — his diary 
says the first school in the commonwealth under that act. As the 
act had then only passed the legislature and was still unsigned by 
the governor his statement that it was the first to open under the 
act is no doubt correct. From the same source the statement comes 
that Buffalo Township at once accepted the free school law, the 
first township in the commonwealth to do so. 

Perry County was one of the very first counties in the state to 
hold teachers' institutes. The origin of the first one dates back to 
a letter written by Samuel S. Saul, of Duncannon, dated June 7, 
1854, and published in the county press. It suggested the forming 



3l8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

of a teachers' association. The call for the first County Teachers' 
Institute followed, being issued July 15, 1854, and signed by 
Samuel S. Saul, Joseph Ogle, William Brown, Albert E. Owen, 
James G. Turbett, and R. I. Heim. It was held at New Bloom- 
field, in the academy, on Wednesday, August 9, 1854. The first 
officers were : Rev. R. Weiser, Loysville, president ; John A. Mc- 
Croskey, New Bloomfield, secretary; committee on constitution 
and by-laws: A. Owen, J. R. Titzel, W. Glover, J. A. McCroskey, 
and Charles A. Barnett ; committee on work: A. D. Owen, J. R. 
Titzel, and George Tressler. This committee suggested as needing 
attention: 1. Small pay of teachers; 2. Incompetent teachers; 

3. How to procure the best knowledge of the art of teaching ; 

4. School books; 5. Duties of teachers; 6. Authority of teachers 
in school government. The institute recommended Page's Theory 
and Practice of Teaching and the following textbooks : Webster's 
spellers, McGuffey's readers, Emerson's arithmetics, Smith's ele- 
mentary grammar and Parker & Fox's advanced grammar, and 
Mitchell's geographies and maps. 

Then the further meetings seem to be confusing. Prof. Silas 
Wright recorded that on October 26th of the same year an insti- 
tute was held in Landisburg, and that on January 12, 1855, another 
was held at New Bloomfield, at which the name the "Perry County 
Teachers' Institute" was adopted. That would place three meet- 
ings very close together. The files of the county press place the 
second meeting on March 20, 1855, with A. R. Height, presi- 
dent, and Albert Owen, secretary, and continuing over Tuesday, 
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. It also places the next at 
Landisburg, September 7. 1855, with Daniel Gantt, president; 
Henry D. Woodruff, vice-president ; Noble Meredith, secretary ; 
F. M. McKeehan, treasurer, and an executive committee consisting 
of Rev. George S. Rea, R. I. Heim, and D. Kistler. In the mean- 
time a Perry County Teachers' Association had been formed in 
April, 1855, with the following officers: Daniel Gantt, president; 
D. Kistler, vice-president; Noble Meredith, secretary; F. M. Mc- 
Keehan, treasurer, and an executive committee consisting of R. I. 
Heim, Henry Titzel, and C. S. Toomey. As the officers of the 
Landisburg session, in the main, were the same as the officers of 
this association, it is presumed that the meeting of April was 
merely to form the permanent organization. 

Until 1869 the institute was held at various places, but since then 
regularly at the county seat. State Supt. Thomas H. Burrowes 
was the first instructor from without the county. At the session 
of 1856 Chas. \. Barnett (later judge) presented the subject of 
English Grammar. Among the early instructors were Professors 
Wickersham, Brooks, and Raub. At the session of 1869 H. C. 
Magee and G. C. Palm lied on a spelling contest for first place. 



COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT 319 

At the session of 1870 Henry Houck, later to become famous in 
educational circles, and Silas Wright were among the instructors. 
Shortly afterwards local institutes were started in the various 
towns, covering two evenings and the intervening Saturday, and 
they are continued to this day, community centres for educational 
thought. Their usefulness and value are attested by the large 
number of educators who have been connected with them and have 
gone abroad to serve other communities. The custom of issuing 
the proceedings of the Teachers' Institute in pamphlet form was 
begun in 1877. 

The curriculum of the grade public schools at this time includes 
spelling, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, English grammar, 
United States history, and physiology. History was not required 
until 1867, and physiology was added in 1885. 

An act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, dated April 12, 1866, 
extended to Perry and Indiana Counties the provisions which had 
been granted to the counties of Lancaster and York the previous 
year. This was the legislation which authorized the county to ap- 
propriate $200 annually to get instructors for the annual institute 
of one week. Another act was passed relating to the Perry County 
Teachers' Institute. It is dated March 19, 1872, and authorized 
the payment of the salaries of the teachers while attending institute. 

Mr. John S. Campbell, long connected with educational work in 
Perry County, during 1920, compiled for the Newport News a 
historical sketch of the actions of early Newport school boards. 
taken from the minutes. At a meeting November 26, 1855, it was 
resolved "that all the teachers within the district of Newport are 
hereby required to personally attend the meeting of the Perry 
County Teachers' Institute, to be held in New Bloomfield, and be- 
ginning on December 17, 1855, and that during the sessions of the 
same they shall all be allowed their pay for the time thus spent as 
fully as if they were actually engaged in teaching in town district," 
and "that Messrs. Alfred M. Gantt and W. S. Marshall, our teach- 
ers, be requested to meet the board each on an evening on their 
return from attendance at the institute and in a lecture give an 
account of the doings and action of said institute with the advan- 
tage it may. be to the teachers and children under their care, which 
lectures at the option of Messrs. Gannt and Marshall shall or may 
be public." That may have been the first or one of the first boards 
to pay teachers for attending institute. Mr. Gannt's salary then 
was $26 per month, and Mr. Marshall's, $25. There were then two 
single room buildings. In i860 a night school was conducted by 
G. McKey. During that year the borough had two schools, paying 
the teachers $25 and $28 per month. 

In the chapters of this book relating to the various townships and 
boroughs the locations of the earliest schools are given, as it was 



3 20 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

considered to be more appropriate there than in this general chap- 
ter. It will be in »(cd that the first schoolhouses, established almost 
coincident with the settlement of the pioneers, were invariably built 
of logs, being "chunked and daubed," with few windows, and in 
some a log being omitted from the regular order so as to let in 
light. The reader should not consider this fact as disparaging, as 
the homes of that pioneer period were practically all built in the 
same manner. These first schoolhouses in many cases were built 
by the communities by voluntary contributions and labor. They 
usually occupied as much ground as their dimensions, playgrounds 
being then unthought of. They had long desks built along the out- 
side walls, the benches upon which the children sat being the same 
heighth for all ages. A large wood stove occupied the centre of 
each of these primitive buildings. The teachers were either the 
early ministers or men who merely taught long enough to amass 
enough to pay their way to other fields, using the profession as a 
"stepping-stone" — an unfortunate condition which has to this day 
followed in its wake. The schools were conducted for pay at a 
stated price per quarter. 

The old Monterey schoolhouse in Toboyne Township, which 
burned about five years ago, still had the oldest type of furniture 
which ever graced a schoolroom in the county. The site of this 
building is now surrounded by state forest lands of the Tuscarora 
forest. The East Horse Valley school, in the same township, also 
has homemade furniture, but of a somewhat later type. The oldest 
schoolhouse still standing in the county is in Blain Borough, but 
is no longer in use as such. 

According to an announcement in the Perry Forester of Novem- 
ber 15, 1827, the new county had a night school in its very early 
years. It follows: 

Night School. 

The Subscriber will commence a Night School on Monday, the 26th 
instant. Persons desiring of improving themselves in the common rudi- 
ments of learning, and cannot well spare the daylight, will please make 
immediate application. James B. Coopek. 

Landisburg, November 15, 1827. 

During the period from 1851 to 1853 there was a night school 
at Millerstown, among the students being the late William Kipp, 
later a justice of the peace in that town for many years. 

Dr. J. R. Flickinger, once county superintendent of Perry 
County Schools and for many years prior to his death principal of 
the State Normal School at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, related an 
early incident in connection with a schoolhouse which stood as late 
as 1808 in what is now Jackson Township, on the farm later known 
as the Wentz place. It follows : 

"A wedding party was expected to pass the schoolhouse on a certain day, 
and when they were reported to be coming by a boy stationed on the out- 



COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT 32 1 

side, the teacher took all his pupils to the roadside and stationed them in 
rows on both sides of the mad, and when the wedding party passed 
through the ranks the teacher had instructed them to make a profound 
obeisance to the bride and groom. The result happened as the shrewd 
teacher expected, the happy groom treating him to the contents of his 
flask." 

Pupils from the west end of Liberty Valley traveled to Sandy 
Hill, where an early schoolhouse stood near a spring at the fool 
of the hill south of the Sandy Hill store. They traveled across the 
foot of Conococheague Mountain over a path trod by bears as late 
as 1S70. During the shortest days of tbe year these pupils had to 
take their breakfasts before daylight and start for school, and it 
was long after nightfall that they returned to warm firesides and 
supper. At Loysville, in Tyrone Township, the teacher and family 
occupied one end of tbe schoolhouse. In some enmities that was 
the general custom. By neighborhood or community spirit some- 
times a schoolhouse, save the roof, was on the stum]) at the rising 
of the sun. and when the sun went down, the building was finished. 

( >n March 28, 1814, a bill passed the Pennsylvania Legislature 
authorizing the land office to make a clear title to lands for a 
school in Tobovne Township, Cumberland County — now Perry. 
In the Perry Forester there was a notice published for a school 
meeting to be held May 7, 1825, the call being signed by William 
B. Miller, Jesse Miller, and Jacob Fritz. This was doubtless for 
the purpose of carrying out the provisions oi the Act of 1825. 

The Peoples' Advocate ran an educational department as earl) 
as April 11, 1855, being the first paper in the county to run such 
a department. Others soon followed. The same paper, beginning 
August 1, 1877, published a series of articles on "History of Edu- 
cation in Perry County." 

During the earlier years of the existence of the public schools 
many experiments naturally were made, a notable one being in 
Newport Borough in 1854, when the school board decided to have 
eight months' school, divided into the following terms : First term, 
May, June, August, and September; second term, November, De- 
cember, January, and February. That system left a two months' 
vacation during March and April, and the other vacations, one in 
July and one in October. 

During the period of the War Between the States many teachers 
who were most efficient and who had the most experience were 
called to the colors, with the attending result that inexperienced 
boys and girls were requisitioned to fill their places, thus lowering 
the educational standard for a time. That condition had its coun- 
terpart in the recent World War when salaries became so high in 
other lines that many left the profession and others were called to 
the colors. 
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COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT 323 

During the period of educational development, from prior to 
the War Between the States to almost the end of the century the 
public schools of the county, especially the country districts, were 
attended by many scholars who had reached young manhood and 
womanhood, a condition which no longer exists. With the years 
the average age of the pupils has decreased, and in few country 
schools can any pupils over fifteen years of age he found, and in 
the borough schools few over seventeen. During the sessions of 
1S73-74 there were 185 pupils in private schools, and 6,198 under 
sixteen years of age, and 1,606 beyond that age in the public 
schools. Yet it should be remembered that, in so far as the edu- 
cators of note from the county are concerned, to a very great ex- 
tent they were products of that period, and largely of the country 
schools. 

Ex-County Supt. Silas Wright, in a report to the state and later 
in various historical articles in speaking of the visitation of 
schools by the board of directors, said: "From 1874 to 1878 the 
directors of Buffalo Township visited the schools as a whole board 
a number of times during the term and carefully inspected the con- 
dition of the schools. This was the period of most marked prog- 
ress." The fact that Mr. Wright made the statement and singled 
out Buffalo Township infers that that was the initial proceeding 
of that kind in the Perry County schools. The records at New 
Bloomfield show the election of the following men who composed 
the boards there during the years of that period, who instituted 
that method : John C. McGinnes and Ezra Patton, 1872 ; George 
W. Potter and Robert B. Fritz, 1873 ; Samuel Bair and Jacob Mc- 
Connell, 1874; Henry Hain and Michael Seiler, 1875; Jacob 
Charles and Josiah Bair, 1876. 

In 1836 Wheatheld Township paid its teachers $14.25- a month. 
In 1838 there were eighty schools in the county, with terms rang- 
ing from three to seven months. The salaries were from $15.00 
to $23.00 per month. In 1840 Buffalo Township dispensed with 
schools altogether in order to use the funds to build schoolhouses. 
There were fifty-five schools in the remainder of the county, with 
male teachers getting from $15-00 to $22.00, and females $12.00 
per month. 

When the law creating the office of county superintendent of 
schools came into effect, in 1854, there were in Perry County 108 
schools in session with an attendance of 5,984 pupils. The male 
teachers received an average salary of $18.50. $11.40 being paid 
females. In 1855, the law being effective for the first time, the 
number of schools had increased to 138, and the salaries for males 
averaged $22.75, an( l that of females, $18.72 per month. The 
highest salary paid that year was $30.00. In 1876 salaries had ad- 
vanced to an average of $30.57 for males, and $28.51 for females. 



324 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Later on, during the period around [890, salaries had become very 
low in many of the country districts, Tuscarora Township one year 
paying as little as $15.00 a month, and Carroll Township, paying 
$17.00 to some of its teachers. 

By 1877 there were 181 schools in the county, conducted in 160 
schoolhouses, of which 119 were frame buildings, thirty-six brick 
and stone, and five of logs. The grounds of 118 were reported as 
of sufficient size, and of five as suitably improved. Of the build- 
ings live had been built that year, twenty-four were unfit for use, 
119 had suitable furniture, and twenty-eight injurious furniture. 
( )f the teachers live held permanent certificates, five professional, 
and the remainder were chosen from among 222 who held provi- 
sional certificates. Their average age was twenty-seven years, 
thirty-eight had no experience, seventy-seven had over t\vc years, 
three intended to make teaching a permanent business, five had 
attended a state normal school, two had graduated there, three 
were reported as failures, and the average grade of provisional 
certificates was 1.9, with ten applicants rejected. The estimated 
number of children of school age not in school was 634. There 
were thirty-four graded schools, 169 well classified, twenty-three 
examinations held by the superintendent, and 115 directors pres- 
ent. 'Phe higher branches were taught in eight schools and the 
Bible read in all of them. There were five academies in the county, 
with 270 pupils attending, and ten teachers employed. There were 
4.056 males and 3,472 females in attendance in the public schools. 
The teaching staff was composed of 142 males and thirty-nine fe- 
males. The average salaries of males was $28.08 and of females, 
$28.05. The. mill rate averaged 4.14 mills and the state appropria- 
tion to the county was $6,870.66. Carroll Township paid the 
smallest salaries, $18 per month. The Duncannon Borough prin- 
cipal got the highest salary, $60 per month. 

The Perry County schools were represented at the Philadelphia 
Centennial in 1776 by an exhibit containing: 

A. — A History of Perry County, by Prof. Silas Wright, once county su- 
perintendent of schools. 

B. — A map of Perry County, showing the division of townships, location 
of towns and villages, mountains, streams, and iron ore deposits. It was 
a pen and ink sketch by L. E. McGinnes, later superintendent of the Steel- 
ton schools. 

C. — Specimens of the work of pupils in the common branches, examina- 
tion questions, and a table of school statistics of the county. 

The laws governing the public schools of Pennsylvania had be- 
come so extensive and complicated that, upon the report of a spe- 
cial commission to investigate the subject, a school code was 
adopted at the special session of the Pennsylvania Legislature in 
19x1. Among other provisions was that of a state board of edu- 
cation, a state superintendent and assistants, thirteen state normal 



COUNTY SCHOOLS. PAST AND PRESENT 325 

schools, teachers' institutes, a teachers' retirement fund, school 
libraries an<l medical supervision and inspection oi the schools. 

A strange contrast is that of the past and the present in the 
teaching profession. During the last quarter of the past century 
there were many applicants for almost every school, even at the 
very low salaries then paid, while now there are very often not 
enough applicants to supply the schools, although the salaries are 
more than double what they then were. A. J. Magee. now pro- 
prietor of Alfalfa Stock Farm at Sanford, Colorado, recalls 
that in "the seventies," when lie was the successful applicant for 
the Shenandoah school, near Ickesburg, in Saville Township, there 
were seventeen applicants. That township then paid $31 per 
month for No. 1 certificates; $2, for No. 2; $23 for No. 3, and 
a further reduction, regardless of grade, for beginners. During 
recent years the high salaries paid in other lines induced many of 
the best teachers to adopt other vocations, with the result that 
teachers' salaries had to lie advanced or a backward step taken with 
the schools. 

With a decrease of population, owing to smaller families and 
fewer families, the wayside school buildings are dwindling in num- 
ber. Taking but one district in the county as an example (Spring 
Township), two have dropped out in the Perry Furnace section, 
there being none between Jericho and Springdale, a distance oi not 
less than six and one-half miles. Between Union and Germany 
there are none, the distance being more than three miles. 

During the past century, especially in the country districts, the 
spelling school "and the literary society, conducted during evening 
hours, were a source of ins'.ruction as well as entertainment, not 
only for those of school aye, hut for the public generally. In these 
spelling schools it was the custom for two "choosers" — a position 
f favor — to "choose sides," words being pronounced alternately 
to the "sides," the "side" having the last contestant standing being 
the winner. Some are still held, hut their number is few as com- 
pared with the days of yore. The literary societies produced the 
best talent in their respective neighborhoods, the debates giving 
many a youngster his or her first chance "to speak in public." 
There are yet a number of these societies in existence and showing 
real life, but as a whole, like the spelling school, they passed their 
zenith with the end of the century. 

The modern trend seems to be to pass over the common branches 
too briefly, as an instance in the neighboring city of Harrisburg 
well illustrates. During a very recent year the Colonial Dames of 
that city offered three prizes of $10, $5, and $2.50 for the best 
essays along patriotic lines from scholars. The first two prizes 
were carried off by foreign-born children on better grammatical 



326 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

expression, belter spelling, and better penmanship, all of which 
shows that heritage alone cannot win against ambition. 

Liverpool Borough was the first school district in Perry Comity 
to have a graduating class, the year being 1884, and the principal, 
E. Walt Snyder, later a physician at Liverpool and Marysville. 

The first teacher in Perry County to be retired under the pro- 
vision of the Teachers' Retirement legislation was T. W. Tressler, 
of Juniata Township, who was retired in 1920. The previous win- 
ter Mr. Tressler had taught his fifty-third term. As it is but 
eight-six years (in 1920) since the advent of the free school sys- 
tem it will be seen that he was identified with it for more than 
sixty per cent of the time since its inception. Those fifty-three 
terms were consecutive, save a single break of one term. During 
the fifty-three years but one day was missed owing to illness. That 
record is remarkable. 

Among the teachers who taught for long periods is Capt. G. C. 
Palm, late of near Sandy Hill, who taught over fifty terms and 
was once a candidate for county superintendent of schools. His 
first term was taught at the Sandy Hill school and he had eighty 
pupils. He was then sixteen years old, and fifteen of his pupils 
were older than he was. Mr. Palm was 82 years of age in Febru- 
ary, 192 1, which would place the time of his entry into the pro- 
fession in 1855. The late John W. Soule, of Centre Township, 
was another veteran teacher, having taught thirty terms. The late 
Win. A. Memiuger was another veteran, having taught thirty-one 
consecutive terms. He began teaching in 1862. He was also a 
surveyor for twenty-three years and long a justice of the peace in 
Newport. J. J. Asper began teaching in 1875 and still teaches, 
having been out of the schoolroom but one or two years during 
that time. G. H. Rumbaugh has also taught about that long. 

Abner Knight, father of the late Erastus L. Knight, of New- 
port, taught in the county schools for forty years. 

In the public press the first county superintendent quoted the 
late J. A. McCroskey, of New Bloomfield, as a good teacher of 
that period. Henry Thatcher, father of the noted Thatcher boys, 
taught quite a number of terms, as also did Daniel Gantt, who be- 
came chief justice of Nebraska. Two others who taught many 
terms were John S. Campbell and S. E. Bucke, Mr. Campbell 
having taught over forty terms. 

An early teacher in Perry County, soon after its creation as a 
county, was Ann Watts, who afterwards became a missionary in 
the home field. She taught in the vicinity of Nekoda, Greenwood 
Township. One of the early teachers was Thomas Cochran, at 
Millerstown. Another who taught eight years in the public schools 
soon after their establishment was John Raffensperger, born in the 
very year of the county's erection. 



COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT 



327 



Two others who were able men were Levis Barnett Kerr and 
Silas Wright, both able school men, and both rilled the county 
superintendency on more than one occasion. Of Mr. Wright more 
elsewhere. Mr. Kerr was born in Tuscarora Township, March 19, 
1830, so that his early schooling- 
was almost coincident with the 
inauguration of the free school 
system. He was educated in the 
public schools of the county and 
in Tuscarora and Buoomfield 
Academies. Mr. John S. Camp- 
bell, a fellow teacher, describes 
him as "a man of few w r ords, 
with positive ideas." The res- 
ignation of Rev. Bucher, the 
county's second superintendent 
of schools, was filled by his ap- 
pointment. He later filled the 
position twice by election. He 
was a teacher in the Mt. Demp- 
sey Academy at Landisburg for 
three terms. He died February 
7, 1905, and a day or two later 
Mrs. Kerr passed away, both 
being interred in the same grave. 
All his children entered the teaching profession or the ministry, 
where, with a single exception, they are still to be found. 

The names of all these earlier teachers might well appear here 
with descriptive matter, but space forbids. 

Among the teachers of the latter half of last century was Wil- 
liam E. Baker, born April 20, 1834, almost coincident with the in- 
stitution of the free school system, with which his name is insepa- 
rably connected in the annals of Perry County. He was married 
into the well-known Shuman family, his wife having been Susanna 
(Bixler) Shuman. Professor Baker was one of the earliest, most 
proficient and successful of Perry County pedagogues. He was 
horn near Ickesburg, and in that section of the county his life was 
chiefly spent. He was a self-made man, of noble impulses and a 
penetrating mind. At the Teachers' Institutes of those earlier days 
he was an important factor. Mr. Baker died October 16, 1900. 
Luke Baker, the New Bloomfield attorney, is a son. 

A new era seems to have dawned upon the schools throughout 
the county. When not otherwise done, the pupils have been having 
the walls of their rooms papered, and have purchased window 
shades, flags, victrolas, organs, pianos, singing books, as well as 
contributed to local and world-wide charities, raising the money 




LEWIS BARNETT KERR. 



$28 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

by conducting entertainments and holding small social affairs. The 
New Bloomfield school even purchased a most expensive encyclo- 
paedia. Numerous literary societies are held, and at Duncannon 
the schools had their own entertainment course. At a number of 
places, notably the Blain Vocational School and at a number of 
Buffalo Township schools, hot lunches were provided by the pu- 
pils, under direction of the teacher. The Newport schools have 
their own publication, "The Bine and White," and a number of the 
lower grades have a school garden on lands owned by the school 
district in another section of the town. New Bloomfield has a 
school orchestra. A number of schools measure and weigh the 
children and look after their general health. Many of the town 
schools have track teams, basketball teams and baseball clubs. So 
far, Tyrone Township has led the movement for consolidation, by 
closing four schools and selling the buildings. A new central 
school at Loysville replaces them. Even a village the size of Ickes- 
burg has educational advantages now which a very few years ago 
were not enjoyed by many boroughs of much larger population. 
The former high school there was transformed into that of a three- 
year alternating type in 1920, but in 1021 it was changed to a four- 
year course with two teachers, by the Saville Township school 
board. To it go the advanced pupils from the entire township. 
Being a rural county and the towns considerably separated, field 
dav exercises were not instituted until 192 T, when the Blain Voca- 
tional School carried off first honors. The score by points was: 
Blain, 66.50; Newport, 52.50; Landisburg, 3-; Duncannon, 34; 
Bloomfield, 22. 

The Blain Vocational School is an outgrowth of the Blain- 
Jackson Joint High School, which had as principal Newton Ker- 
stetter from 1914 to 1920. During the winter of 1916-17 Mr. 
Kerstetter, looking towards the advancement of the schools, intro- 
duced the subject of vocational training to the citizens, who sanc- 
tioned it. and the Blain Vocational School came into being with the 
opening of the term of 1917-18. In 1920 the State Department 
classed it as one of the three best vocational schools in the state. 
As an example of the advantage secured by the change it might 
be noted that (luring its last year as a joint high school the state 
appropriation was $172, and the payments to teachers was $735. 
while during its first year as a vocational training school it received 
from the state $2,637.50, which added to $586.38 tuition from non- 
resident pupils, totaled $3,223.88. During the latter year the pay- 
ments to teachers was $3,045. 

The trend of education in the country districts is towards the 
consolidation of schools, and spells the passing of the small one- 
mi building in many places. The Blain Vocational School is an 



TOOl 



COUNTY SCHool.S, PAST AND PRESENT 329 

example; the Landisburg joint high school is another. Penn and 
Saville Townships established central high schools. Late in [92] 

Centre school, in Wheal field Township, burned, and that township 
is considering the erection of a central school at Roseglen. 

It may be of interest to know just who were the first persons 
from Perry County territory to graduate from college, to get a State 
Normal diploma and to secure a business education. David Watts, 
the only son of General Frederick Watts, horn in what is now 
W'heatheld Township, on October 29, [764, matriculated at Dick- 
inson College, founded in 1783, and graduated with the very first 
class, the first college man horn in the territory comprising the 
county. He became one of the greatest lawyers of his day and 
the father of Judge Frederick Watts, the third judge to sit regu- 
larly on the Perry County bench. The first graduate of a State 
Normal School was Silas Wright, born in Greenwood Township, 
who graduated at Millersville, the first school of that description 
in Pennsylvania, in 1865. Prof. Wright was the superintendent 
of the Perry County schools for three terms and the author of the 
only separate History of Perry County before this volume. The 
first woman graduate of a State Normal School was Miss Anna 
Froelich, born in Duncannon, who also graduated at Millers- 
ville, in the class of 1882. Miss Froelich was also the first Perry 
County woman to become a school principal, having been principal 
of the Duncannon High School in 18S5. She was long a member 
of the faculty of the Central State Normal School, at Lock Haven, 
and is now a member of the faculty of the Millersville State Nor- 
mal School. The first native to take a business course that we 
could find record of was Hugh Hart Cummins, of Liverpool, who 
later became President Judge of Lycoming County. 

As something of an indication of wdiere Terry County stands 
educationally in the commonwealth, no less than three of her sons 
have been honored with the presidency of the State Educational 
Association. At the annual meeting held in Pittsburgh, in 1902, 
Junius R. Flickinger, a native of Madison Township, was the pre- 
siding officer. At the Altoona meeting, in 1906, Lemuel E. Mc- 
Ginnes, who was reared to manhood in Buffalo Township, was the 
president. In 1917 the meeting was held at Johnstown, and 
Charles S. Davis, who was born in New Bloomfield, presided. 
That as many as three school men from little Perry should be 
selected to preside over the deliberations of this important educa- 
tional body in hut little more than sixty years of its existence, i> 
an honor that has come to no other locality in the state outside of 
the larger cities. At the present time John C. Wagner, born in 
Saville Township, is treasurer of the State Association, having 
been such since 191 7. Mr. Wagner is superintendent of the Car- 
lisle schools. Of the three named above who were presidents of 



330 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the State Association, Mr. Flickinger was long principal of the 
Central State Normal School at Lock Haven, Mr. McGinnes was 
long superintendent of the Steelton schools, and Mr. Davis was 
then principal at Steelton and succeeded Mr. McGinnes as super- 
intendent, the latter two having been associated in the work at 
Steelton for thirty-six years. 

Two of Perry's sons, David Loy Tressler, and Charles W. 
Super, became college presidents, the former of Carthage College 
in Illinois, and the latter of Ohio University, while a third, Junius 
R. Flickinger, became principal of the Central State Normal School 
of Pennsylvania. Others became founders of academies, county 
superintendents in various states and counties, while still others — 
many in number — became superintendents, principals and teachers. 

The rolls of educational institutions throughout the land con- 
tain and have contained for many years the names of hundreds of 
Perry Countians. Of the academies patronized the New Bloom- 
field Academy (now the Carson Long Institute) and Mercersburg 
have been the leading ones. The State Normal Schools at Ship- 
pensburg, Millersville, and Lock Haven, in the order named, have 
had the larger number of those preparing to teach, while among 
the colleges, those most patronized have been Dickinson, the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania, State, Gettysburg, Franklin & Marshall, 
and Bucknell. Among women's colleges Wilson probably leads. 
There is usually a Perry County Club at the Shippensburg insti- 
tution, at State College, and ofttimes at other institutions. Invari- 
ably the county is represented on leading athletic teams in these 
institutions, and even more frequently upon the staff of the liter- 
ary clubs. 

While Perry County has always been in the van in so far as edu- 
cation in Pennsylvania is concerned, yet many of its school build- 
ings, especially in country districts, are not the models of neatness 
as are the homes which contribute the children as pupils. The 
number which need paint inside and out is large. In dozens no 
papering has been done since their erection many years ago. Other 
counties are in the same plight, yet that fact does not mitigate the 
circumstances in the least. A county which has given to the coun- 
try at large four governors, three chief justices of as many states, 
two college presidents, and educators like J. R. Flickinger and L. E. 
McGinnes, not to mention dozens of others, cannot afford to let 
any building in the county remain in any but first-class shape. 

The only joint high school in the county, except the Blain Voca- 
tional School, is at Landisburg, being maintained by that borough, 
Tyrone and Spring Townships. It was started in 1914, the first 
principal having been Rev. Thomas Matterness. The first town- 
ship in Perry County to establish a township high school was Penn, 



COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT 331 

in [895, in the room formerly occupied by the Lower Duncannon 
High School. It was later consolidated with the Duncannon Bor- 
ough High School. During 1919 the county teachers formed an 
association and held their first annual picnic at Groff's Woods. 
In 1920 a second picnic was held. The program consisted of edu- 
cational topics. 

Public schools have proven that education is the greatest defense 
ot a free people, that ignorance is a curse to any nation, and that 
their existence is the best guarantee of the rights granted by the 
Constitution. They are the virtual cradle of our democracy and, 
in the classrooms and upon the playgrounds meet upon an equal 
footing the sons and daughters of the wealthy and the poor. There 
are instilled the lessons of democracy and there are taught the first 
principles of fraternity. A writer has well said "the battleground 
of the world is the heart of the child," and that government fails 
at its source which ceases to make ample provision for the develop- 
ment and nurture of its future citizens. 

County Superintendents of Schools. 

Until the creation of the office of county superintendent of 
schools the public schools made slow progress, but from then on 
the schools became systematized and made great progress. Perry 
County has been unusually fortunate in having the highest type 
of men fill this important office — educators of the type of Kerr, 
Wright, Flickinger — and, in fact, one might well mention any one 
of them and still be within the truth in saying that they were men 
well above the average, even in educational circles. 

Shortly after the passage of the act creating the position the 
first convention to select a county superintendent of schools was 
held in the courthouse at New Bloomfield, June 5, 1854. Joseph 
Bailey, then a state senator, residing in Miller Township, was 
chosen as president, and James L. Diven, of Landisburg, as secre- 
tary of the convention. An effort to make the salary $600 per an- 
num was lost and it was placed at half that amount. There was a 
contest in which three ballots were taken, Rev. Adam R. Height, 
of Mechanicsburg, winning the election and thus becoming the 
first county superintendent. He had just located in the county 
that year— March 1 — as pastor of the New Bloomfield Lutheran 
charge. The candidates nominated and votes received were as 
follows : 

Rev. A. R. Height, Bloomfield, 42 47 51 

William Brown, Perm, 33 42 49 

Rudolphus Heim, Landisburg, 6 11 

Albert A. Owen, Landisburg, 16 

Henry Titzel, Juniata 4 



33? 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Henry G. Milans, New Bloomfield ; Rev. Solomon Bingham, 
Penn, and David Brink, Liverpool, were also nominated but were 
withdrawn before balloting began. 

Rev. Height's term is noted for his promptness in familiarizing 
himself with the work of the county's schools, his efficiency, and 
his energy. He used the public press to report his visits and make 
suggestions towards standardizing the schools. 

Three years later, at the triennial convention, Rev. Theodore P. 
Bucher was elected. He was a theological student, but recently 
graduated, and had attained prominence by opening the Mount 




PROF. SILAS WRIGHT. 
EJx-County Stii «t . of Schools and author of "A History of Perry County."' 

Dempsey Academy at Landisburg. Another advantage possessed 
by him was that he had been a clerk in Thatcher's store at New- 
port as a boy, and his manliness and exemplary behavior was 
known of among a large circle of people. He continued teaching 
at the academy during the summer months while filling the office. 
During the summer of 1859 Superintendent Bucher resigned, 
and Lewis Barnett Kerr, of Tuscarora Township, was appointed, 
his commission being dated September 1, [859. So successfully 



COUNTY SCHOOLS, PAST AND PRESENT 333 

did Prof. Kerr fill the position that he was elected at the third 
triennial convention, which met in May, i860. Prof. Kerr's work 
stands high in Perry County educational circles, even to this day. 

On May 4, [863, at the fourth triennial convention, Jacob 
Gantt, of Millerstown, was elected over William R. Cisna, of 
Madison Township, on the fifth ballot, by a majority of fourteen 
votes. Other candidates voted for were P. P. Kerr, Tuscarora 
Township; P. O. Foose, Juniata, and S. IP Galbraith, New 
Ploointield. Three wars previously the salary had been increased 
from $300 to $400 annually, but at this convention it was again 
placed at $300, but Superintendent Gantt, at a special meeting 
after his election succeeded in having it raised to $500 per year. 

In May, 1866, the fifth convention chose Silas Wright, of Green- 
wood Township, on the third ballot, over Jacob Gantt, of Millers- 
town, and George W. Lesher, of Duncannon. Prof. Wright was 
graduated from the Millersville State Normal School in 1865 and 
was the first State Normal graduate in the county. When elected 
county superintendent he was under twenty-five years of age. 

In May, 1869, at the sixth convention, Lewis B. Kerr was again 
elected, having a majority of eight votes over Silas Wright, his 
closest competitor. There were eleven ballots and four candidates. 

The seventh convention occurred May 7, 1872, and fixed the 
salary at $700 per annum. George C. Welker, of Liverpool, was 
chosen over G. C. Palm, on the third ballot, by a majority of eight 
votes. Before the ending of the first year of his term Superin- 
tendent Welker died, and Silas Wright was appointed, his com- 
mission dating April 1, 1873. So acceptably did Prof. Wright fill 
the position that at the eighth convention in May, 1875, he was 
elected over six competitors on the first ballot. 

At the ninth convention in May, 1878, S. B. Fahnestock, of 
Duncannon, was elected over Rev. John Edgar. At the tenth con- 
vention, May, 1881, Junius R. Flickinger, of Madison Township, 
defeated S. B. Fahnestock, of Duncannon, for reelection. At the 
eleventh convention, in May, 1884, Prof. Fahnestock was again a 
condidate but was defeated by E. U. Aumiller. At the twelfth 
convention, in 1887, Prof. Aumiller was reelected over G. C. Palm 
and E. Walt Snyder, and at the thirteenth convention he was again 
reelected, his opponent then being John S. Arnold. 

The fourteenth convention, in 1893, selected Joseph M. Arnold, 
the other candidates being Silas Wright and J. Albert Lntz. Ah". 
Arnold was reelected at the fifteenth convention, in 1896, but later 
resigned and was succeeded by E. H. Bryner, by appointment of 
the governor. The salary was made $1,000 per annum in [896. 
At the sixteenth convention, in 1899, and the seventeenth, in 1902, 
■ Mr. Bryner was reelected, the latter time over John G. Wagner. 
The salary was made $1,500 in 1899, and $1,475, according to a 



334 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

provision of the state law, in 1902. In 1905, at the eighteenth con- 
vention, Mr. Bryner was elected for the third time, his competitors 
being D. A. Kline, S. S. Willard, J. L. L. Bucke, and F. A. Ham- 
ilton. Superintendent Bryner resigned in October, 1905, and S. S. 
Willard was appointed by the governor to fill the vacancy. 

The nineteenth convention, in 1908, brought the closest vote 
since the first election, when Rev. Height led William Brown by 
but two votes. At this convention the vote was D. A. Kline, 83, 
and S. S. Willard, 81. At the twentieth convention, in 1911, Mr. 
Kline had no opposition and was reelected. The salary was made 
$15 for every school up to 100 and $5 for each additional school, 
which made it $1,945. At the twenty-first convention, in May, 
1914, Professor Kline was again elected without opposition, for 
a term of four years, at a salary of $1,940. For the first time the 
convention was held on the first Tuesday of April, 1918, instead of 
in May. This was the twenty-second election and Prof. Kline was 
again selected without opposition. According to statute the salary 
is now $2,490. 

Of the men who have filled the position Rev. A. R. Height, 
Rev. T. P. Bucher, J. R. Flickinger, S. S. Willard, and D. A. 
Kline were college graduates. Silas Wright, S. B. Fahnestock, 
E. U. Anmiller, E. H. Bryner, and D. A. Kline were state nor- 
mal school graduates, and Lewis B. Kerr, Jacob Gantt, and 
George C. Welker were educated in the common schools and 
academies. It will be noted that Prof. D. A. Kline, the present 
incumbent, is the only one graduated from both college and normal 
school. While there have been twenty-two elections to the super- 
intendency and four appointments to fill vacancies created by 
death and resignation, yet but twelve men have filled that respon- 
sible position. *Prof. Kline has had four elections, or more than 
any other. Prof. Anmiller and Prof. Bryner were elected three 
times. Prof. Wright's name was voted on at more conventions 
than any other, being balloted for in the convention of 1866, 1869, 
1872, 1875, and 1893, being successful in 1866 and 1875. Of the 
appointees, Messrs. Kerr, Wright, and Bryner were successful in 
succeeding themselves. 

In 1 921, the State Legislature having created the position of 
assistant county superintendent, Albert J. Deckard, principal of 
the Marysville schools, was appointed to that office. 



*Prof. Kline was selected for the fifth time, April 11, 1922. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 

PERRY COUNTY, owing to its small extent of territory, has 
never had within its borders one of the higher institutions of 
learning, neither has it had a State Normal School. It was, 
however, in earlier years, the home of a number of academies and 
soldiers' orphans' schools, two of which have grown into other in- 
stitutions of more than local note. The New Bloomfield Academy 
has become the Carson Long Institute, with students from all over 
the world, and the Loysville Academy, later the Loysville Orphans' 
Home, has become the growing Tressler Orphans' Home of the 
Lutheran Church in America. In the following pages an endeavor 
has been made to record the history and growth of these institu- 
tions, and the passing of those which no longer exist. 

The Academies. 

Perry County during the past century was the location of quite 
a number of academies, and their impress has been left not only 
within its borders, but from among the students at these various 
institutions went forth educators and professional and business 
men into many parts of Pennsylvania, and into many of the other 
states of the Union. The passing of these institutions, in a way, 
is to be regretted, for they gave to the boys and girls a chance to 
learn, near their own homes, more than the common schools af- 
forded. Of course the borough high schools have now largely 
taken their places in so far as the teaching of the higher branches 
is concerned. Of these academies the ones to remain in existence, 
the New Bloomfield Academy, now the Carson Long Institute, and 
the Loysville Academy, now the Tressler Orphans' Home, the his- 
tory to date is noted. Of the others time has erased much infor- 
mation, but briefly their history follows: 

The First Academy. From Presbyterian records it is noted that 
Rev. James Brady, of Carlisle, was called on March 10, 1803, to 
become pastor of the church at the mouth of the Juniata (prede- 
cessor of the Duncannon Presbyterian Church), of Dick's Gap 
Church and of Sherman's Creek Church. He was installed Octo- 
ber 3, 1804, and "located on a farm,, where he opened an academy" 
and conducted that work along with his duties along religious lines. 
He died April 24, 1821, and his remains are interred in the ceme- 
tery on the heights, above Juniata Bridge Station, at the junction 
of the two rivers. While the date of the establishment of this first 

335 



336 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

higher institution of learning within the borders of what is now 
Perry County — for it was then yet a part of Cumberland — is un- 
known, yet it must have been soon after his coming, as is implied 
by the sentence, "located on a farm where he opened an academy." 
Should it have been at a much later period the record would likely 
have read "where he later or in later years opened an academy.". 
No name is given to the institution, so it is here designated as The 
First Academy, which, in point of fact, it was. The inference is 




THE LOYSVILLE ACADEMY, LATER THE TRESSLER ORPHANS' HOME. 

that it was only a day school, but that the higher branches were 
taught. 

Loysville Academy. This institution began in the basement of 
Lebanon Church, at Loysville, in the fall of 1853, witli Josiah R. 
Titzel as principal, and J. T. Ross as assistant, concluding its first 
term on Friday. March 31, 1854, with an examination during the 
day and an "exhibition" in the evening, not unlike the graduating 
and class day exercises of latter days. B. F. Frey was principal 
in 1856-57. The success of the academy from the beginning 
caused Col. John Tressler, who was a prominent citizen interested 
in education, to build an academy in 1855. It was a three-story 
brick building with an immense schoolroom on the first floor and 
with twenty rooms for students on the others. Its completion and 
dedication occurred the following year. The first principal in the 
new building was John A. Kunkelman, who was succeeded by 
David L. Tressler, a son of the founder, who in after years be.- 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 337 

came the first president of Carthage College in Illinois — the first 
native Perry Conntian to attain so great an honor in the educa- 
tional world. In 1862, when disunion was threatened, Mr. Tressler 
became captain of Company II, 133d Penna. Volunteers, in the 
United States Army, and with his company went many hoys from 
the institution. In 1865 it became a Soldiers' Orphan School, one 
of the first in the United States, with Capt. David L. Tressler as 
principal. That action destined it to become a perpetual home for 
orphans, for the attention of the Lutheran Church was thereby 
attracted to it as a home for orphan children, which it is to this 
day, being fully described in the following pages under the title. 
The Tressler Orphans' Home. 

Charity School. In 1842 citizens of Madison Township erected 
on lands of Mr. Samuel Hench a building which was known as 
"Charity School." Little data remains as to it. 

Andersonburg Academy. This academy was started by Alex- 
ander Blaine Anderson, in the house now owned and occupied by 
W. Scott Moose, in Madison Township, on the Blain road. It 
was once known as "Sunnyside Academy." Dr. W. R. Cisna was 
once principal, assisted by Rev. J. J. Kerr, pastor of the Duncan- 
non Lutheran Church, it then being known as Sherman's Valley 
Institute. As Rev. Kerr's incumbency at Duncannon was from 
1875 to 1878, the period was within those three years. In 1866 
Martin Motzer rented the building and turned it into a Soldiers' 
Orphans' School, under which head it is described in the succeed- 
ing pages. While an orphan school an additional building was 
erected and remained standing until 1919, when it was torn down 
and the timber which remained in good condition was used in St. 
Mark's Lutheran Church at Kistler. 

Ducme Academy (Strain's School). During the summer of 
1856 Rev. John B. Strain opened an academy, known as Duane 
Academy, in the dwelling of Mr. Jacob Super, near St. Samuel's 
Lutheran Church, in Juniata Township. It was later conducted in 
the schoolhouse which stood, on the ground now occupied by St. 
Samuel's Church. Rev. Strain had as his assistant his sister, Miss 
Hannah Strain. Dr. C. W. Super, later president of the Ohio 
University, now of Athens, ( )hio, attended this school for a term. 
Another student was the late Prof. W. C. Shuman, long principal 
of the Chicago Evening Schools, and a teacher in the Cook County 
Normal School. 

MarkclviUc Academy. On the hill at Markelville, then known 
as Bosserman's Mills, there stood a building locally termed "Wash- 
ington Seminary." In the spring of 1855 a school known as Buf- 
falo Creek High School was opened in this building. The law 
providing for the election of county superintendents of schools 
had just gone into effect during the previous year, and Rev. A. P. 
22 



538 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Height, a Lutheran clergyman, was made the county superintend- 
ent. He was also chosen principal of this school and filled the 
positions simultaneously. A year later, in 1856, the school was 
called the Buffalo Creek High School and Perry County Normal 
Institute, and in 1857 the first part of the title had been dropped 
and it was known as the Normal Institute at Markelville and so 
advertised, the name of the town in the meantime having been 
changed to Markelville. He was succeeded by Rev. George S. 
Rea, a Presbyterian clergyman, who in 1801 gave place to Prof. 
G. \Y. Leisher, later a Lutheran clergyman. In 1866 Prof. C. W. 
Super — now Dr. Super — tried to resuscitate the academy, which 
the fortunes of war had disturbed. He was succeeded by Alex- 
ander Stephens and Adam Zellers, in turn. As an evidence of its 
large attendance, in i860 it was attended by 112 boarding students. 
In 1867 George Markel erected a two-story frame academy build- 
ing in which the school was continued and the students boarded. 
This building had fifteen rooms for students and the basement was 
above street level and was intended for classroom use. It was 
Mr. Markel's intention to make the school a permanent institu- 
tion, but his death caused its discontinuance. Prof. John S. 
Campbell, of Newport, states (1920), "It is a pity that this man 
was called away," he having had personal knowledge of his ability 
and energy. 

Mount Dempsey Academy. Rev. T. P. Bucher founded the 
Mount Dempsey Academy, which he then called the Landisburg 
Classical School, at Landisburg, on April 8, 1856, its location being 
in the basement of the Reformed Church.* It closed about 1864, 
largely because the War Between the States called the young men 
td arms. Rev. Bucher was elected county superintendent in 1857 
and tilled that position in connection with his work at the academy. 
Later principals of the academy were F. A. Cast. David Evans 
(later superintendent of the Lancaster County schools), Rev. R. 
X. Salem, William H. Sheibley, S. H. Galbreath, Rev. G. C. Hall. 
S. C. Cooper, J. C. Sheibley, and Lewis B. Kerr (later superin- 
tendent of the Perry County schools). Rev. Samuel Wagner, still 
a resident of the county and long a noted minister, was one of the 
students. Many lawyers, physicians and ministers secured the 
rudiments of their education at this pioneer institution. The late 
George Patterson, of Landisburg, interviewed by the author in 
1919, while engaged in the compilation of this book, was a student 
at this institution in 186 1. 

Willow Grove Female Seminary. This institution was short- 
lived. It had its headquarters in the Judge Junkin home, one mile 
northeast of Landisburg, and was presided over by Miss E. J. 



*See church on page 202, in left foreground. 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 330, 

Petherfridge, of whom the Freeman said: "As a female instructor 
she is inferior to none in the state." Board and washing was $1.50 
per week. Tuition was $4 and $5 per quarter. Other rates wire: 
French, $3.00; drawing and painting, $6.00; piano, $8.00. The 
attendance was limited to twenty students. This evidently is iden- 
tical with the school authorized by a special act of the Pennsylvania 
Legislature passed June 12, 1S40. designated as "a female semi- 
nary or public school for the education of female youths in the 
English or other languages, the useful arts, sciences and literature. 
by the name, style and title of the Landisburg Female Seminary." 
The act named John Junkin, Samuel A. Moore, Henry Fetter. 
James Diven, Sr., Peter Hench, fohn Stambangh, and James Mc- 
Clure, as trustees. 

Susquehanna Institute. In i860 Prof. Bartlett opened the Sus- 
quehanna Institute in the basement of the United Presbyterian 
Church at Duncannon, being the first principal. It was continued 
for a short time by Rev. William B. Craig, the Presbyterian pastor. 

Duncannon Academy. Largely through the efforts of Dr. T. L. 
Johnston and Dr. H. D. Reutter, who were its directors, the Dun- 
cannon Academy was established in 1890, the sessions at first being 
held in Pennell's Hall, and the following year on the second floor 
of Odd Fellows' Hall. Seventy pupils were enrolled in 1890. 
Prof. Thomas M. Stalford, of Athens, was the principal, and Prof. 
W. F. Kennedy, later superintendent of the Lewistown schools, 
assistant. Its life was but two years. 

The Blain School. For over fifty years a summer normal was 
conducted at Blain. but often under different managements. 
Among the instructors were such men as Gard C. Palm, S. E. 
llarkins, and Rev. Rentz. 

Juniata Valley Normal School. That a State Normal School 
was not located somewhere in Perry County is not the fault of 
Prof. Silas Wright, but rather of the citizenship of the communi- 
ties ; for Mr. Wright strained every effort to have it done. The 
general apathy — sometimes even yet displayed towards incoming 
things, industrial plants, etc. — was the barrier against which 
Prof. Wright's efforts spent their force, and the project failed. 
Looking towards the establishment of the State Normal School of 
the Sixth District within the borders of the county, the Juniata 
Valley Normal School was opened on April 8, 1867, in the new 
brick schoolhouse at Newport, for which $12.50 a month was paid 
as rental. The attendance at the first term was 14 r, a remarkably 
good showing. Two terms were conducted, the first being from 
April 8 to June 28, .and the second from July 29 to September 17. 
The second session had an attendance of ninety-seven ; of these 
twenty-two were not attendants at the first term. During the firsl 



340 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

session, on May 3, the Normal Echo Literary Society was or- 
ganized. 

Newport not having displayed as much interest as Millerstown, 
which offered its school building rent free for the school, the ses- 
sions of 1868 began in the Millerstown school building on April 8, 
with an .attendance of 140. At the very first term (in Newport) 
the theory class numbered forty-one, a number which it always 
exceeded in later years. The instructors were teachers of promi- 
nence, and beside Professor Wright were Nannie J. Alexander 
(Millersville, '66), a cultured musician; M. M. Rutt, of the same 
class at Millersville ; Mina Kerr, and Prof. Charles W. Super, 
who taught ancient languages and German, and who later became 
president of the Ohio University. During 1875 Professor Super 
got a temporary leave of absence from his position as head of the 
department of Ancient Languages and German in Wesleyan Col- 
lege in Ohio, in order to teach the languages for Mr. Wright. 

A list of textbooks in use in the Juniata Valley Normal School 
at Millerstown in 1868, follows : Raub's and Sander's Union Spel- 
lers, Sander's Union Readers, Kidd's Elocution, Kerl's Gram- 
mars, Trench's Study of Words, Brook's Arithmetics and Geome- 
try, Ray's New Algebras, Payson, Dunton & Scribner's Penman- 
ship, Bartholomew's Drawing, Coppee's Elements of Rhetoric and 
Logic, Mitchell's Political and New Physical Geography, Apgar's 
Map Drawing, Seavey's and Goodrich's History of the United 
States, Sheppard's Constitution, Gray's Botany, Hillside's Geology, 
Quackenbo's Natural Philosophy, Wickersham's School Economy 
and Method's of Instruction, Llaven's Mental Philosophy, Hickok's 
Moral Science, Harkness' Latin, etc. 

A "calendar" of the Juniata Valley Normal School at Millers- 
town for 1868 follows: 

"First term of twelve weeks, opens April 6; closes June 26, 1868. 
"Last term of eight weeks, opens August 3 ; closes September 26, 1868. 
"The Faculty: Silas Wright, M.E., principal; Nannie J. Alexander, B.E. ; 
Mina J. Kerr, and O. P. Wright (pupil assistant)." 

The location is described as being "easy of access by private con- 
veyance or stage from every section of the county, and from east 
or west on the Pennsylvania Central Railroad." The price of 
boarding for the session of five months is named as $60. Prof. 
Silas Wright organized this school and was always its principal, 
save for a few weeks of the second summer term of 187 1. 

A glance over several old programs of the Normal Echo Lit- 
erary Society recalls names of other days, many of whom at- 
tained distinction, with a few still living and active in business. 
The first anniversary of the society was celebrated Friday evening, 
May 29, 1 868, the officers being: 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 341 

A. M. Markel, Markelville, President. 
Amanda Passmore, Newport, Secretary. 
Mina J. Kerr, Donally's Mills, Editress. 
Charles H. Heffley, Duncannon, Critic. 

( )n the program were P. S. Lesh, May N. Donally, Mina J. 
Kerr, and Alfred M. Markel. A debate was a part of the pro- 
gram, the question being, "Resolved, that human language is of 
Divine origin." The speakers on the affirmative side were S. B. 
Fahnestock, Win. N. Ehrhart, ( >. P. Wright, and H. C. Magee; 
those on the negative side were II. C. Gantt, W. W. Haines, C. A. 
Frank, and J. R. kunyon. 

The second anniversary was celebrated Friday evening. May 28, 
[869, the following being the officers: 

S. B. Fahnestock, Millerstown, President. 
Josephine Debray, Millerstown, Secretary. 
L. C. Zimmerman, Editor. 
M. E. Haines, Critic. 

( )n the program were H. C. Magee, Laura E. Goodman, Haly 
L, Kerr, H. C. Gantt, L. C. Zimmerman, and P. S. Lesh. The 
question for debate was, "Resolved, that the crusades were bene- 
ficial to Europe." Those assigned to the affirmative were O. P. 
Wright and Perry K. Brandt, and those assigned to the negative 
were Wm. N. Ehrhart and J. S. Runyon. 

Prof. John S. Campbell, long one of Perry County's prominent 
educators, with the terse comment, "It did a good work," expresses 
the opinion of all who have any knowledge of the great work of 
the Juniata Valley Normal School. Dozens of its students became 
educators, lawyers, physicians, ministers of the Gospel, bankers, 
business men and intelligent farmers and homemakers. 

Carson Long Institute, Formerly New B loom field Academy. 

Almost from its beginning as a town and the location of the 
count v seat New Bloomfield became greatly interested in educa- 
tion. Much of the credit for this interest was then due to the fami- 
lies of men like George Barnett and Alexander Magee. There is 
hardly a state in the Union to-day in which there are no former 
attendants of New Bloomfield Academy and Carson Long Insti- 
tute, many of whom have risen to positions of prominence and 
trust. To name over a list of these students is like calling a roll 
of honor. The writer's knowledge goes back only to the proprie- 
torship of William Grier, but there was already at that time some- 
thing about the institution which impressed him with its impor- 
tance as a substantial educational center. 

In March, 1830, there was a call in the Perry Forester for a 
meeting to consider the advisability of establishing an academy, 
but for some reason which has not come down to the present gen- 



342 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

(■ration, the meeting was called off. In 1837 Robert Finley, of 
Connecticut, opened a latin school in the corner second-story room 
of the former Mansion House, now a dormitory of Carson Long 
Institute. The pupils were Charles J. T. Mclntire, John A. Magee, 
John Creigh, Charles A. Harnett, George Harding, and William A. 
Sponsler. In the fall of 1837 Mr. Finley decided to open a semi- 
nary in a building known as "the barracks," later owned by W. A. 
Sponsler, the attorney. 

The advertisement of December T4, 1&37, names it the Bloom- 
field Seminary, and speaks of the "first term." The directors, ac- 
cording to the advertisement, were: John Dickey, B. Mclntire, 
David Lupfer, Wm. M. McClure, J. R. McClintock, John Dunbar, 




l'OOT BALI, ON THE CAMPUS, CARSON LONG INSTITUTE. 

John Boden, A. C. Harding, Robert Kelly, George Barnett, J. 
Madden. James Moreland, Jonas Ickes, George Stroop. 

During the winter of 1837-38 a petition was sent to the Penn- 
sylvania Legislature, requesting a charter for a school to be known 
as the New Bloomfield Academy, which was accordingly chartered 
by an act dated April 13, 1838. The trustees mentioned in the act 
were: Benjamin Mclntire, George Stroop, John McKeehan, John 
D. Creigh. John Boden, Jeremiah Madden, John R. McClintock, 
and Robert Elliott. At a subsequent meeting of citizens in the 
courthouse the act was read and approved, thus getting the en- 
dorsement of the entire community. The trustees elected Robert 
Elliott, president; •John D. Creigh, secretary, and Robert Kelly, 
treasurer. 

A provision of the act was that the state treasurer was to pay to 
the treasurer of the academy two thousand dollars, to be used to- 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 343 

ward the erection of suitable buildings, and the purchasing of a 
necessary library, mathematical, geographical and philosophical ap- 
paratus for the use of the academy, on condition that one thousand 
dollars be contributed by those interested. Robert Finley was em- 
ployed as principal in May, at four hundred dollars per annum. 
"The barracks" then became the temporary home of the academy, 
the trustees agreeing to rent from John Smith, the owner, one-half 
of the building, for which they were to pay him $21.29 and taxes 
for the year, for the use of the same from May 21 until April 1 
of the next year. Arrangements were at once made for desks, 
benches and chairs, and on May 21 the term began. The school- 
room was the one in which Mr. Finley had started the seminary 
and was in use until 1840, when the brick academy building was 
completed. The hours were fixed at from 8 to 12 a. m., and from 
2 to 5 p. m. Instruction was to be given in the following branches : 

First class — Geography, English grammar, bookkeeping, arithmetic, and 
modern history, at three dollars a quarter. 

Second class — Natural history, natural philosophy, ancient history and 
algebra to quadrated equasions, at four dollars a quarter. 

Third class — The Greek and Latin languages, chemistry, astronomy, rhet- 
oric, logic, the higher branches of mathematics, mental and moral phi- 
losophy, and evidences of Christianity, at five dollars a quarter. 

On August 3 the first quarter ended, twenty pupils having been 
in attendance. An examination was held that day, also an election 
of trustees at which the following were chosen: Robert Elliot, 
John D. Creigh, Thomas Patterson, John Gotwalt, J. R. McClin- 
tock, and B. Mclntire. 

On August 18, 1838, at a meeting of the trustees the following 
resolution was passed : 

Resolved, that the trustees will receive proposals from persons who have 
sites to locate the building for the academy, and request them to s*ate par- 
ticularly the location, boundary, quantity and terms upon which it can be 
had ; that the proposals be handed to the trustees on or before ten o'clock 
a.m. of the first of September next. John D. Creigh, Secretary. 

In answer to the resolution propositions were received from 
George Barnett (two), John D. Creigh, William Power, and Jere- 
miah Madden. Later others were received from Mrs. Miller and 
Messrs. Mehaffy, Ickes, Klinepeter, and Clark. At the meeting 
of the board on September 21 one of those proffered by George 
Barnett, was selected. The site then selected was on a knoll east 
of the Barnett homestead. Evidently with the history of the selec- 
tion of the county seat and its petitions still fresh in their minds 
a petition was gotten out requesting that the site be changed to 
one at the west end of the borough, in consideration of which a 
further contribution of $241 was pledged. The request was not 
granted, but the supporters of the west end plan continued the 



344 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

agitation with the result that, at a meeting of the trustees on March 
i, 1839, the following action was taken: 

"Whereas, the sum of one thousand dollars has been subscribed by in- 
dividuals to aid the funds of the academy, a part of which is subscribed on 
condition that the site of the academy be removed to the north end of 
Carlisle Street ; therefore, 

"Resolved, That the present location of the site for the academy be and 
the same is hereby changed to the north end of Carlisle Street, and a 
committee be appointed to enter into a contract with Mr. George Barnett 
for four acres of land at said place, on such terms as they may agree upon. 

"Resolved, That public notice be given by advertisements, that the trus- 
tees will receive proposals on the 14th of March for building a house of 
brick or stone, to be thirty feet by sixty feet from out to out and twenty- 
three feet high from top of foundation, to have a cupola and also a por- 
tico or vestibule in front of steps. 

The contract having heen let to Dr. Jonas Ickes he immediately 
began work, and it was completed and occupied in 1840. By pri- 
vate subscription a bell was purchased in Philadelphia, at a cost of 
$65.60. 

In 1842, owing to a demand, a steward was appointed and it 
was opened as a boarding school for both teachers and pupils. In 
September, 1850, the trustees appointed two of their number to 
confer with the Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in refer- 
ence to selling the property and academy to that denomination. 
The movement was unsuccessful. In 1852 the trustees decided to 
apply to the legislature for the enactment of a law enabling them 
to transfer the real estate and property to the commissioners of 
the county and that it be a county institution, the county to assume 
the indebtedness. On petition to the legislature such an act was 
passed and signed by Governor William Bigler, a Perry County 
native, April 1, 1852, providing that the commissioners with others 
appointed by the court act as trustees. On December 4, 1852, by 
resolution of the trustees the president of the board was author- 
ized to transfer by deed all the real estate belonging to the acad- 
emy, which was done January 3, 1853. Under the county's man- 
agement the school took on new life, and in January, 1854, the 
county grand jury recommended that an additional building be 
erected for the better accommodation of the pupils. 

Finlaw McCown, a former trustee and a former county com- 
missioner, had in the meantime bequeathed to the trustees of the 
academy the sum of four hundred dollars for the purpose of help- 
ing to erect an additional building. Upon the commissioners being 
notified of the bequest and of the action of the grand jury they 
absolutely refused to grant any assistance towards the erection of 
an additional building and even withheld the right of any company 
or association of so doing. Upon such refusal the trustees ap- 
pointed a committee to secure grounds situated in proximity to the 
academy for the purpose of erecting such building as their needs 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 



345 



demanded. An association was organized and a small tract of 
adjoining land was purchased of William McKee, eight hundred 
and twenty-five dollars being subscribed by the public towards it. 
The deed was presented to the trustees, who advertised for pro- 
posals to build a frame building, thirty-two by fifty feet, two 
stories high, to be ready for occupancy by May, 1854, at which 
time it was completed and occupied. 

Financial troubles continued to embarrass the academy, and dur- 
ing the winter of 1854-55 a petition was presented to the legisla- 
ture requesting permission to sell the property, which was granted 
in an act passed and signed April 13, 1855. On April 10, [856, 
Rev. |ohn B. Straw and R. G. Stephens purchased the property, 
with the condition that it 
should always be used as a 
school of advanced education. 
Prof. James A. Stephens was 
placed in charge and later be- 
came owner. He sold it to 
George S. Rea, who continued 
in charge for some time, when 
he conveyed it back to Ste- 
phens, who in turn sold it to 
William Grier on September 
25, 1868. 

With Mr. Grier's adminis- 
tration the academy became an 
institution of a marked and 
cultured character and had an 
attendance of students, many 
of whom had already crossed 
the threshold of young man- 
hood and womanhood, and 
equal to that of any institution 
in the State of Pennsylvania. 
During Mr. Grier's proprietorship he had as principals such men 
as Edgar, Flickinger, Schuyler, Arnold, and others. He sold the 
academy to William Harper, June 8, 1898, and he, in turn, sold it 
to George B. Roddy in June, 1905. After Mr. Roddy's death 
Theodore K. Long purchased it from his executor in February, 
[914. 

Mr. Long changed the name from New Bloomfield Academy to 
Carson Long Institute as a fitting memorial to the many excellent 
qualities of his only son, William Carson Long, who losl his life 
on March 5, 1912, on the Northern Pacific Railroad, at the city 
of North Yakima. Washington, under circumstances keenly dis- 
tressing to his parents and friends. 




WILLIAM GRIER. 



346 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



William Carson Long was a young man of unusual attainments. 
He traveled and studied a year abroad — visiting places of interest 
in Europe, Asia, and Africa. He spoke both French and German. 
He prepared for college at the Harvard School, Chicago, and en- 
tered Michigan University, Ann Harbor, Michigan, in 1904. While 
at college he made a splendid record and became a votary of athletics 
and outdoor sports. He was graduated with the degree of B.A. in 
the class of 1908, and shortly afterward, in 1909, entered upon the 
lumber business with the Yakima Lumber Company of North 
Yakima, Washington, where he continued until his death in 1912. 

He was a young man of 
exceptional aptitude and 
promise in his chosen busi- 
ness and had he lived he 
would have achieved a 
high measure of success. 

In choosing a memorial 
Mr. Long, upon a visit to 
his native county, chanced 
upon the old institution 
where he had prepared for 
college, and in it saw the 
future memorial to his son, 
hence the name Carson 
Long Institute. 

Mr. Long expresses 
character building as ap- 
plied at Carson Long In- 
stitute thus : 

"We regard character 
building as paramount in all 
true educational work. Mere 
knowledge is not in itself suf- 
ficient. Common sense, grit, 
and good manners cannot be 
acquired from textbooks, yet 
all these attributes, together 
with a keen sense of fair play and the habit of indefatigable industry, are 
essentially comprehended in a complete education. We aim to inculcate 
all these qualities at Carson Long Institute." 

Mr. Long's fourfold aim is to develop each student in knowl- 
edge, culture, character, and efficiency; to prepare the students not 
only for teaching, teachnical schools and college, but for life; to 
teach them bow to learn, how to labor, and how to live. 

Local school spirit is rated highly, both in the classroom and on 
the athletic field. Since purchasing the academy and transforming 
it to the proposed ideals of Carson Long Institute, Mr. Long in 




WII.UA.U CARSON LONG. 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 



347 



K)i4 erected the administration building, containing the president's 
office, the principal's office, business department, physical labora- 
tory and classrooms. The same year he purchased the old Eagle 
Hotel building, now termed "Eaglerook," in which he installed a 
steam heating plant and modern baths, using the building as a boys' 
dormitory. In 1915 he built the junior annex, containing kitchen, 
stock room, college store, and the dormitory and schoolroom of 
the junior department. In 1917 he fitted up the gymnasium and 
equipped it. The finest building of the lot has just been com- 
menced. It will be known as the Donald C. Willard Memorial, 
and will be built of brick, three 
stories, 111x41 feet. It will 
be of most modern design and 
fireproof throughout. The 
foundations for the Donald C. 
Willard Memorial were com- 
pleted in the summer of 192 1. 
Donald Campbell Willard 
died January 30, 1918, while 
serving as principal. He was 
the son of Prof. S. S. and Ada 
(Morgan) Willard, and was 
horn at Tressler Orphans' 
Home, where his father was 
principal of schools, on June 
24, 1888, being at his death 
less than thirty years of age. 
Educated in the public schools, 
he graduated at Mercersburg 
Academy in 1904, at the head 
of his class. He then entered 
Princeton University at the 
age of sixteen. His eyes failing, he rested two years, and then 
entered the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with 
honors in 1910. In 1912 he was made principal of the Academy, 
now Carson Long Institute, remaining until his death. His father 
has endowed a scholarship in his name at Mercersburg Academy, 
in which students from New Bloomfield and Perry County are to 
have precedence. 

At a meeting of the board of trustees held at New Bloomfield, 
November 11, 1921, Mr. Long turned over to the corporation a 
deed and bill of sale covering all the real estate, consisting of eight 
several tracts of land and buildings thereon, and all the personal 
property used in and about the school. This transfer of property 
terminated Mr. Long's personal ownership and placed the school 
in the possession of the corporation, Carson Long Institute. Thus 




DONALD C. WILLARD. 



348 1 HISTORY OP PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

this noted institution, through the magnanimity of Theodore K. 
Long, comes to the new corporation without the payment of a 
cent or without any indebtedness whatsoever. 

For over four score years this school has successfully prepared 
students for college, teaching and business, literary and profes- 
sional life. Its graduates are on the honor rolls of Yale, Harvard, 
Princeton, and Wilson, as well as on those of many less noted in- 
stitutions. The graduating class of 1921 was the forty-eighth. 
While the institution was in its infancy and during its earlier years 
there were no graduating classes, yet young people were being pre- 
pared for college and teaching from its very organization. 

A list of the principals who have been in charge of the school 
from the date of its organization follows, the date named being the 
beginning of the period for which they served : 

1838 — Robert Finley. 

1839 — Rev. Matthew B. Patterson. 

1842— J. M. Stearns. 

1843 — Samuel Ramsey. 

1845— Rev. Martin Smith. 

[850 — Rev. Matthew B. Patterson. 

1853 — William S. Post (elected but did not serve). 

E853 — Charles A. Barnett. 

1858 — (.Tames A. Stephens. 

[862 — George S. Rea. 

1864 — James A. Stephens. 

1869— T. A. Snively. 

1870— A. R. Keiffer. 

[870-W. H. Dill. 

[872 — Rev. John Edgar. 

1877— J. R. Flickinger. 

1881 — Rev. John Edgar. 

1883— J. R. Flickinger. 

1884— William H. Schuyler. 

1889 — Joseph M. Arnold. 

1893 — Geo. W. Wagonseller (from November to February, 1894). 

1894 — H. E. Sheibley (Spring term). 

1894 — George B. Roddy. 

1895 — Oliver J. Morelock. 

1896— H. C. Mohn. 

1905 — Julian C. Plan (September to end of year). 

igofS — George B. Roddy (January to June). 

1906 — L. E. Strohm. 

1908 — A. J. Shumaker (January to June). 

1908 — John F. Buckheit. 

1912— Donald C. Willard. 

[918 — Theodore K. Long (February to September). 

1918 — George F. Schneider. 

1920 — John W. Weeter. 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 349 

The Orphan Schools. 

From the vortex of the Sectional War, while it was still being 
waged with all the energy of two equally red-blooded antagonists, 
save that one was not burdened with the taint of secession, there 
arose in Pennsylvania the beginning of a system of Soldiers' Or- 
phans' Schools, which has always stood abreast of the most ad- 
vanced states of the Union. In fact, in the annals of the centuries 
there is no prior record of any state or nation adopting as their 
wards all the dependent children of slain and injured defenders. 
As two of the early institutions devoted to the education of these 
orphans were located within the limits of Perry County it is a 
matter of interest to record a word of their start. 

On his way to church on Thanksgiving Day, 1862, Governor 
Andrew G. Curtin was met upon the street by two children asking 
aid. Being of a sympathetic nature he stopped and inquired their 
condition and the reason for it. Promptly came the reply, "Father 
was killed in the war." He gave them a liberal contribution and 
passed on into church; but the Thanksgiving sermon grated 
harshly upon his ears, as he thought of the children of soldiers 
fallen while fighting for the preservation of their country beg- 
ging upon the streets. That was the beginning of Soldier Orphan 
Schools. In a few weeks the Pennsylvania Legislature met and in 
his message Governor Curtin said: "I commend to the prompt 
attention of the legislature the subject of the relief of the poor 
orphans of our soldiers who have given, or shall give, their lives 
to the country during this crisis. In my opinion their maintenance 
and education should be provided for by the state. Failing other 
natural efforts of ability to provide for them, they should be hon- 
orably received and fostered as the children of the commonwealth." 
The legislature refused to adopt a measure that might bind the 
state for heavy expenditures, but authorized the governor to ex- 
pend $50,000, which the Pennsylvania Railroad had contributed 
for use in any way deemed best for the prosecution of the war, 
the governor to use his discretion in its expenditure. Thus there 
came from that great corporation the money which provided the 
beginning of that heroic institution — the Soldiers' Orphan School. 
To what better project could it have been devoted? 

Section 2 of the rejected bill gave any school then in existence 
the right to apply to be recognized as a suitable school for the in- 
struction and training of destitute children, and Section 6 pro- 
vided that in no case must the cost per child per annum exceed 
$100. With this slender appropriation at his command Governor 
Curtin appointed Thomas H. Burrowes, LL.D., superintendent, on 
June 16, 1864, and from it grew the wonderful result. The inten- 
* tion at the beginning was to have a school in each of the twelve 



350 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

State Normal School districts. Provision was also made that the 
children should be neatly clothed in uniforms, well fed, and trained 
in employment as well as intellectually. Several institutions in the 
state had already taken up work in the same line on their own 
responsibility, but the first schools to come to the aid of the sys- 
tem after its beginning were those at Paradise, McAllisterville, 
Mount Joy, Quakertown, and Orangeville. The legislature of 
1865 appropriated $75,000 to continue the work. By January 1, 
1866, that amount was utterly exhausted and the legislature de- 
layed passing any act, quibbling over various differences. It was 
then that Governor Curtin executed a shrewd move. On March 
1 6th three hundred and forty-five soldiers' orphans from McAllis- 
terville, Mount Joy, and Paradise arrived at Harrisburg on the 
noon trains and, neatly uniformed, gave an exhibition of their train- 
ing before the surprised legislators, with the result that $300,000 
was appropriated, four times the amount of the previous year, and 
from that day their existence was assured. Among those who spoke 
was Master Frank A. Fry, of McAllisterville, he who later edited 
the Newport News for many years. By the end of 1866 twenty- 
four schools in the state were caring for the younger children, and 
twelve for the older ones. Of these the Andersonburg School and 
the Loysville Home were Perry County institutions. Of the 
smaller children the former had 32 boys and 22 girls, and the lat- 
ter, 66 boys and $2 girls. 

In 1867 a general statute, covering every phase of requirements 
for these schools, passed the legislature. During that year the cost 
of the larger pupils was $150 per annum, with $25 additional for 
clothing, and that of the smaller ones from $105 to $125, including 
clothing. 

The Andersonburg School. 

Through the influence of Martin Motzer and Alexander Blaine 
Anderson, during the fall of 1865, Dr. Thomas PI. Burrowes, 
Superintendent of Soldiers' Orphans' Schools, visited Mr. Ander- 
son's building in Madison Township, above Andersonburg. It was 
a large brick building, then in use as an academy. Dr. Burrowes 1 
said of it: "This is a beautiful location for a school; one of the 
best I have yet selected. This must certainly be a healthy locality." 
Mr. Motzer rented the building and took possession in the spring 
of 1866. The first pupils arrived on September 20, 1866. and on 
October 16th the school opened with Prof. William IT. Hall as 
principal. Miss Laura J. Milligan followed in a short time as 
assistant teacher. By the close of the second year the number of 
pupils had increased to 117, and another building, 35x50 feet, was 
erected. On December 1, 1872, Prof. Hall became a joint 
owner, with Mr. Motzer, but retained the principalship. On 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 351 

September 1, 1874, Prof. Hall purchased the interest of Mr. 
Motzer. Other teachers at this school were B. K. Hall, W. S. 
Eulslander, B. F. Hollenbaugh, and J. R. Runyan. It was said 
that not a single complaint was made against this school to the stale 
authorities, a fact which they noted in a history of the schools. 
This school was located in the famous Sherman's Valley, facing 
Conococheague Mountain, a short distance east of Blain, sur- 
rounded by a territory that has an historical interest. The main 
school building is now the property of W. Scott Moose, who occu- 
pies it. The additional building stood until 1919, when it was 
torn down and the timbers, which were still in good condition, 
were used in St. Mark's Lutheran Church at Kistler. 
Loysville Orphans' Home. 
What more appropriate place could have been chosen for a Sol- 
diers' Orphan School than the Tressler Orphans' Home at Loys- 
ville, and where could there have been found a man more entitled 
to be its first principal than Capt. D. L. Tressler, the young prin- 




THE TRESSLER SOLDIERS' ORPHANS' HOME. 

This was first the Loysville Academy, and became the nucleus of the Tressler Orphans' 
Home, both described elsewhere. 

cipal of the institution (which had previously been an academy) 
who, when the safety of the Unon was imperiled, dropped his edu- 
cational work, and organized a company composed mostly of his 
own students, and left for the front? While Perry County has 
sent forth to larger fields many men of note, of heroic mould, and 
of noble character, it can scarcely be doubted that D. L. Tressler, 
soldier, officer, teacher, attorney, theologian, and college president, 



35 2 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



stands in the very front rank. Just as he reached the top in the 
field of his choice, would he have reached it should he have chosen 
the law. During the first eighteen months of the existence of this 
school W. H. Minich was its superintendent, G. V. Tressler suc- 
ceeding him. It was established in 1865. 

J n 1867 the General Synod of the Lutheran Church, through 
Rev. Philip Willard purchased the building and five acres of land, 
and it became the home of both church and soldiers' orphans. 
During the first two years of the church ownership it was leased 
to Philip Bosserman, with Rev. John Kistler as superintendent. 
An additional plot of twenty-seven and one-half acres was then 
purchased by the trustees, who had been named by the Church. 
On June 1, 1869, it was placed under the charge of Rev. Willard 
as superintendent. When he took charge the institution had eighty 
soldier orphans and eighteen wards of the Church. By 1876 the 
proportion was sixty-two soldiers' orphans and forty-six Church 
wards. The original brick building was 40x60, three stories high. 
Upon taking charge for the Church, Rev. Willard erected a frame 
building, 20x48, the first floor being a dining room and the second 
a dormitory. In 1875 the old cooking house was torn away and 
a new brick one, 30x50, two stories high, replaced it. It had sepa- 
rate departments for cooking, for baking, for washing, and for 
shower baths. 

This school under the long control of Father Willard, as Rev. 
Willard came to be known, had a fine reputation with the state 
authorities, as their many reports testify. Among the early teach- 
ers were: George Sanderson, George W. Weaver, Ira Wentzel, 
Herman F. Willard, S. S. Willard, L. A. Harney. G. M. Willard, 
A. M. Raff, and Misses Nettie Willard, Elsie Berg, Hattie Anstadt, 
and M. L. Willard. Its further history follows: 

Tiik Tkksslrr Orphans' Home. 

This wonderful institution, where so many hundreds of children 
have found an early home, is the result of an early academy 
opened in the basement of Lebanon Church, at Loysville, in 1853, 
of which Josiah R. Titzell was principal. J. T. Ross succeeded him 
for a year or two. Education was then a leading topic, and there 
was a demand for an institution for higher education. In 1855-56 
Col. John Tressler erected a three-story brick building, with a large 
auditorium on the first floor and. twenty rooms on the other floors, 
to which the school was transferred. The first principal was John 
A. Kunkelman. who was succeeded by a son of the founder, David 
L. Tressler. In 1862, when the dismemberment of the nation was 
imminent, Mr. Tressler accepted a captaincy in the United States 
Army and with him went almost the entire male enrollment of the 
little institution. 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 



6 DO 



The property later was again in charge of David L. Tressler. 
Opened in 1865, it was one of the first soldiers' orphan schools 
in the United States, the war having hereft thousands of homes. 
Of its history as a Soldiers' Orphans' School a description ap- 
pears just preceding. The attention of the Lutheran Church was 
attracted to it. Rev. Philip Willard acting in the capacity of repre- 
sentative of the Lutheran Publication Society, of Philadelphia, 
and accompanied by Daniel Eppley, of Harrisburg, visited the 
institution with a view of securing it for his denomination. In 
October, 1867, delegates from the East, West, Central Pennsyl- 
vania and Allegheny Synods met at Loysville, and on October 30 
petitioned the Perry County courts for a charter for a corpora- 
tion, to be known as the "Tressler Orphans' Home of the. Evan- 
gelical Lutheran Church of the 
United States of America." 
The charter was granted Janu- 
ary 6, 1868. In the meantime 
the building had been leased to 
Philip Bosserman, of New- 
port, and both Church and sol- 
diers' orphans were admitted. 
As late as 1886 the proportion 
of soldiers' orphans was sev- 
enty-one to seventy -nine 
Church orphans. 

The academy and its grounds, 
comprising five acres, was pur- 
chased February 20, 1868, for 
$5,000, from the Tresslers, 
(Capt.) Rev. D. L. Tressler 
donating his share in the prop- 
erty ($500), and in apprecia- 
tion it was named the Tressler 
Orphan Home. Twenty-five 
additional acres were pur- 
chased from the Tressler farm 
at a cost of $90 per acre. 
Rev. Willard was appointed 
superintendent and sent to the 
different synods and churches 

to solicit subscriptions. He secured over $4,000 within a year. 
The first trustees, who applied for the charter for the school and 
supervised its early management, were Rev. P. Sahm and Jacob 
Crist, of the Central Pennsylvania Synod ; Rev. Jeremiah Frazer 
and D. K. Ramey, of the Allegheny Synod; Rev. Philip W'illard 
and Henry L. Hummel, of the East Pennsylvania Synod, and Rev. 
23 




REV. PHIUP WILLARD, 

First Superintendent Under Supervision of 
the Lutheran Church. 



354 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

J. H. Menges and J. Carver, of the West Pennsylvania Synod. 
Almost at its beginning as a joint school for the orphans of the 
state and of the Church (June i, 1869) there were eighty soldiers' 
orphans and eighteen Church orphans. 

Improvements began almost immediately upon the transfer to 
the Church, and have never ceased, but have kept abreast of the 
times. In 1872 a frame building was erected for a dining room 
and dormitory, later being used as part of the Industrial School. 
In 1874 a two-story kitchen and bakery was built, and in 1875 a 
large and substantial barn was built. These buildings sufficed for 
about a decade. Then, in 1884, a large building with basement 
and three stories was erected at a cost of $10,000. Its purpose was 
for schools, kitchen, and boys' dormitory. In 1887 the adjoining 
George Shaffer property, a house later used as a hospital, and thir- 
teen acres of land, were purchased for $2,300. Two years later 
fire escapes were added to all buildings to comply with a new state 
law. During that year Rev. Philip Willard, after twenty-one years 
of persistent and splendid labor in the upbuilding of the Home, 
retired from the superintendency. He was temporarily succeeded 
by Major J. G. Bobb, of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, from November, 
1889, to July, 1 891. Charles A. Widle had come to the institu- 
tion in July, 1890, as disciplinarian, and upon the retirement of 
Major Bobb in July 1891, he became temporary superintendent 
until June, 1892, when he was elected to fill the position, and has been 
continued in office ever since, a period of thirty-one years, count- 
ing the temporary service. Mr. Widle had been a teacher in the 
public schools of Butler and Lawrence Counties, from whence he 
had been called to the service of Soldiers' ( )rphans' Schools, first 
to McAllisterville, then to Chester Springs, and later to Harford, 
Susquehanna County, from which place he came to the Tressler 
Home in 1890. 

During the period of time when the soldiers' orphans were cared 
for there remained services for which the Home was not com- 
pensated, and in 1890 a check for $21,000 was received from the 
state in full for all overdue payments and for any services for 
which compensation had not been made. The present excellent 
library was started in 1892, under the direction of Miss Emma 
Eppley, who was the matron, with about 700 volumes. The Home 
issues a small monthly paper telling of its work and needs which 
was started in May, 1892, a printing plant having been put in that 
year. Its principal work is that of the Church. Through its in- 
stallation many of the boys of the institution have been enabled to 
learn the printing trade and hold positions in many states. 

In 1894 an extension, 39x15, was added to the original academy 
building for a girls' dormitory and bath rooms. In the same year 
steam heat and gas light were introduced into the main buildings. 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 



355 



The following year a steam pump was added to the water ma- 
chinery, and in [896 a steam laundry, with bakery and storerooms 

was built, the industrial school building erected and the Children's 
Memorial Chapel begun, its dedication taking place June 20, 1900. 
And then, with the end of the century (1900), Mr. J. Harry 
Fritz, of Somerset, Pennsylvania, purchased the adjoining [ohn 
Minich farm of twenty-two acres, for $3,500, and presented it to 
the Nome as the Fritz addition. In 1901-02 Mr. Fritz had erected 




CHAS. A. WIDLE. 
Supt. Tressler's Orphans' Home since 1891. 

and presented to the institution a fine two-story building, known 
as the Fritz Memorial Library and Girls' Dormitory, its dedication 
having been on June 5, 1902. Mr. Fritz was a real estate dealer 
of Somerset and had a large place in his heart for needy children. 
He also gave $1,100 towards the erection of the Children's Me- 
morial Hospital during the same year. The heirs of Samuel and 
Rachel Kunkel, two early benefactors of the Lutheran Church 
whose homes had been in Harrisburg, where their impress has been 
left upon Lutheran work for all time, presented a tine two-story 
building — the Kunkel Memorial Children's Nursery — to the insti- 
tution. It was dedicated June 13, 1901. During that year the 
steam plant, from which all buildings are heated, and the acetylene 
light plant were installed. In 1902 a large cistern and rain water 



356 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

system was installed. In 1903 an adjoining tract of land contain- 
ing fifty-two acres was purchased from George W. Loy, for 
$2,500, the funds being supplied by private contributions. A year 
later the Samuel Burkhart farm, near Bloserville, in Cumberland 
County, was left to the Home by will. Owing to its separation 
from the Home by a great mountain and a long distance, it was 
sold by order of the Cumberland County courts and the funds 
placed in charge of a trustee for the benefit of the Home. 

The reservoir and sewer system was constructed in 1904, and a 
boys' dormitory and school building in 1905-06. Owing to the 
increasing size of the Home and the necessarily increasing size of 
the number of employees, a double frame house was purchased in 
Loysville for $2,000 in 1909, for their accommodation. The Jacob 
L. Minich plot of ten acres of fine farm land adjoining the Home, 
was purchased during the same year, and also a tract of twenty- 
two acres from John H. Shumaker, for $2,000. 

The Annie L. Lowry Memorial Hospital was erected in 1909, 
being a gift through her executor, Elwood Bonsall, Esq., of 
Philadelphia, who donated $8,500 from the residuary funds of her 
estate under a provision of her will, which directed that such funds 
be applied to "such charities as he deemed most worthy." In 1910 
a modern system of sewage was installed to replace the old and then 
obsolete system, at a cost of $1,556. During 1910 the old hospital 
was removed to a new location and fitted up for employees of the 
Home, and upon its former site a home for the use of the super- 
intendent was erected at a cost of $4,500. In 1913 the ice house 
was built, and in 1914 brick refrigerating rooms of an approved 
type were installed. 

During 1 913-14 the Sharetts Memorial, costing $10,000, was 
erected by Luther T. and Edward H. Sharetts, of Keymar, Mary- 
land. It houses the printing department, now grown to consid- 
erable size, the gymnasium and the band room. In 1914 the Eme- 
line Loy Murray Memorial was erected. It is a one-story brick 
building, 26x45 feet, being a modern and up-to-date kitchen. 
During 1913-14 a deep well was sunk to augment the water supply. 

The year 1914 is important in the life of the Home from an- 
other standpoint. As noted the Home had increased its acreage 
at various times, but in 19 14 the large and fertile Arnold farm 
adjoining the Home, consisting of 182 acres with farm buildings, 
and a number of valuable springs, was purchased for $18,225. Its 
purchase was made possible through a gift or annuity of $14,000 
from Fred and Margaret Mehring, brother and sister, of Keymar, 
Maryland. 

In 1909 a movement was begun for the installation of elec- 
tricity for lighting purposes, and in 1910 the Sherman's Valley 
Electric Light, Heat & Power Company, connected with the insti- 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 357 

tul ion, was chartered by the commonwealth. Bear's mill, in Madi- 
son Township, had been abandoned some years before for milling 
purposes. The mill, with all its water rights, was purchased from 
Jos. B. Lightner. The dam was rebuilt of concrete and all the 
waterways renewed and a new turbine wheel with new electrical 
outfit placed in the mill, where, since, January, 1910, electric cur- 
rent is made to light the whole institution, also all residences and 
churches in Loysville. All industrial operations of the Home are 
driven by this plant. It is now planned that in 1921 the power of 
the Weaver mill will be added to this plant, which will enable the 
company to give service to Landisburg, Elliottsburg and interven- 
ing points as well as serve the growing institution. 

During the spring of 191 5 the Bear Mill farm, surrounding 
the light plant, with a total acreage of 132, of which sixty is in 
cultivation, was purchased. Its purchase was not made from the 
point of desirability in so far as the farm land is concerned, but 
as an essential to the water-power and the electric plant. 

On the first day of the year, 19 19, the Home got possession of 
the Weaver mill, an old, well-established and well patronized flour 
and feed mill, for which $5,000 was paid. With it was a house, 
barn and sixteen acres of rough land. The management foresaw 
that the capacity of the light plant would soon be overtaxed with 
only the power from the Bear mill, which was the reason for this 
purchase. An additional twenty-eight acres of bottom and adjacent 
hill lands were purchased for $375, in order to be sure of title to 
all necessary water rights. April 1, 1920, the Home paid $4,000 
for the David H. Kleckner place, just east of and adjoining the 
Home buildings, consisting of a house and five acres of land. It 
was purchased on account of water rights, as water from the 
springs on the Mehring addition flowed through it, and for that 
reason the Home was not at liberty to decrease the flow of the 
stream. These springs have since been enlarged and connected 
with the water main and an electric pump installed, and this valu- 
able additional water supply made available for the institution. 

Owing to incapacity it became necessary to replace the sewage 
plant in 191 7 and a new plant of the Imhoff type was installed. 
It was built after plans approved by the state and is supposed to 
endure for a long period of years. Cement porches were added to 
the Fritz dormitory in 1918-19, through a bequest of $2,000 from 
Mrs. Charles S. Weiser, an original member of the Board of Lady 
Visitors. 

In June, 1919, one of the most modern of all the group of build- 
ings was completed and given over to the Home by the Pittsburgh 
Synod. It is known as the Pittsburgh Synodical Dormitory, and 
is the home of forty boys from eight to twelve years of age. Its 
cOst, with furnishings, was $20,000. 



358 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The Home grounds was the scene of much building activity dur- 
ing the summer of 1 921. Among the projects is a large pavilion, 
seating 1,300 persons, on the campus for out-door entertainments; 
a second nursery building, by the West Pennsylvania Synod for 
the home of twenty children from three to six years of age; 
a dormitory for girls of eight to twelve years, by the Allegheny 
Synod ; a dormitory for forty older boys and a vocational school 
building, by the East Pennsylvania Synod. The completion of 
these projected buildings will see the plans of the present manage- 
ment fairly well through. 

The printing plant at this institution is most complete, having 
grown from a few fonts of type and a small job press to its pres- 
ent size. There is printed the Orphans' Home Echoes, for which 
a charge of fifteen cents per year is made, with a price of ten 
cents per year in clubs. Its circulation is over 8,000. For thirty 
years, or since its beginning in May, 1892, Mr. W. L. Gladfelter, 
a prominent paper manufacturer of Spring Grove. Pennsylvania, 
has donated all the paper used in its publication, which in the past 
year alone amounted to five tons. Thirty-three church papers are 
printed at the plant, most of them being monthlies, and from four 
to thirty-two pages in size.. 

This institution closed its year in June, 1919, with an enrollment 
of 262, and the year of 1920 with an enrollment of 282, which 
shows its wonderful growth in taking care of orphan children of 
the Church since its start with but the small number of eighteen 
under Rev. Philip Willard in 1869. During the last year twenty- 
five boys and twelve girls were sent from the Home, and thirty- 
five girls and twenty-two boys admitted. There is always a large 
waiting list. The health of the children is unusually good ; on only 
a few occasions in the fifty or more years of its existence have 
epidemics brought death to the inmates. The public schools of the 
surrounding districts have a seven-months' term, while the Home 
has a nine-months' term, with grades from the kindergarten to the 
third year in high school. Of the teachers during the 1919-20 
session, one was a college graduate, four State Normal graduates, 
and two held provisional certificates in the county. Vocal and 
musical instruction is under the charge of a special teacher. There 
is a girls' orchestra and a boys' band,, each under the instruction of 
a tutor. These musical organizations go on tours and give exhi- 
bitions in Lutheran communities. During 1920 the band was on a 
lengthy tour to western Pennsylvania. Religious instruction is a 
part of the daily program, morning and evening services of a 
brief nature being conducted as the children sit at table in the 
dining room. A Sunday school is conducted in the chapel. That 
idleness is detrimental is taught in the Home by assigning to the 
pupils such tasks as they can perform. The boys assist- in the 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 359 

housekeeping in their own quarters, and with the heavier work 
about the kitchen, dining room and grounds; with such farm work 
as they are able, and in the printery and elsewhere. The girls are 
employed at the various phases of housework, in the kitchen, din- 
ing room, laundry and sewing room. Plans are being made for 
vocational training. The Alumni Association devotes its funds to 
helping pupils to a higher education. 

The farming operations on the lands belonging to the Nome are 
in themselves no small matter, and it is from them that comes much 
of the product which sustains it. The yield of wheat last year was 
1,220 bushels; of corn, after filling two 100-ton silos, 4,225 hush- 
els, and of other crops accordingly. Forty fat hogs were butchered 
and twenty-two large steers fed and marketed. Two tractors are 
used in the cultivation of the lands. Donations from individuals 
and the various congregations connected with the synods support- 
ing the Home are of frequent occurrence and consist of a variety 
of things from valuable and useful articles down to the smallest 
things of use in the home. A modernly equipped dairy furnishes 
all the milk and butter products from the Home herd. Not con- 
sidering the products of the Home it costs about $48,000 annually 
to sustain the Home. 

in a word we are proud to have within the borders of Perry 
County this wonderful institution, supported entirely by volun- 
tary contributions. As a native Perry Countian the author be- 
lieves that he expresses an opinion that is unanimous. Children 
who are deprived of either parent, or of father and mother, are 
denied or deprived of many of the inherent rights of childhood, 
and it is into this breach that the Tressler Orphans' Home steps 
and gives the orphan children of Lutheran parents a home, plenty 
of food for the development of their bodies, proper clothing for 
their protection, a liberal education and the ability to work. A 
nurse is in continual attendance and a physician within a moment's 
call. It is a creditable work that has been so successfully conducted 
for a period of over a half-century by practically two men, Rev. 
Philip Willard and Charles A. Widle, the present superintendent, 
and one of whom the great Lutheran denomination should be 

proud. 

The County Home. 

Before the formation of Perry County, the county home of 
Cumberland County was located at the site of the present Perry 
County Home. On April 12, 18 10, the directors of the poor and 
of the House of Employment of Cumberland County purchased 
from Adam Bernheisel, of Tyrone Township, his farm of 112 
acres, the same having been warranted by William McClure in 
1763. The sum paid was $5,196.36. In those days contracting 
'was not done in the modern way and the records show that on 



360 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

< >i 1 ul XT 8, 1810, the contract for masonry on the County Home 
was let to Robert Cree for $1,900, for carpenter work to George 
Libey ( Leiby) for $1,850, and for plastering to Thomas Redding 
for $230 — making the cost of the entire building $3,980. The 
building was located east of the present one and sufficed at that 
time for all the territory which comprised Cumberland County, 
which, of course, included the territory of present-day Perry. 

When Perry County was formed the institution became the 
property of the new county, with the proviso that the poor of Cum- 
berland County be allowed to remain for several years, which con- 
dition was carried out. The previous owner, Adam Bernheisel, 
had erected a brick dwelling house, which was used by the steward 
as a residence. In 1839 the almshouse was burned to the ground 
and was rebuilt at once, Samuel Shuman being the contractor. The 
building erected at that time stood until 1871, when it was replaced 
by the present one. 

The present County Home is a four-story building of brick, con- 
taining about seventy rooms. Its partitions are of brick and the 
stairways are of iron. Its cost was approximately $60,000, includ- 
ing improvements. The county commissioners who were in office 
at the time of its building were John Stephens, Zachariah Rice, and 
J. A. Leinaweaver. J. R. Shuler was their clerk. It is located on 
the road connecting Loysville with Landisburg, and the fine farm 
produces much of the edibles of the large family which is housed 
in the institution. Those who are not aged and whose health is 
good help in the many duties around the farm and home. The 
equipment belongs to the county. There is record of the court 
appointing visitors to the County Home during the period of 
1 850- 1 860. 

The steward at this time is Robert Eaton, under whose manage- 
ment, with the able assistance of Mrs. Eaton, the Home is con- 
ducted in a practical manner. The building is neat, clean and in 
order, and the farm in good shape. The present board of directors 
is composed of G. W. Dunkle, of Duncannon ; S. A. Shope, of 
Marysville, and E. M. Wilt, of Andersonburg. 

The clerk and secretary to the board of directors from January 
1, 1882, to January 1, 1911, was H. D. Stewart. Since then 
Samuel Ebert is the incumbent. 

As showing some of its activities the following facts are copied 
from the financial statement of 1920: Seven outdoor physicians 
over the county were paid $189.75 for attending the poor. Six 
undertakers were paid $300 for burying eleven persons, all save 
one in other parts of the county. Merchandise amounting to $2,- 
627.54 was purchased for the institution, being mostly for food 
and clothing. The salaries and expenses of the three directors, 
the steward, the matron, the farmer, the clerk, the minister, the 



ACADEMIES AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS 361 

attorney, and the physician only total $2,058.82, surely a creditable 
showing. Products not used at the Home retailed for $1,051.37, 
which more than covered the cash expenditure of $1,005.53, for 
the current needs of the Home and farm. Outdoor relief checks 
totaled $1,295, and outdoor relief through stores amounted to 
$191.06. 

The number of inmates at the Home in the beginning of the 
year was fifty-six, twenty-six males and thirty females. During 
the year three males and three females were admitted. Two were 
dismissed and one died, which closed the year with twenty-six 
males and thirty-three females. Tramps were relieved to the num- 
ber of 150, one being a female. During the year the following 
clothing and bedding were made at the Home: 100 sheets, 100 
pillowcases, 25 bedspreads, 10 chaff ticks, 75 towels, 6 tablecloths, 
58 aprons, 19 dresses, 15 comforts, 12 pillows, and 10 children's 
dresses. 

The farm produced 600 bushels of wheat, 1,000 bushels of oats, 
2,500 baskets of corn in the ear, four bushels of clover-seed, 500 
bushels of potatoes, five bushels of sweet potatoes, six bushels of 
turnips, fifteen bushels of onions, fifty bushels of tomatoes, and 
2,000 heads of cabbage, besides all the small garden vegetables 
used at the Home. The pork dressed, weighed 6,000 pounds, and 
the beef, 900 pounds. 

At the formation of the new county the first steward was George 
Hackett. Beginning in 1839 — the records prior to that having 
been destroyed by the fire which burned the building — the stewards 
were : 

1840-43— Daniel Minich. 1870-74 —Joseph S. Bistline. 

1844-50— Benjamin Rice. 1875-76 —Isaac B. Trostle. 

185 1 — H. Kleckner. 1876-79 —Henry P. Lightner. 

1852-54— Benjamin Balthauser. 1879-82 — T. P. Orner. 

1855-57— Jacob Balthauser. 1882-90 —P. G. Kell. 

1858-59— Samuel P. Campbell. 1890-1911— John R. Boden. 

1860-62— Thomas W. Morrow. 1911-12 —Irwin I. Rice. 

1863-66— John Hopple. 1912-14 — Wm. J. Rice. 

1867-69— Jeremiah Minich. 1914- —Robert J. Eaton. 

The following paragraph, from the Perry Forester, of April 
14, 1824, tells of the removal of the first of the inmates of Cum- 
berland County, by the officials of that county : 

"About forty of the paupers belonging to Cumberland County. 
passed through Landisburg this morning from the poorhouse in 
this county, on their way to Cumberland, attended by the commis- 
sioners and some of the overseers of that county. About ten of 
the Cumberland poor have been left by the overseers to be boarded, 
which makes about twenty in all, in the Perry County poorhouse 
at present." That word pauper is happily no longer in use in the 
county press. 



c 



CHAPTER XIX. 

POSTRIDER AND STAGECOACH. 

ARVED in large granite letters along the Eighth Avenue 
side of the massive New York post office building is this 
inscription : 



"Neither rain nor snow nor heat nor gloom of 
night stays these couriers from the swift com- 
pletion of their appointed rounds." 



Herodotus, who lived some twenty-five centuries ago, was the 
author of those words, but he was referring to the military cour- 
iers of the Persian Cyrus — tireless horsemen who sped from place 
to place throughout the empire. And yet they seem not inappro- 
priate to the army of postmen from the time of the postrider down 
to their present-day successors in city and country or to those tire- 
less workers who work through the night on speeding trains, dis- 
tributing the mails for the four corners of the earth. When storms 
rage and equinoctial torrents fall the city carrier and rural de- 
livery man are on their "appointed rounds." They are the only 
representatives of the great United States government who come 
to every man's door. 

When Cumberland County was established in 1750 there was 
no regular post from Philadelphia, neither did such exist at the 
time of the Albany treaty in 1754, nor when the first settlers war- 
ranted lands in what is now Perry County a year later. The trou- 
bles with the Indians were largely responsible for the establishment 
in 1757 of a weekly horseback post, history recording it as "in- 
tended to better enable the governor and the assembly to com- 
municate with 'his majesty's' subjects on the frontier." The first 
regular post from Philadelphia to New York started in 1756, and 
from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh, in 1786. 

Just when the first ronte was established that carried the mails 
to Perry County territory is unknown, but in 1798 Postmaster 
( General Joseph Habersham issued proposals for carrying the mails, 
once in two weeks, over the following routes: "From Harrisburg, 
by Clark's Ferry, Millerstown, Thompsontown, Mifflintown, 
Lewistown, Huntingdon, Alexandria, Bellefonte, Aaronsburg, 
Miffiinburg, Eewisburg, Northumberland, and Sunbury to Harris- 
burg. The mail to leave Harrisburg from October 15 to April 15, 
every other Monday at 6 o'clock a. m., returning the next Mon- 
day, by 7 p. m. Other seasons of the year in proportion to days' 
length." 

362 



POSTRIDF.R AND STAGECOACH 363 

Witli the turnpike came the stagecoach, considered a great affair 
in that day. They continued to run until the advent of the packet 
boat and even then ran during the winter months when (lie canal 
could not be operated. John and Janus Patterson, of Millerstown, 
drove the stagecoach which operated between that place and Clark's 
Ferry about the time of the building of the canal. A whip with 
four-in-hand was then the admiration of the youngsters, as are 
aeroplanes of to-day. So regularly did they run upon schedule 
time that residents of the wayside referred to their passing to set 
their clocks, we are told. 

In the days when the mails between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh 
were carried by stagecoach a Perry Countian had a unique experi- 
ence. Isaiah Clark, a Millerstown merchant, was on his way to 
Philadelphia to purchase goods, and when near Philadelphia the 
stagecoach was held up by three outlaws known as Wilson, Poteet, 
and Porter. According to the late John A. Baker's version of the 
affair, Clark counseled the occupants to resist, as the stage was 
well filled. With pointed pistols facing them, however, all stood 
while they were searched and robbed. One man hastily secreted 
his purse in one of the cushions by ripping it and thus saved his 
belongings. The mail pouch was rifled, which at that time was a 
capital offence. The robbers being apprehended, Wilson and 
Poteet are said to have been hanged. Porter, who turned "state's 
evidence," was pardoned by President Andrew Jackson. 

The earliest record of an effort to run a stage line into the county 
was made in 1808, announcement to the public being made as 
follows : 

Juniata Maie Stage. 

The subscribers beg leave to inform the public, that on the 3d day of 
May next, their Stage will commence running from Harrisburg by the 
way of Clark's Ferry, Millerstown, Thompsontown, Mifflintown, Lewis- 
town, Waynesburg, and Huntingdon, to Alexandria, once a week. Leave 
the House of Mr. Berryhill, Harrisburg, every Tuesday, at 1 o'clock p.m., 
and arrive at Alexandria on the Friday following ; returning, leave Alex- 
andria every Saturday morning and arrive at Harrisburg on Tuesday 
morning. 

As the company have procured elegant and convenient Carriages, good 
Horses, and careful drivers, they flatter themselves that the passage of 
those who may please to favor them with their custom, will be rendered 
safe, easy and agreeable. 

Fare for travelers, 6 cents per mile, each entitled to 14 pounds baggage, 
gratis; 150 pounds baggage equal to a passenger. 

John Walker, George Mulhollan, 

John M'Connell, Thomas Cochran, 
George Gaebraith, John M. Davidson, 
April 14, 1808. Robert Ceark. 

N. B. Horses and chairs will be procured at the different towns, for 
those passengers who wish to go off the road or proceed further than 
Alexandria. 



364 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY PENNSYLVANIA 

On the afternoon of May 3 the stage "Experiment" arrived at 
Clark's Ferry, crossed Duncan's Island and arrived at Millerstown 
before nightfall. Such was the beginning of an enterprise which 
was to continue many years and which was in that day an innova- 
tion. The route was later extended to Pittsburgh and connected 
with a similar one at Harrisburg for Philadelphia. 

In April, 1828 — twenty years later — this line of stages began 
running daily from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh. In the meantime 
it had progressed from once a week to three times a week. About 
1830 the three sections of stage lines was converged into two, with 
the terminus of each at Huntingdon, the eastern section being 
operated by Calder, Wilson & Co. Passengers were then con- 
veyed from Philadelphia to Huntingdon in two days, and from 
Huntingdon to Pittsburgh in three and a half days. By 1832 it 
had so far advanced that passengers arrived at Huntingdon by 
4 o'clock of the second day, and at Pittsburgh by evening of the 
third day. To attain this speed the coaches ran both day and night, 
as the trains do. At this same period an accommodation line was 
run by day from Harrisburg to Pittsburgh, making the trip three 
limes a week and consuming three and a half days. 

Nature then was the same as now, and the elements frequently 
caused serious delays in the mails, sometimes as much as several 
days. The line was not without competition, and with the building 
of turnpikes during the period was enabled to progress as it did. 

Before the organization of Perry County, on May 26, 181 7, 
and also in 1819, J. Meigs, then postmaster general, advertised for 
bids to carry the United States mails over seventy-one routes in 
Pennsylvania, among which were the following routes through or 
contiguous to Perry County territory: 

Route 49. From Harrisburg by Halifax, Selinsgrove and Sunbury, to 
Northumberland, twice a week, 55 miles. Leave Harrisburg every Sunday 
and Wednesday at 4 a. m., and arrive at Northumberland next day by 
11 a.m. Leave Northumberland every Monday and Friday at 2 p.m., and 
arrive at Harrisburg next day by 6 p. m. 

Route 68. From Harrisburg by Clark's Ferry, Millerstown, Thompson- 
town, Mifflintown, Lewistown, McVeytown and Huntingdon to Alexandria, 
twice a week, 100 miles. Leave Harrisburg every Tuesday and Saturday 
at noon, and arrive at Alexandria Thursday and Monday by 6 p. m. Leave 
Alexandria every Saturday and Thursday at 6 a. m., and arrive at Harris- 
burg Tuesday and Saturday by 9 a. m. 

Route 70. From Carlisle by Wagner's Gap, Landisburg and Shower's 
Mill to Douglas' Mill, once a week, 24 miles. Leave Carlisle every Friday 
at 5 a. m., and arrive at Douglas' Mill by 2 p. m. Leave Douglas' Mill 
every Thursday at noon and arrive at Carlisle by 6 p. m. 

Two years later, in 18 19, the above routes were again adver- 
tised and the following- one in addition : 



P0STR1DER AND STAGECOACH 365 

Route 73. From Frederickstown, Maryland, by Creagertown, Maryland; 
Emmittsburg, Maryland; Gettysburg, Stary's, Carlisle, Shearman's Creek, 
Millerstown, Straubtown, Mt. Pleasant Mills and Selinsgrove to Sunbury, 
once a week, 129 miles. Leave Fredericktown every Tuesday at 2 p. m., 
and arrive at Sunbury Friday by 6 p. m. Leave Sunbury every Saturday 
at 6 a. m., and arrive at Fredericktown by Tuesday at 10 a. m. 

At the time (if the county's organization, in 1820, there was a 
weekly mail from Carlisle to Landisburg, according to an an- 
nouncement in the initial issue of the I'crry Forester, the new- 
county's first newspaper, printed at Landisburg July 12, 1820. 
The first mails carried into the county and through it were carried 
on horseback. An original route ran through Landisburg to Car- 
lisle, and that part of it exists to this day, having passed from 
horseback to stagecoach, and now to automobile. When first 
established the mail was carried over this route once a week, then 
twice a week, later three times a week, and for many years daily. 
As trails became roads so the old stagecoach, the prototype of the 
ones seen in present-day moving picture shows, succeeded the 
horseback method, and the celebrated Rice stage lines became 
known not only throughout Perry County, but over the state and 
in many other states. There are many men and women living to- 
day, not yet past their "early forties," who rode on these famous 
stages. The Rice family at Landisburg owned these routes and 
were the original mail contractors in the territory. 

At the present time, early in 1920, the mails leave Landisburg 
in the morning, exchanging mails at Alinda and Shermansdale, in 
Perry County, and at Carlisle Springs, in Cumberland County 
(the latter service discontinued), returning in the afternoon. This 
and the Ickesburg-Newport route are the only original post roads 
yet in use in the county. 

Another of these early contract routes where the mails were for- 
warded by horseback was from New Germantown to Landisburg. 
The first contractor was William Gray, whose nephew, Wilson W. 
Morrison, carried the mails in saddlebags thrown across the horse's 
back. This was about 1853, as near as Mr. Morrison can recollect, 
for with Mrs. Morrison, he still resides at New Germantown. The 
distance was about seventeen miles, and the courier left New Ger- 
mantown at seven in the morning and returned about six in the 
evening, stopping for the exchange of mails at Loysville, Centre. 
Andersonburg, and Multicaulisville (now Blain). He first car- 
ried it once a week, and later twice a week. The late W. H. Wag- 
goner (1919) distinctly remembered the boy postrider on this 
route. Samuel Ebert, of Loysville, also distinctly remembers 
when it was carried by Mr. Morrison in saddlebags, in 1848, on 
its weekly trip, each Saturday. Samuel Lupfer, born 1825, car- 
ried the mail when a boy from, New Bloomfield to Milford (now 



366 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Wila). In 1851 there was a similar horseback route from Ickes- 
burg to Landisburg, Roseburg being served on the way, with the 
late Prof. Wm. C. Shuman as postboy. Jacob Shuman was the 
contractor. Long years afterwards Prof. Shuman recalled swarms 
of locusts, which often struck him in the face while riding the 
mail route, that being "locust year." Jacob and Henry Stambaugh 
were early postmen out of Landisburg. 

As recent as "the late sixties" (prior to 1870) a stagecoach made 
two trips a week over the mountain from New Germantown to 
Concord, Franklin County, carrying the United States mail and 
passengers. Later it was changed to three trips a week. Some 
of the original patrons still reside along the route. 

According to a tradition, which is in all probability true, there 
was once a through mail route to the West via Liberty Valley and 
through what is now the McClure State Forest. According to a 
stale forest report one of the main forest roads has been developed 
from this original trail or route. 

In the original issue of the Perry Forester, dated July 12, 1820, 
a]>] tears the following advertisement, which shows the method of 
travel of the period : 

Harrisburg and Bellefontc 
Mail Stage. 

This line will commence running on the 

First Day of April 

next. The Stage will leave Buffington's Inn, at Harrisburg, every Friday 

at noon, and arrive at Bellefonte every Sunday afternoon; returning. 

leave Bellefonte every Wednesday morning, and arrive at Harrisburg every 

Friday morning. 

Fare For Passengers. 

From Harrisburg to Clark's Ferry, $1.00 

From Clark's Ferry to Millerstown, 1.00 

From Millerstown to Lewistown, 2.00 

From Lewistown to Bellefonte, 2.00 

From Harrisburg to Bellefonte, 6.00 

Way passengers, 7 cents a mile; 17 lbs. of baggage allowed to each 

passenger — all above that weight to be charged as follows: 150 lbs. at the 

rate of proportion. All baggage at the risk of the owner. 

Robert Clark & Co. 
Clark s Ferry, March 17, 1820. 

The Huntingdon, Juniata Mail Stage leaves Harrisburg as usual every 

Tuesday at noon. 

Two years later a stage line was put on between Clark's Ferry 
(now Duncannon) and Concord, Franklin County, as the follow- 
ing announcement, also from the Perry Forester, will show : 

Clark's Ferry, Landisburg and Concord. 
United States Mail Coach. 
This line has commenced running — 
The coach will leave Clark's Ferry every Wednesday morning at 4 



POSTRIDER AND STAGECOACH 367 

o'clock, passengers take breakfast at Landisburg and arrive at Concord 
the same evening. Returning leaves Concord on Thursday morning and 
arrive at Clark's Ferry the same evening. 

The line is connected with the Northern route to Pittsburg, so that pas- 
sengers can go on to Harrisburg without delay. 

Fare For Passengers. 

From Clark's Ferry to Landisburg, $1.00 
From Landisburg to Concord, 1.25 

Way passengers, per mile, .o6J4 

Fourteen pounds baggage allowed to each passenger — all packages above 
that weight to be charged as follows: 150 lbs. at the weight of a pas- 
senger, greater or less weight in proportion. All baggage at the risk of 
the owner. Robert Clark. 

April ii, 1822. 

The Perry Forester announced this route May 10. 1821, but it 
appears not to have started until March 6, 1822. The original an- 
nouncement called for a route "from Clark's Ferry via Landis- 
burg, Douglas' Mill, and Concord, to Fannettsburg." 

Robert Clark, of Clark's Ferry (now Duncannon), on October 
23, 1822, announces a stage line from Bellefonte, Philipsburg, 
Franklin, and Meadville. On March 23, 1825, a line was an- 
nounced as starting from Clark's Ferry, through New Bloomfield 
via Ickesburg, to Landisburg, the first day; to Concord via Doug- 
las' Mill (Blain), the second day; back to Ickesburg via Landis- 
burg the third day, and to Clark's Ferry via Bloomfield the fourth 
day. 

There was once a mail route from Liverpool to New Berlin, 
Union County. 

On June 12, 1828, another route was announced through the 
new county. It was to leave Millerstown at 6 o'clock on Thurs- 
day and pass through Milford and Bloomfield to Landisburg, re- 
turning the same day. On Friday at 6 o'clock it was to leave Mil- 
lerstown, going via Liverpool, Montgomery's Ferry, Thompson's 
Crossroads, and Clark's Ferry, to Bloomfield. The next morning, 
Saturday, it was to start from Bloomfield and go to Carlisle via 
Landisburg and Sterrett's Gap. Clark abandoned the lines after 
a time and the mails were again carried by postriders until the ad- 
vent of the Rice stage line. 

The mails, when first started to be carried with any regularity, 
were carried once every two weeks, and then by horseback. The 
route from Harrisburg to Huntingdon required four days' travel 
each way. One of the offices was at Clark's Ferry, then where 
Clark's Run enters the Susquehanna at what is now Duncannon. 
Storms, freshets with impassable streams, icebound streams and 
the "indisposition" of the carrier caused innumerable delays. 

Upon the completion of the Pennsylvania Canal in 1829-30 a 
line of daily packets was put on from Columbia to Harrisburg by 



368 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Calder & Wilson, and the mails came to Columbia by rail, to Har- 
risburg by packet, and continued further by stagecoach, more re- 
mote sections using the horseback method. The packets ran until 
superseded by the railway service in 1849. It may interest the 
reader to know that the first overland mail route was only inaugu- 
rated April 3, i860, when a rider and pony left St. Joseph, Mis- 
souri, and arrived at Sacramento, California, April nth. This 
route later used stagecoaches. When ponies were yet in use and 
the mail carried in saddlebags William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill) was 
one of the riders. The postage was $5 per half-ounce and 200 
letters were carried on the initial trip. In 1861, according to the 
provisions of a bill passed by Congress the rate for letters to the 
Pacific slope was made 10 cents. 

In early days there were no envelopes, nor postage stamps, and 
a return from Perry County to the state in 1826 is cited as an ex- 
ample. It was not enclosed in any envelope or wrapping, but was 
sealed with red sealing wax, the method then in use, and marked 
Landisburg, Pa., 1826. It was addressed to David Mann, Auditor 
General, and on one corner, underscored, are the words "On Pub- 
lic Service." Opposite that, in place of stamps, the figures 
"123/2." Another document is addressed to Jacob Huggins, Esq., 
Member of Assembly, Harrisburg. It is sealed the same way and 
is marked "Clark's Ferry, July 21, 1825." It is a petition to have 
a justice of the peace appointed for New Bloomfield, the county 
seat, and states that "the jail is completed and the prisoners con- 
fined therein ; we are in such cases compelled to go miles to the 
nearest justice." John Harper was appointed. 

Postage stamps were first used in 1847. The postage rate had 
been fixed in 1 790 at six cents per half -ounce for thirty miles, and 
were graduated up until the rate was twenty-five cents for four 
hundred miles or more. The first great reduction in postage was 
in 1845, when the rate upon letters was made five cents per half- 
ounce for less than three hundred miles, and ten cents for greater 
distances. In 185 1 letter postage was decreased to three cents for 
distances less than 300 miles, and in 1855 prepayment of postage 
was made compulsory. 

The whole post office idea originated with John Hamilton, of 
New Jersey, whose father was Andrew Hamilton, governor of the 
Province of Pennsylvania from 1701 to 1703. Philadelphia had 
no post office until 1700. Jonathan Dickinson announced in 1717 
that "a regular post lias just been established between Virginia and 
the northern colonies, once a month in summer, and once in two 
months in winter." 

The inauguration of a number of the old Perry County stage 
lines dates to the following periods : 



POSTRIDER AND STAGECOACH 369 

I.andisburg to New Germantown, 17 miles, in 1855, with Zach. Rice, Jr., 
;is contractor. 

I.andisburg to Newport, 17 miles, in 1852, with Zach. Rice, Sr., as con- 
tractor. 

Ickesburg to Newport, 16 miles, in 1864, with Samuel L,. Kice as con- 
tractor. 

Ickesburg to Millerstown, 12 miles, in 1864, with Samuel L,. Rice as 
contractor. 

On January 10, 1856, the Post Office Department advertised for 
bids for carrying the mails over the following routes, for four 
years, from July 1, 1856, to July 1, i860: 

From Newport, by Juniata (now Wila), Bosserman's Mills (now Mar- 
kelville) and Roseburg, to Ickesburg, 16 miles and back, three times a 
week, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. 

From Newport, by New Bloomfield and EHiottsburg, to Landisburg, 19 
miles and back, six times a week. 

From EHiottsburg, by Andesville (now Loysville), Centre, Anderson- 
burg and Blain, to New Germantown, 18 miles and back, twice a week, 
Tuesday and Friday. (Just before starting the contract, on June 25, this 
was changed to tri-weekly.) 

From Millerstown, by Donally's Mills, to Ickesburg, 14 miles and back, 
three times a week. 

Zachariah Rice, Sr., was awarded the contracts, and subcon- 
tracted the routes, principally to his sons. In fact, Mr. Rice was 
one of the largest mail contractors in the state, at a little later 
period. At one time he had over five hundred contracts, the great 
majority of which he sublet. The Perry and Cumberland County 
routes, however, were operated by him and his sons, of which he 
had seven. These Rice brothers are remembered by many people 
yet in middle life whose first glimpse of the outer world came after 
an overland trip in one of the Rice stages. They were Samuel L. 
Rice, Jesse Rice, William Rice, Henry C. Rice. James C. Rice, 
Zachariah Rice II, and Joseph A. Rice. Several of them, in turn, 
had become large mail contractors in far-away states. In inland 
hamlet and town in Perry County these famous Rice stages were 
awaited just as anxiously in their day as are the overland trains 
of to-day, with their missives of love and devotion and those other 
tidings which bring pain and anguish to the human heart. Their 
rumble is but a memory. 

Once, during the period from i860 to 1870, the Rices were out- 
bid and they then continued the stage line from New Germantown 
to Newport on their personal account, the passage between the two 
points dropping to as low as 25 cents. The Newport-New Bloom- 
held line was discontinued in 1892. 

With the advent of the railroads mail began to be carried in 

pouches to and from central distributing points, Harrisburg 

being that point in so far as Perry County was concerned, but in 

1864, the railway postal service was inaugurated with the distribu- 

-'4 



37° 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



tion of letters and other mail en route, a system which had become 
so perfected by the end of the past century that it was a marvel. 
Through the distribution of the mails on moving trains, when ar- 
riving at an important junction point like Pittsburgh, the mails 
are all routed and ready for dispatch over the various connecting 
railroads to all points of the compass. The system is the work of 
no one man, but is the result of experiment and many different 
men's minds for over a half century. Almost a half hundred 
Perry Countians find employment in this branch of the govern- 
ment service. 

Since the termination of the World War of 1914-18 a number 
of different routes throughout the United States have been estab- 
lished for the carrying of the mails by aeroplane, but without ma- 
terial success. They are more or less of a novelty and are not prac- 
tical yet, and it is to be doubted if they ever will be. Their cost 
far exceeds any material advantage to be gained. From the two 
crests of Berry's Mountain at and opposite Mt. Patrick, where it 
is broken by the Susquehanna River, there is suspended a mighty 
strand of telephone wire. On September 7, 1920, one of these 
through mail flyers, passing low and following the river through 
the fog, struck this long wire and was instantly killed, his machine 
being wrecked upon the rocks of the river. 

Some Early Post Officks. 

A volume known as "The Gazetteer of Pennsylvania," pub- 
lished in 1832, contains a list of all the post offices in Perry County, 
with the incumbents at that period. The list : 



Andersonburg, James R. Morrison. 
Beelen's Ferry, Francis Beelen. 
Clark's Ferry, Eleazer Owen. 
Douglas' Mills, Anthony Black. 
F.lliottsburg, Henry C. Hackett. 
Ickesburg, William Robert. 
Juniata, John W. Bosserman. 
Juniata Falls, Alexander Watson. 
Junction, John B. Klein. 
Landisburg, Francis Kelly. 



Liverpool, James Jackman. 
Millerstown, Edward Purcell. 
Montgomery's Ferry, Win. Mont- 
gomery. 
New Bloomfield, Joseph Duncan. 
New Buffalo, John Livingston. 
New Germantown, James Ewing. 
Newport, Ephraim Bosserman. 
Oak Grove Furnace, John Hays. 



The locations of some of these offices will puzzle many. Bee- 
len's Ferry was on the Juniata near present Bailey Station, in Mil- 
ler Township. Clark's Ferry was at the west end of that ferry at 
its early landing at Clark's Run, near the centre of Duncannon 
Borough, in the house now owned and occupied by Joseph Smith. 
Duncannon and even Petersburg did not then exist. Douglas' 
Mill was where Blain is. Juniata was at Mil ford, now Wila post 
office. Juniata Falls was at the Patterson tavern, now Lewis 
Stecklev's, in Howe Township, on the Allegheny turnpike. June- 



POSTRIDEK AND STAGECOACH 
^tt s T„t e r Ct t.° ftheJUnia,aMdSusa -«^"a Rivers 

Opposite this lower location of n-,,-1-' ff • i , . 

Ferry is spoken of as earlv is tS.t ti Y Montgomery s 

John H. Thompson was appointed postmaster there " 

in March, .L" L t^vas c' "B! t'f ^T^ "" 0petled 
as postmaster In Decetnber nf ' ' W " h """ l ' d Black 

changed to ,uniata wZ,1 " ,e sa " ,e >' e; "' ,ts "ame was 

The post office TCiata S ^JTT "T^ P ° Staasto 
was opened in Tu„ e q i" f"^ , Township (now Howe). 

and h^iottshur "-a' $* ^ t^r^H "1 r^' 

postmaster There wn, nn, , A nomas J . btevens as 

Bai ly sh„r g , hm rwirComin^ inTs^ *** ^ ^ 

-h^m: a ^;Ln:;r ofcs ,ocated wi "™ ^^- 

Alinda. T ,.i. . 

A , , ickesburar. i\,r;n t 

Andersonburg r. n j-, s Millerstown. 

Centre. Liverpool. New Buffalo ' 

r>- > t^ l.ogama. M„„, o„ 

Cisna's Run. r^,,;,., New Germantown. 

Duncannon. H j, Newport. 

Elliottsburg M," "• Shermansdale: 

Green Park. Marysville. Wila 

The total number is twentv-twn Th P I-** j- 

were Saville nnrl lw ♦ , vT aSt ones discontinued 

Cie ocivitie and Montgomery's Ferrv 4hm,f ft, <-• r , ■ 

-■nction of the rnra, dehve^ se^ice tt^wt ^If '" 



37^ 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Acker. 

Alinda. 

Andersonburg. 

Berlee. 

Bixler. 

Plain. 

Centre. 

Cisna Run. 

Cove. 

Dellville. 

Donally's Mills. 

Dromgold. 

Duncannon. 

Elliottsburg. 

Erly. 

Eshcol. 

Falling Springs. 

Ferguson. 



Mount Patrick. 

Nekoda. 

New Bloomfield. 

New Buffalo. 

New Germantown. 

Newport. 

Pfoutz Valley. 

Reward. 

Roseburg. 

Sandy Hill. 

Saville. 

Scyoc. 

Shermansdale. 

Sterrett's Gap. 

Walsingham. 

Wardville. 
*Wila. 
tOlmsted. 



With the advent of rural delivery many Perry County post of- 
fices were discontinued. In 1890 there were fifty-two offices, as 
follows : 

Green Park. 

Grier's Point. 

Hencli. 

Ickesburg. 
*Juniata. 

Keystone. 

Kistler. 

Landisburg. 

Lebo. 

Liverpool. 

Logania. 

Loysville. 

Mannsville. 

Markelville. 

Marsh Run. 

Marysville. 

Millerstown. 

Montgomery's Ferry. 

Establishment of the Rural Routes. 

There are twenty-seven rural mail routes starting" from Perry 
County post offices, serving the population of Perry and some of 
the residents of Dauphin, Juniata, and Snyder Counties, as fol- 
lows: Andersonburg, Blain, Elliottsburg, Marysville, and Ickes- 
burg, one route each ; Landisburg, Liverpool, Loysville, and Sher- 
mansdale, two each; New Bloomfield and Newport, three each; 
Duncannon and Millerstown, four each. The initiative action to- 
wards securing this service within the county is to be credited to 
Amos Fleisher, then of Oliver Township, and H. G. Swartz, of 
New Bloomfield. In the former case the route was granted, with 
George E. Fleisher, a son, as carrier of Newport route No. 1, 
and in the other, H. G. Swartz was himself appointed carrier of 
New Bloomfield route No. 1. These were the first two routes to 
be started in Perry County and began the same day, July 1, 1903. 
The routes : 

Route. Established. Original Carrier. Present Carrier. 

New Bloomfield : 

1 July 1, 1003 H. G. Swartz Ernest M. Stambaugh. 

2 Jan. 15, 1904 . . . . H. L. Soule H. L. Soule. 

3 Jan. 15, 1904 . . . . D. W. Bruner P. S. Dunbar. 

Newport : 

1 July 1, 1903 . ...Geo. E. Fleisher Geo. E. Fleisher. 

. E. E. Tavlor E. E. Taylor. 

. H. H. Deckard H. H. Deckard. 



.Feb. 1, 1904 

3 Feb. i, 1904 . . 

Duncannon : 

1 Feb. 1, 1904. . 

2 Nov. 15, 1904 

3 Nov. 15, 1904 

4 Aug. 1, 1905 . 



. M. C. Lindemutb M. C. Lindemuth. 

• Jno. W. C. Kugler, . . . Jno. W. C. Kugler. 

. Chas. VV. Mader Max B. Lightner. 

.C. Allen Depugh, Ian M. Lightner. 



*Juniata was later called Wila. 
tOlmsted established some time later. 



POSTRIDER AND STAGECOACH 



373 



Wm. A. Blain Wm. A. Blain. 



... I larrv 1*',. Walker . 

1908 Sellers C. Nipple . 

1908 Thos. J. Nankivell 

H. C. Gutshall . . . . 

C. S. Henderson . . 



1 larrv E. Walker. 
Sellers C. Nipple. 
. Thos. J. Nankivell. 



. . H. C. Gutshall. 
. . C. S. Henderson. 



1904 
1904 



. . John E. Lyons John E. Lyons. 

. . .Miles D. Garber Miles D. Garher. 

. . H. M. Rice H. M. Rice. 

. . Wm. H. Eby . .'. May S. Lightner. 

. . Newton L. Kapp* .... Edgar S. Smith. 

. . R. W. Johnston R. W. Johnston. 

. . L. C. Reifsnvder Cleveland Hoffman. 

. . Jay W. Staley Jay W. Staley. 



Millerstown : 

i Nov. 1, 1904 

2 Nov. 1, [904 

3 Jan- 2, 

4 Feb. 1, 

Shermansdale : 

1 1903 

2 1904 

Andersohburg : 

1 Jan. 15, 1904 

Blain : 

1 Jan. 15, 1904 

Landisburg : 

1 Oct. is, 

2 Oct. 15, 

Marysville : 

1 Jan. 16, 1905 . 

New Germantown : 

1 Feb. 1, 1905 . 

Liverpool : 

1 April 15, 1905 

2 April 15, 1905 

Elliottsburg : 

1 June 1, 1909 . 

Ickesburg : 

1 June 1, 1914 . 

Loysville: 

Two routes were originally established at Loysville, with L. C. Bixler 
and W. C. Bailor as carriers. Mr. Bixler lost his life when his home 
burned, and Mr. Bailor resigned. Route 2 was then merged into route 1 
and connecting routes, with Samuel D. Wilson as carrier. 

Route I, from the Liverpool office, is unique, delivering mail to 
four townships and three counties. It starts in Liverpool Town- 
ship, Perry County, passes through Susquehanna Township, Juni- 
ata County, and Perry and Chapman Townships, in Snyder 
County, returning through Liverpool Township, Perry County. 

The carriers of Perry County are progressive, and in 191 1 suc- 
ceeded in having the annual convention of the State Association 
of Rural Carriers meet at New Bloomfield, the only instance within 
our recollection where a state body convened within the limits of 
the county. 

The annual salary of carriers in 1905 was graded from $504 for 
a twelve to fourteen mile route, to $720 for a route of twenty- 
four or more miles, the carrier to furnish and keep up his own con- 
veyance. This service was first begun in Pennsylvania in 1896. 



H. R. Foose 



H. R. Foose. 



J. Clair Gray J. Clair Gray. 



*Mr. Kapp resigned the Marysville route in September, 1905, and from 
December 20, 1905, to April 16, 1919, W. T. White was the carrier. 

We are indebted to H. L. Soule for assistance in compiling the rural 
route data. 



CHAPTER XX. 
RIVERS, STREAMS. AND OLD FERRIES. 

OUR rivers and streams! Those beautiful ribbons of water 
glimmering in the sunlight and playing in the shadows! 
I wonder if there can flow anywhere else in a county of no 
greater extent so many beautiful and picturesque streams as adorn 
Perry County? Some may have a few, but it has many. Along 
the eastern border is the broad and beautiful Susquehanna, as it 
crosses the state from New York to Maryland, and in eastern 
Perry ofttimes termed "the big river." Dividing the county by 
cutting off the eastern quarter the Juniata, noted in song and story, 
wends its way to join the Susquehanna, above Duncannon. Rising 
in the wooded hills of western Perry, Sherman's Creek, even in 




Till', JUNIATA CUTTING THROUGH THE HILLS AT IROQUOIS. 

provincial times known by that name, with beautiful bend and 
charming chasm, drains the larger part of the western section. 
Mowing eastward, from the foothills of the Conococheague and 
draining an important section of the county is Buffalo Creek, 
known to many as "the Big Buffalo," rippling and romantic, and 
named for the massive animals which once flourished here. Then, 
there is Montour's Run, the Little Juniata, the Little Buffalo, 
Cocolamus Creek, Fishing Creek, and dozens of others, each with 
its native nooks and delightful surrounding landscapes. 

Perry County is the only county in the state whose territory is 
bordered or traversed for any great length by both the Susque- 
hanna and Juniata Rivers. 

The chapters in this book entitled "Perry County Scenery" and 
"River and Canal Transportation" contain much of interest to 
those who are interested in this chapter. 

374 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 375 

The following bit of verse may not be inappropriate here vvrit- 
,r " hv one reared in that pan of Perry so aptly termed "The I and 
Between the Rivers," and adapted from Clone! Shumaker's Al- 
toona Tribune: 

TWO PENNSYLVANIA RIVERS. 

BY II. 11. HAIN. 

In the Allegheny foothills 

Where the Juniata starts ; 
In central Pennsylvania, 

Farfrom city street and marts, 
There's a wooded land of beauty, 

Deep ravine and mountain crest, 
Which the river just inherits 

As it rambles from the West. 

In the rugged New York highlands 

Coming from a glistening lake. 
The charming Susquehanna flow's 

Through many a mountain break. 
It waters vale and fertile plain 

As in volume it comes forth, 
And crosses Pennsylvania, 

As it rambles from the North. 

As these rivers gather body 

Since their sources they have fled. 
They trend toward each other, 

Until they meet and wed; 
And then, through gorgeous mountain gaps 

The waters swish away, 
Until they lose identity 

In the bosom of the bay. 

As the waters flow toward the sea, 

Through the very heart of the hills, 
You can hear the intonations, 

From the rocky falls and rills. 
Of the crafty, stealthy red man' 

As he crooned an Indian song; 
The very echo of the waters 

Has the sound of Indian tongue. 

These Pennsylvania waters, 

Whose banks touch mart and mine, 
Come from the very Northland, 

Crossing the "Mason-Dixon Line"; 
They've been flowing through the ages. 

Untold men have loved the streams ' 
As they've wandered toward the ocean 

Flowing through a land of dreams. ' 
Harrisburg, Pa., July 2, 1921. 



3;6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 
The Susquehanna Riykk. 

A writer of seventy years ago, in a magazine article, speaking of 
the Susquehanna, called it "the Alpha and Omega of Nature's gift 
to the State — the first and noblest in beauty as it is in extent and 
position." That writer's name has been lost to posterity, but the 
quotation will go down the ages. It is the longest unnavigable 
river on the American continent and traverses a veritable empire. 
On its way it. receives the waters of the Unadilla, the Chenango, 
the West Branch, and the Juniata Rivers, and of many creeks whose 
names are often writ in Indian and pioneer annals: Penn's Creek, 
Sherman's Creek, the Conodoguinet, the Swatara, the Conewago, 
and the Conestoga. Passing farming districts where fine grains and 
fat cattle evidence the fertility of the soil, it passes mountain crag 
and peak, breaking through great mountains on its way to the sea. 
At Sunbury it kisses Shikellamy Heights, named after that old In- 
dian chief who played so important a part in the history of the 
province, on one side, and Old Fort Augusta on the other. Leav- 
ing Perry County it passes through one of the famous water gaps 
and lazily flows by the State Capital — Harrisburg — named for a 
famous pioneer, and tumbles over the Conewago Falls, that ancient 
terror of rivermen. After its long journey over the lands of the 
immortal Penn, the founder of the greatest of states, it broadens 
into that majestic body of water, the Chesapeake Bay, later to 
join the broad Atlantic, where rides the commerce of a world. 

The Susquehanna rises in New York State, Take Otsego being 
its headwaters. New York State, it will be remembered, has many 
lakes, hut Lake Otsego is noted as being the most beautiful from a 
scenic point of view, and the Susquehanna, true to form, has lav- 
ished beautiful scenery along its entire course — scenery unsur- 
passed anywhere. This lake is nine miles in length and over a 
mile wide, and James Fennimore Cooper, the author, says that 
"Deerslayer" called it "Glimmerglass." The town located on the 
lake is Cooperstown, named after Cooper, the famous author. Its 
principal tributary in New York State is the Chenango River, 
which joins at Binghamton. 

The West Branch, the main tributary, rises in Cambria County, 
Pennsylvania, and joins the main river at Sunbury. The Susque- 
hanna is really the most important river of Pennsylvania, it and its 
tributaries draining thirty-three of the sixty-seven counties of the 
state. It flows in a southerly direction and empties into the Chesa- 
peake Bay. It was named by the Indians "Sa-os-que-ha-an-unk," 
meaning a "long, crooked river," says Heckewelder. 

During the last half of the Seventeenth Century there were pub- 
lished a dozen or more different maps of the Atlantic slope section 
of Pennsylvania, and on almosl all of them, on the western side 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 377 

lit" the Susquehanna, about where it is joined by the Juniata, ap- 
pears the name "O-no-jut-ta Ha-ga," the headquarters or abode 
of an Indian tribe. According to experts Haga is the Mohawk 

word for people or tribe, and the first part of the name means a 
projecting stone. The similarity in sound between "O-no-jut-ta" 
and Juniata will be noticed. 

The Susquehanna is over a half-mile wide passing Perry County. 
( Geologists tell us that the land above the Blue or Kittatinny Moun- 
tains must at one time have been an immense lake, as the water 
gaps through the mountains would indicate. The Susquehanna is 
over four hundred miles long. 

The first white man to navigate the Susquehanna River, was 
Captain John Smith, of Virginia. He sailed several miles up the 
river from the Chesapeake Bay, in 1608, being met by Susque- 
hanna Indians who then inhabited Lancaster County. Smith said 
of the Indians, they are "of many kingdoms to the head of the bay, 
which seemed to be a mighty river issuing from mighty moun- 
tains, betwixt two seas." 

From the north three Dutch settlers from Albany had come part 
way down the river in 1614, and had gone overland to the Lehigh 
and the Delaware. A Frenchman, Etienne Brule, in the service of 
Champlain, Canada's first governor, left the vicinity of Oneida, 
New York, in 1615, and spent the following winter exploring 
along the river "that debouches in the direction of Florida," and 
followed it "as far as the sea, and to the islands and lands near 
them." This description would indicate that he had crossed Penn- 
sylvania and reached the Chesapeake Bay. 

It is a historical fact that in the year 1723 some Germans from 
the Province of New York, leaving Schoharie, traveled through 
the forest in a southwesterly direction until they reached the Sus- 
quehanna, where they made canoes and with their families floated 
down the river until they reached the mouth of the Swatara, at 
Middletown. They then worked their way up the creek until they 
reached the Tulpehocken, where they settled. 

In 1797 Louis Philippe, the Duke de Nemours, and the Duke de 
Berri visited Newtown Point, now Elmira, New York, having 
traveled on foot to that place from Canandaigua, a distance of sev- 
enty miles. They then went down the Susquehanna River upon 
an ark to Harrisburg, says French's Gazette of New York. This 
was probably the earliest record of long navigation upon its waters. 

In September, 1700, William Penn bought all the Susquehanna 
country from the Indians, through Governor Dongan, of New 
York, for approximately five hundred dollars. Following is a 
copy of the deed : 

"September 13, 1700; Widaugh and Andaggy-Jnnkquagh, Kings or 
■Sachems of the Susquehanna Indians, and of the river under that name, 



3/8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

and lands lying on both sides thereof, deed to W. Penn all the said river 
Snsquehannough, and all the islands therein, and all the lands situate, 
lying and being on both sides of the said river, and next adjoining the 
same, to the utmost confines of the lands which are, or formerly were, 
the right of the people or nation called the Susquehannough Indians, or 
by what name soever they were called, as fully and amply as we or any 
of our ancestors, have, might or ought to have had, held or enjoyed, and 
also confirm the bargain or sale of said lands unto Col. Thomas Dongan, 
now Earl of Limerick, and formerly Governor of New York, whose deed 
of sale to Governor Penn we have seen." 

However, this purchase seems not to have held, as later pur- 
chases of the same territory at different periods shows. 

Before the building of the McCall's Ferry dam in the Susque- 
hanna River, large numbers of shad came up the river every spring 
and there were a number of fisheries. In earlier years there were 
as many as four at Marysville. There was another at Duncannon, 
operated as late as 1900, and the Wrights operated one above New- 
port for many years. There were also a number of others. 

The Susquehanna River touches the northeastern corner of the 
county five miles above Liverpool, and is its eastern boundary 
from that point until it touches the shores of Cumberland County, 
over thirty miles below. Its width varies very little covering this 
distance. Its waters are shallow and the only navigation on it are 
a number of ferries which cross, the ones at Liverpool and Mil- 
lersburg being chartered and having regular traffic. 

On entering the county it flows in an almost southern direction, 
until it touches Duncannon Borough, which is the most western 
point it strikes in the state. Here it bends sharply to the southeast, 
passing through the famous Susquehanna water gap, crossing the 
Cove section for a distance of five miles, where it breaks through 
a second water gap, that of the historic Second Mountain, above 
the Borough of Marysville and below the Borough of Dauphin. 
The fall of the river through the Cove is estimated at 1.58 feet 
per mile, and from the Cove to Rockville bridge, 2.69 feet per mile. 

From Mahantonga, above Liverpool, to the Rockville bridge, 
or practically while passing the breadth of Perry County, a dis- 
tance of thirty and one-half miles, the river has a total fall of 
eighty-one and one-half feet, or at the average rate of two and 
two-thirds feet per mile. Its average fall is said to be two feet to 
the mile on its long course. 

There are three principal drainage rivers of Pennsylvania, the 
( )hio, the Susquehanna, and the Delaware. The Susquehanna 
drains far the largest acreage of the domain, as the following fig- 
ures will testify: Delaware and tributaries, 6,710 square miles, 
4,214,400 acres; Ohio and tributaries, 16,760 acres, 10,598,400 
square miles; Susquehanna and tributaries, 21,390 acres, 13,685,- 
600 square miles. 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 379 

THE SUSQUEHANNA. 

BY BENNETT r.Kl.l.M \ \ . 

Throw broad thy gleaming waters bright, 

Susquehanna ! in thy flow, 

And let me lie and dream to-night 

()f days which once I used to know. 
river rolling from the dawn 

Of a new world and century, 
Not yet, not yet, shall be thy song, — 

That in the future, yet must he. 

O broad, blue river, in thy beams 

1 see around me now the lands, 
Already growing dim like dreams, 

In which are warring, savage bands. 
They come again as in a dream, 

Their shadows moving to and fro; 
And watch-fires on the hills that gleam 

In the red sunset's crimson glow. 

Now like some gleaming sword all bright. 

Unsheathed by some great Cod of old, 
Thou severest with thy liquid light 

The darkness which is round thee rolled. 
The turbid" Tiber still doth flow 

By temples, aqueducts and domes ; 
It but of dead days past doth know 

When heroes round it made their homes. 

P>ut thou, O river rolling on. 

It is the future which is thine; 
\ future when a brighter sun 

On brighter days shall proudly shine. 
And in the distant years to come, 

Like fable, will it still be told 
How a strange race, whose lips are dumb, 

Named thee in time, far passed and old? 

The Juniata River. 

The Juniata will ever live in song and story. There is music in 
its verv name. Both branches, born in the foothills of the Alle- 
gheny Mountains, apart of the great Appalachian system, join and 
wind in and out by mountain crag and fertile valley, breaking 
through mountain ranges and introducing to the traveler as charm- 
ing and picturesque scenery as nature has bestowed anywhere. 
Favorite haunt of Indian hunter; at different times the home of 
different tribes; its banks traversed by native trails later used by 
early traders ; that primitive water-way — the Pennsylvania Canal 
— hugging its side ; the standard railroad of America — like the 
canal, named after the great state, Pennsylvania — along its banks! 
Those are only milestones in the passing of the centuries of Juniata 
lore. Of its tales of love and devotion, of confidence and ambi- 



380 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

tion, and of energy and success there will be no end so long as 
civilization exists and its waters flow towards the sea. 

The Juniata River enters Perry County above Millerstown, cut- 
ting across the county to a point above Duncannon, where it joins 
the Susquehanna. The Juniata is formed by two branches, the 
main stream bearing the name Juniata, and the other being known 
as the Raystown Branch. The Juniata rises near Hollidaysburg, 
in Blair County, flowing northeast until it reaches Tyrone, where 
it turns abruptly to the southeast, forming for a little way the 
boundary between Blair and Huntingdon Counties, continuing in 
the same general direction through Huntingdon County. 

The source of the Raystown Branch is a short distance west of 
Raystown, in Bedford County. Its general course is to the north- 
east until it unites with the Juniata, midway between Huntingdon 
and Mapleton, the two branches forming the Juniata River, proper. 
Flowing southeast it again forms a county boundary for a short 
distance, between Huntingdon and Mifflin. From Mount Union 
until Lewistown its trend is again northeast, but from that point 
through Juniata and Perry, until it joins the Susquehanna near 
1 hincannon, its trend is generally southeast. 

During the latter half of the Seventeenth Century a number of 
maps of the province and the Atlantic seaboard were published 
which showed the Susquehanna River practically correct, but giv- 
ing little description of the country west of the Susquehanna. On 
practically all of them, on the west side of the Susquehannna, where 
the Juniata is located appears the words "Onojutta Haga," as de- 
scribed before. The French maps from 1700 to 1725 show a small 
stream there named "Cheneaide." Isaac Taylor, a Chester County 
surveyor, in 1701, made a map of the Susquehanna, on which he 
has marked the mouth of a large stream "Cheniaty." 

To Heckelelder, the Moravian missionary, we are indebted for a 
slight description of the Juniata. He says: "This word (Juniata) 
is of the Six Nations. The Delawares say Yuchniada or Chuchni- 
ada. The Iroquois had a path leading direct to a settlement of 
Shawnees residing somewhere on this river ; I understood where 
Bedford is. Juniata is an Iroquois word, unknown now. The 
Indians said that the river had the best hunting ground for deer, 
elk and beaver." 

The word Juniata has been variously spelled by map makers, 
traders, provincial officials, interpreters, missionaries and histori- 
ans, as Soghneijadie, Cheniaty, Choniata, Chiniotta, Chiniotte, 
Juniada, Scokooniady, Chiniotto, Juneauta, Joniady, Scohonihady, 
Schohonyady, Junietto, Juniatia, Juniatta, Junieta, Junitia, Juneata, 
Juniatto, Juneadey, Coniata, and Juniata, as it is spelled to-day. 
It was first used in the present form by the provincial secretary, 
July 7, 1742, according to provincial records. 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 381 

Prof. A. L. Guss, of Juniata County, who devoted much time 
to the study of Indian legends, and traditions, says: "The name 
Juniata, like Oneida, is derived from onenhia, onenya, or onia, a 
stone, and kaniote, to be upright or elevated, being a contraction 
and a corruption of the compound." The name was handed down 
to the traders and pioneers, who probably never saw these old maps. 

In the report of the Second Geological Survey of Pennsylvania, 
Prof. E. W. Claypole said : 

"In ordinary weather the Juniata water carries about eight grains of 
earthy sediment, or about one pound for every one hundred cubic feet of 
water. 

"In ordinary weather the Juniata water carries about eight grains of 
deep, with a current flowing about two miles an hour; that is twenty-four 
million cubic feet of water pass Millerstown every hour, carrying two 
hundred and forty thousand pounds (120 tons) of rock sediment. In other 
words, one million cubic yards of the rock waste of Juniata, Mifflin, Hunt- 
ingdon, and Blair Counties pass through Perry County down the Juniata 
River to the sea every year. The water basin from which this river sedi- 
ment comes measures about ten billion square yards. Its average loss per 
year is, therefore, about the ten-thousandth of a yard. If we take into 
account the gravel and stones rolled down the river in flood times, and 
carried down by ice, it will be safe to call it the five-thousandth of a yard. 

"The whole surface of the Juniata country has, therefore, been lowered, 
say one foot in fifteen hundred years, or three thousand yards in thirteen 
million, five hundred thousand years ; that is supposing the climate was 
always the same, and the Juniata River never did more work than it does 
now. But there is good reason for believing in earlier ages the erosion 
was more violent; this time may be reduced to ten, or even five million 
years." 

The lands through which the Juniata flows are more or less hilly, 
its waters washing the base of many different mountains. Between 
these mountains are fertile and well watered valleys. 

The Juniata of song and story ! The very name of the river 
speaks of love and devotion, of pathos and poetry, and its romantic 
and enchanting scenery has on more than one occasion been the 
object of beautiful sketch or charming poem. While taking a trip 
along the Juniata on a packet boat, during the first half of last 
century, Marian Dix Sullivan wrote the words of the following- 
poem, which were soon set to music, and a few of the older gen- 
eration yet remember when The Blue Juniata was on the lips of 
every one, for in those days a new song was not turned out with 
each waning day. Marian Dix Sullivan, by the way, was a ma- 
tron, the wife of John W. Sullivan, of Boston, whose father, Gen- 
eral Sullivan, was a Revolutionary hero. She was a daughter of 
Timothy Dix, a sister of General John A. Dix, and also of Doro- 
thea L. Dix, the great philanthropist who did so much for sick and 
wounded soldiers during the Sectional War. She was born near 
the beautiful Merrimac River, in New Hampshire, and died in 



382 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

i860. While the title of her poem was The Blue Juniata, the soul; 
publisher put it out under the title of '"Sweet Alfarata." 

There is no great poetical merit in the lines, but they caught the 
popular fancy and were sung everywhere, throughout the States. 
Girls and pets and boats and other things were named Alfarata, 
and the name still survives. The frequency with which the name 
appears in the song is accounted for by the very few words that 
rhyme with Juniata. The poem follows: 

THE BLUE JUNIATA. 

BY MARIAN DIX SULLIVAN. 

Wild roved an Indian girl, 

Bright Alfarata, 
Where sweep the waters 

( )f the Blue Juniata. 
Swift as an antelope, 

Through the forest going. 
Loose were her jetty lucks 

In wavy tresses flowing. 

Gay was the mountain song 

( )f bright Alfarata, 
Where sweep the waters 

Of the Blue Juniata ; 
Strong and true my arrows are 

In my painted quiver; 
Swift goes my light canoe 

Adovvn the rapid river. 

Bold is my warrior true — 

The love of Alfarata ; 
Proud waves his snowy plume 

Along the Juniata. 
Soft and low he speaks to me. 

And then, his war cry sounding. 
Rings his voice in thunder loud, 

From height to height resounding. 

So sang the Indian girl. 

Bright Alfarata, 
Where .sweep the waters 

( )f the Blue Juniata. 
Fleeting years have borne awa\ 

The voice of Alfarata. 
Still sweeps the river on, 

The Blue Juniata. 

Then, in [865, came the sequel to "The Blue Juniata." Rev. 
Cyrus Corl was pastor of the First Reformed Church of Altoona — 
a mission at that time. Me had organized it in 1862, and in the 
course of raising money to erect a church, made a number of trips 
along the Juniata. Me wrote the poem on one of these trips in 
August. 1865. For long years afterwards he was the pastor of the 
Greencastle. Pennsylvania, Reformed Church, where the author of 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD EERR1ES 383 

this volume met him and heard him preach in [891. He was a 
man of line physical proportions and an eminent divine. While he 
had written the poem in August, it had remained a personal matter 
witli him until the following month, when, traveling overland from 
Chambersburg to Mercersburg with Rev. Dr. Harbangh in his car- 
riage, he showed it to his distinguished host, who was the editor 
of a magazine known as "The Guardian." Dr. Harbaugh insisted 
on having the permission of publishing it, but not until early the 
next year was it granted. It appeared in the March number, and 
after that Dr. Cort wrote and had published many beautiful hymns, 
poems, historical sketches, etc. He was much interested in the 
gathering of historical data and of the marking of historical sites, 
and, during the compilation of this volume, probably the greatest 
compliment given the writer by a noted Pennsylvanian, himself a 
pastmaster in the same line, was to have his interest in things his- 
torical compared with that of Dr. Cort. The words of his beau- 
tiful poem follow : 

RESPONSE TO "THE BLUE JUNIATA." 

BY REV. CYRUS CORT. 

The Indian girl has ceased to rove 

Along the winding river ; 
The warrior brave that won her love, 

Is gone, with bow and quiver. 

The valley rears another race. 

Where flows the Juniata ; 
There maidens rove, with paler face 

Than that of Alfarata. 

Where pine trees moan her requiem wail, 

And blue waves, too, are knelling. 
Through mountain gorge and fertile vale, 

A louder note is swelling. 

A hundred years have rolled around, 

The red man has departed, 
The hills give back a wilder sound 

Than warrior's whoop e'er started. 

With piercing neigh, the iron steed 

Now sweeps along the waters, 
And bears, with more than wild deer speed, 

The white man's sons and daughters. 

The products, too, of every clime 

Are borne along the river, 
Where roved the brave, in olden time, 

With naught but bow and quiver. 

And swifter than the arrow's flight, 

From trusty bow and quiver, 
The messages of love and light 

Now speed along the river. 



384 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The engine and the telegraph 

Have wrought some wondrous changes, 

Since rang the Indian maiden's laugh 
Among the mountain ranges. 

'Tis grand to see what art hath done, 

The world is surely wiser. 
What triumphs white man's skill hath won 
With steam, the civilizer. 

But still, methinks, I'd rather hear 

The song of Alfarata — 
Had rather chase the fallow deer 

Along the Juniata. 

For fondly now my heart esteems 

This Indian song and story ; 
Yea, grander far old nature seems, 

Than art in all its glory. 

Roll on, thou classic Keystone stream, 

Thou peerless little river ; 
Fulfill the poet's brightest dream, 

And be a joy forever. 

As generations come and go, 

Each one their part repeating, 
Thy waters keep their constant -flow, 

Still down to ocean fleeting. 

And while thy blue waves seek the sea, 

Thou lovely Juniata, 
Surpassing sweet thy name shall be, 

For sake of Alfarata. 

Sherman's Creek. 

Just as Sherman's Valley is the most important valley locally to 
Perry County, so is Sherman's Creek the most important stream. 
Like the valley of the same name, which it drains, it is supposed 
to have heen named after an early settler, but records veil the fact 
in obscurity. Clarence W. Baker, a noted local historian who re- 
sided at New Bloomfield and assisted his father in editing The 
Freeman, said the stream was named after an old Indian trader 
named Sherman (or Sheerman), who plied his vocation in that 
particular territory many years ago. He is said to have been a 
veritable "Leather Stocking," sleeping outdoors 'and killing as 
many as sixty deer in a season. Lie and his horse were drowned 
in the creek which bears his name, at Gibson's Rock, through the 
animal being hampered with packs of furs. The writer is inclined 
to give credence to this story. The source of Sherman's Creek is 
variously given, but through Forester Bryner, who is familiar with 
every foot of the territory, its actual source is authoritatively given. 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 385 

Its headwaters rise in the mountains of Toboyne Township, in 
the extreme western part of Perry County. The general opinion 
is that the real head of the stream is in a swampy area on the north- 
western slope of the Rising Mountain, known as "the bear ponds." 
These ponds are located in a depression in the mountain which 
tonus a small basin, being drained by what is locally known as 
Patterson Run. In wet seasons "the bear ponds" overflow and con- 
tribute to this stream, but during dry seasons the ponds are usually 
reduced to small swampy patches of ground, and the main run is 
fed by a large spring near the southern terminus of the gap or cut 
through which the stream flows from the Rising Mountain, fol- 
lowing a narrow ravine between the north slope of the Rising 
Mountain and the south slope of the Little Round Top. It 
emerges near the eastern base of the Big Round Top and unites at 
this point with what is locally known as the Barnhart Run. This 
run rises in a small valley formed by the union of the Big Round 
Top and the Conococheague Mountain. The big spring located 
approximately five miles west of New Germantown, on the south 
side of the state highway leading from the former place to Con- 
cord, is one of the principal feeders of the Barnhart Run, espe- 
cially during dry seasons. From the junction of these streams 
Sherman's Creek flows in a northeastward direction through the 
Sherman's Valley, passing near the south side of New German- 
town and continuing in the same direction towards Blain. In this 
distance it is fed by numerous small streams flowing from the 
north and south. In addition to the smaller streams, several larger 
streams which have their source in the mountains of the same 
township, contribute to the waters of this creek. Brown or Fowler 
Run, which rises in the head of Fowler Hollow, on the south side 
of the Rising Mountain at a point just a little west of "the bear 
ponds," on the Rising Mountain, flows northeastward through the 
Little Illinois Valley and empties into the creek at Mt. Pleasant. 
Houston Run and Laurel Run, which are still farther south, have 
their source practically as far west as the headwaters of Sherman's 
Creek and flow in the same direction through long narrow valleys 
parallel to the main Sherman's Valley, the Houston Run empty- 
ing into the creek approximately one mile southeast of Blain, and 
the Laurel Run emptying into the same stream about one mile west 
of Landisburg. 

Sherman's Creek flows in an almost eastern direction, draining 
the greater part of western Perry County and emptying into the 
Susquehanna River at Duncannon. Its history dates back to pro- 
vincial times, when it was crossed by the first main trail to the 
West, known as the Allegheny Path. Its main tributary is Mon- 
tour's Run, named after the first authorized settler of Perry 
County soil. It is spanned by many bridges erected by the county. 
25 



386 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Various floods have overflown its banks, but mention of them 
follows later in connection with the high waters on the rivers. 
Manv gristmills line its banks; in fact, it was one of the original 
streams which drove the machinery of the many pioneer mills for 
which Perry County territory was noted and from along its banks 
flour was transported to the starving Continental armies. Many 
old-fashioned up-and-down sawmills also lined its banks. Along 
its banks in childhood there played children whose names have 
since graced the pages of history of many states of the Union and 
of the mighty nation itself. As noted elsewhere it was once made 
navigable for smaller craft by an act of the Pennsylvania Legisla- 
ture. Scenic beyond description at many points its trend led it 
towards the Susquehanna River through Fishing Creek Valley, but 
the barrier of the famous Ironstone Ridge diverted it northward 
and it made a detour around Cove Mountain and enters the Sus- 
quehanna at Duncannon. 

Other Streams. 

Buffalo Creek. This historic stream, mentioned in Indian his- 
tory, rises in Liberty Valley, Madison Township, and drains the 
northern section of western Perry, emptying into the Juniata above 
Newport. It also is spanned by several county bridges. It is noted 
for its picturesqueness. Its name perpetuates the fact that long 
years ago large herds of Buffalo once roamed the forests of our 
county's territory. 

Little Buffalo Creek. Separates Juniata Township from Centre, 
flows through Oliver, and empties into the Juniata at Newport. 

Little Juniata Creek. Originates in the extreme western part of 
Centre Township and flows through Centre, Wheatfield, Penn and 
Duncannon Borough to the Susquehanna. 

Cocolamus Creek. Rises at the foot of Shade Mountain, near 
Evendale, in Juniata County, flowing through Greenwood Town- 
ship, emptying into the Juniata River below Millerstown. 

Montour's Run. See Sherman's Creek, above. 

Raecoon Creek. In Tuscarora Township. Empties into the 
Juniata, near Millerstown. 

Fishing Creek. In Rye Township. Flows into the Susquehanna 
at Marysville. 

Horse Vcdley Run. This stream rises in Horse Valley, in west- 
ern Perry, and flows through the Waterford Narrows, where the 
mountain breaks, passing into Tuscarora Creek, Juniata County. 
It is joined by Laurel Run from Liberty Valley, just before enter- 
ing the narrows. 

Jobson's Run. This stream rises in Liverpool Township and en- 
ters Greenwood Township, Juniata County, at the extreme south- 
west corner of that township, flows northwest and joins the west 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 387 

branch of the Mahantango Creek, northwest of Oriental, Juniata 
County. 

McCabe's Run. Drains Kennedy's Valley. 

Laurel Run. Drains Sheaffer's Valley. 

Guntur Run. Guntur Run is the only stream that rises in west- 
ern Perry and flows westward. Rising at the watershed it flows 
about one and one-half miles through Perry County soil and then 
crosses to Franklin County. It continues to near Forge Hill, turns 
south and flows through a gap in the Kittatinny, entering the Cum- 
berland Valley north of Roxbury. 

Other Streams. There are dozens of others in the various com- 
munities, mostly smaller ones. 

From John L. McCaskey, a consulting engineer connected with 
1 he Westinghouse Electric Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh, 
himself a native Perry Countian, comes the following expert 
opinion : 

''Nature was niggardly in her treatment of Perry County in coal 
beds ; not enough in any coal pockets, except to burn the fingers 
of the would-be operators, but lavish, doubly lavish in her sharing 
the gift of the white coal (electric motive force) in her scores and 
scores of waterfall in creeks and rivers. More, doubly so now, 
than could be used in furnishing power for operating mills and 
all farm machinery, besides lighting and also heating every church, 
school, dwelling, barn and all other necessary buildings. I safely 
predict that the residents of a century hence will not have a build- 
ing un wired for both heat and light and that power will be used 
for all domestic purposes, including irrigation, to be secured by 
the mere throwing of a switch. Its citizens are already to be con- 
gratulated for utilizing in part, the unlimited supply of white coal. 
From it will be developed the utilization of air nitrates and other 
elements into abundant fertilization and the restoration of worn- 
out soils." 

High Rivers and Floods. 

Where rivers of the length and importance of the Juniata and 
Susquehanna exist, with huge basins draining continuous rainfall 

' and accumulated melting snows, there will naturally be times when 
the raging waters attain the flood stage, for be it remembered that 
if the Susquehanna drained one more county it would drain the 
soils of over half £>f the counties of the commonwealth. The rec- 
ords available of high waters upon these rivers give the dates of 
the earlier floods as being in 1744, 1758, 1772, 1784-85, and 1787. 
Of the first three little information, save that the rivers were raging 
torrents, is left to posterity. During the winter of 1784-85 there 
was a flood known to this day as "the ice flood." Historical rec- 
ords fail to tell much about it save that "it carried away all fences 

> and buildings on the lowlands." Near the mouth of Sherman's 



588 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Creek it carried away Marcus Hulings' gristmill. During the fall 
of 1787 there was a flood known as "the pumpkin flood," getting 
its name from the fact that in the Wyoming Valley it was severe 
and carried away many thousands of pumpkins from the fields of 
the Yankees, as the Connecticut farmers who had located there, 
were known. It is said that these innumerable pumpkins dancing 
on the waves and riding the tide "looked like so many jewels stud- 
ding it." As the river receded the pumpkins were strewn in pro- 
fusion over the lowlands. 

Then there were the floods of 1800; August, 1814; August, 
[817, 1840, 1846, 1847, 1865, 1867, 1868, 1881, 1889, and another 
great ice flood in U)20. On the Juniata there is mention of a 
"great overflow" in 1810, also known as a "pumpkin flood." Its 
worst havoc was in the vicinity of Mifflintown. Of these floods 
accounts are vague about those of 1800, 1814, and 1817. The 
Hood of 1840, on the Juniata, carried away two spans of the Mif- 
flintown bridge. The high waters of 1846 were at their worst on 
March 16. (Some authorities say March 18.) This flood re- 
opened the channel above Duncan's Island which originally con- 
nected the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers. Sherman's Creek, as 
usual, was higher the two previous days ami swept away part of 
the Fio Forge dam, the puddle mill of the iron works at Peters- 
burg (now Duncannon) and the Sherman's Creek covered bridge. 
All the bridges on Cocolamus Creek were swept away. The Juni- 
ata River bridge, above Duncannon, and the eastern span of the 
Susquehanna River bridge were also carried away. On May 14 
of the same year the balance of the Susquehanna River bridge 
burned. It was rebuilt, and on September 10 and 11, 1850, was 
again entirely consumed by fire. On March 18, 1859, it was par- 
tially blown down. The bridge over the mouth of Sherman's 
Creek, swept away in 1840, was not rebuilt until 1846, an act of 
the Legislature of April 10th of that year having authorized the 
county commissioners to reconstruct it. 

In September, 1847, the Juniata's waters were seething and car- 
ried away the bridges at McVeytown and Port Royal, two spans of 
the Mifflintown bridge (the second such occurrence), and the east 
half of the Millerstown bridge, which fell at 11 p.m. The Mil- 
lerstown bridge was rebuilt during the winter by Isaac Kirkpat- 
rick, who fell from the trestle work and was drowned under the 
ice. His son Garrett finished it, he being then less than seventeen 
years of age. Before he w r as twenty-one he contracted for and 
built the Newport bridge. The reader will recall that the bridges 
of this period were all covered wooden bridges. On May 11, i860, 
the rolling mill dam on Sherman's Creek, near Duncannon, was 
washed away. The late William Wertz, of Newport, had a faint 
recollection of the flood of 1847, although he was but four years 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 389 

old. The unusual sight of folks going to and from their homes 
in boats is what impressed him. 

The great Hood of 1865 came tearing down the Susquehanna 
Valley on March 17th. 18th, and [9th, carrying destruction in its 
course. At Duncan's Island it swept away the building which was 
used jointly as a Methodist church and school building. The first 
story contained two schoolrooms, for in those days the island was 
more thickly populated, with boating and river traffic at their 
height. The second story had been added, by the school board 
for a Methodist church, at the earnest solicitation of Rebecca Dun- 
can, who stood the entire expense of its addition and its furnishing 
for worship. On the opposite side of the river, at Duncannon, the 
waters filled the first stories of the homes on Market Street as far 
north as Ann Street, to a depth of five feet. The Juniata bridge 
was in danger and the Duncannon Iron Company, which conducted 
a small railway over which its products were hauled from the island 
to the plant, ran their train of cars on it for its protection, hut both 
bridge and cars were swept away. The iron company's ware- 
house on the island was also torn from its foundations and swept 
clown the river. At Duncannon the waters were twenty-two feet 
above low water mark. *W. J. Roberts, yet living and now resid- 
ing in South Dakota, was then employed in the vicinity and saw 
the bridge swept away. It landed on Wister's Island, below Dun- 
cannon. Surrounding the old stone tavern there were two barns 
and some other buildings, but when the waters receded the old 
stone tavern was found to be the only remaining structure. Build- 
ings of all kinds went down the river in the torrent. Cornelius 
Raskins then again resumed operating the old ferry of his ances- 
tors. On February 15, 1867, the eastern span of Sherman's Creek 
bridge at Duncannon was swept away. In 1868 the waters were 
again eighteen feet above low water. 

In 1881 there was an ice flood on the Juniata, and for the third 
time two spans of the Mifflintown bridge were carried away. On 
February 11 it was at its height, and at 5 p.m. the two western 
spans of the Millerstown bridge went, and in their course carried 
with them the two western spans of the Newport bridge. Aaron 
Shreffler rebuilt these two spans at Newport, and the bridge was 
opened for traffic on October 8, 1881. 

While Sherman's Creek is ordinarily a stream which peacefully 
flows along, carrying the waters of the larger part of western 
Perry, yet there have been times when it was a raging torrent, 
leaping over its banks and the adjoining meadows, a veritable 
river, wild with rage. In 1886, on January 4th and 5th, it reached 
its greatest height. At that time at the old Gibson mill, "West- 

*Mr. Roberts died just previous to this book's going to press, early 
in 1922. 



390 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

over," it rose to such a great height that it entered the lower doors 
of the mill, which stands across the meadws on a considerable ele- 
vation and is run by the waters of another stream. To realize its 
wildness at the time one must be familiar with the surroundings 
here described. This flood was the result of a three-day rain, com- 
bined with melting snow. 

In its course through the county this flood carried away seven 
covered bridges, and at Duncannon it undermined and washed 
away a pier of the iron bridge of the Pennsylvania Railroad, drop- 
ping two spans and carrying away the engine and twelve cars of a 
freight train which was passing at the time. Eight of these cars 
belonged to the Duncannon Iron Company. Anthony Baldwin, 
the conductor; Henry McCahan, assistant conductor, and R. M. 
Turbett, brakeman, lost their lives while in the performance of 
their duties on the train. All three of the men were residents of 
Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, the train being known as the Hunting- 
don local. The engineer, Wm. Noel, and John S. Miller, conductor 
of the Duncannon Iron Company's ore train, which was combined 
with the other train, were swept away by the flood, but were res- 
cued at Allen's Cove, some miles below. 

The indebtedness of Perry County with the beginning of 1889 
was comparatively small, but after several days of heavy and con- 
tinuous rain, on May 30, 31, and June 1, came the great onrushing 
waters down Sherman's Creek, Buffalo Creek, the Juniata and 
Susquehanna Rivers and all their tributaries — the same flood which 
almost annihilated Johnstown, Pennsylvania — and washed away the 
bridges, including the three large covered wooden bridges at Mil- 
lerstown, Newport, and Duncannon, with the result that the county 
debt grew to enormous proportions through their rebuilding. They 
had been made free many years ago, as had the toll roads. These 
river bridges connecting main highways should be a part of the 
state highway system and should be built by the state. 

During the autumn of 1894, four years after the flood, the State 
Forestry Commission of Pennsylvania communicated with the 
commissioners of the various counties, asking them the cost of the 
repairs and renewals of highways and bridges damaged and de- 
stroyed by high water since and including the Johnstown flood. 
William B. Anderson, then clerk to the Perry County board of 
commissioners, itemized and submitted the following report, the 
cost totaling almost a hundred thousand dollars: 

1889 $13,261.29 

1890 53,764. 10 

1891 6710.07 

1 &)2 1 1,848.92 

[893 14,048.97 

Total $99,633-35 



rivers, streams and old ferries 391 

This flood was terrible on both Juniata and Susquehanna. 
Above Duncan's Island it again opened the original channel which 
had connected the two rivers, as had the flood of 1846, tearing 
away the two canals at their junction. The Pennsylvania Canal 
Company, then a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad Corn- 
pan v, spent a small fortune restoring them. The Millerstown 
1 nidge was rebuilt in 1892. 

Painted on the Eby building, at the northwest corner of the 
Newport public square, is a heavy black line six feet above the 
pavement which shows the height of the angry waters throughout 
that town on June 1, 1889, but the casual observer little thinks of 
the hours of suspense while the river was rising, of the dangers 
which attended it or of the many thousands of dollars' worth of 




THE FLOOD OF 1S89 ON WALNUT STREET, NEWPORT. 
The building to the left is the old Evangelical Church. 

property destroyed, the attending sickness and the horrible condi- 
tions following in its wake. No town along the Juniata fared 
worse than Newport. The rain began falling in torrents on 
Thursday, May 30th, continuing all day Friday, so that by Satur- 
day at dawn the river banks were overflowing. Citizens residing 
below the old railroad tracks (then the through line) then began 
removing their household goods to the second stories of their 
homes, the cellars hastily filling with water. By 6 a. m. the water 
was knee-deep between the square and the old canal, and by 
10 a. m. it had crossed the railroad tracks on Third Street. Thirty 
minutes later it measured six feet deep at the mercantile establish- 
ment of J. S. Butz. Early Saturday afternoon all of Front Street 
was abandoned, the residents having been removed in row boats, 
many from second-story windows. When night came all of the 
town below the old railroad tracks was practically abandoned, and, 
according to a copy of The News the family of Jesse Butz was the 
only one to remain over night in the section below Second Street. 
On Saturday it kept raising all day until 10 p. m., when it stood 
stationary until 10:30, and then started slowly to recede. The 
most disastrous losses were the washing away of James Wilson's 



39- 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



boatyard buildings and lumber and the lumberyard of Sweger & 
Shreffler. According to a reliable estimate the losses amounted 
to $204,600. 

Mr. S. M. Shuler, a prominent Liverpool merchant, kept a diary 
during the greater part of his life, devoted chiefly to the weather, 
and from it the entries of June I, 2 and 3, 1889, form a pen pic- 
ture of conditions all along that noted river during this devastating 
flood. It follows : 

June 1, 1889. — Boom logs commence running. A number caught here. 
River very high. Great amount of damage done in the town. The report 
is that two spans of the Millerstown and Newport bridges are gone. New- 
port partly under water. Only one train out of Liverpool, and that was 
the repair train from Sunbury, which removed the big slide helow the 
station. A freight train passed up at 5 : 15. The logs running thicker than 
before. Millions and millions of dollars worth of property destroyed. 
L,ogs ran balance of day and no doubt all night, along with bridges and 
almost anything. 

June _', 7 a.m. — The river and canal one at George C. Snyder's and be- 
low town and still rising one and one-half inches an hour. Great destruc- 
tion along the whole river. 

9: 30 a.m. — The river at a standstill. Water on the towpath in front of 
W. H. Miller's blacksmith shop. 

10:30 a.m. — The river still on a stand and, from what D. Brink and F. 
Rowe say, wants about eighteen inches of being as high as in March, 1865. 

12:00 m. — Logs still running. 

2 p.m. — River commenced to fall. Great amount of damage all along 
the river and canal, but the most damage was on the Juniata River; it 
was five feet higher than ever known. Up to 4 p. m. the Juniata fell about 
eight feet, and the Suscpiehanna about six inches. 

June 3. — River fell about two and a half feet last night. First freight 
down. Mail train down with daily papers. No mail. 

During the onrush of the waters Mr. Shuler measured and re- 
corded the rise and fall at periods covering June 1 and 2. The 
figures are here reproduced : 

June i, 1889 — Rise. 
3^2 inches 



6 to 


7 


7 to 


8 


8 to 


9 


9 to 


10 


to 


11 


6 to 


7 


7 to 


8 


8 to 


9 


9 to 


10 



3 
3 

2/2 



1 to 1 (2 hours) . . . 
1 to 2 


5 mc 

. 2/2 

■ 3/2 
• 1/2 


:hes 


2 to 3 


" 


3 to 5 (2 hours) ... 
5 to 6 


« 



June 2, 1889 — Rise and Fall. 

1^4 inches 10 to 11 l / 2 inch 

i54 11 to 12 on a stand. 

y 2 " 12 to 1 on a stand. 

]/2 " 1 to 3 fell 1 inch. 



Heavy rains of March 4 and 5, 1920, caused the ice-bound Juni- 
ata to break on March 6 and take with it the ice upon the Susque- 
hanna to a point near Covallen Station, on the Pennsylvania Rail- 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 393 

road, below Duncannon, where the huge cakes of ice jammed into 
a massive gorge, damming back the waters and inundating the low- 
lying section of the town. The waters attained a depth of just 
two feet less than in 1889 at this point. At this point the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad tracks follow a high fill which extends far out 
in the river from the original shore, and the waters reached its top 
and sent whirling upon the railroad ton upon ton of ice. This i> the 
third serious ice flood of which there is record. The winter had been 
a hard one and the ice was from twenty to thirty inches in thick- 
ness. The iee-bonnd Susquehanna and Juniata on this occasion 
broke all records for extensive freeze-ups. The rivers were frozen 
over on December 20, 1919, and successive cold waves only tight- 
ened the artificial bridge which remained upon the Juniata until 
A f arch 6, 1920, or seventy-seven days, and upon the principal 
course of the Susquehanna several days longer. Previous long 
records of ice-bound waters on these rivers were in 1882-83 and 
19 17-18, the latter being during the period of the great World 
War. Each of these winters the river was ice-bound but fifty-nine 
days, and during each there were great misgivings as to what might 
happen, but when the ice moved there were no great losses or 
alarming incidents. The 1920 ice flood was at its worst at the 
vicinity of Duncannon. The lower part of Duncan's Island was 
inundated and considerable damage done to the cottage colony. 
Below Duncannon there is an island in the Susquehanna, known 
as Wister's Island, upon which resided the family of Jacob Auxt, 
the island being a part of the Fred Smith dairy farm. Auxt re- 
fused to heed a warning and remained upon the island. He was 
driven with his family to the second story and the waters finally 
compelled him to vacate that and place the family upon the limbs 
of a large cherry tree. A rescuing party from the mainland, headed 
by J. R. McKibben, manager of the Perry County Telephone and 
Telegraph Company, found the family wrapped in blankets, 
perched upon the forks of the tree, where they had spent the 
greater part of the preceding long and gloomy night. 

There were very high waters at many other times upon these 
rivers, but hardly to be named in the same class as those narrated 
above. In February, 1882, the Susquehanna's waters were high. 
and John W. Albright, of New Buffalo, undertook to row across 
the river to Halifax. Unable to stem the tide he was being car- 
ried down the river to a sure death when he called for help. His 
cries for help attracted one William Reed, upon shore, who secured 
a rope, mounted a horse and rode to the Clark's Ferry bridge, six 
miles down the river, where he dropped the rope to the waters 
below and drew Albright to the bridge. . He had been in the boat 
two and a half hours during a blinding snowstorm. The point 
where he was rescued was within three hundred feet of the breast 



394 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

of the Clark's Ferry dam, where his small craft would have suf- 
fered destruction and where sure death awaited him. 

Very high waters occurred within the county in September, 
1843. Sherman's Creek and Buffalo and Little Buffalo Creeks 
overflowed their banks, and along Buffalo Creek Bosserman's mill 
dam and the county bridge at Milford were swept away. B. Wag- 
goner's dam, on a branch of Sherman's Creek, and John Worm- 
ley's and Rev. Heim's mill dams, on Sherman's Creek, were also 
swept away, as was a bridge which crossed it in Madison Town- 
ship. 

Early Perry County Ferries. 

With the Susquehanna River skirting the entire eastern bound- 
ary of the county, and with the Juniata cutting it into two sections 
it was necessarily the location of many ferries prior to the period 
of bridges. Of all the ferries for the transportation of vehicles, 
Crow's Ferry, below Liverpool, alone remains, and it is soon time 
that the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania should erect a 
bridge there, as it is on a much-traveled route and as there is no 
bridge from Duncannon to Selinsgrove, a distance of thirty-five 
miles. As these old ferries were a part of the county's early life 
they are briefly described. 

Clark's Ferry. 

Those words to the present-day generation mean the small set- 
tlement at the east end of the Clark's Ferry bridge over Green's 
dam, now generally spoken of as the Clark's Ferry dam. To a 
former generation they had a different meaning. They meant the 
ferry, which crossed the Susquehanna from the end of Peters' 
Mountain to the point where Clark's Run flowed into the Susque- 
hanna River, about the centre of the territory comprising Dun- 
cannon Borough. There the Indians had a fording, which they 
knew as "Queenashawakee," and there later the traders and the 
pioneers crossed, for it was on the first through road to Hunting- 
don and Pittsburgh. O'er it trailed the famed Conestoga wagon 
trains of that earlier day on their way to the Ohio Valley. With 
the increase of travel came a ferry. The Clarks operated it so long 
that the name became inseparably connected with it, and even later 
followed to the location above, over which crossed the boats of the 
Pennsylvania Canal. In 1808 it became a part of the route of the 
stagecoach line to Huntingdon and Alexandria. 

John Clark, who lived at the west end of the ferry, has often 
been credited with having established the ferry. He had built 
many years before the stone tavern, which still stands and which is 
owned and occupied by Joseph Smith as a dwelling. The date of 
the establishment of the ferry has also been a question variously 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 395 

answered. That the ferry was established in [788 and that Daniel 
Clark was the pioneer ferryman comes down the years through the 
starting of an opposition ferry by Francis Ellis, who evidently 
advertised his ferry and thus caused the following notice to be in- 
serted in the Oracle, a paper printed in Ilarrisburg, in July, 1800: 

"Clark's Ferry, fourteen miles above Harrisburg. — The subscriber has 
conducted the ferry for twelve years past without the assistance of news- 
paper bombast; but an advertiser in the last Oracle makes it necessary. 
Francis Ellis takes the liberty of inviting travelers to Mathias Flam's land- 
ing, where he has no right or privilege whatever, except that of usurpation 
and force, for which he and Mathias Flam both stand indicted. He also 
boasts of the sobriety and experience of his ferryman, additional build- 
ings, &c, &c. 

"All I wish to inform the public is that I am still in possession of both 
sides as formerly, with the same hands, same flats, and same buildings, 
ready to receive passengers on both sides. I hope my long experience 
and attention to this ferry may satisfy the public that no exertion will be 
wanting on my part to merit a continuance of their favors — and to defeat 
the efforts of this modern adventurer, and support the credit and interest 
of this ferry." Daniel Clark. 

Clark's Ferry Dauphin side, 
July 1, 1800. 

There was also a tavern on the Dauphin side of this ferry, prob- 
ably in the possession of this Daniel Clark. The ferry was in 
operation until 1838, when the Juniata Bridge Company erected 
a bridge, from which date its business rapidly told of the end. 
Before the days of the canal and railroads, over this ferry and 
the old turnpike passed the stream of Conestoga wagons, bear- 
ing the traffic of the early settlers and the merchandise of western 
Pennsylvania. In the old inn-yard could be seen often a dozen or 
more of these wagons, drawn by six or eight horses, which, were 
being fed while awaiting their turn to be ferried. The Robert 
Clark, who was one of the proprietors of the pioneer stage line in 
1808, was a son of John Clark, who kept the tavern at the western 
landing of the ferry, now the Smith house. 

That the ferry was located at this old location in 1832 is proven 
by the following from Gordon's Gazetteer of Pennsylvania, pub- 
lished in that year: "Clark's Ferry (and post office), located upon 
the Susquehanna, below the confluence of the Juniata with the Sus- 
quehanna and above the town of Petersburg." Petersburg was tin- 
old or original part of Duncannon located adjoining the Juniata 
Creek and the Susquehanna. 

The; Baskins' Ferry. 

The Baskins' Ferry, established at the Juniata's mouth, where 
the rivers meet, dates back almost to the first settlement. The ex- 
act date cannot be determined, but as early as the spring of 1767 



396 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the Cumberland County Court was presented with a number of 
petitions, among them being one to open a road "from Baskins' 
Ferry, on the Susquehanna, to Andrew Stephens' Ferry, on the 
Juniata." which shows that it was then already in existence. The 
Baskins' Ferry is here mentioned as on the Susquehanna. Its 
west shore could almost be considered that, as it was almost at the 
very mouth of the Juniata. It was owned and operated by James 
Baskins. It was at this old ferry that Capt. Alexander Stephens, 
grandfather of the noted Alexander H. Stephens, Vice-President 
of the Confederacy, first beheld and fell in love with the ferry- 
man's fair daughter, who later became his wife. The ferry was 
operated by various generations of the Baskins family until 1839, 
when the bridge over the river at that point was built. Cornelius 
Baskins, Sr., a grandson of James Baskins, then operated it. 
When the great flood of 1865 swept away the bridge Mr. Baskins 
at once reestablished the ferry. It was during the time of the 
ending of the great Sectional War, and hundreds of government 
mules and horses were ferried across the Juniata. The rates 
charged were ten cents for a passenger, fifteen cents for each 
horse, twenty-five cents for a horse and carriage, and fifty cents 
for a team and conveyance. Over this early ferry went the trader, 
the itinerant missionary, tine circuit rider, the tradesman, the 
drover, Indians, travelers, hunters and the varied traffic of that 
early day. Over the bridge at the same point now goes the traffic 
of the countryside, the tourist in palatial car and attendant traffic 
of another generation. 

An act of the Pennsylvania Legislature passed April 12, 1866, 
recognized "Mitchell and Cornelius Baskins as having conducted 
a ferry at that point for over fifty years, and (as the bridge had 
been taken away by a flood) empowered them to make good and 
convenient landings on both sides, and as having the exclusive 
right. A provision of the act required that the fees be approved 
by the Perry County Courts. Cornelius Baskins had established 
a tavern in the stone house on the western bank, near the landing 
at one time. In connection with the ferry at this period the fol- 
lowing may be of interest. When the bridge was swept away in 
1865 it was not rebuilt. A special act of the Pennsylvania Legis- 
lature made its rebuilding mandatory by January I, 1874, the cost 
not to exceed $18,000. A further act of April 10, 1873, allowed 
Perry County to borrow money for that purpose and be bonded 
for the amount. When the flood of 18S9 again swept away the 
bridge Jacob Johnson reestablished the ferry under the old charter 
of Cornelius Baskins and conducted it until the iron bridge was 
built. The poet has pictured the place in verse: 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 397 

ON THE BRIDGE WHERE THE RIVERS MEET. 

BY CHARLES JOHNS. 

Years ago, when the wind was low 

And the east was dim with grey 
And the west was red with the sunset glow, 

And the daylight ebbed away, 
And never a sound came through the night 

Save the rush of the waters fleet, 
I stood where 1 stand in the waning light, 

On the bridge where the rivers meet. 

The years have come and the years have gone, 

And have left their marks on me; 
But the river unchanged speeds gaily on 

To the ever changing sea; 
The hills are unaltered far and near, 

And the still scene is complete; 
I alone seem changed, and linger here, 

On the bridge where the rivers meet. 

Other Ferries. 

Miller's Ferry This ferry was established as early as 178X, for 
in that year an article in the Columbian Magazine mentions it Its 
location was over the Juniata at Millerstown, and David Miller, 
who had purchased 222 acres of land where Millerstown is lo- 
cated in 1780, was the owner. It was operated until 1839, when 
a bridge was erected over the river at that point. An earlier 
bridge company had been incorporated in 1814 to build a bridge 
over the Juniata "at Miller's Ferry, in Cumberland County 

Reiders' Ferry. The ferry across the Juniata River at Newport 
was established at an early day by Paul, John and Daniel Reider, 
sons of Paul Reider. The exact date of its establishment is un- 
known, but it was not prior to 1804, as in that year they only came 
into possession of the property, and statements show that it was 
started "after coming into possession of the property. During 
the war of 1812-14 this ferrv was crossed by dispatch riders carry- 
in- messages from the National Capital to the Canadian frontier. 
[t was in existence until 1851, when a bridge was erected at that 
point, although the Reiders' Ferry Bridge Company had been first 
chartered April 4, 1838. 

Rope Ferry. The Rope Ferry was located at Norths Island. 
between Millerstown and Newport, on the Juniata. It was so 
named by reason of the method of ferrying canal boats across the 
dam from the canal on one side to that on the other, as at that 
point all canal boats were taken across by a rope attachment, being 
further described in the chapter devoted to "River and Canal 
Transportation." 

Petterman's Ferry. Fetterman's Ferry crossed the Juniata, sev- 
eral miles east of tlie present site of Newport. The Howe Town- 



398 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

ship end was known as Fetterman's Ferry, and the Miller Town- 
ship end as Power's Ferry. At the Miller Township side was a 
stone tavern, the walls of which still stand, on the Oliver Rice farm. 

Power's Ferry. See Fetterman's Ferry, immediately preceding. 

Beelen's Ferry. In 1814 Francis Beelen warranted 328 acres of 
land, at the present site of Bailey Station, on the Pennsylvania 
Railroad. He established a parade grounds there for the state mi- 
litia and conducted a ferry. This ferry also crossed the Juniata, 
from Howe to Miller Townships. Beelen's Ferry and post office 
were described in Gordon's Gazetteer of Pennsylvania (1832) as 
being "on the right bank of the Juniata River, in Juniata (now 
Miller) Township, eight miles northeast of New Bloomfield, 
twenty-three miles from Harrisburg, and 129 miles from Wash- 
ington City." There was once an effort made to capitalize a ferry 
company there, as noted in "Special Legislation" in this book. 

Sheaffer s Ferry. This ferry was only for foot passengers and 
was for long years conducted by Reuben Sheaffer and family, 
crossing the Juniata at what was originally known as Poor Man's 
Spring^ now Iroquois Station, on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Mr. 
Sheaffer was one of the most experienced rivermen, 'and no mem- 
ber of his family was unskilled in the same line. 

TheFlamm or Watts Ferry. Mathias Flamm, who resided on the 
east side of the Susquehanna River, and David Watts, who resided 
on the west side, near the junction of the two rivers, operated a 
ferry over the Susquehanna before 1799, as an act of the Legis- 
lature of March 8, 1799, confirms. The location is stated thus: 

"Whereas, Mathias Flamm owns land on the east side of the Susque- 
hanna, opposite the mouth of Juniata, and David Watts on the west 
side, where the state road crosses the Susquehanna, and that they have 
established and maintained a ferry at the place for a number of years, 
they are empowered by law, at this date, to establish and keep same in 
repair, and build landings, etc." 

The Hidings' Ferry. Marcus Hidings lived on the point of land 
between the rivers, long known as the Reutter farm, for a year 
prior to 1755, when the Indian invasion drove him away. He came 
back in 1762, and there is record that he operated a ferry over the 
Juniata at that point, having built a causeway over the channel 
which connected the two rivers above Duncan's Island. As he 
says nothing of having had a ferry, when petitioning for the resto- 
ration of his lines in 1762, it evidently was subsequent to this. 

Liverpool Ferry. The Liverpool Ferry is older than the town 
of Liverpool, for when John Huggins laid out that town in 1808 
he reserved "to himself, his heirs and assigns forever all ferries 
and ferry rights, now made or hereafter to be made or erected." 
On May 21, 1834, he conveyed all of that one-half or west side 
of ferry known by the name of Liverpool Ferry, to Richard and 



RIVERS, STREAMS AND OLD FERRIES 399 

Robert Rogers. There may have been a reason for this, as evi- 
dently the Rogers brothers were operating a ferry of their own 
as early as 1819, probably from the Dauphin side, as the following 
advertisement in the Harrisburg Republican of December 31, 1819, 
would indicate : 

The subscribers beg leave to infonn^the public that they have estab- 
lished a ferry on the Susquehanna River at Liverpool, Cumberland County. 
They have provided good craft and employed careful and attentive ferry- 
men, who will be ready at all times to accommodate those who may wish 
to cross the river at that place, with the least possible delay. 

Richard Rogkks. 

December 24, 1819. Robert Rogers. 

The purchase of the Huggins' interests may have been the means 
<il" combining rivals. On August 4, 1832, they in turn sold to 
Daniel Bogar, who on March 24, 1838, conveyed it to Isaac Meek. 
Twenty years later, after gaining a competence. Mr. Meek sold it 
to John Shank. A charter was granted for this same ferry in 1867 
to William Inch. Subsequently Peleg Sturtevant and H. F. Zaring 
owned and operated it under the Inch charter for years, or until 
1894, when they brought suit against Israel Ritter and Sons for 
infringing upon their rights by running ferry boats in opposition. 
The difficulty was finally settled by Ritter & Sons buying the rights 
of Sturtevant & Zaring and thus gaining sole control. They then 
sold to Chas E. Deckard and brothers, who later sold to Chas. H. 
Snyder. With others Mr. Snyder formed a corporation or stock 
company and a charter was issued to the new corporation, known 
as the Liverpool Ferrv Company, which is now managed and con- 
trolled by H. A. S. Shuler. 

Crow's Ferry. Crow's Ferry is the main ferry between Dun- 
cannon and Sunbury, where the Susquehanna is bridged. It is 
located at a point on the river a few miles below Liverpool, and its 
eastern terminus is at the town of Millersburg, Dauphin County. 
It is a gateway from the famed Lykens Valley and Pottsville to the 
West, on a much-traveled route, and should be bridged by the state. 
It is noted for romantic beauty and is a famous picnic resort. 
From that point a fine view of the river is to be had. According 
to tradition there was a ferry there before Millersburg existed. 
Over it passed the immigration westward from the Pottsville sec- 
tion in pioneer times. The ferry was operated by Isaac Crow as 
far back as i860. Some time after this George and Joe Kramer 
started to ferry from the east side of the river, the Crows ferrying 
from the west side. About 1865 both parties took out charters 
and both thought them good to ferry only one way. On April 12, 
1872, an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature gave to "Isaac Crow. 
his heirs and assigns the right to make landings as far north as the 
canal lock below Liverpool and as far south as Mt. Patrick, and 



4 oo HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

on the east side of the river, along the line of the Borough of Mil- 
lersburg." Two years prior to that time Levi McConnell has been 
employed by Isaac Crow to run the ferry, and in 1872 he and 
Richard McConnell bought it. About the same time the Kramers 
sold their charter to Joseph Johnson. After a few years of ferry- 
ing one way by both parties the owners found that if the charters 
were good for ferrying one way they were good for the other. 
Then was begun a famous law suit that extended over fifteen years 
and only terminated when Levi McConnell bought the charter 
rights from Ramsey Mover, who then owned the Kramer charter. 

The owners since then have been as follows : The half interest 
owned by Levi McConnell was sold by him to George W. Seiler 
in 1902, from whom it passed to his father, J. A. Seiler, in 1905. 
In 1906 Walter Hunter purchased this interest and is the present 
owner. The half interest owned by Richard McConnell was sold 
by his administrator in 1896 to H. M. Hain, who sold it to Annie 
(McConnell) Miller and P. E. McConnell in 1898. Two years 
later the latter bought the former's share. P. E. McConnell, in 
1904, sold to John Travitz, who sold to Thomas Radle in 1907. 
Mr. Radle still owns this interest. 

Montgomery's Ferry. The date of the establishment of Mont- 
gomery's Ferry, across the Susquehanna, is unknown, but it was 
established by William Montgomery and, as he acquired the prop- 
erty on November 17, 1827, it was probably after that time. This 
ferry has also long ceased operations. At its eastern landing are 
located the great McClellan coal yards. In Dauphin County this 
ferry was known as Moorehead's Ferry, by reason of a family of 
that name residing there, from whom sprang Congressman Moore- 
head and the noted Pittsburgh Mooreheads. 

Moorclicad's Ferry. See Montgomery's Ferry, immediately pre- 
ceding. 

Baughman's Ferry. The history of this ferry is veiled in ob- 
scurity, but when the New Buffalo lots were advertised in 1820 
the advertisement locates them at Baughman's Ferry. In his deeds 
Jacob Baughman reserved "to himself, his heirs and assigns for- 
ever, the exclusive right to the ferry and fisheries on the river oppo- 
site the town. In 1823, his executor, in advertising lots, omits "at 
Baughman's Ferry," and states the location as five miles above 
Clark's Ferry, from which one would infer that the Baughman 
Ferry was out of business. 



CHAPTER XXI. 
RIVER AND CANAL TRANSPORTATION. 

Oh! Boatman, blow that horn again, 
For never did the listening air, 
Upon its joyous bosom bear 
So wild, so soft, so sweet a strain! 

What though thy notes are sad and few. 
By every common boatman blown. 
Vet is each pulse to nature true, 
And melody in every tone. — Selected. 

TIMS book would not be complete without containing some- 
thing of that old canal life, of the alluring call of the canal, 
with its fascinating and enchanting hours upon and along 
those old and historic waterways and of the scenic beauty of 
their courses. Located along two as picturesque rivers as dram 
any territory in the United States, passing through fertile held and 
valley, by high and towering mountains, their very edges hugging 
precipitous bluffs, behind which the sun was hidden long before 
sunset, their shadows cooled the brow of many a boatman during 
his long and tiresome hours. Those were halcyon days, but they 
art' gone forever. The mighty monster propelled by steam, its very 
metal creaking with energy, has grasped from that generation the 
commerce of the continent and hauls many, many times the product 
in a very small part of the time consumed on the canal. But the 
canals played a great part in the development of the nation, and 
it is yet a question whether the State of Pennsylvania did not make 
a mistake in their sale. If we had canal transportation to-day, 
would we not be burning cheaper coal? Canals are still in use in 
other states for the transportation of goods that are not in an 
immediate hurry. 

The history of the first waterways goes back to the time when the 
forests still resounded with the war whoop of the red men. The 
earlier recollection of traffic on and along the Juniata and Susque- 
hanna Rivers has been handed down in song and story. Perchance, 
even before the Indian there may have been a race here and they 
may have used the waters for transportation, but there are no rec- 
ords or any evidence supporting such fact. In the case of the In- 
dians, however, actual occurrences, even with dates, are available. 
Elsewhere in this book is an account, among others, of the bringing 
down the river of two Indians from Shamokin (now Sunbury), 
charged with murder. Evidently they had no larger craft than 

401 
26 



4 02 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

their famous canoes ; and with these they brought down the river 
loads of furs, which they exchanged for blankets, trinkets, fire- 
arms and "fire water." In it the dusky warrior wooed the Indian 
maiden, even as does his white brother of the present day, and 




THE OLD PENNSYLVANIA CANAL. 
The Village is Mt. Patrick and the Mountain in the Back- 
ground the end of Berry Mountain, also known as Mt. Patrick. 

probably just as ardently, for somewhere we have read that ro- 
mance is an outcropping of nature, and nature is much alike every- 
where. 

When the white settlers came in, they found the Indians using 
canoes, and they naturally adapted them, but in a short time some- 



RIVER AND CANAL TRANSPORTATION 



403 



thing larger was needed, and the batteau followed. John Harris, 
the original settler of what is now our beautiful State Capital, in 
a letter dated Paxton, April 17, 1756, says: 

"The canoes that must he employed for service on our river, are in 
general too small; therefore, it is absolutely necessary to have a small 
number of battoes (batteaux) immediately made, as they will carry a 
much larger burden, keep but the same number of hands employed in 
working them up the river as our small canoes will, and will certainly 
answer the purpose better, as the sides will be higher to keep out the 
waves in our falls, many of which will be always to pass through, and in 
high winds, which may sometime happen. There will not be the least 
danger of passing up and down this river in a hattoe, when a canoe must 
be unloaded or damage her cargo; therefore, as I think myself a judge 
of our river navigation and the most necessary and serviceable vessels to 
be employed in it, I think it my duty to write you this letter, and also to 
inform you that William Chestnut will supply you with suitable plank, 
upon getting directions to make the battoes ; the boards, I imagine, are not 
to be sawed after the common manner." I am, sir, 

Your most obedient servant, 

John Harris. 

There is record of the waters of the Juniata and Susquehanna 
being used for transportation of surplus farm products as early 
as 1794. In that year an "ark," the name given it by the builder, 
built by an enterprising German miller named Kryder, of near 
Huntingdon, and laden with flour, floated down the rivers to Bal- 
timore, braving the terrors of the falls at various points, especially 
below Middletown, where navigation with small craft was then 
considered impossible. His success caused the building of many 
arks; and when the stages of the waters permitted it the follow- 
ing years, they came down the rivers laden with flour, grain and 
whiskey, on their way to possible markets. Until the advent of 
the canals they were largely in use. Shortly afterwards the Cone- 
wago Canal at York Haven was commenced, and when completed, 
in 1797 or 1798, keel-bottom boats passed through. Columbia then 
became a mart of importance, a great deal of the trade in wheat 
being drawn from Middletown. In a few years, however, these 
boats were plying clear through to the bay. 

The use of keel-bottoms on the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers 
was very common prior to the coming of the canal, and in the fall 
of 1919, the late Prof. L. E. McGinnes, superintendent of the 
Steelton (Pennsylvania) schools, told of his father having done 
his marketing with them over the Juniata between Patterson's 
(now the Lewis Steckley place, in Howe Township) and New- 
port, early in the last century. 

Even between the canoe and the batteau the row boat found a 
place, and it remains to this day. After the ark and used coinci- 
dentally were the large flats or boats, which carried much greater 
tonnage than the arks, and which, transported down the river huge 



4 o 4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

loads of produce, such as beef, pork, grain, lumber, etc. Coming 
up stream these boats were poled, usually by four or six men, who 
placed their poles on the river bottom at the front end of the boat 
and walked its length, consecutively taking their places, thus con- 
stantly keeping the boat in motion. Rings had been placed in rocks 
in the river where there were falls and with the use of ropes and 
a windlass the boats were drawn up over the falls, otherwise an 
impossibility. Several iron rings yet remain at the Iroquois Falls, 
in the Juniata. This was done at the falls below Liverpool and at 
Mt. Patrick, and at the latter place the tourist can see to-day a 
narrow neck of land overgrown with bushes, jutting down stream 
from the falls, about a hundred feet from the Perry County shore. 
This was originally a wall built by these early boatmen to help get 
their boats over the falls, the channel being wider at the top so as 
to divert additional water into this waterway. Not far from this 
old waterway at Mt. Patrick, at the same falls, is a place in the 
river known as "the salmon hole." It covers approximately three 
acres of water, the depth of which is uniformly about eighteen feet. 
These old "arks," which carried the traffic before the days of 
the canal, did a considerable business. From figures available from 
eight up-river counties in 1824 it is found that there was floated 
down the river 823,000 bushels of wheat, 17,500 bushels of clover- 
seed, 9,200 barrels of whiskey, and 3,260,000 pounds of pork. 
When the arks were in use E. Bosserman and James Everhart 
built one at Newport, and from the old Rough warehouse took 
down the river a cargo of flour and pig iron, the latter being 
manufactured by Mr. Everhart at Juniata furnace, and sold at 
Port Deposit. The Roughs were grain and commission merchants, 
and this was the first lot of flour for export ever brought to New- 
port. Among farmers who built arks were the Wagners and 
Grubbs, of Liverpool, whose boats were windlassed up over the 
falls at Conewago, Mt. Patrick, and below Liverpool. 

Following the arks came the raft, especially for transporting the 
immense lumber product from the northern part of the state; and 
until recent years, when the spring freshets were passing towards 
the sea, they carried with them annually millions of feet of lumber 
ready for market. Liverpool, Montgomery's Ferry, and New Buf- 
falo were points at which the raftsmen "tied up" for the night and 
for days during bad weather, and many were the tales told by old 
rivermen of the times had at the old-time taverns in these towns, 
when rafting was in its heyday. At these places the rafts fre- 
quently extended for a mile in both directions from the town. 

Almost a quarter of a century before the building of the first 
"ark" on the Juniata, the province was busily interested in water- 
way transportation, even on smaller streams, as the following inci- 
dent will show. The Provincial Legislature of 1771, on March 



RIVER AND CANAL TRANSPORTATION 405 

9th, passed an act which declared the Susquehanna and Juniata 
Rivers public highways, but made no appropriation to improve 
them. By the act of February 6, 1773, Sherman's Creek was also 
declared a public highway. A man named James Patton had con- 
structed a dam across the creek near its month, and persons resid- 
ing near by made a protest, claiming it conflicted with navigation, 
hence the passage of the hill. It follows, in part : 

Section one provides that "the said James Patton, and all and every 
person claiming under him, and all and every person or persons whatso- 
ever, having already erected any milldam or other obstruction across the 
said creek, where the same lias been or can be made navigable for rafts, 
boats or canoes, shall make open and leave the space of twenty feet in 
breadth near the middle of said dam, at least two feet lower than any 
other part thereof; and for every foot that the dam is or shall be raised 
perpendicular from the bottom of said creek, there shall be laid a plat- 
form, either of stone or timber, or both, with proper walls on each side, 
t<> confine the waters, which shall extend at least six feet down the stream, 
and of breadth aforesaid, to form a slope for the water's gradual descent 
for the easy and safe passage of boats, rafts and canoes through the same." 

This section further provides as a penalty for not constructing these 
dam chutes within eight months six months' imprisonment or £50 for- 
feiture, one-half to the informer and the other half to the overseers of 
the poor of the township wherein the offender resides. 

Section two provides against the construction of "any wear, rack, basket, 
fishing dam, pond, or other device or obstruction whatsoever within said 
creek" for catching fish, with a penalty of one month's imprisonment 
"without bail or mainprize," or £10 fine. 

Section three makes it the duty of the constables of the respective town- 
ships adjoining the creek to inspect the dams therein and make information 
against offenders. This they must do every month throughout the year, 
under a penalty of twenty shillings. 

Section four provides against fishing at the chutes of the dams so con- 
structed, by net or seine, within twenty perches above and below the same, 
under a penalty of £5. 

Section five is a proviso to prevent the construction of the act to pre- 
clude fishing with a seine or net at other places in the stream. 

Section six declares the stream a public highway as far as the same is 
navigable for rafts, boats or canoes. 

Section seven provides that James Patton's dam shall not be affected in 
any way other than is specified by the act. 

The session of the Pennsylvania Legislature appropriated two 
thousand dollars, February 17, 1816. to remove obstructions and 
improve navigation on Sherman's Creek, between Craighead's mill- 
dam and the junction of the creek and the Susquehanna River. A 
commission, consisting of Francis Gibson, George Stroop, John 
Maxwell, William Power, Samuel Anderson, John Creigh, Moses 
Watson, Isaiah Carl, and Robert Adams, was appointed to super- 
intend the work. The time was extended until 1822 to complete 
the task. The creek was at that time made navigable for small 
craft as far as Gibson's Rock. 



4 o6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

A special act of the legislature, passed April 14, 1827, required 
the commissioners of Perry County to pay the commissioners ap- 
pointed by an act of the same body for removing obstructions from 
Sherman's Creek. 

Marcus Hulings also figures in the placing of a clam in Sher- 
man's Creek. On August 28, 1768, he took out an order of sur- 
vey for a tract of thirty acres which was located on Sherman's 
Creek, above the Duncannon Iron Company's plant, and upon 
which was a mill site. Evidently familiar with the Patton case he 
took precaution to obtain the authority of the State Legislature in 
1787 to erect a dam in the stream. He died the following year 
and there is no record of the dam being built. 

Odd as it now seems the Pennsylvania Legislature, in January, 
1 79 1, actually passed a bill which, among others, made navigable 
Little Juniata Creek, which empties into the Susquehanna River at 
Duncannon. Of course the springs and streams are less copious 
than when the county was wooded, but that stream has either 
dropped off wonderfully in the volume of water flowing or else 
there were some mighty queer proceedings in legislative halls even 
in those early days. An Act of February 5, 1794, made "the Coco- 
lamus Creek of Cumberland and Mifflin Counties, from the mouth 
thereof to the forks at Daniel Cargill's," a public highway. 

The first iron steamboat to ply the Susquehanna was built near 
York, on the Codorus, for which it was named, and was launched 
in 1825. It was sixty feet long, had a nine-foot beam and was 
three feet high. It weighed six tons and when empty drew only 
five inches of water. Each ton of contents caused it to sink an 
inch further into the water. It went up the river as far as Oswego 
and Binghampton. Its receipts were small, and two years later it 
was sold for junk. During the winter of 1825-26 it was moored at 
Montgomery's Ferry, in Perry County. 

The Miltonian, published at Milton, Pennsylvania, May 11, 
1826, said: 

" 'The Susquehanna and Baltimore' arrived at Northumberland on Mon- 
day last. She is able to rscend the river at the rate of about five miles an 
hour. At Liverpool she too* Mr. Grove's eighty-foot keel boat, heavily 
laden, in tow. Notwithstanding, it did not in the least impede her progress, 
for she reached Northumberland in six hours, a distance of twenty-six 
miles. On May 3 one of her boilers burst at Nescopeck Falls and injured 
thirteen people whose names are known. Two New York State men were 
blown overboard and not recovered." 

During the administration of Governor Bigler an appropriation 
was made for removing the obstructions from the channel of the 
Susquehanna River and to George Blattenberger, later associate 
judge of the county, was entrusted the work. Upon its completion 
he returned an unexpended balance to the state treasury, and for 
this he was commended in the governor's message to the legislature. 



RIVER AND CANAL TRANSPORTATION 407 

Coming of the Canals. 

Whose suggestions first brought the matter of canals to the at- 
tention of the public the writer does not know, and history fails 
to agree; but to William Penn, founder of the Province of Penn- 
sylvania, this book is inclined to give that credit. During one of 
IVnn's periods of residence in the province, he made a trip up the 
Susquehanna as far as Middletown, and probably Harrisburg. As 
early as 1690 he was arranging for a second settlement or city in 
the province, upon the Susquehanna River. "It is now," says 
Penn, "my purpose to make another settlement, upon the river 
Susquehanna, that runs into the Chesapeake, and bears about fifty 
miles west from the Delaware, as appears by the common maps 
of the English dominion in America. There I design to lay out a 
plan for building another city, in the most convenient place for 
the communication with the former plantations in the East ; which 
by land is as good as done already, a way being laid out between 
the two rivers, very exactly and conveniently, at least three years 
ago ; and which will not be hard to do by water, by benefit of the 
river Schuylkill ; for a branch of that river lies near the branch 
that runs into the Susquehanna River, and is the common course 
of the Indians with their skins and furs into our parts, and to the 
provinces east and west, Jersey and New York, from west and 
northwestern parts of the continent, from whence they bring them." 

As early as April 6, 1790, Timothy Matlack, John Adlum and 
Samuel Maclay were appointed commissioners to survey and ex- 
amine the Swatara, the Susquehanna, Sinnemahoning Creek and 
the Allegheny River with a view towards promoting an inland 
waterway ; This route via the Swatara Creek is the one mentioned 
by Penn, in the above statement, it being described as "the branch 
that runs into the Susquehanna River." This was the actual be- 
ginning of the subject of canal construction. 

As early as 1791 a "Society for Promoting the Improvements 
of Roads and Inland Navigation" existed in Pennsylvania and de- 
voted much of its time to the exploration of the various waterways 
and routes considered most feasible for connecting the Delaware 
with the waters of the Ohio and the lakes. Under authority 
granted by the legislature surveys were made and reports sub- 
mitted. New York, Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas were 
working along the same lines. About this time (1791 to 1827), 
when the Americans were displaying such enthusiasm and energy 
in opening up their extensive domain, came the intelligence of the 
success of steam power on the railroads being built in England, 
and the inauguration of the new system of passenger transportation' 
between Manchester and Liverpool. Notwithstanding the Ameri- 
cans went ahead and completed their waterways. 



4 o8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Prior to this, as early as 1761, commissioners had been appointed 
by the proprietary "to clear, scour, and make the Schuylkill navi- 
gable for boats, flats, rafts, canoes and other small vessels, from 
the ridge of mountains commonly called the Blue Mountains, to 
the river Delaware." After this initial step the Schuylkill at many 
places was dammed into long deep pools, which were connected by 
canals with a depth of six feet, carrying boats of two hundred-ton 
capacity. Following the appointment of the commission, previ- 
ously mentioned, in T790, Governor Thomas Mifflin, in his mes- 
sage to the legislature in 1791, said: 

"The very laudable attention paid to the survey of roads and rivers is 
a conclusive proof of the importance of the subject, while it furnishes an 
example highly deserving of your imitation. Every day, indeed, produces 
an additional incentive to persevere in improvements of this kind. The 
commercial policy of insuring the transportation of our produce from the 
interior counties to the capital is dependent upon the ease and facility of 
the communications that are established throughout the state ; and when 
we consider Pennsylvania, not only as the route that actually connects the 
extreme members of the Union, but as a natural avenue from the shores 
of the Atlantic to the vast regions of the western territory, imagination 
can hardly paint the magnitude of the scene which demands our industry, 
nor hope exaggerate the richness of the reward which solicits our enjoy- 
ment." 

The committee reported on February 19, 1 791. They reported 
on the Delaware towards New York State and towards Lake On- 
tario; on the Lehigh and Schuylkill and connections of the latter 
leading towards the Susquehanna, and on the Juniata and the north 
and west branches of the Susquehanna. The report was compre- 
hensive and upon its foundations later were erected the extensive 
public waterways which carried the trade of the state for decades. 

During the very infancy of Perry County, and while Governor 
1 leister was in office, the greatest question before the people of 
Pennsylvania was the construction of canals to reach the inland 
counties. An act of the Pennsylvania Legislature dated March 2~, 
1824, provided for the appointment of commissioners to promote 
the internal improvement of the commonwealth. A commission 
of three was to investigate the feasability and explore a route for 
a canal from I larrisburg to Pittsburgh, by way of the Juniata and 
Conemaugh Rivers. A report was made, and after enacting sev- 
eral laws and repealing others, five commissioners were authorized 
to examine routes through Chester and Lancaster Counties, then 
by the west branch of the Susquehanna and from the mouth of 
the Juniata to Pittsburgh. The people had little faith in the rail- 
road's building in England, then attaining success, but stood by 
their early belief in inland waterways. 

Then, on that eventful day, July 4, 1826, ground was first 
broken at 1 larrisburg for the "Pennsylvania Canal," to be in its 



RIVER AND CANAL TRANSPORTATION 409 

day a mighty artery of traffic, and yet to be so soon superseded 
by one of far greater proportions. An office was opened at Mil- 
lerstown and James Clark was made superintendent of the Juniata 

division. On July 15, 1827, advertisements appeared asking for 
bids for the construction of sixteen miles of canal between Lewis- 
town and Mexico, Juniata County, on the east side of the Juniata; 
for fourteen miles from Mexico to a point opposite North's Island, 
below Millerstown, also on the east side, and for fifteen miles, ex- 
tending from North's Island to a point opposite the extreme north- 
ern point of Duncan's Island. On May 13. 1828, bids were called 
for for the construction of the old aqueduct, which crossed the 
Juniata at Duncan's Island, and thirteen bouses of wood, stone or 
brick for the use of lock tenders. The distance from this old aque- 
duct to Clark's Ferry dam was 1.58 miles. 

While the canal was building, on February 23, 1828, the fol- 
lowing appeared in the Mifflin Eagle: 

"The work on the canal progresses rapidly; many sections are now 
more than half completed. The sections in the Narrows appear to get 
along slower than the rest. This is occasioned in a great measure by the 
high water, which has prevented the work from going on. The Juniata 
has not been frozen over this season, and ever since the middle of De- 
cember it has been on what is termed by boatmen good 'arking order.' 
We saw five arks pass down on Tuesday last. This is the first winter, in 
the recollection of our oldest citizens, that the river has remained clear 
of ice." 

Some of these citizens must surely have attained the age of 
seventy, whose recollection would date back at least sixty years, 
so that here is a traditional weather record dating back to probably 
1768, to the very clays of the early pioneers. 

In the fall of 1828 plans for the building of the canal from 
Lewistown to Huntingdon, a distance of forty-five miles, were 
consummated. The canal was built and completed by the summer 
of 1829, and on August 27th of that year the first boat came up 
the canal from Harrisburg, being in command of Cornelius Bas- 
kins, of "Upper Clark's Ferry," a name then applied to what later 
was known as Baskinsville, and now a part of Duncannon. The 
freight consisted of a quantity of merchandise and seven thousand 
bricks, which were consigned to John Hippie, then sheriff of Perry 
County, and residing at New Bloomfield. On September 22 the 
water was let into the first level of the Juniata Canal at Lewistown. 
( )n October 30 the entire line from Lewistown to Duncan's Island 
was filled with water and placed in service. In November the 
first packet boat to ply the canal, drawn by two white horses, went 
from Mifflintown to Lewistown. conveying a party of ladies and 
gentlemen and members of the legislature. 

On November 5, 1829, a packet boat, probably the same one.. 
■ arrived at Newport from Mifflin laden with members of the legis- 



4 io HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

lature and other persons of prominence. According to descrip- 
tions of the period it "was drawn by two white horses and set off 
in fine style with the flag flying at her head, amid the shouts of the 
people and the cheering music of the band on board." 

The canal was completed from Lewistown to Huntingdon the 
following year, and by 1834 the line was open from Philadelphia 
to Pittsburgh, by using the railroad of eighty-two miles to Colum- 
bia and the portage road from Hollidaysburg to Johnstown, a dis- 
tance of thirty-six miles. Regular packet lines for the transpor- 
tation of passengers and freight were established and continued 
until about 1850, when the advent of the railroads caused the busi- 
ness to be unprofitable. For the hauling of freight, however, the 
canal did a large business almost to the end of its existence. The 
Juniata Canal was last used in 1898. Its entire cost was $3,525,000. 

The following notice in the Pittsburgh Gazette of March 24, 
1834, heralded the arrival of the first lot of goods via the Portage 
railroad and canal : 

"We have, to-day, the pleasure to announce the arrival of the first lot 
of goods, by the way of the Portage Railroad. It was the packet boat, 
General Lacock, Captain Craig, arrived this morning from Johnstown, 
with goods in thirteen days from Philadelphia." 

The only locks on the Juniata Canal in Perry County, below the 
Millerstown dam, were located in Miller Township, below the point- 
known as Trimmer's Rock, and below Iroquois, near the home of 
J. Warren Buckwalter, once a member of the General Assembly 
from Perry County. 

The celebration of National Independence Day, July 4, 1830, 
was a gala day at Millerstown, when the "splendid new canal boat, 
"Pennsylvania," was launched with a public ceremony. This was 
the first boat to be built west of Harrisburg. 

At the "Rope Ferry," between Newport and Millerstown, the 
canal was transferred to the eastern bank of the Juniata, which 
is described by John T. Faris, in his "Seeing Pennsylvania," thus : 

"In the days when the canal was in its glory there was a pool 
below Millerstown, formed by a state dam in the river. On this 
pool boats passed 'by means of an endless rope stretched across 
the river and passing around a large pulley on the canal side.' 
When a signal was given, one of the pulleys was turned by water 
power ; this put in motion the rope, and the boat attached to the 
rope was moved in its turn. This was one of the interesting sights 
of travel by canal that led N. P. Willis to write, in 1840: 

"Of all the modes of travel in America, the least popular — and the most 
delightful, to our thinking — is traveling on the canal. The packet boats 
are long drawing rooms, where one dines, sleeps, reads, lolls, or looks out 
of the window; and, if in want of exercise, may at any time get a quick 
walk on the towpath, and all this without perceptible motion, jar, or sound 



RIVER AND CANAL TRANSPORTATION 



4 II 



of steam It is always a reasonable query to any, except a business 

traveler, whether the saving of time and fatigue in the wonderful im- 
provement of locomotion is an equivalent for the loss of rough adventure 
and knowledge of the details of a country acquired by hardship and delay. 
Contrast the journey over a railroad at a pace of fifteen ( !) miles in the 
hour, through the rough, the picturesque valley of the Susquehanna, with 
a journey over the same ninety years ago." 

Rodearmel, Dearmond & Company were the contractors who 
built the North Island dam, as the Millerstown dam was first 
known, 1827-28, and had as their office boy the late John A. 
Baker, for many years editor of the Perry Freeman. He was then 




Photo by Miss Minnie Deardorf. 
OLD PENNSYLVANIA CANAL AND AQUEDUCT. 
Crossing the mouth of "The Big Buffalo" Creek at Newport, Pa. 

a boy of twelve or thirteen, and used to relate a story of the pay- 
master, Edward Purcell, who was overly exact, if not overly 
righteous. Baker said that "while he took the ha' penny, he never 
failed to pay it out, even if he had to cut a row of pins in two 
to do it." 

The Pennsylvania Canal along the Susquehanna was begun in 
1828. It started from the junction of the Juniata and Susque- 
hanna Rivers at Duncan's Island, and passed through New Buf- 
falo, Liverpool, and Selinsgrove to Northumberland, a distance 
of thirty-nine miles. It then continued up the west bank to Muncy 
dam and later to Bald Eagle Creek, and up the north branch to a 
point two miles below Wilkes-Barre. In order to attain the proper 
depth locks were necessary, and there were six in Perry County, 
as follows : above New Buffalo, Montgomery's Ferry, Mt. Pat- 
rick, one each below and above Liverpool, and at Dry Sawmill. 
There were two on Duncan's Island, the lower one letting the 
boats into Green's or Clark's Ferry dam, where they were taken 



4 I2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

across by being towed from a "wooden towpath" built along the 
south side of the bridge spanning the Susquehanna at that point. 
Owing to the far greater expense required to build a canal on 
the Dauphin County side of the river it was located along the west 
bank on the Perry County side. The following is from the report 
nf the Canal Commissioners in 1827, covering that phase: 

"In the latter end of May, the location of a line from the mouth of the 
Juniata to Northumberland was commenced by Mr. Simon Guilford. He 
was instructed to examine both sides of the Susquehanna with the utmost 
care, to present an estimate of each, and further, to ascertain whether the 
river might be advantageously crossed at any intermediate point, so as to 
place the canal partly on one side and partly on the other. At the meeting 
of the board on the 2d of July, a report was received from Mr. Guilford, 
accompanied by an estimate, from which it appeared that a canal on the 
east side would cost $1,018,758, and on the west side, $472,298. Strong 
representations were at the same time made, from Dauphin and Northum- 
berland Counties, in favor of the east side, to all of which the utmost 
respect was paid. But the vast difference of expense was thought by the 
board to leave them no choice, and a location was adopted, beginning at 
Duncan's Island, and extending up the west side to a point opposite 
Northumberland." 

George Blattenberger, once associate judge of Perry County, 
was a contractor for sections of both the tidewater canal and the 
Wiconisco Canal, as well as for a section of the Philadelphia & 
Erie Railroad. Under Governors Shunk and Bigler, by their ap- 
pointment he was supervisor of the Susquehanna Canal from 
Clark's Ferry to Milton. 

During the last lays of September, 1829, the water was let into 
the upper levels of the Susquehanna division, aptly described by 
a narrative from a writer in Hazard's Register, during October, 
[829, as follows: 

"It is with pleasure that we are enabled to announce to our readers, 
from undoubted authority, that the water is now flowing down the Sus- 
quehanna division of the Pennsylvania Canal. The water was first intro- 
duced two weeks since, and is now three feet high at Selinsgrove, and 
last Saturday had passed down the canal as far as Liverpool, and is gradu- 
ally passing on ; the whole line being in complete order to receive water. 
No break or defect of ny kind has been found, though the water now 
occupies twenty-seven miles of canal, a circumstance highly honorable to 
the talents and attention of Mr. Guilford, the engineer, and to the con- 
tractors, who executed the work. Boats are frequently passing with par- 
ties of pleasure from Selinsgrove to Sur.bury and Northumberland." 

(Signed "Aurora.") 

During 1830 regular traffice was carried on continuously until 
the water was taken out of the canal for the winter months. This 
was the first year of the operation of this division. The cost of 
the entire Susquehanna Canal was $4,804,000. The matter of 
compensation for services shows comparatively the difference be- 
tween that period and this of almost a hundred years later. In 



RIVER AND CANAL TRANSPORTATION 413 

1832 the chief engineer, then known as the "principal engineer," 
received $2,000; division superintendents, $3 per day; assistant 
engineers, 2. 50 per day; supervisors, $2.50 per day; foreman, 
$1.25 and $1.50 per day, and lock tenders, $10 per month and free 
house rent. 

By 1834 six hundred and seventy-three miles of the public 
works had been completed, as the state's credit had been good, but 
unfortunately the immense system was too expensive for the 
state's finances at that period and was not managed in an eco- 
nomical manner, with the result that by 1841 the state debt was 
over $42,000,000, and work ceased. 

The building of the canals through the new county of Perry 
brought to the county a lawless element, and riots and brawls were 
of frequent occurrence. One of the worst of these was during 
April, 1828, in Dolton's tavern, at Montgomery's Ferry. At that 
time F. Montgomery had his shoulder fractured and John O'Regan 
diet two weeks later from a fractured skull. Justice of the courts 
of the new county decreed that three of the rioters serve ten years 
in the penitentiary, and from then there was less trouble with this 
element. 

The first coal from the Lykens Valley coal fields was shipped 
from Mt. Patrick by the Lykens Valley Coal Company, over the 
Pennsylvania Canal, beginning in 1846. The coal was brought 
sixteen miles over a primitive railroad from Bear's Gap to Millers- 
burg, the little cars being run upon flats fitted with tracks. These 
were ferried across the Susquehanna, where the tracks of another 
narrow gauge railroad ran from the canal to the river's edge, on 
which the small cars were transported to the canal's side and their 
contents dumped into canal boats for transportation to various 
marts of trade. After the completion of the Wiconisco Canal the 
trade was diverted that way. 

For a number of years packet boats plied the waters of both the 
Juniata and Susquehanna Canals. Near their junction stood the 
historic Amity Hall tavern, a road house of the early days, which 
was an important stopping place and where many persons of im- 
portance tarried. The packet boat leaving Williamsport in the 
evening would arrive at "the Junction" and Amity Hall at noon 
the following day. having traveled eighty-seven miles. These 
boats were of light construction and the teams used in hauling 
them were relayed. The boatmen have an association which meets 
annually, usually at Rolling Green Park, near Selinsgrove, and at 
their meeting in 1920 Mrs. H. G. Houseworth, whose maiden 
name was Bingaman, of Trevorton, — a one-time cook on these 
packet boats— was in attendance. She is now eighty-seven years 
of age. She recalls that the through fare was $2, including a hunk 
% and breakfast, and that the fare was $1 either way to Milton, the 



4 I4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

half-way point. Being eighteen years of age at the time would 
place the period as 185 1. 

According to Mr. Lewis Messersmith, of Howe Township, 
whose age is eighty-four years (1921), the first packet boat was 
owned by William Calder, of Harrisburg, and the captain was A. 
C. Clemson, of Newport. Captain Clemson was the father of C. 
L. Clemson, for years road foreman of engines on the Middle 
Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, now retired. Just as in 
railroading to-day, many of the old boatmen were Perry Coun- 
tians. There were at one time three merchant lines, says Mr. 
Messersmith, the Ohio Line, the Union Line, and the Kiess Line. 
The other boats were owned by individuals. A grocery boat from 
Philadelphia, owned by Captain Barnes, delivered groceries along 
the canal. Two section boats from Pittsburgh delivered wines and 
liquors as far east as Columbia. Capt. John Weaver, of Saltsburg, 
was the owner of two boats, the "Effort" and the "Lucinda," 
which were run day and night, Mr. Messersmith having been one 
of the drivers. 

Captain Clemson died in Newport in 1888. He was a noted 
old-time captain of the packet boat lines and left a record which 
follows: In 1845 he became captain of the "Northumberland." 
running from Harrisburg to Williamsport. The line had three 
boats. The other two were the "Williamsport," captain, D. Blair, 
and the "Harrisburg," captain, I. D. Murphy. He ran the "Nor- 
thumberland" two years and then began running the "Kishoquil- 
las," on the Juniata Line, running from Harrisburg to Hollidays- 
burg. This line had three other boats, as follows: the "Dela- 
ware," captain, R. H. Morton ; the "Philadelphia," captain, I. L. 
Elliott, and the "Monongahela," captain, S. D. Carnes. Mr. Mor- 
ton was soon succeeded by Captain G. W. Hooper. Captain S. H. 
Walters succeeded Hooper, who died of cholera. The completion 
of the Pennsylvania Railroad to Lewistown shortened the route, 
as exchange of passengers was then made there. This withdrew 
one boat from the service. When the railroad was completed to 
Mount Pinion, the exchange of passengers was made there, and 
another boat was withdrawn. Later the exchange was made at 
Huntingdon, the railroad having been built to that place. The 
boats were taken to Virginia, on the completion of the railroad to 
Hollidaysburg, and sold to a packet line plying from Richmond 
to Lynchburg. The first fast packet boat was run on the Penn- 
sylvania Canal in 1835. It was exclusively for passengers and was 
towed by three horses. All the boats before that time were slow 
packets, with amidship for freight, and the bow and stern cabins 
for passengers, the boats being towed by two horses. These 
Juniata boats were the Calder boats and were known as the "Pio- 
neer Line." In 1837 an opposition line known as "The Express," 



RIVER AND CANAL TRANSPORTATION 415 

was started. It ran only one season, Mr. Calder buying it, but 
during that season there was great rivalry, the blocking of locks 
and the cutting of tow lines being but' parts of the deviltry to 
delay the opposition. The names of other boats were the "South 
America" and the "Comet." 

Other captains were Drum, Collins, Hicks, Hall, and Daniels, 
from New York State; Vogelsong and Libhart, from Marietta; 
Green, Donelson and Williams, from Mifflintown ; Wilt, William 
Sayford, Charles Keller and James Murphy, of Harrisburg. On 
the Susquehanna Line were Captains John Huff, of Milton ; John 
and Samuel Huggins and George Walker, of Liverpool. The 
Harrisburg office stood on the site of the old Pennsylvania Rail- 
road depot. At that time it took four days to put passengers 
through to Pittsburgh, according to Captain Clemson. The con- 
necting train left Philadelphia at 8 a. m. and arrived at Harrisburg 
at 3 p. m. 

The first canal boat to cross the Allegheny Mountains was a 
section boat of three parts. The cars were dropped into the basin 
at Hollidaysburg and the pieces floated upon them. They were 
then pulled to the first plane, by an engine ; from there they were 
pulled up the mountain with a stationary engine and a large wire 
cable. They were then let down the western side in the same man- 
ner until they reached Johnstown, where they were dropped into 
the canal, united and sent on their way to Pittsburgh. This boat 
was called the "Hit or Miss." 

During the boating period Liverpool and New Buffalo lived and 
thrived, largely through this industry, and the product of their 
shops and boatyards sailed the internal waterways well in many 
states. There were two boatyards at Liverpool, the upper owned 
by Joseph Shuler, and later by John W r . Murray, and the lower 
one* by George Walker, John Sheats, and Henry Hoffman at dif- 
ferent times.* At one time over fifty boat owners resided in Liver- 
pool and engaged in the occupation of boating. New Buffalo also 
had two boatyards. 

The routes pursued by the boatmen, when the canal traffic was 
at its height, were from Lock Haven, on the west branch, and 
Pittston, on the east branch of the Susquehanna, and from Holli- 
daysburg, on the Juniata, to Philadelphia and New York, via 
Havre de Grace, Maryland, over Chesapeake Bay to Chesapeake 
City, Maryland; then over the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal 
< fourteen miles) to Delaware City, Delaware; then by tug up the 

* Among boatmen interviewed for information (1919-20) were Ambrose 
L. Sterick, who boated from 1859 until 1900; S. E. Klinger, who began 
boating in 1865 and whose pair of boats was among the very last to trans- 
port ties, grain, etc., from Liverpool to Sunbury, and John Trimmer, for 
- three decades a boatman. 



4 i6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Delaware Bay and River to Philadelphia and Bordentown, New 
Jersey; then over the Raritan Canal (forty-five miles) to New 
Brunswick, New Jersey, and from there to New York by tug over 
the Newark and New York Bays. 

Another route was from Havre de Grace, Maryland, (sixty-four 
miles) by tug down the Chesapeake Bay to Baltimore. 

Another route left the Pennsylvania Canal at Middletown, 
1 )auphin County, over the Union Canal to Lebanon and Reading, 
then over the Schuylkill Canal to Philadelphia, a distance of sev- 
enty-seven miles. 

The principal traffic over the Pennsylvania Canal was the coal 
from the mines to the large cities, farm produce and lumber be- 
ing next in order ; but in its entirety it was as varied as freight 
traffic is to-day. On the return trips merchandise, fish, plaster, 
etc., usually filled the boats. 

The Legislature of February, 1899, voted to abandon the Penn- 
sylvania Canal, the vote being 176 to 4, in favor of abandonment. 
The Juniata Canal was abandoned in 1898, the large aqueduct was 
removed from across the Juniata above Duncannon, in 1899, and 
the Susquehanna Canal abandoned on May 1, 1901. 

The packet boats seem to have still been in existence in 1876, 
when the Centennial was held at Philadelphia, as the following 
advertisement of that period will show : 

"Persons wishing to visit the Centennial can go in no cheaper and pleas- 
anter manner than by canal packet, run by Captain Koontz, of Port Royal. 
Fare $7. The boat will anchor close to the Exhibition Grounds and will 
remain from 8 to 10 days, where you can have lodging free, and meals 
20c each, or if you prefer can board yourself. This is a pleasant way 
for families and parties to visit the city. Persons can get in the boat at 
Newport. The next trip made by the boat will be about the last of Sep- 
tember. For further particulars address John Dunbar, Port Royal, Pa." 

Among the canal and rivermen inseparably connected with the 
old canal days was Thomas B. Carpenter, born in Newport in 
[838, and who moved to Duncan's Island as a boy with his father's 
family. He followed the canal as boy and man, first as driver, then 
bowsman, then captain, with the missing period of the days when 
the States warred, when he served three different enlistments in 
the Lhiion army, lie then returned to the canal and became a 
pilot over the Clark's Ferry dam, being the last man to remain in 
that employment with the canal's closing days. Another of that 
Carpenter family, his brother James, and Jacob Johnston were 
famous pilots at the same point, but with decreasing business over 
the waterway took positions elsewhere. 

Daniel N. L. Reutter was one of the contractors who helped 
build the canal, being at that time extensively engaged in contract- 
ing. Later he kept a drug store in Harrisbur^. but in 1843 he set- 
tled on the farm in Watts Township, at the junction of the Juni- 



RIVER AND CANAL TRANSPORTATION 417 

ata and Susquehanna, where lie lived the balance of his life. He 
brought with him his little son, George N. Rentier, then eight years 
of ag _ e, who later studied medicine and practiced from that point 
(hiring the balance of his lifetime, also becoming a member of the 
General Assembly. He became the father of seven children, two 
dying in infancy, and one becoming a physician, the late Dr. H. D. 
Reutter, of Duncannon. Both D. N. L. Rentier and Dr. George 
N. Reutter lie buried in the Reutter private cemetery, located upon 
a bluff near the stone farmhouse. 

The second boat built north of Harrisburg was built in Perry 
County, at Liverpool, in 1829, and curiously enough by a man who 
had located in Perry County during the very year of its formation, 
Michael Shank. He was the father of the late Mrs. E. D. Owens 
and had been a German ship carpenter. He named the boat 
"Lorenzy Dow." 

A rather unusual occurrence happened during the great War 
Between the States. It was in 1861. Fred Sterick's boat was 
assigned the task of transporting one hundred soldiers — Company 
B, Sixth Pennsylvania Reserves — from Selinsgrove to Harris- 
burg. The men were under command of Captain Roush and Lieu- 
tenants Epier and Hardin. 

In the days before the railroad was built along the Juniata, 
among the travelers over the canal and the Portage Railroad were 
many men of note. An unusual occurrence is cited. Towards the 
close of 1835, on the passenger list of a packet boat, was Joseph 
Ritner, governor-elect on an Anti-Masonic platform, on his way 
to Harrisburg, and Henry Clay, on his way to the opening of 
Congress, as loyal a Mason as existed. They dined at the same 
table and were agreeable companions. 

The payment of a bill rendered April 1, 1837, to the Common- 
wealth of Pennsylvania, by Alex. Glazer, a canal boat captain, 
for service recalls the days when local military operations occu- 
pied quite a conspicuous place in life, and also shows that such 
features were a part of the life of Liverpool. The copy: 

To cash for storage at Harrisburg, -37^2 

To freight in 1,025 lbs. arms and accoutrements from 

Harrisburg to Liverpool, 5 .00 



While excavating for the construction of the canal near New- 
port a stone, shaped like a Greek cross, was unearthed. It was 
unmistakably not the work of nature, and upon being thoroughly 
cleansed it was found to contain hierglyphics, plainly marked by 
the use of a sharp-pointed instrument. Those who saw it thought 
it might have been possessed by the Indians, possibly a gift of the 
French in Canada. The hierglyphics bore no resemblance to any 
Indian characters or marks known, so it was thought evidently the 

21 



4 i8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

property of some earlier race who probably once inhabited the 
territory. It was shipped to the Historical Society at Philadelphia, 
bui never arrived at its destination. Zenas J. Cray, in "Prose and 
Poetry," says "Careful research has revealed the story. About 
1771 two Jesuit priests came from Canada with the design of 
founding a mission among the Juniata Indians, reaching the val- 
ley near the site of Newport. The priests cut the cross out of 
native sandstone and it formed part of their rude altar. Failing 
in their object to build a church the cross was buried and, the 
Jesuits, with the Indians, went towards the setting sun." 

The historic old aqueduct which carried the canal across the 
Juniata River at the head of Duncan's Island, is but a memory, 
yet in its day was considered quite an engineering feat. Several 
of the piers still stand and the small dag station of the Pennsyl- 
vania and a summer cottage colony, both somewhat above, are 
alone reminders of the name. 

( )ld taverns lined the banks of the canals. In 1846 John Bair, 
then a young man. later president of the Newport Deposit Bank, 
built a hotel at Cirty's Notch which he conducted for six years. 
Besides that one, there were others at "the Junction," New Buf- 
falo. Montgomery's Ferry, Mount Patrick, and Liverpool. John 
Muggins, of Liverpool, was collector of canal tolls there until his 
death in 1859. Henry Wilt Shuman, once a leading lumber mer- 
chant of Liverpool, had as many as six boats in the business, and 
John D. Snyder, engaged in the tie business at a later day, had a 
contract to furnish 50,000 ties annually to the Central Railroad of 
Xew Jersey. 

The naming of boats oft betokened the love of a member of the 
family, the patronage of a business man, or the political preference 
of the owner. A few chosen at random, follow: Lewis Beasom's 
line of boats were the "William Bosserman," the "John W. Gearv." 
the "Fickes & Brother," and the "Kough Bros." William Wertz, 
of Newport, called one "Abraham Collins," and another "Parish 
No. 3^." Air. Wertz made two trips as far as Lake Champlain 
and Fort Henry with his boats, the time consumed being a month 
and five days. lie discontinued boating in 1892. Jacob and Daniel 
Powers, of East Newport, owned the "Frank E. Billings," the 
"T. II. Milligan." the "Mina," the "John HofTer," and the "Mol- 
lie," but quit boating in 1889. 

Prominently connected with the canal for twenty-three years 
was George Boyer, now an associate judge of Perry County, the 
last fifteen of which he was supervisor. John A. Lineaweaver, 
who was county commissioner in 1870. was for thirty-three years 
located at the inlet lock at the Millerstown dam. 

Among the boatmen who resided in Liverpool were: S. E. 
Klinger, Edward Stailey, John X. Bitter, Charles Fritz', G. W. 



RIVER AND CANAL TRANSPORTATION 419 

Wilt, facob Murray. William Emitter, James J. Stailey, Sr., David 
Shumaker, |. D. Shure, Ambrose Sterrick, William Cook. John 
Thompson, John Wentzel, W. C. Fortney, I. B. Free, .Martin 
Ho'rting, Isaac Sturtevant, S. N. Snyder, Jacob Gilbert, David 
Ritter, Allien Shuler, Jere Lowe, Daniel Funk, Samuel Derr, 
Peter Derr, John Trimmer, David I.cnliari. Michael Deckard, John 
Beigh, Allen Klinger, Jerome Beigh, Frank Beigh, Oscar Beigh, 
Newton Funk, Peter, Jacob and Harry Shumaker, William Mur- 
ray, William Portzline, George W. Snyder, Silas Snyder, C. 
Murray, John Kough, and Daniel Roush. 

From Montgomery's Ferry came the three Fortney brothers. 
Charles, William, and Jacob; Valentine Arndt and Farmer Hair. 
The island (Duncan's) contributed Henry lleikel. David Miller. 
John Briner, John Lukens, and others. New Buffalo's contingenl 
included Joseph Steele. J. P. Motter, T. J. Free, Brandt Free, 
George Rider, Nathaniel Noblet, William and Samuel 1 lammaker, 
John Shumaker. and Calvin Liddick. 

A COATING SONG. 

UV "MYRRHA" (MRS. EMMA E. CARPENTER). 

The boatman's horn! The boatman's horn! 

We hear it in the early morn, 

When blushing day is newly born; 

It sounds across the waters fair, 

And quivers in the morning air, 

In notes that shadow forth no care. 

The boatman's call! The boatman's call! 
We hear it 'mid the water's fall, 
Uprising, clear above it all ; 
"Prepare the lock! Our barge is here; 
Our steady team has borne us near; 
Open the gates, the way make clear." 

To work, to work! The boatman springs, 

The heavy line he forward brings, 

And round the post he deftly flings ; 

His good, strong arm holds hard the rope. 

Which creaks and groans, as one 'thout hope. 

Then soft — the strain is loosened up. 

The barge sinks down along the wall 

Of darksome lock, where shadows fall, 

Around, about and over all ; 

Then slow, the ponderous gates swing round. 

And "go ahead," the magic sound — 

A joyful' "open road" is found. 

"Take up the line," the boatman cries. 

To do his bid the driver flies. 

And to his team he shrilly cries, 
"Get up. get up; now Kate, go on, 

And Doll, and Jane, you're good and strong. 

The day ahead is very long. 



4 _>o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The turbid waves with gentle splash, 
Around our barge doth play and dash; 
The sunlight over all doth flash; 
But come there wind, or sleet, or snow — 
In sunshine bright, when rude winds blow, 
We steady work and onward go. 

THE BOATMAN'S CALL. 

BY ZENAS J. GRAY, A PERRY COUNT] AX. 

Awake, awake, lockkeeper ! Let the boat drop through, 

We're drivin' hard to reach the lower bay; 
Autumn's fadin' mighty rapid, winter's comin', too, 

Then the horn will cease its callin' night and day. 
Open wide the drippin' gates, fill up the slimy lock, 

The water is impatient to rush on ; 
Hear the bugle notes a tootin' far away, then wander back, 

Like the memory of friendships lost and gone? 

By fair romantic valleys, where Juniata's tide 

And Susquehanna's waters float along, 
Through echoin' mountain passes — Old Kittatinny's pride — 

I've sat on deck and sang the joyous song. 
The boatman's life has charms, the recollection's plain, 

I like to go a dreamin' of the past; 
Though my forehead is wrinkled, my heart is young again, 

And I know the sentiment will always last. 

I've been snubbin' 'long the towpath nearly fifty years, 
I've seen my share, had tears and frolics, too; 

The steam cars have outdone us, we're crowded to the rear, 
The boatmen's shadows grow more dim and few ; 

The packet is no longer seen — it's rate of speed too slow 
To suit this age of rush and enterprise. 

Soon the locks will be deserted, the grizzled captains go 

On the final trip beyond the nightless skies. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

BUILDING OF THE PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD. 

THE main line of the four-track system of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad, the standard railroad of America, passes through 
Perry Comity, being located along the western banks of the 
Susquehanna and Juniata Rivers. It is America's model railroad 
as well as its historic railroad. When the great effort was made 
to rend in twain the Union it was to the Pennsylvania Railroad 
and to its vice-president, Thomas A. Scott — later its president — 
that Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, turned, and 
the large part played by both Scott and the Pennsylvania Railroad 
in that immortal struggle is a matter of history. While the early 
history of the railroad in a general sense is not a part of the his- 
tory of Perry County, yet, in a greater sense, it is, as its tracks 
cross the county, its lines transport practically all the traffic to 
and from the county, and hundreds of Perry Countians from the 
time of its building to now, have been at all times in its employ. 
For these reasons and others it is deemed proper to record some- 
thing of its building and history, as well as a word of early railway 
history in general. So closely were the early days of railroads and 
canals in Pennsylvania related that it is difficult to write of one 
without including much of the other. For that reason the reader 
is referred to the chapter on The Coming of the Canals, elsewhere 
in this book. 

Strangely enough, of the first twenty miles of the original Penn- 
sylvania Railroad to be let and graded, thirteen were within the 
limits of Perry County, as the part east of Harrisburg was a state 
improvement yet at that time. Few people, probably have been 
aware of this. 

As early as 1800, in England, a work entitled "Recreations in 
Agriculture," by Dr. James Anderson, suggested the construction 
of railroads at the sides of turnpikes. His descriptions were so 
graphic that they might have almost passed for a description of the 
early railroads. Up to 1825 the only railroads constructed were 
used for the transportation of coal and other heavy tonnage. The 
completion of the Liverpool and Manchester Railroad, in England, 
in 1829, was virtually the beginning of passenger traffic and gen- 
eral freight shipments over a system of rails. 

In the United States, upon the termination of the Revolutionarv 
.War, the people began giving their attention to the matter of 
transportation. Gradually but steadily the tide of emigration had 

421 



422 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



extended westward from the Atlantic seaboard, leaped the Alle- 
ghenies and pushed on to the valley of the Ohio. An immense 
population was foretold and it was essential to have outlets for 
the products of their toil.' That great channel of trade in subse- 
quent years — the Mississippi River — was virtually closed to Ameri- 
cans, as a large part of its territory was held by a different nation, 
which at that time was not 011 very amicable terms with the new 
Tinted States. Under the authority of the State Legislature sur- 
veys were made for canals or waterways to connect the Delaware 
with the Ohio. Over the Alleghenies these waterways were to be 
connected by roadways. As steam power had not yet been applied 
to locomotives these connecting roads were to be merely turnpikes. 
Pennsylvania was the first state to begin these improvements. The 
Lancaster turnpike, extending from Philadelphia to Lancaster, was 
the first extensive turnpike to be completed in the United States. 
The United States government never embarked in public improve- 
ments to any great extent, and what was done had to be done by 
individual and state enterprise. New York State led the way by 
constructing the Erie Canal,, and Pennsylvania followed closely 
with her more extensive system of general improvements. 

The first railroads to be built here were modeled after those ol 
the English, the locomotives being of English manufacture. In 
that way the guage of four feet, eight and one-half inches was 
introduced. Different roads built different guages, and the present 
system of universal shipments was found impossible under such a 
system, so that standardization followed. One of the first railroad 
projects inaugurated in America was in Pennsylvania, when the 
State Legislature, on March 31, 1823. passed an act incorporating 
a company to construct a railroad from Philadelphia to Columbia. 
a town on the Susquehanna River in Lancaster County, a distance 
of eighty miles. The concession was granted to John Stevens, 
among whose fellow incorporators were Horace Binney and 
Stephen Girard. They failed to build. The railroads of England 
were too new and the people had too little faith in them to turn 
from their favorite canal projects. 

Pennsylvania having inaugurated a system of public improve- 
ments, it must be said to her everlasting credit that she persevered 
and consummated their construction — a vast work in that early 
day. A canal from Columbia to Philadelphia was considered im- 
practical, and the legislatures of 1827 and 1S28, believing private 
enterprise incapable of the undertaking, authorized the canal com- 
missioners to locate a route for a railroad between those points, 
to be completed within two years. By the same acts they were 
commanded to locate a road from Huntingdon to Johnstown, and 
two million dollars were appropriated to carry on the work. This 
was the actual beginning of the Columbia and the Portage Railroads, 



BUILDING OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD j.23 

works of great magnitude in their day and generation, one <>t 
which — the Portage road — by reason of the peculiarity of its con- 
struction and the greal barrier to be overcome, will ever stand as_ 
a monument to those early pioneers who were not only building a 
railroad hut were making a state and creating a nation. The fact 
thai Xew York State, in 1826, had completed the Erie Canal, and 
that it was carrying a product of almost seventy millions annually 
to the seaboard, spurred them on. That canal had taken from 
Philadelphia her commercial supremacy and considerably stimu- 
lated the growth of her rival, Xew York City. Self-preservation 
made action necessary, and two million dollars annually were ap- 
propriated for years to complete the public works. This greal 
expenditure taxed the resources of the young state to the utmost, 
and among the means of raising revenue was the extension of the 
charter of the Bank of Pennsylvania in 1830. for eighteen years, 
on condition that it loan the state four millions at five and one- 
half per cent, towards the completion of the canals and the rail- 
roads. 

While the state was pushing through the main line, individuals 
and firms were constructing railroads within its borders. Among 
these were the Plarrisburg and Portsmouth, and the Philadelphia 
and Trenton Railroads, both of which are now a part of the main 
line of the Pennsylvania system. In 1833 the canal commissioners 
were directed by the State Legislature to complete the Columbia 
Railroad with double tracks, and the Portage Railroad with a sin- 
gle track, and to complete the main line of the canal. It was 
promptly done, and in 1834 the entire line from Philadelphia to 
Pittsburgh was opened to trade and travel. As finished it con- 
sisted of the following sections: 

1. Columbia Railroad, from Philadelphia to Columbia, eighty-two miles 
in length. 

2. Eastern division of canal, from Columbia to Hollidaysburg, one hun- 
dred and seventy-two miles. 

3. Portage Railroad, from Hollidaysburg to Johnstown, thirty-six miles. 

4. Western division of canal, from Johnstown to Pittsburgh, one hun- 
dred and four miles, making a total of three hundred and ninety-four 
miles. 

Being thus broken and requiring reshipping of freight, which 
was both tedious and expensive, it never proved remunerative to 
the state, hut to the country through which it passed it was a mar- 
vel of development, and our inland counties — including Perry — 
owe to it much of their earl} - development. 

The first railroad from Philadelphia to Columbia was operated 
by horses, instead of locomotives. The "cars" were something- 
larger than the later stagecoaches, and horses were changed every 
twelve miles. About 1836 locomotives replaced the horses. The 
cars were the property of individuals and a freight toll was charged 



424 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 




for their passage. At first the cars 
were drawn by horses or mules, 
out Market Street, Philadelphia, 
across what was described as the 
"Schuylkill Permanent Bridge," at 
the west end of which the locomo- 
tives were attached. An early 
guide told of the first stop being at 
Hestonville, a distance of three 
miles. Haverford was then called 
White Hall. A stop was made at 
Paoli for refreshments. Harris- 
burg had then 9,000 people. 

The first Susquehanna bridge, 
3,670 feet in length, crossing the 
river at Rockville, was let and 
commenced in 1847. The contrac- 
tor abandoned the job and the 
masonry was relet to Helman & 
Simons, of Harrisburg, through 
whose energy, aided by Robert 
McAllister, of Juniata County, the 
bridge was completed in 1848. At 
the same place now is located the 
famous stone arch bridge, the west 
half of which was begun March 13, 
1900, by H. S. Kerbaugh, Inc., and 
the east half at the same time by 
the Drake & Stratton Company, 
contractors. The bridge is 3,830 
feet long, and 52 feet wide, accom- 
modating four tracks. It was com- 
pleted March 30, 1902, train No. 
20 being the first to cross it. 

The Portage road was a series 
of ten inclined planes, with inter- 
vening levels. The ascent from 
Johnstown to the mountain's crest 
was one hundred and seventeen 
and one-half feet in a distance of 
twenty-six and one-half miles, and 
the descent from the crest to Hol- 
lidaysburg was thirteen hundred 
and ninety-nine feet in a distance 
of ten miles. By means of wire 
cables the cars were operated over 



BUILDING OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD 425 

these planes. and during the twenty years it was in use no serious 
accident occurred. Bonis carrying through freight were later built 
in sections, which were placed upon trucks and thus transported 
over the Alleghenies. 

\ general convention was assembled at Harnsburg, March o, 
18*8*0 urge the building of a continuous railroad across the state 
A southern route, via Bedford and Somerset, was considered and 
pronounced practicable, with the exception of about fifty miles 
over the Alleghenies between Bedford and Franklin Counties 
where it was suggested that the turnpike be resorted to. A second 
route was the one up the Susquehanna to Northumberland, thence 
via the headwaters of Bald Eagle Creek to the headwaters 
west of the mountains. It was deemed a feasible route, but 
too circuitous. The third or middle route suggested was the 
one that is practically the route of the Pennsylvania Railroad 
of to-day. It was via the Juniata and the Conemaugh Rivers, 
crossing the Alleghenies by a series of curves, among which is 
the famous horseshoe curve. Great as was the need it was not 
until 1846 that the project assumed tangible shape. On April 
13th of that year, the act to incorporate the Pennsylvania Rail- 
road Company passed the Pennsylvania Legislature. Its capital 
was made seven and one-half millions, with the privilege of in- 
creasing to ten millions. This act also provided that in case the 
company should have three millions actually subscribed and one 
million actually paid into the treasury, and fifteen miles under con- 
struction at each end of the line prior to July 30, 1847, the law- 
granting the right of way to the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad from 
Cumberland, Maryland, to Pittsburgh, should be null and void. 
These conditions were complied with, and Governor Shunk granted 
a charter to the company, and on August 2d issued a proclamation 
declaring the privileges which had been granted to the Baltimore 
& Ohio Railroad Company abrogated. 

That piece of legislation is of peculiar importance to Perry 
Countians, for it was a native of Perry County who proposed it. 
William Bigler, then speaker of the Senate, who later became gov- 
ernor, was the man. He represented Armstrong, Indiana, Cam- 
bria and Clearfield Counties— a district that was divided upon this 
question— yet manfully made a plea for the road through the cen- 
tral part of the state. He ardently supported the friends of the 
I Ynnsylvania Railroad in procuring the charter, and in passing the 
act which gave municipal and other corporations the power to sub- 
scribe to its capital stock, without which it could not have been 
built and which was fiercely opposed in the legislature. (See chap- 
ter in this book devoted to Governor Bigler.) For a time this 
action met -with much opposition in Allegheny County and the 
southwestern counties of the state, but when they saw the resource- 



426 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

t illness of ils projectors and the energetic manner in which con- 
struction was pursued their antagonism was changed to friendship, 
and to-day Allegheny County and Pittsburgh are zealous of its 
very reputation, for there is located its greatest junction, and rail- 
road and city interests are interwoven to a remarkable degree. 

On June 22, 1846, books were opened throughout the state for 
the sale of the stock of the company. Public meetings were held, 
a house-to-house canvass was made in Philadelphia, and the news- 
papers were untiring in endorsing the project. The grading of the 
first twenty miles of the road west of Harrisburg was let on May 
[6, T847. (According to President Rea the date would he July 
10th.) Over half of this stretch was within the limits of Perry 
County. The railroad was then called the Pennsylvania Cen- 
tral Railroad. During that summer a city daily contained the 
following: "The great central railroad — that imperishable chain. 
destined to more closely unite the interests of the East and the 
West of this continent — is rapidly progressing along the banks of 
the Juniata. Day by day the engineers and workmen may be seen 
surveying, arranging, digging and blasting away, by which the 
highest, most rugged and rocky bluffs bordering the river crumble 
and are subdued, forming the foundation for this life-artery of 
Pennsylvania." On November 26th of the same year, forty addi- 
tional miles were let, carrying the part under contract to the east- 
ern end of Lewistown. About the same time the company let a 
contract for fifteen thousand tons of rails, with the stipulation that 
they were to be manufactured in Pennsylvania. The City of Phila- 
delphia subscribed two and a half millions that year, and Allegheny 
County followed the next year with a subscription of a million. 

On September 1, 1849, tne m ' st section, from. Harrisburg to 
Lewistown, a distance of sixty-one miles, was opened for travel. 
During 184), what was virtually a "fleet" of canal boats, were en- 
gaged in hauling to Hollidaysburg the rails with which to lav the 
tracks west of the mountains. On December 10, 1852, the line had 
been completed and the first through train run from Philadelphia 
to Pittsburgh, using the Portage road as part of the route. On 
February 15, 1854. the new line had been completed entirely, and 
the first through train was run oxer it, not using the Portage route. 
The public works had cost the state a fortune and were unprofita- 
ble. A demand for their sale grew, and accordingly on April 2-] \ 
[854, the legislature passed a bill providing for the sale of the 
main line. No buyer could be found under its provisions. An 
act of [855 also proved ineffectual, but an act of May 16, 1857, 
finally consummated the sale. The price was $7,500,000. In 1864 
die company turned its attention to the introduction of steel rails 
and stimulated their manufacture in America. 



BUILDING OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD 427 

When the Pennsylvania Railroad was organized, eight directors 
were elected by the stockholders, of whom J. Edgar Thompson 
was one. and one by the City of Philadelphia. Allegheny County 
elected two directors, and one of them was Thomas Scott, so that 
the new board contained two of the greatest railroad men yet pro- 
duced in America. The hoard then elected an additional director. 
Mr. Thompson was made president. The State of Pennsylvania 
then owned the hue to Dillerville (west of Lancaster), sfxty-nine 
miles in length. There the tracks were joined to the Harrisburg, 
Portsmouth (Middletown), Mt. Joy and Lancaster Railroad, 
thirty-six miles in length. At Harrisburg the 248 miles of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad started. 

According to the diary n\ the late Jacob Young, the first Penn- 
sylvania locomotive steamed into Duncannon on July 16, 1849. 
Xo further notation is made. About that time John 1). Crilly, 
who had published the Perry Comity Standard and kept a hotel at 
New Bloomfield, purchased a hotel at Newport and operated a 
stage line. His son, D. F. Crilly, now a retired and wealthy real 
estate operator and builder of Chicago, aged eighty-two, then a 
boy of eleven years, thus describes the entry of the first 'rain into 
Newport: 

"At this time the Pennsylvania Railroad was being built through 
Newport, which was the main line to the West. The scholars of 
the school there were given a recess to see the first train pass 
through the town, which was quite an event. The crew of the 
train allowed the townspeople to climb aboard to take their first 
railroad ride. On the return trip those so honored were obliged to 
jump from the train, as it did not stop in passing through the vil- 
lage. No one was hurt, however, in detraining." 

An early description of the road about Duncannon is interesting: 

"Passing the point of the rocks by a sharp curve to the west the traveler 
soon crosses the beautiful Sherman's Creek and his ears are saluted with 
the heavy reverberations of the forge, the roar of the waterfall and the 
busy noises of the rolling mills. The evidences of industry and thrift are 
conspicuous in this locality, and the enterprise of William Logan Fisher 
has erected there a monument durable as brass. Pig, bar, rolled and ham- 
mered iron, nails and spikes, are products of these works. Anthracite coal 
is brought by canal from the Shamokin region, and various localities, some 
of which are very distant, are laid under contribution for the best varieties 
of ores. 

"Dealers in lumber from the principal cities and from the various towns 
on the river below Harrisburg resort to the island to make their purchases 
and secure pick of the market. 

"Passing along a rocky sidehill for a distance of nearly two miles the 
train usually stops at Aqueduct. Here passengers for the Susquehanna 
region are transferred to the packet boat, which, after receiving its cargo 
of human freight, crosses the Acqueduct and is towed by horses to YVil- 
liamsport, on the west branch of the Susquehanna. 



428 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

"Leaving our friends in the packet to the enjoyment of their bilge water 
and mosquitoes and to all the comforts of narrow berths, crying babies, and 
the chances of suffocation, enjoyments which a shower of rain is sure to 
greatly enhance, we will bid adieu to the blue hills of the Susquehanna and 
its broad, shining waters and wend our way to the sources of the gently 
flowing Juniata, where they gush forth in copious streams from the broad 
bosom of the Alleghenies." 

When the turnpikes were built, often termed the national roads, 
they had tortuous grades reaching two hundred feet to the mile, 
on which the commerce of the nation was to be tediously and 
laboriously transported at an average of fifty miles in each twenty- 
four hours. For years those roads served, and then came the 
canal, a considerable improvement. Charles Dickens, the noted 
English author who used it, left evidence that it was a "vast im- 
provement in comfort over the dusty, lumbering stagecoach." 
Then came the railroad and, although slow and somewhat tedious 
at first, its projectors were real benefactors. Its successful com- 
pletion in the face of natural barriers and to the astonishment of 
the world, worked a revolution in commerce, and to its builders 
the American people should ever be grateful. 

Prior to the days of the railroads the stagecoach was the popular 
mode of travel, and various lines were operated from different 
points. John D. Crilly, who kept a hotel at New Bloomfield and 
also published the Perry County Standard, operated a line of 
stagecoaches from New Bloomfield, but later sold his hotel and 
paper there and opened a hotel in Newport, operating his line of 
stages from there. The advent of the railroad made the business 
unprofitable. 

As a member of the House of Representatives, the late A. K. 
McClure, another native Perry Countian, figured in the sale of the 
public works, by proposing the abolishment of the canal board, a 
body that had attained an unsavory reputation. In his "Old-Time 
Notes of Pennsylvania," he says: 

"The Pennsylvania Railroad Company took possession of the main line 
on the ist of August, 1857, and in his annual message Governor Pollock 
congratulated the people of the state upon the consummation of the sale. 
He said : 'The many approve ; the few complain, those most who have 
gained an unenviable reputation by reckless disregard of the public inter- 
ests as exhibited in the extravagant, useless and fraudulent expenditure 
of the public money for selfish or partisan purposes.' The sale embraced 
only the main line, including the canals and railroads owned by the state 
between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, but one year later the legislature of 
1858 sold all the remaining state canals to the Philadelphia & Erie Rail- 
road, and I felt a great pride in being able, as a member of the house, to 
propose and help pass unanimously an act of five lines abolishing the canal 
board that had been a fountain of debauchery and profligacy for many 
years. Governor Pollock exerted a powerful if not a controlling influence 
in accomplishing the sale of the main line, that became the first development 
of the progressive policy that has made the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- 
pany the greatest railway system in the world." 



BUILDING OF PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD 



429 



In 1838 there was published in London a book entitled "A Sketch 
of the Civil Engineering of North America," by David Steven- 
son, civil engineer, a son of the distinguished engineer of the fa- 
mous Bell Rock Lighthouse. Speaking of the Portage Railroad, 
he says that America "now numbers among its many wonderful 
artificial lines of communication, a mountain railway, which in 
boldness of design, and difficulty of execution. I can compare to 
no modern work I have ever seen, excepting perhaps the passes 
of the Simplon and Mont Cenis, in Sardinia; but even these re- 
markable passes, viewed as engineering works, did not strike me 
as being more wonderful than the Allegheny Railroad in the 
United States." 

Probably the oldest Middle Division employee still living in 
Perry County is Lewis Messersmith, aged eighty-four, of Howe 
Township, who entered freight service in 1851, from Mifflin to 




PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD ALONG TIIK JUNIATA. 
Showing the Four Tracks and the Signal System. 



Columbia, then from Harrisburg to Altoona. He also ran one 
year on the Northern Central, one year on the road from Lewis- 
town to Sunbury, and two years on the Huntingdon-Bedford line, 
returning again to the main line. During the War between the 
States, at the time of the Battle of Antietam, upon Governor Cur- 
tin's orders, an ammunition train was sent from Harrisburg to 
Hagerstown — near the scene of the battle, and Mr. Messersmith 
was the conductor selected to man that important train. The time 
allowed to make the run was one hour and forty-five minutes, and 
the distance seventy-four miles. The train was in Hagerstown on 
the minute, a mighty good run for that period. Governor Curtin 
gave the engineer, John Keesbury, fifty dollars for getting through 
on time. Strangely enough, at Hagerstown, Mr. Messersmith, the 
conductor, turned over the ammunition to another Perry Countian, 
Capt. Crist, of Newport, in charge of the wagon train. 



43 o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

While the railroad traffic was very slow at first, yet as early as 
[854, on July 6th, a new train was put on which was scheduled to 
make the trip from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh in thirteen hours — 
fast time, indeed, for the equipment then in use. The mail trains 
of the summer schedule of 1853 were designated as follows: Fast 
line at Newport — west at 5:19, east at 11:38; Slow Line at 
Newport — west at 2:01, east at 1:35. The "slow line" was the 
lneal train. 

The railroad at first was a single track, with two passenger trains 
each way daily. The freight trains ran three times a week each way. 
All trains were drawn by very small engines in comparison with 
those now in use, but their huge funnel-shaped smokestacks were 
many times the size of. those of to-day. Mixed trains (freight and 
passenger) were run over the main line as late as 1877, and are 
remembered by the older people of this generation. Market cars, 
owned by individuals, were run. E. B. Fleck, of Newport, and' 
B. F. Alexander, of Duncannon, were the owners of two of them. 

To-day no railroad is more carefully managed than the Penn- 
sylvania System, and over its tracks daily pass hundreds of trains, 
instead of two or three each way. as in that early period. Its 
interlocking electric signal system, its trackwalkers and its corps 
of men trained in their especial lines so guard traffic that there 
have been whole years in which the life of a single passenger was 
not lost — a most remarkable occurrence. Its operations represent 
approximately one-eighth of all the railroad operations of the 
United States. Its lines penetrate Delaware, the District of Co- 
lumbia, Illinois. Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Mis- 
souri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and 
West Virginia. In this territory live over 50,000,000 people, or 
over half the population of the United States. 

Charles E. Pugh, who later rose to fame in railroad circles, was 
for a number of years the P. R. 1\. ticket agent at Newport. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 
PROJECTED AND OTHER RAILROADS. 

SI K )L'I.I ) all the railroads have been built which were projected 
through the county, it would certainly have had the mosl 

ample facilities along that line of any county in the state. 
The first attempt to build a local road was made when, on May 5. 
1854, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed an act incorporating the 
Duncannon, Landisburg & Broad Top Railroad Company, with a 
capital of $Soo,ooo, and authorizing the construction of a railroad 
from a point at or near Duncannon, Terry County, to a point on 
Broad Top Mountain, in Bedford County, passing through Sher- 
man's Valley via Shermansdale, Landisburg and Bixler's Mills, and 
through East Waterford, Juniata County. The act incorporating 
this line was signed by Governor William Bigler, himself a native 
Perry Countian, and the incorporators were Charles \Y. Fisher, 
John Souder, Abraham L. Bowman, David Mickey, Jacob Billow, 
Henry H. Etter, Christian Thudium, Dr. James Galbraith, Gen. 
Henry Fetter, David Kochenderfer, Jacob Bixler, George llench. 
W'm. B. Anderson, Samuel Milligan, Arnold H. Fahs, George 
[ohnsfon, Wm. Kirk, Col. Geo. Noss, Alexander Blair, of Perry, 
(ivniata and adjoining counties. A year later. May 5, 1855, the 
name was changed by an act of the legislature, to the Sherman's 
Valley & Broad Top Railroad, and the eastern terminus changed 
from Duncannon to "at or near the mouth of Fishing Creek" (now 
Marysville). Its route was also changed so as to touch Burnt 
Cabins, in Fulton County. Then, on May 12, 1857, another act 
authorized the management "to extend the road by the most prac- 
tical route to connect with the Connellsville & Portage Railroad and 
the Allegheny-Portage Railroad. Two years later, March 31, 
1859, another act authorized the name of the line to be changed 
from the Sherman's Valley & Broad Top Railroad to the Penn- 
sylvania-Pacific Railroad Company, with the power to extend the 
line westward to Maryland and Virginia (now West Virginia). 
On April I, 1863, another act repealed all acts in so far as the 
change of name was concerned and named it the South Pacific 
Railroad Company. It was not begun within the time specified 
by the 'act, and on February 18, 1868, the time was extended for 
five years, dating from March 31, 1869. The road never was built, 
but grading was begun in 1S57 at a. point on the south side of 
Sherman's Creek, near Shermansdale, and extensive tills were 
made. The part graded was almost two miles in length. 

43i 



432 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

In the meantime, on April 17, 1866, the Duncannon, Bloomfield 
& Broad Top Railroad Company was incorporated, with a capital 
of $1,000,000, and with power to construct a railroad from a point 
at or near Duncannon, Perry County, to a point at Broad Top 
Mountain, in Bedford County, via New Bloomfield, and with the 
authority to connect with any railroad at either end. On February 
27, 1868, the amount of the capital was reduced to $750,000, and 
the route changed so as to pass through Loysville. The incorpo- 
rators interested in the building of this line and in the selling of 
its capital stock were Benjamin F. Junkin, Joseph R. Shuler, Wil- 
liam A. Sponsler, Griffith Jones, John Wister, and Henry D. Egolf . 
The bill empowered them to increase their number to twenty-five. 
At the end of forty-eight hours $24,000 was subscribed at Dun- 
cannon and New Bloomfield, and $2,000 at Loysville. Notwith- 
standing this auspicious start — for so it would have been consid- 
ered in those days — the road never was built. 

On March 7, 1872, the Sherman's Valley Railroad Company 
was chartered with Henry Foulk, Henry Brown, B. F. Hall, 
Abram Bower, James Galbraith, John Stambaugh, D. B. Milliken, 
W. W. McClure, A. M. Egolf, Samuel Spotts, Samuel Shoemaker, 
A. Farnham, George Hench. John Bixler, John Martin, George 
M. Loy, George Johnston, E. A. McLaughlin, and Jacob Espy, 
any five of them being authorized to start a railroad line at or near 
Marysville, via Shermansdale and Landisburg, to or near Loys- 
ville. There was an authorized capital of two thousand shares at 
$50 each. Like its predecessors, this road was never built, but its 
later projection seems strange indeed. A line had been projected in 
Adams County, March n, 1872, known as the Bendersville Rail- 
road Company, and on October 9, 1873, the Bendersville Extension 
Railroad Company was incorporated, "with authority to construct, 
equip, operate and maintain a railroad from a point on the Ben- 
dersville Railroad, near Bendersville, Adams County, to a point 
on the Sherman's Valley Railroad, near Landisburg, Perry County, 
a distance of about sixty miles. Just how the line was to cross the 
Kittatinny Mountain the reader must be left to conjecture. Never- 
theless, on November 17, 1873, tne three lines merged, in con- 
formity with the act of April 26, 1870, under the name of the 
People's Freight Railway Company. The stockholders of the 
Adams County lines were to receive a share of common stock for 
each share of their holdings, and the Sherman's Valley stockholders 
were to receive one-tenth of a share of preferred stock for each 
of their shares. The capital was to have been 2,000,000 shares of 
the par value of $50. The directors were mostly from around 
Philadelphia, Joseph Bailey, of Baileysburg, having been the only 
Perry Countian. The Sherman's Valley stockholders met at Sher- 
man's Hotel, Landisburg, November 17, 1873, and unanimously 



PROJECTED AND OTHER RAILROADS 433 

agreed to the merger, as signed by Abraham Bower, president, and 
Benj. F. Hall, secretary, After a lapse of almost ten years this 
road was again resurrected, and at a meeting held January 26, 
1882, to elect officers, the name was changed from the People's 
Freight Railway Company to the Pennsylvania Midland Railway 
Company, and the capital stock was made $200,000, with 10,000 
shares at $50 each. The officers then elected were: President, H. 
H. Bechtel; directors, O. H. P. Rider and John M. Smith, New- 
port ; George F. Ensminger and J. L. Markel, New Bloomfield ; 
W. F. Sadler and I. H. Graham, Carlisle. February 14th follow- 
ing, Mr. Ensminger was made president, and Mr. Bechtel took his 
place as director, having resigned the presidency. This is the last 
public record of this line, which, like some of the others, was built 
only on paper. 

Building of the Perry County Railroad. 

The Duncannon, Bloomfield & Loysville Railroad Company was 
chartered on April 3, 1872, with authority to build a line from 
Duncannon, via New Bloomfield, to Loysville, but like its prede- 
cessors, it resulted in nothing tangible. Its capital stock was 
$100,000, being two thousand shares of stock, the par value of 
which was $50. It had been surveyed, however. The original 
incorporators of this line were George Hench, Jacob Bixler, 
Samuel Gutshall, W. W. McClure, James McNeal, John A. Magee, 
John A. Baker, B. F. Junkin, John R. Shuler, John H. Sheibley, 
John Jones, Win. R. Swartz, O. B. Ellis, John McAlister. Jr., and 
James Swartz. Over a decade later, on February 3, 1887, the 
Perry County Railroad Company secured its charter. In 1889, 
the road was begun and built as far as New Bloomfield. Maginnis 
& White were to grade the 11.1 miles for $32,199, but failed. 
Peter McGovern, of Tyrone, finished the contract. During the 
next two years it was extended to Loysville and Landisburg, as 
the newly built Newport & Sherman's Valley Railroad was divert- 
ing all traffic that way. The first locomotive ran into New Bloom- 
field, September 12, 1889, although the official opening was in 
October. After operating the Perry County Railroad for many 
years it met financial reverses, and it was sold to David Gring, 
who changed the name to the Susquehanna River & Western Rail- 
road. It passed to Rodney Gring at his father's death, and in 1921, 
when the Newport & Sherman's Valley Railroad was sold on fore- 
closure proceedings, that road was purchased by interests con- 
nected with the Susquehanna River & Western, and the part lying 
to the west of Bloomfield consolidated with that line. As the 
Newport & Sherman's Valley was a narrow gauge line, the part 
taken over is to be standardized. When the Perry County Rail- 
road was in existence Charles H. Smiley was long the president, 
28 



434 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

and S. H. Beck was its superintendent until he was killed, April 
29, 1899. 

The capital of the Perry County Railroad was $100,000, with 
2,000 shares at $50. The incorporators were Frank Mortimer, 
president ; B. F. junkin, Chas. A. Barnett, John A. Magee, John 
IT. Sheibley, Silas W. Conn. John Adams, M. B. Strickler, James 
W. Shull, R. S. Minick, Wm. Grier, A. R. Johnston and E. R. 
Sponsler. The extension to Loysville was built by the Perry 
County Railroad Extension Company, incorporated May 27, 1891, 
its incorporators being Chas. H. Smiley, president, he having been 
made president of the Perry County Railroad in the meantime ; 
John H. Sheibley, Reuben S. Minick. B. F. Junkin, D. B. Milliken, 
Abraham Bower, George Patterson. II. C. Shearer, Samuel Ebert, 
L. C. Zimmerman, R. H. Moffitt (Harrisburg), and Wm. Miller 
I York). The extension was merged with the main line June 2, 
[892. The sale to David Gring was on September 14, 1903. the 
name being then changed to Susquehanna River & Western, with 
Martin Mumma, J. D. Landes, B. M. Eby, James M. Barnett, Ed- 
ward R. Sponsler and W. H. Sponsler as directors. 

Building of the NEwroRT & Sherman's Valley Railroad. 

As early as April 10. 1873. the Pennsylvania Legislature granted 
a charter to build a narrow gauge road from Newport westward 
through the Sherman's Valley. The capital was only $25,000, in 
$25 shares, with privilege of increasing to five thousand shares. 
but the company was authorized to issue and sell bonds so that the 
mad could be constructed. Its projectors were from Newport. 
New Bloomfield and the entire Sherman's Valley. The original 
incorporators were James Everhart. Joseph W. Frank, B. F. Mil- 
ler, Wm. Bosserman, J. B. Leiby, Thos. Milligan, Wm. S. Mitchell, 
Nicholas Miller, David Mitchell, Josiah Fickes, Amos Clemson, 
Henry Troup, C. J. T. Mclntire, J. A. Magee, C. A. Barnett, W. 

A. Sponsler, Isaac Wright, A. J. Fickes, J. W. S. Kough, Thos. 
Milliken, H. H. Bechtel, Frank Eagle, P. Bosserman, C. Roth, 
Robert Neilson, John Minich, H. P. Lightner, Benj. Ritter, An- 
drew Loy, Samuel Shoemaker, George Hench, Jacob Bixler, Mar- 
tin Motzer, Israel Lupfer, J. F. McNeal, Samuel Gutshall, Jacob 
Kreamer, J. R. Dunbar, Wm. Stambaugh, Wm. S. Mitchell, James 

B. Leiby, Jesse L. Gantt, Wilson Darlington, Isaac Hollenbaugh, 
John A. Fisher, George Stroup, Jacob Shively, Wm. H. Minich, 
|ulm W. Gantt, James G. Ferguson, David Clark, Solomon Gray, 
Wm. Woods, John Bixler, George L. Ickes, Blain Grosh, George 
Hench (of Blain), Thomas Campbell, and Henry Cooper. Any 
route selected was permitted, and a three-year limit placed on the 
time to begin construction. The matter again dropped until, in 
1890, the Newport & Sherman's V alley Company was chartered 



PROJECTED AND OTHER RAILROADS 435 

and the construction started on its line from Newport, via Loys- 
ville, to New Germantown, 29.1 miles west ward. David Gring, 
interested in its construction, had owned and operated the Dia- 
mond Valley narrow gauge road, and much of that road's material 
was used in the construction of the Sherman's Valley line. The 
first train ran into Loysville, February 16, 1891. An extension, 
to be known as the Path Valley Railroad, was begun in 1893, bill 
after working upon its grading for a year it was abandoned. The 
Newport & Sherman's Valley Railroad operated until 1921, when 
it was sold at foreclosure, and purchased by George H. Ross and 
Rodney Gring, as trustees for the Susquehanna Coal Company, 
which is a subsidiary of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. The 
part from Newport to Bloomfield Junction was then abandoned 
and the remainder became a part of the Susquehanna River & 
Western, and will be standardized. The directors of the company 
are Rodney Gring, George H. Ross, Charles H. Bergner, James 
W. Shull, James M. Barnett, William H. Sponsler, E. R. Sponsler, 
L. M. Wentzell, and P. F. Duncan. 

The Newport & Sherman's Valley Railroad Company was char- 
tered July 30, 1890, with David Gring as president, and H. H. 
Bechtel, W. H. Gantt, A. V. Caldwell, R. W. Cline ( Harrisburg), 
W. A. Denehey (Harrisburg), W. A. P. Johnston (Harrisburg), 
and B. M. Eby, as directors. The capital was $180,000, with 3,600 
shares at $50. Of the whole number David Gring had 1,500 
shares. Others named on the charter were J. H. Irwin, C. W. 
Smith, Philip Bosserman, John Fleisher, Plorace Beard, Geo. 
Fleisher, D. H. Spotts, Marx Dukes, A. B. Demaree, T. H. Milli- 
gan. J. S. Butz, Sr., J. S. Butz, Jr., T. H. Butturf, Frank A. Fry, 
W. H. Minich, and S. H. Gring. The date of the charter of the 
Path Valley extension was ( October 24, 1893. 

The building of the two roads, the Perry County Railroad and 
the Newport & Sherman's Valley line, was really the result of an 
effort made by Newport in the "latter eighties" to have that town 
made the county seat. The late J. R. Flickinger was then the mem- 
ber from Perry County in the General Assembly, and gave New 
Bloomfield "a tip" that unless they could secure a railroad the 
change would be hard to avert. The county seat, spurred on by 
what appeared to them as their death blow, begun an effort for a 
railroad. In a single day E. R. Sponsler and James W. Shull, 
then young attorneys, secured subscriptions for $27,000 of stock- 
in New Bloomfield alone. With the building of the Perry County 
Railroad, Newport, then as now the leading business town in the 
county, had visions of its trade being diverted, and then was born 
the rival railroad — the Newport & Sherman's Valley. 

The Sherman's Valley, much of which is rich and productive 
in soil, was without railroad communication for a long time, but 



436 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

eventually got these two lines, which have now, however, been 
combined into one. That two railroads should have been built 
traversing the western part of Perry County was a monstrous mis- 
take. As to which one should have been built there will always be 
a division of opinion, depending upon the section in which persons 
reside, on what interests they have, and all the attending and inter- 
locking conditions to which humans are heir. The writer bears no 
brief for either section, knows the people of both sections, having 
lived among both, and knows that barring personal interests, all 
are a broad-minded people. 

Following the building of the Pennsylvania Railroad there was 
an effort made to build a railroad from Millersburg, Dauphin. 
County, to connect with the Pennsylvania Railroad at Bailey's 
Station, on the Pennsylvania line below Newport. An act of the 
Pennsylvania Legislature dated April 12, 1851, incorporated a 
company composed of George Blattenberger, Joshua Hartshorn, 
Benjamin Parke, Henry Buehler, Jacob M. Haldeman, Robert J. 
Ross, James McCormick, John Patterson, John Reifsnyder, Sr., 
Job R. Tyson, J. Edgar Thompson, and Robert Faries, who were 
authorized to open books, receive subscriptions and organize the 
Millersburg & Baileysburg Railroad Company. There were to 
have been six thousand shares, the par value to be $50. The road 
was never built. 

Many years ago a survey was made through the Raccoon Val- 
ley, from Millerstown, passing through the townships of Tusca- 
rora, Saville, and Northeast Madison, touching the villages of 
Ickesburg and Saville, and passing north of the Conococheague 
Mountain through Liberty Valley, to Honey Grove, Juniata 
County. Nothing resulted. 

At an early date in the Pennsylvania Railroad's history the ad- 
visability of a direct line west was apparent. A civil engineer, a 
Dane named Hagey. in its employ, ran a line in 1847, which was 
almost identical with the present line of the Susquehanna River 
& Western from Duncannon to New Bloomfield. Too many ridges 
of the Shade Mountains were in the path of the proposed route. 
During October, 1869, another civil engineer, a Mr. Barrett, sur- 
veyed a route passing New Bloomfield to the East Broad Top coal 
fields. In 1879 H. L. Preisler, a civil engineer and a native of 
Landisburg, ran a line from New Bloomfield to Losh's Run, at 
the expense of a number of New Bloomfield attorneys, but the re- 
sources were not available for its building. In 1880 a line was 
surveyed from New Bloomfield to Newport, but the grade was 
found too heavy and the expense too great for the estimated in- 
come. 

On May 20, 1903, a charter was granted for a railroad from 
Selinsgrove Junction. Northumberland County, crossing the Sus- 



PROJECTED AND OTHER RAILROADS 437 

quehanna River to the west bank, thence south through Snyder, 
Juniata and Perry Counties, via the route of the old Pennsylvania 
Canal, crossing the Juniata River, to a point on the Pennsylva- 
nia Railroad, near Aqueduct Station, thence through to the Enola 
yards. The capital stock was $350,000, and officials of the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad were the incorporators. It was known as the 
Southern Central Railway. 

An electric line was once projected to operate an electric street 
railway from Marysville to Duncannon, and through the latter 
town. The Perry County Electric Railway was chartered July 23, 
1902, with E. J. Stackpole, president, and Herman P. Miller, W. 
Harry Baker, Edward E. Jauss and Win. P. Miller on the board. 
The capital was $50,000, with 1,000 shares at $50. All were Har- 
risburg residents. No effort was made to construct the line. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL MOVEMENT IN PERRY. . 

Wl IILE the Sunday school movement from the broad stand- 
point dates back to Robert Raikes and 1780, yet the history 
of the start of local schools in individual communities is 
largely lost, as few permanent records were kept; but that they 
came, that they multiplied to almost countless numbers, that they 
girdle the earth, and that they are one of the greatest benefactions 
to civilization, is no question. Their mission is to study the Bible, 
which, even apart from its divine inspiration, should be more uni- 
versally read and studied, for it is the greatest summary of human 
wisdom and a model of classic English. Almost all of us read it 
too little. 

In Pennsylvania there is record of an early Sunday school in 
connection with a church at Pittsburgh, in 1815. In 1819, Rev. John 
George Lochmann, D.D., pastor of Zion Lutheran Church, Harris- 
burg, organized the first one in the State Capitol for the teaching 
of Scripture. By referring to the history of the Duncannon Pres- 
byterian Church, elsewhere in this book, it will be seen that the 
Sunday school connected with that church (organized in 1816), 
then known as "the church at the mouth of the Juniata," was the 
first one to be formed within the limits of what is now Perry 
County, and the only one to be organized while the territory was 
yet a part of Cumberland. The organization of this school is 
accredited to Mrs. Campbell and her sister, Miss Harriet Miller, 
of Carlisle, and the former's daughters, Sallie and Julianna. The 
ladies evidently remained in the community for a time, as Mrs. 
Campbell is quoted as being the first superintendent opening the 
school with prayer, save on occasions when Isaac Kirkpatrick, the 
first elder of that church, was present. The first teachers were 
Mrs. Campbell; her sister, Miss Harriet Miller; her daughters, 
Misses Sallie and Julianna Campbell, Mrs. Matilda Duncan, Miss 
Hannah Duncan, Miss Elizabeth Hackett, and Miss Isabella Wil- 
son. The attendance was about forty. It is well to remember that 
to women does Perry County owe its initiatory Sunday school 
work, and, to a great extent, the successful carrying on of its 
many Sunday schools during the past century. 

Unless tradition and records exist which it has been impossible 
to uncover, this was the first Sunday school in the county's terri- 
tory. According to records compiled, there was one organized in 
Landisburg in 182 1. The Perry Forester of September 27, 1821, 

438 



SUNDAY SCHOOL MOVEMENT IN PERRY 439 

contains a half-page of "Regulations for the government of the 
Landisburg Sunday school," which shows that it had been but re- 
cently organized then, instead of in 1822, as frequently stated. It 
collected fines for absences, as follows: From the superintendent, 
six cents; from directors, six cents each, and from teachers, three 
cents each. Either in 1823 or 1824 one was organized at the Mid- 
dle Ridge Presbyterian Church, and continued for several years. 
Ralph Smiley was its first superintendent. He was a bachelor and 
the owner of Fravel's mill, south of Witherow's, near New Bloom- 
field, and lies buried in the old graveyard on High Street, New 
Bloomfield. In the year 1824 one was organized in Buck's Valley, 
Buffalo Township, in the log schoolhouse, on the Richard Baird 
place (at the forks of the road near the Richard Callin home). 
This old school building is yet remembered by Mrs. Mary (Buck) 
Kumler, who attended school there in later years. In 1825 there 
was one in the Linn schoolhouse, near Ickesburg. In 1828 one 
was organized at Loysville. In 1830 there were ten organized 
schools within the county. The number grew slowly but surely, 
at first, with the result that a County Bible Society was organized 
in 1846, at Landisburg, and existed for a number of years (at 
least, until 1855), being the forerunner of the Perry County Sab- 
bath School Association, which is conducted practically along the 
same lines, but likely with more energy. The Sunday schools con- 
tributed to its support and sent delegates. On August 24, 187 1, 
at Loysville, the Perry County Sabbath School Association was 
organized, largely through the efforts of Rev. S. E. Herring, then 
pastor of the Reformed Church at Blain. The State Sabbath 
School Convention had been held at Harrisburg, June 14 to 16, 
1871, and twenty persons from Perry County attended, which 
probably presaged the formation of the county organization two 
months later. The meeting at Loysville was in response to a public 
call and was followed by a second meeting the same year, at New 
Bloomfield, on November 14th and 15th. At the first convention 
eighteen schools were all that were represented, with an attendance 
of forty persons, although there were then many more schools in 
existence. A constitution was adopted, however. The most im- 
portant subject up for discussion was, "Should Sunday schools be 
open all the year?" It was unanimously decided that they should, 
wherever possible. The officers of the first convention were : S. E. 
Herring, of Blain, president; Rev. Sell and J. L. Diven, Lan- 
disburg, secretaries ; J. B. Habecker, of Newport, treasurer. The 
constitution adopted provided for five vice-presidents and entrusted 
the direction of the work to an executive committee, consisting of 
three ministers and two laymen. 

At the second annual convention, in the Union Church, in New- 
port, May 14, and 15, 1872, fifty schools were represented by 



440 HISTORY ol ; TERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

eighty-one delegates. At the third convention, in New Bloomfield, 
in 1873, the late Judge B. F. Junkin was elected president, the first 
layman to fill the position. The forty-eight schools then repre- 
sented at the convention had 3,264 scholars and 578 teachers. 
Results were increasing and in 1876, when the convention met at 
Ickesburg, seventy-two schools reported 4,873 scholars and 874 
officers and teachers. Thirty-four schools at that time already 
were open throughout the year, and the rest for periods varying 
from as low as three to nine months. The 1883 convention at 
Millerstown had an innovation, when the Centennial Band held a 
concert in the public square in the evening for the benefit of the 
delegates. A children's mass meeting was also held after the school 
hour. The county yet had toll bridges, and passage over the 
Juniata River bridge at that point was given free to delegates from 
entire western Perry. There were then 115 schools in the county, 
seventy-two being represented by delegates and reports. The 
organization of the first Home Department was not reported until 
the convention of 1900. 

Rev. Homer G. McMillen, a scion of the noted McMillen family 
of Madison Township, was a field worker for the State Sunday 
School Association during the summers of 1904, 1905, and 1906, 
being assigned to cover his home county of Perry. He organized 
the county into ten districts and was the pioneer in modern Sun- 
day school work, organizing cradle rolls, home departments, teach- 
ers' training classes, etc., through district institutes, which were 
held in every district during three consecutive summers and have 
been continued since. During the first summer he traveled 1,539 
miles, held nine district institutes, and visited thirty-two Sunday 
schools. During the succeeding two years his work was approxi- 
mately the same. This gave to the work its greatest impetus. 

With his coming to Penn Township, Perry County, to reside, 
Arthur K. Lefevre, of Harrisburg, "yet in his twenties," became 
associated with the work of the Sunday schools and in 19 10, at the 
Marysville convention, he was made president of the County As- 
sociation. Largely up to that time the presidency of the County 
Association was passed out as a sort of honor, and very few of the 
many fine and honorable men who occupied it did much work, 
outside of their own Sunday schools, in an organizing way, be- 
tween conventions. With Arthur Lefevre it was different. He 
was what modern parlance terms "a live wire," and during the 
two years in which he was president of the County Association he 
was continually on the job, holding conferences, visiting the 
schools, using publicity in the county press to keep the work be- 
fore the public, and putting new life into every department of the 
work. He set the pace, and to him is largely due the aggressive 
spirit and work now being so ably conducted under the leadership 



SUNDAY SCHOOL MOVEMENT IN PERRY 



441 



of David S. Fry, of Newport, who has been president of the 
County Association since [915, save for one year. 

Following is a list of the county presidents, secretaries, and the 
dates and places where the county conventions have been held : 



Vr. 



Pi esid< nt . 



Secretary 



Place and Date. 



1S71 

1872 

t873 

1874 
t87S 

1876 
1877 
[878 

1S70 



1 ss_ 

1883 
1884 

188; 

1 886 

1887 
1888 
1889 
1890 
1 89 1 
1892 

.8.,., 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1899 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
191 I 
1912 
1913 
I 9 14 
nil 5 
1916 
1917 
1918 
1919 
[920 
1921 



Rev. S. K. Herring 
Rev.' IL cVCheston' 



Rev. James Crawford . . 
Hon. B. F. Junkin .... 
Rev. Mr. Winebeggler . 
Capt. F. M. Mckeehan . 

\V. \V. McClure 

Rev. F". S. Lindaman, . . 

Rev. J. Frazier 

Rev. R. MacPherson . . . 

Wm. Willis 

Rev. Geo. \V. Crist 
Rev. W. R. II . Deatrich 
Rev. R. F. McClean . . . 

Rev. J. H. Cooper 

Prof. E- U. Aumiller . . 

Rev. T. T. Wilson 

Capt. F. M. McKeehan . 
Rev. A. B. Stoner .... 

L. B. Kerr 

Rev. T. Y. Shannon . . . 
Rev. S. C. Alexander . . 

T. B. Lahr 

J. B. Lahr 

J. B. Lahr 

Rev. F. T. Wheeler . . . 
Rev. W. D. E. Scott .. 
Rev. W. D. Fy. Scott . . 

Wm. R. Swartz 

Rev. T. C. Strock 

Rev. E. T. Wheeler . . . 
Rev. J. B. Lau 



Rev. Sell Loysville, Aug. 24. 

T. L. Diven Bloomfield. Nov. 14, 15- 

I. G. Black Newport, May 14, 15. 

Duncannon. Oct. 1 5, 16. 

Rev! Mr. Smith Millerstown, May 13, 14- 

Rev. R. MacPherson ... Bloomfield, May 12, 13. 

Rev W. H. Herbert Landisburg, May 11, 12. 

E. P. Titzell ' Newport, May 30, 31- 

Rev. F. L. Nicodemus .. Loysville, May 30, 31. 

Rev. Deitrich Ickesburg, May 22, 23. 

David Mickey , Blain, May 27, 28. 

David Mickey Bloomfield, May 18, 19. 

David Mickey Landisburg, May 31, June 1. 

Rev. J. W. Ely Bloomfield, May 30, 31. 

Rev. W. B. Glanding ... Millerstown, May 15, i°- 

Rev. T. M. Griffith Newport, May 20, 21. 

Rev. W. J. Grissinger . . Loysville, May 26, 27. 

H. H. Rice Landisburg, May 20, 21. 

Insiah W. R : ce Duncannon, May 31, .Tune 1. 

W. W. McClure Elliottsburg, May 31, June 1. 

Chas. S. Losh Ickesburg. May 28, 29. 

Chas. S. Losh Bloomfield, June 4, 5. 

W. W. McClure Blain, June 3. 4. 

Mr. Rice Loysville, June 2, 3. 

W. H. Kell Newport, June 6. 7. 

W. H. Kell Liverpool, June 5, 6. 

W. H. Kell Duncannon, June 4, 5- 

W. H. Graham Bloomfield, June 9, 10. 

A C. Lackey Blain, May 18-20. 

A C. Lackey 1 Marysville, May 18-20. 

J. W. Morrow Loysville, May 16, 17. 

A. C. Lackey ! Duncannon, Mav 7, 8. 

Lillian Flickinger Ickesburg. June 18. 19. 

Sarada McLaughlin .... Newport, May 13, 14. 



William Rounsley . . . 
Milton E. Kline 
Rev. C. A. Waltman . 
Rev. W. S. Sturgeon 

Rev. J. B. Baker 

Rev. P. H. Moover . 

A. K. Lefevre 

A. K. Lefevre 

D. S. Fry 

Chas. Bothwell 

Chas. Bothwell 

D. S. Fry 

D. S. Fry 

D. S. Fry 

D. S. Fry 

C. M. Bower 

D. S. Fry 

D. S. Frv 



Sarada McLaughlin 
Sarada McLaughlin 

Edna Souder 

Mary Dum 

Mary Dum 

Mary Dum 
Mary Dum 



Blain, May 10, 11. 

Millerstown, June 6, 7. 

Duncannon, June 20, 21. 

Elliottsburg, May 21, 22. 

Blain, June 2, 3. 

Newport. June 22. 23. 

Marysville, June 1, 2. 
Mary Dum . .! Newport, May 11, 12. 

\lai\ Dum (Liverpool, June 25, 26. 

Mrs" W. C. Patterson . . . Duncannon. May 8. 9- 

Catharine- Long > Bloomfield, May 7, 8. 

Catharine Long I Marysville, May 5, 6. 

Puera Robinson Blain, May 3, 4- 

Puera Robinson Newport, May 2, 3. 

Puera Robinson Duncannon. May 8, 9- 

Mrs. George W. Hain . . Tckesburg. May 7, 8. 
Mrs. George W. Hain .. Millerstown, May 12, 13. 
Mrs. George W. Hain . . Elliottsburg, May 4, 5- 



*The convention of 19015 was to have been held at Blain. but was postponed. 

David Mickev was the first statistical secretary, elected in 1882 and serving to 18S4. 
Other statistical secretaries were P. G. Kell. 1885-19"?.: Sarada McLaughlin. 1906- 
1907; Clara E. Waggoner, 1908-1909; Gertrude Fickes, 1910; Thersa Zimmerman, 
1911; Daisie V. Kuhn, 1912-1915. (In 1916 the office of statistical secretary was 
abolished, the duties being merged with those of the corresponding secretary. - ) 

The office of corresponding secretary was created in 1904, when Maine Seager was 
elected, who served in 1905 also; Sarada McLaughlin, statistical secretary, was 
elected also corresponding secretary in 1906, but the latter title was dropped 111 1907. 
and seemed to be used interchangeably with statistical secretary till 191 1. when Daisie 
Y. Kuhn was elected, to be followed in 191 2 by Puera B. Robinson, who held the office 
until July 1. 1918, when she resigned and was succeeded by Mrs. George W. Hain, 
then Miss Emma Roberts. 

The treasurers of the County Association were J. B. Habecker, 1871, 1S72, 1874; 
Ezra P. Titzel. 1873; E. A. Flickinger, 1875; Henry Smith, 1876, 1877; Hon. T. A. 
Baker. 1878-188=;; John Heim, 1886-1887; J. A. McCroskey, 1888-1889; H. E. 
Bonsall. 1890-1897; J. B. Lahr, 1898-1911; E. D. Bistline, 1912-1915: Chas. S. 
Brunner, 1916 to 1922. 



442 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Perry County has been ably represented at the many conven- 
tions of the State Association, and at two World Conventions, that 
at Switzerland, in 1913, and in Japan, in 1920. The latter two 
were attended by Mrs. Carrie Eby Jeffers and Mrs. Margaret 
Frank Sefton. 

Rev. William Weaver, who filled the Liverpool Lutheran charge 
from early in 1847 until early in 1S51, preaching at Liverpool at 
Christ's Church (known as the White Church) in Perry Valley, at 
Millerstown, at St. Michael's in Pfoutz Valley, at St. James' in 
Turkey Valley, at Richfield, and at St. John's (Neiman's Church), 
organized more Sunday schools than any other minister in the his- 
tory of the county. He organized thirteen schools in his territory, 
but the last three of the churches named above were in Juniata 
County, and it is only fair to assume that some of the Sunday 
schools also were located there. However, should such have been 
the case, the number formed in Perry County still entitles him to 
the credit of organizing more than any other person, according to 
all available records. 

The adoption of the International Uniform Lessons occurred 
on Thursday, April 18, 1872, at the Fifth National Sunday School 
Convention, at Indianapolis, Indiana. It was at 4 o'clock p.m., 
under a special order of business, and under the leadership of B. 
F. Jacobs. That date and circumstances are of great import as 
from then on the Sunday school work became systematized and of 
great power. Its effect was soon noticeable in Perry County. 

The State Sabbath School Association has presented gold medals 
to three Perry Count ians for having had a record of attendance 
covering fifty years of Sunday school work. They went to Mrs. 
John T. Glass, of Duncannon, who was a teacher in the Methodist 
Sunday school there for over fifty years, and to Samuel Reen, long 
a resident of Newport, now residing at Blain, and David Ritter, 
of Liverpool. Mrs. Glass and Mr. Ritter died during the past two 
years. 

Earlier in this book appears a cut of "Grandfather" Jacob Buck, 
one of Perry County's pioneers in Sunday school work in the 
country districts. He was but one of a devoted body of men and 
women to whom is largely due the foundation work of the Sunday 
school movement. 



Considerable data in reference to the County Association was origi- 
nally compiled by Robert W. Diven and David S. Fry, of Newport, S. H. 
Bernheisel, of New Bloomfield; Mrs. Sarada (McLaughlin) Burkholder, 
formerly of Roseburg, Perry County. 



CHAPTER XXV. 
THE LIQUOR QUESTION. 

ON January 16, 1920, the centenary of the formation of 
Perry County, the Constitutional Prohibition Amendment 
became the law of the land. Prior to that time half of the 
United States had voted against liquor. Perry County had "gone 
dry" in March. 1918, after Associate Judge George Boyer took 
office, the President Judge, Jeremiah N. Keller, being opposed to 
licenses. They joined and refused every application at the session 
of license court that year. The licenses for the sale of liquor ex- 
pired March 31, 1918. 

But the trend has long been towards the elimination of intoxi- 
cants. Maine had barred liquor as early as 1850. The first step 
was made about one hundred years ago, when Sunday schools were 
organized all over the country. While the study of Scripture was 
the object, that Scripture contains within its pages many refer- 
ences to strong drink, and its admonitions have been sinking into 
the minds of the sixth generation. Then, almost fifty years ago, 
the Sunday schools adopted business principles and made the les- 
son for all schools identical each Sunday, and in each quarter they 
placed one temperance lesson. In the opinion of the writer that 
had as much to do with the elimination of the liquor traffic as any 
one thing which ever happened. The second generation of those 
boys who attended Sunday school had become voters, and many of 
the first generation of the girls who attended are the mothers of 
boys who vote. Then, the business interests found that the drink- 
ing workman was inferior to the one who did not drink, and the 
attendant result of these and other conditions is the adoption of 
the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution. Even as early 
as 1832 the George Hench tannery, in Perry County, would em- 
ploy only men of temperate habits. 

Perry was a "middle of the road" county. Sometimes one side 
would win in a political contest, and sometimes the other, but 
there are many references here and there along the way showing a 
trend toward temperance. One of the earliest was a call for the 
organization of a temperance society in Perry County, made by B. 
Mclntire, over his signature, on January 14, 1833, the date of the 
meeting to be February 26th. Another was a remonstrance from 
the town of Ickesburg, objecting to the licensing (if a hotel, pre- 
sented to the Perry County courts as early as the April term, 1833. 

443 



444 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Its signers were ancestors of many notable Perry Countians. It 

follows: 

The petitioners, inhabitants of Saville Township, beg leave respectfully 
to represent that the large and beautiful tavern stand in the town of Ickes- 
burg (occupied for the last year by Mr. Edward Miller), is now pur- 
chased by Mr. John Elliot, and will by him be occupied for the present 
year as a temperance house of entertainment; that we place the utmost 
confidence in said Elliot as a man well qualified for that business ; that he 
will be provided with everything necessary for the entertainment of 
strangers and travelers, and that we believe he will be able conveniently 
to furnish lodging at any time and to any number that may be expected to 
call in that place. Your petitioners therefore believe that there is no 
necessity for any other tavern in said town, and more especially for one 
in which spirituous liquors would be sold, which would only tend to in- 
jure the morality, peace and comfort of the community. Should any per- 
son therefor apply we would respectfully ask your honors to refuse them 
such license ; and we are in duty bound to pray. 

Robert Elliot. William Irvine. A. Linn. 

William Milligan. George Baker. Henry Thatcher. 

Frederick Hartman. Alexander Patterson. Samuel Reed. 

John B. Baker. David Coyle. George Billman. 

Alexander Robison. George Sanderson. Robert Irvine. 

Moses Hall. 

By 1835 there were temperance societies at Landisburg, Buffalo 
Township, Millerstown, and New Bloomfield. 

John Staily entered the liquor business at Liverpool, and in 1865 
erected a large brick building to extend better accommodations to 
the public. A year later, in 1866, he suddenly saw things from a 
different standpoint and, without even mentioning the fact to his 
family, emptied all the liquors from containers and closed the bar. 
Before that, in i860, Mrs. Emily Gray had changed her hotel ai 
New Germantown to a no-license place, after having conducted the 
sale of liquor there for almost thirty years. The place was known 
as the "Travelers' Rest." That was before the internal revenue laws 
covered the liquor business and a license then cost $7.50, with 
larger-sized glasses of whiskey being sold at three cents, according 
to Wilson W. Morrison, still residing in that town. 

The first temperance ticket nominated and voted for in the 
county was in 1871. In 1872 there was a campaign in Pennsylvania 
against alcoholic liquors which resulted in a local option law, but 
through reaction it was soon repealed. Under it Perry County 
voted "dry." Largely through the evils of intemperance was it 
possible to pass the high license law of 1887. The temperance ele- 
ment, however, were dissatisfied with that measure and succeeded 
in getting before the voters, in 1889, a constitutional amendment, 
but it was defeated by a large majority. From then on the efforts 
for the abolition of the liquor business were principally made a 
matter of education through the Sunday schools and other moral 
agencies, as stated in the beginning of this topic. 



THE UQUOR QUESTION 



445 



Among the advocates of temperance Perry County had several 
very prominenl ones. Stephen Miller, who later became governor 
oi Minnesota, traveled throughout Pennsylvania, and from the 
rostrum did all in his power to create temperance sentiment. lie 
also carried a large tent in which he held meetings. The use of 
intoxicant^ was general, and when Matthew B. Patterson, a 
pioneer along temperance lines, preached his first temperance 




REV. MATTHEW 



PATTERSON, 



Early pastor of the Duneannon Presbyterians, who was 
a pioneer Temperance advocate. He was at two sep- 
arate periods principal of the Bloomfield Academy. 

sermon at "the church at the month of the Juniata," the fore- 
runner of the Duneannon Presbyterian Church, "it was re- 
ceived as a new doctrine, with much adverse criticism. Some said 
it was blasphemy, others that it was a fearful profanation of the 
Lord's Day, and yet others that it would be the means of ending 
his pastorate. Temperance soon began to gain ground, and before 
the close of his ministry he had banished the sale of intoxicating 
drinks from the membership of the church. The morning dram 
was discontinued in many households, and to a considerable extent 
the bottle was banished from the harvest field," say the records of 
that church. His pastorate was from 1831 to 1844. Rev. William 
Weaver was one of the comity's first temperance advocates and an 
enthusiastic Sunday school man. having organized mostly within 



446 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the county thirteen Sunday schools, more than any other person. 
The late Jacob Billow, of Carroll Township, was an ardent pioneer 
temperance advocate, and delivered many talks and addresses 
against the liquor traffic, the title of one of his lectures being "The 
Three-Legged Stool." His efforts were not confined to Perry 
County. 

Other notable facts connected with the long war waged against 
liquor in Perry County are that Daniel Gantt, a New Bloomfield 
attorney who later became the first chief justice of Nebraska, was 
president of the Sons of Temperance, formed in New Bloomfield 
in 1846 ; that in the same year the Sons of Temperance was organ- 
ized at Duncannon ; that at the January term of the courts in 1850 
there was presented the accounts of a "Committee" of a man de- 
clared "a habitual drunkard" ; that among the early editors John 
A. Baker, George W. Sloop, and John A. Magee printed very, 
very many articles bearing against the traffic, and that in later 
wars Wm. C. Lebo practically made his paper a temperance paper 
instead of a political one, no doubt sacrificing considerable business 
to principle. 

During the earlier years of the county's existence there were 
many taverns, and it seems to have been a common thing to have 
had the drinking habit. Every village and hamlet had at least one 
tavern. New Bloomfield at one time had five. When the Penn- 
sylvania Canal was dug, according to a historical sketch compiled 
by the late Rev. Logan, in Miller stown, "nearly every house was a 
hotel." Liverpool, during the same period, had many, and other 
towns also had a very considerable number. In the days of our 
grandfathers it was thought almost impossible to harvest a crop 
without a goodly supply of whiskey for the harvesters. In the 
poor farm account of receipts and expenditures, dated March 20, 
1823, one of the items of disbursement read as follows: "To sun- 
dry persons, for labor on farm, harvesting, liquors, etc., $75.04." 
The late W. H. Waggoner had told to him on more than one 
occasion by his mother, who was an attendant, that at the wedding 
of Rev. John Linn whiskey in jugs was there for the guests. 

Among the old letters and documents found in the William 
Anderson, Sr., home at Andersonburg, now occupied by Arthur 
Anderson, was one which shows that liquor was used at funerals: 

Reed, from John Nelson and William Anderson, executors of the last 
will and testament of William Anderson, deceased, the sum of two pounds, 
one shilling and nine pence, being for whiskey used at the funeral and on 
that occasion of the deceased, February 2, 1802. 

Reed, by me, Wiujam CampbEi.l. 

At the election of October 10, 1854, a prohibitory liquor law 
was voted upon throughout the county, and the result of the vote 
was 1,297 lor the law, and 1,939 against it. The larger towns, 
Bloomfield, Liverpool, Millerstown and Petersburg (Duncannon), 



THE LIQUOR QUESTION 



447 



with Penn Township, were the only places carried against liquor. 
Newport was the only town of considerable size, supporting the 
liquor end. Two other county-wide ballots of later periods, 1873 
and 1889, are matters of record. That of 1873 was on the ques- 
tion of local option, and the majority on the temperance side was 
579. I )uncannon and Millerstown were the only two towns voting 
in favor of license at that time. The other election was on June 
18, 1889, on the adoption of a prohibitory amendment, when the 
county swung about and voted for liquor by 306 majority. Marys- 
ville was the only town in the county to give a majority for liquor, 
however. The state at that time voted to retain liquor, giving the 
majority of 188,027 votes. The vote by districts follows: 



Blain Boro 

Bloomfield Boro. . . 

Buffalo Twp 

Carroll Twp 

Centre Twp 

Duncannon Boro. . 
Greenwood Twp. . 

Howe Twp 

Jackson Twp 

Juniata Twp 

Landisburg Boro. . 
Liverpool Boro. . . . 
Liverpool Twp. . . . 

Madison Twp 

Marysville Boro. . . 
Millerstown Boro. 

Miller Twp 

New Buffalo Boro. 
Newport Boro. 

Oliver Twp 

Penn Twp 

Petersburg Boro. . . 

Rye Twp 

Sandy Hill Dist. . 

Saville Twp 

Spring Twp , 

Toboyne Twp. 
Tuscarora Twp. . 

Tyrone Twp 

Watts Twp 

Wheatfield Twp. . 



1854 
For (Against 
Liquor | Liquor | 
Not formed 



41 


61 


94 

98 


15 
66 


IOI 

Not f 


54 
ormed 


85 
Not f 


7i 
ormed 



107 

148 

41 

59 
101 
116 
Not 

14 

41 

17 

67 

70 

63 

26 

57 
Not 
129 
138 

96 
Not 
115 

49 

57 



50 
56 
40 

I 74 
56 

I 89 
formed 

I 65 

I 8 
15 
39 
3^ 
81 

I 93 

I 23 
formed 

I 106 
45 

I 50 
formed 

75 
11 
22 



1873 . I 

For I Against] 

Liquor ] Liquor | 



Not formed 



30 

63 
75 
49 
108 
61 
26 

117 
40 

19 

34 
55 
87 
59 
37 
32 
24 
70 
32 
128 



93 

65 
107 
109 

89 
68 

34 



For 
Liquor 



Against 
Liquor 



23 

42 

67 
121 

95 
66 

78 
35 



54 


119 


69 


66 


57 


11 


139 


89 


7i 


92 


7 2 


87 


81 


98 


16 


38 


92 


40 


42 


19 


148 1 


90 


67 


92 


119 


166 



33 
94 
50 

100 
76 

101 

59 
16 
4i 
58 
62 
92 
33 
48 
51 
56 
5 
25 
141 
. 48 
84 



Name changed to Duncannon 



65 
28 

57 
82 

73 

JO 

85 
43 
57 



33 

93 

115 

[22 

25 

71 

128 

15 

47 



84 
4i 
70 

128 
52 
54 

103 
48 

100 



36 
83 

147 
85 
75 
55 

114 
11 
29 



Totals_ . . . 
Majorities 



1939 
642 



1297 



1662 



2241 
579 



2214 
306 



This table to the uninformed may be further explained. At the 
time the first vote was taken (1854) Blain Borough was a part of 
Jackson Township ; Howe Township, a part of Oliver ; Marys- 
ville Borough, a part of Rye Township; Sandy Hill District, a 
part of Madison Township, and Tuscarora Township, a part of 
Juniata Township. Duncannon was then Petersburg. 



CHAPTER XXVI. 
THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC OFFICIALS. 

DURING the century of Perry County's existence its offi- 
cials, largely, have been men of character, stability and in- 
telligence — in fact, creditable representatives of their con- 
stituency. They have come from every walk of life, and while 
some of them have been college men, the greater part have been 
products of the little schoolhouses by the crossroads and the way- 
side, with perchance a term or two at an academy or a normal 
school. 

The first officers of the county were: John Fry, member of the 
general assembly ; John Reed, president judge ; William B. 
Mitchell, prothonotary ; Benjamin Leas, register and recorder; 
Daniel Stambaugh, sheriff ; William Power, treasurer ; Thomas 
Adams, Jacob Huggins, Robert Mitchell, county commissioners ; 
William Smiley and A. Fulweiler, auditors. Of these the only one 
to attain promotion politically was Jacob Huggins, who became a 
member of the General Assembly in 1823, serving with distinction. 
In fact, it was the opinion of Mr. Huggins which was requested 
by that body and which finally clinched the location of the new 
county seat at New Bloomfield. 

( >ther county commissioners who later attained the coveted place 
in the General Assembly were George Beaver, in 1842; Thomas 
Adams, in 1854; Charles C. Brandt, in 1857, and Clark Bower, 
in 191 8. Mr. Bower is also the third member of the Bower family 
to have representation on the board of county commissioners. 
Solomon Bower was made a commissioner in 1828, his son Solo- 
mon Bower, in 1875, and his grandson, Clark Bower, in 1908, all 
being elected from the same district and having resided in the 
same house. 

Among the clerks to the county commissioners, the first, Jesse 
Miller, became a noted figure in state and nation, and at least two 
others attained distinction. William N. Seibert, who was clerk in 
187 1, became president judge of the district composed of Perry 
and Juniata Counties in 19 12, and James W. McKee, who was 
clerk in 1885, became State Senator of the district composed of 
Perry, Juniata and Mifflin Counties, in 1901. The first election 
of Congressmen in Pennsylvania was in 1788, in conformity with 
the Constitution of the United States, adopted the previous year. 
It provided that until an enumeration of the inhabitants could be 
made, which was to be done within three years after the first meet- 

448 



THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC OFFICIALS 449 

frig of Congress, and an apportionment then to be made there- 
under, Pennsylvania was to have eighl members. At the election 
of 17SS. there being no districts, they were elected by the state at 
large. That method may have continued for some years, no rec- 
ords being available to show that the apportionment was made 
until [802, 

Members of the United States Congress. 

While there have been those *>\ Terry County birth who have 
served in the United States Congress, they are spoken of else- 
where, the list here being only those elected from Perry County 
who have represented the district of which Perry County is a part. 
*The district, as noted below, has varied much in the course of the 
century. The present Congressman, Benjamin K. Focht, is editor 
of the Lewisburg (Union County) Saturday News, but his birth- 
place was at New Bloomfield. Perry County, where his father was 
a pioneer Lutheran minister. The list: 

1834— Jesse Miller. 1862— Joseph Bailey. 

1845— James Black. 1872— John A. Magee. 

i860 — Benj. F. Junkin. 



♦Following each decennial census a new apportionment of the state into 
congressional districts is made, and only once since its formation has the 
same district been allowed to stand for "the next decade in so far as Perry 
County's placement is concerned. That was during the Sectional War, 
when far greater duties than reapportionment occupied the minds of men, 
and the district was allowed to remain as before. Before Perry became a 
county, the act of April 2, 1802, made Dauphin, Cumberland, Huntingdon 
and Mifflin the Fourth District, with two members. Juniata County was 
then still a part of Mifflin. 

Ten years later, in the act of March 20, 181 2, Cumberland, Franklin and 
Adams composed the Fifth District, to which the Perry County territory- 
still a part of Cumberland— then belonged. It had two members. The act 
creating Perry County, in 1820, placed it in this district. 

The act of April 2, 1822, made Adams, Franklin, Cumberland and Perry 
the Eleventh District, with two members. This was the same territory as 
before, but Cumberland County had been divided by the erection of Perry 
from its northern half. 

On June 9, 1832, an act made the Thirteenth District include Cumber- 
land, Perry and Juniata, with one member. Since that time each district 
lias had but one member. 

In 1843, on March 25, an act was passed which made Cumberland. Perry 
and Franklin the Sixteenth District. 

In 1852, on May I, York, Cumberland and Perry was made the Sixteenth 
District, and in the act of April' 10. 1862, it was not changed, save that it 
was designated the Fifteenth District, instead of the Sixteenth. 

The act of April 28, 1873, created the Eighteenth District, composed of 
Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Snyder and Perry. 

The act of May 19, 1887. threw Perry into a totally new territory with 
Dauphin and Lebanon, comprising the Eighteenth District. 

On July 11, 1901, the district was again changed and designated as the 

Nineteenth, composed of Perry. Juniata, Mifflin, Huntingdon. Fulton, 

Franklin, Snyder and Union. It is the largest territorial district in Penn- 

sylvania — a commonwealth in itself. There are no cities within its borders. 

" The act of April 27, 1009, amended the last previous act, but left Perry in 

the same district, designated as the Seventeenth. Until a reapportionment 

'act is passed the state will have four members-at-large. 

29 



450 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

As a matter of interest it might be stated that there has been an 
increase of the number of members of Congress every ten years, 
except that after the census of 1840 there was an actual reduction 
of ten. The greatest increase was after the census of 1870, when 
fifty members were added. The membership is now 435, while 
that of the British House of Commons, representing a population 
of only one-half of the "United States, is 701 members. 

Members of the State Senate. 

Previous to 1790 the legislative duties of Pennsylvania were per- 
formed by one body — the House of Delegates — but the new Con- 
stitution provided for two, a Senate and a House of Represen- 
tatives. It fixed senatorial districts, which were to remain so until 
the first enumeration of taxable voters and an apportionment 
thereunder, and made the term of office four years. Districts 
were first formed by an act of assembly in 1794, and an act was 
passed requiring a new apportionment every seven years. The 
Constitution of 1838 changed the length of the term to three years, 
and in 1874 it was again placed at four years. *By different ap- 
portionments the. district has been of various sizes and uncertain 
outline. Immediately preceding the present apportionment the dis- 
trict for years was composed of Perry, Juniata and Mifflin Coun- 
ties. At the present time it is composed of Cumberland, Perry, 
Juniata and Mifflin Counties. Perry Countians were elected as 
follows: 

1830 — Jesse Miller. 1864 — Kirk Haines. 

1844— Wm. B. Anderson. 1867— C. J. T. Mclntire. 

1846— Robert C. Stewart. 1881— Charles H. Smiley. 

185 1 — Joseph Bailey. 1901 — James W. McKee. 

1857 — Henry Fetter. 1917 — Scott Leiby. 



*For a period including 1837 to 1843 Perry was in a district with Mifflin, 
Juniata, Union and Huntingdon. For a period covering 1864 to 1870 Perry 
was included in a district with Huntingdon, Blair, Centre, Mifflin and 
Juniata, with the right to elect two senators. For a period covering 1872 
to 1876 Perry was included with Snyder, Union and Northumberland. 

Members of the General Assembly. 

According to population Perry County is entitled to but one 
Member of the General Assembly. At times it was part of an- 
other district, as the footnotes will show. Its representatives con- 
tain the names of many of the best families of the county, as 
follows: 

1820-21 — John Fry. 1832-33 — John Johnston. 

1822-23 — F. M. Wadsworth. 1834-37 — F. Rinehart. 

1824-25 — Jacob Huggins. 1837-38 — Wm. Clark. 

1826-27 — Jesse Miller. 1838-41 — Wm. B. Anderson. 

1828-29 — W. M. Power. 1842 —George Beaver. 

1830-31 — James Black. 1843-45 — Thos. O'Bryan. 



THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC OFFICIALS 



451 



1846 — Eleazer Owen. 1872- 

1847-49 — John Souder. 1874 

1850-52— David Stewart. 1875- 

1852 —David Shaver. 1877- 

1854 — Thomas Adams. 1879- 

1855-56— Kirk Haines. 1883- 

1857 ' —Charles C. Brandt. 1887- 

1858 —Charles C. Brandt. 1 1889- 
1859-60 — John Power. 1 1893- 

1861 — Wm. Lowther. 1 1897- 

1862 — Jesse Kennedy. 1 1901- 

1863 — John A. Magee. 1903- 

1864 — Charles A. Barnett. 1907- 
1865-66 — Geo. A. Shuman. 2 1909- 
1867 — Geo. A. Shuman. 2 1911- 
1868-69— John Shivery.- 1915- 
1870-71 — D. B. Milliken. 2 1919 



— Joseph Shuler. 3 

—J. H. Sheibley. 3 

— G. N. Reutter. 

— D. H. Sheibley. 

— M. B. Holman. 

— Wm. H. Sponsler. 

— J. R. Flickinger. 

— W. R. Swartz. 

—J. W. Buckwalter. 
1900 — J. Harper Seidel. 
03 — John S. Arnold. 
06 — Samuel B. Sheller. 
08 — John D. Snyder. 
10 — W. N. Kahler. 
■14 — L. E. Donallv. 
18 —John S. Eby. 
■22 — Clark Bower. 



1 With Cumberland County. 
-With Franklin County. 
3 With Dauphin County. 

President Judges. 

Until 1851 the president judges, the associate judges, and the 
judges of the Supreme Court were appointed by the governor, and 
held their offices during life or good behavior. An amendment to 
the Constitution in 1850 provided for an elective judiciary, and on 
April 15, 185 1, the enabling legislation was passed to carry out its 
provisions. The term was placed at ten years. 

Years of Incumbency : 



1820-39 — John Reed. 
1839-48 — Samuel Hepburn. 
1849-51 — Frederick Watts. 
1852-71 — James H. Graham. 
1872-81 — Benjamin F. Junkin. 
1882-91— Charles A. Barnett. 



1892-1900 — Jeremiah Lyons. 1 
1900-01 — L. E. Atkinson. 1 
1902-11 — James W. Shull. 
1912-18 — Wm. N. Seibert. 2 
1918-19 — J. N. Keller. 2 
1920- — James M. Barnett. 3 



1 Jeremiah Lyons died, and L. E. Atkinson was appointed by the governor 
to fill the unexpired term. 

2 William N. Seibert died, and J. N. Keller was appointed by the governor 
to serve until the election of a successor. 

3 James M. Barnett elected on the Non-Partisan ticket, under the new law. 

Associate Judges. 

The year of election is given, the term starting with the first of 
the succeeding: vear. 



1820— W. B. Anderson. 
1820 — Jeremiah Madden. 
1832 — John Junkin. 
1836— Robert Elliot. 
1842 — James Black. 
1844 — G. Blattenberger. 
1849 — John A. Baker. 
185 1 — John Rice. 



1852 — Jesse Beaver. 
1852 — George Stroop. 
1854 — J. Martin Motzer. 
1856 — John Reifsnyder. 
1859— David Shaver.* 
1861— Philip Ebert. 
1862 — 'Isaac Lefevre. 
1862 — Samuel Lupfer.* 



*David Shaver died in office. Samuel Lupfer appointed by the governor 
to fill the vacancy. 



45^ 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PKNNSYIA'ANI A 



1864 — Jacob Sheibley. 
1867— John A. Baker. 
1869 — George Stroup. 
1872 — John A. Baker. 
1874 — John Bear. 
1877 — Samuel Noss. 
1879 — William Grier. 
1882— William Gladden. 
1884— Joseph B. Garber. 
1887 — Samuel Woods. 
1889 — Henry Rhinesmith. 
i8<ji — James Everhart. 



1894 — John L. Kline. 
1896 — George M. Stroup. 
1899 — Isaac Beam. 
1901 — John Fleisher. 
1904 — 'Jacob Johnston. 
1906 — George Patterson. 
1909 — Lucian C. Wox. 
191 1 — S. W. Bernheisel 
1915 — Wm. A. Meiser. 
1917 — George E. Boyer. 
1921 — Wm. A. Meiser. 



Court Reporter. 

When the act of assembly requiring the appointment of court reporters 
was passed, the position was rilled by the appointment of Joseph F. Cum- 
mings, of Sunbury, in 1878, by President Judge Benj. F. Junkin. and he 
has served continuously ever since, under Judges Junkin, Barnett, Lyons, 
Atkinson, Shull, Seibert, Keller and James M. Barnett. As early as 1867 
Mr. Cummings, then but fourteen years of age, had entered the employ of 
the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad Company. He studied shorthand during 
his spare hours and was taken into the office of the general superintendent 
of the line — the first shorthand writer in any of its offices. After serving 
there for over a year an act of assembly was passed requiring the appoint- 
ment of shorthand reporters by the courts. Judge Junkin's appointment 
also covered Juniata County, and Judge Bucher appointed him in a like 
capacity in the counties of Union, Snyder and Mifflin. He served with 
Judge Bucher in that district to the end of his second term, when he was 
appointed reporter for Northumberland County, although he had done 
special reporting there as early as 1874. During his early court reporting 
he found time to take a three years' course at the Millersville State Normal 
School. He has also served as reporter for various state commissions 
and boards, and for ten years, from [899 to 1910, was official reporter of 
the State Senate, being thus engaged during the completion of the new 
state capitol and during the contest over the United States Senatorship be- 
tween Matthew Stanley Quay and others. 

Registers and Recorders. 



1820 — Benjamin Leas. 

A. Fulweiler. 
1824 — Jacob Fritz. 
1830 — John McKeehan. 
1836 — Jere. Madden. 
1839 — John Souder. 
1842 — John Souder. 
1845 — Geo. W. Crane. 
1848— Geo. W. Crane. 
1851 — Robert Kelley. 
1854 — John Campbell. 
1857 — George Spahr. 
i860— Samuel Roth. 
1863 — 'William Grier. 
1866 — William Grier. 
1869— Thos. J. Sheibley. 
1872 — Joseph S. Smith. 



1875 — Geo. S. Briner. 
1878— Geo. S. Briner. 
1881— Josiah W. Rice. 
1884 — Joseph S. Smith. 
1887 — Nathaniel Adams. 
1890 — Nathaniel Adams. 
1893 — James W. McKee. 
1896 — James W. McKee. 
1899 — J. C. Lightner. 
1902 — J. C. Lightner. 
1905 — Chas. L. Darlington. 
1908 — Chas. L. Darlington. 
191 1 — Chas. L. Depugh. 
191 5 — Chas. L. Depugh.* 

Wm. F. Swartz.* 
1919 — Wm. F. Swartz. 



*Chas. L. Depugh died in office, and was succeeded by Wm. F. Swartz. 



THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC OFFICIALS 



453 



Sheriffs. 



1820— Daniel Stambaugh. 
1823 — Jesse Miller. 
1826— John Hippie. 
1829 — Josiah Roddy. 
1832— Wm. Lackey. 
1835— M. Stambaugh. 
1838— Joseph Sbuler. 
1 841— Alexander Magee. 
1844— Henry Cooper. 
1847— Hugh Campbell. 
1850 — Samuel Huggins. 
1853— Benj. F. Miller. 
1856 — James Woods. 
1850— Benj. F. Miller. 
1862 — John Sheihly. 
1865— John F. Miller. 
[868 — Tere Rhinehart. 



jg^—l). A|. Rhinesmith. 
1874— J. W. Williamson. 
1877— James A. Gray. 
1880— J. W. Beers. 
1883— H. C. Shearer. 
,886— Jerome B. Lahr. 
!889— George M. Ritter. 
1892— Joseph A. Rice. 
^95— Charles L. Johnson. 
iNo.X -William H. Kough. 
k ,,i -Charles L. Johnson. 
1904 — Ahram L. Long. 
1907— E. T. Charles. 
191 1— James M. l'.aer. 
191 5— D. L. Kistler. 
1919 — Paul Flurie. 



*PrOTHONOT ARIES. 
The dates given arc the dates of election. 



1820 
1821- 
1824- 
1829- 
'835- 
1839- 
1842- 

1845- 
1848- 
1851- 
1854- 
1857- 
[860- 
1863- 
1864- 
1867- 
1870 
1873- 



-Wm. B. Mitchell. 
-Henrv Miller. 
-Wm. B. Mitchell. 
-George Stroop. 
-John Boden. 
-Alex. Topley. 
-Alex. Topley. 
-Joseph Miller. 
-Peter Orwan. 1 
-James L. Diven. 
-James I,. Diven. 
-David Mickey. 
-James G. Turbett. 
-John C. Lindsay. 
-David Mickey. 
Charles H. Smiley. 
J. J. Spoonenberger. 
—J. J. Spoonenberger. 



1876 — David Mickey. 
1879— Alex. B. Grosh. 
[882— Alex. B. Grosh. 
1885— Jacob E. Bonsall. 
1888— lacob E. Bonsall. 
jggi—S. S. Willard. 
1804 S. S. W'iUard. 
1897— -J. Wesley Stephens. 
1900— J. Wesley Stephens.- 
I902 _G. Warren Stephens. 1 
[905— G. Warren Stephens. 1 

Grafton Junkin. 3 
1906— George B. Shull. 
1909— George P.. Shull. 
1013— Harry \\ . Robinson. 
[917 Harry W. Robinson. 
[921 II. Russell Campbell. 



*The prothonotary was clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, Court of 
Quarter Sessions. Courl of Oyer and Terminer and the Orphans Court 
About 1843 the Orphans' Court was placed in charge of the registei and 
recorder. 

ijohn A. Baker was appointed to fill the vacancy caused by the death 
of Peter Orwan. 

-J Wesley Stephens died in office, November, 1900, and was succeeded 
by his son, G. Warren Stephens, his deputy. 

•"•G. Warren Stephens died in office, November 15. 100.S, and was suc- 
ceeded by Grafton Junkin. 

County Treasurers. 

Showing date of election. 



1820— William Power. 
^23— R. H. McClelland. 
1827 — Geo. Stroop. 
1830 — John Wilson. 
1832 — Robert Kelley. 



1835— David Lupfer. 
1838— David Deardorff. 
1841— Wm. Lackey. 
1844 — Henry Rice. 
1847— David Lupfer. 



454 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



1849 — Jonas Ickes. 
185 1— George Spahr. 
1853 — Thomas Clark. 
1855— John R. Shuler. 
1857— H. D. Woodruff. 
1859 — David J. Rice. 
1861— John H. Sheibley. 
1863 — James McElheny. 
1865 — Samuel Smith. 
1867 — James McElhaney. 
1869 — Wm. Tressler. 
1871 — Isaac N. Shatto. 
1873 — Geo. W. Spahr. 
1875 — John R. Boden. 



1878— Wm. Rice. 

1881 — Ephraim B. Weise. 

1884— Wm. A. Lightner. 

1887— Thomas J. Clark. 

1890— John W. Kell. 

1893— L. H. C. Flickinger. 

1896— H. C. Gantt. 

1899 — Wilson D. Messimer. 

1902 — Lawrence F. Smith. 

1905— D. C. Kell. 

1908 — Lawrence F. Smith. 

191 1— Robert A. McClure. 

1915 — Charles S. Brunner. 

1919 — James A. Noel. 



County Commissioners. 

The dates preceding the names of the members of the different 
boards are the dates upon which they assumed office. 



1820 — Thomas Adams. 
1820 — Jacob Huggins. 
1820 — Robert Mitchell. 
1821— Robert Elliott. 
1822 — Samuel Linn. 
1823 — John Maxwell.* 
1824— Robert Mitchell. 
1825 — Abraham Adams. 
1825 — Abraham Bower. 
1826 — John Owen. 
1827 — George Mitchell. 
1828 — Solomon Bower. 
1829 — John Junkin. 
1830 — -Jacob Kumbler. 
1831 — Alex. Bryan. 
1832 — Frederick Orwan. 
1833— Jacob Kumbler. 
1834 — George Beaver. 

Andrew Shuman. 
1835 — Cadwalader Jones. 
1836 — George Beaver. 
1837— C. Wright. 

J. Zimmerman. 
1838— Wm. White. 

1839 — M. Donally. 

1840 — Geo. Charles, Sr. 

1841— -Robert Adams. 

1842— Robert Kelly. 

1843— T. P. Cochran. 

Isaac Kirkpatrick. 

1844 — Wm. Messinger. 

1845— Nicholas Hench. 

1846 — Tohn Patterson. 

1847— Geo. Titzell. 

1848 — Thomas Adams. 

1849 — Jacob Sheibley. 

1850 — Fenlow McCowen. 

1851— Chas. C. Brandt. 

1852 — George Stroup. 

1853 — John Myers. 

1854 — William Power. 

1855 — Jacob Bixler. 

1856 — Lawrence Gross. 



1857 — James B. Cooper. 
1858— Thomas Campbell. 
1859 — Henry P. Grubb. 
i860 — Henry Foulk. 
1861 — William Kough. 
1862— William Wright. 
1863 — J. Kochenderfer. 
1864 — Perry Kreamer. 
1865— John Wright. 
1866— William Hays. 
1867 — George S. Bruner. 
1868 — John Stephens. 
1869 — Zachariah Rice. 
1870 — -J. A. Leinawever. 
1871— W. B. Stambaugh. 
1872 — George W. Bretz.f 
1873 — William Brooks. 
1874 — James Whitner. 
1875 — Joseph Ulsh. 
1875 — David Smith. 
1876— J. Wesley Gantt. 
Solomon Bower. 
George Campbell. 
1879— J. Wesley Gantt. 
John W. Charles. 
Henry Shumaker. 
1882— James B. Black. 
Samuel Barner. 
Daniel Shaffer. 
1885— U. H. Rumbaugh. 
Aaron ShrefBer. 
Edward Hull. 
1888— Silas W. Snyder. 
John Martin. 
George W. Burd. 
1 891— William B. Gray. 
William Kumler. 
Wilson D. Adams. 
1894 — Josiah Clay. 

D. P. Lightner. 
Isaiah Mitchell. 
1897 — Aaron Shreffler. 
A. K. Bryner. 



THE COUNTY'S PUBLIC OFFICIALS 



455 



1879— Wm. B. Gutshall. 
1900 — Thomas F. Martin. 

James Rhinesmith. 

Jacob Fleisher. 
1903 — William R. Dum. 

James K. Adair. 

Abraham Bistline. 
1906 — J. B. Jackson. 

W. H. Leonard. 

John S. Bitner. 
1909 — Clark M. Bower. 



McClellan Woods. 

William H. Smith. 
1912 — Reuben Beers. 

Jonathan Snyder. 

William H. Lyter. 
1916— J. C. Hench. 

Jonathan Snyder. 

Allen R. Thompson. 
1920 — W. C. Smith. 

M. C. Woods. 

G. W. Meek. 



*In May, 1825, Col. John Maxwell died, and the court appointed Abra- 
ham Bower to fill the vacancy. Mr. Bower was then elected to the full 
term in October, 1825, and Abraham Adams was elected to fill the unex- 
pired term of one year of the Maxwell term. 

tGeorge W r . Bretz died during his term, February 16, 1874. 

Commissioners' Clerks. 



While not an elective office, 
county commissioners is given 
board was, entrusted to these 
board. The list : 

1820-23 — Jesse Miller. 
1824-29 — Josiah Roddy. 
1830-36— N. Eby. 
1837-53 — William Wilson. 
1854-57— H. G. Milans. 

1858 —A. C. Kling. 

1859 — Lewis Orwan. 
1860-62 — Benjamin Belford. 
1863-64— B. P. Mclntire. 
1865 — Wm. Wright. 



the list of clerks to the board of 
here, as much of the work of the 
men between the meetings of the 



1865 

1871- 

1876- 

1882- 

1885- 

1891- 

1900- 

1903 

1913 

1921 



70 — Jno. R. Shuler. 
75-Wm. N. Seibert. 
81 — Calvin Nelson. 
84— C. W. Rhinesmith. 
90 — James W. McKee. 
99 — Wm. B. Anderson. 
02 — James S. Cameron. 
13— D. H. Meek.* 
■21 — Charles J. Swartz.* 
— D. C. Kell. 



*D. H. Meek, appointed Sealer of Weights and Measures, resigned, and 
Charles J. Swartz was appointed. Mr. Swartz died in 1921, and was suc- 
ceeded by D. C. Kell. 

District Attorneys. 

Prior to 1850 the office of district attorney was an appointive 
one. In that year it became an elective one. The incumbents of 
the office with date of election until the present time, have been : 



1850 — Benj. F. Junkin. 
1853— C. J. T. Mclntire. 
1856— J. B. McAlister. 
1859— F. Rush Roddy. 
1862— Ephraim C. Long. 
1866 — Lewis Potter. 
1869— Benj. P. Mclntire. 
1872— Jacob Bailey. 
1875— J. C. McAlister. 
1878— J. C. Wallace. 
1881— Jas. W. Shull. 
1884— Richard W. Stewart. 



1887— J. C. McAlister. 
1890 — Lewis Potter. 
1893 — Luke Baker. 
1896— W. H. Kell. 
1899— James M. Sharon. 
1902 — James M. McKee. 
1905 — James M. McKee. 
1908— Walter W. Rice. 
191 1 — James M. McKee. 
1915 — James M. McKee. 
1919 — James M. McKee. 



456 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Coroners. 



that official in Perry County that 
unsought. Those elected to that 



There is so little business for 
the office has continually gone 
office have been : 

ii K41 — Michael Steevcr. 
1845 — Dr. Jonas Ickes. 
1846 — Jacob Steele. 
1847 — John McKenzie. 
1848— James R. Gilmore. 
1851— Wm. L. Stephens. 
1853 — James R. Gilmore. 
1854 — John Bretz. 
1855 — James H. Case. 
1856 — James H. Case. 
1859— Philip Ebert. 
i860 — Joseph Eby. 
1861— Patrick McMorris. 
1862— Jacob M. Miller. 
1863— B. P. Hooke. 
1864 — James Crawford. 
1865 — Samuel Stiles. 
1866 — Dr. James B. Eby. 

*In the interim between 1911 and 1919, no nominations made by either 
party for this office. 

County Surveyors. 

This office, once considered of importance, is now unsought. 
Until 1850 it was appointive, but in that year it became an elective 
office. The incumbents, with date of election: 



1867— Cyrus Clemson. 
1870 — Joseph Swartz. 
1871 — Dr. Geo. N. Reutter. 
1872— Dr. Geo. W. Eppley. 
1873 — Geo. W. Zinn. 
1874— Geo. W. Zinn. 
1879 — Samuel Stites. 
1882 — Andrew Traver. 
1885 — George Shrom. 
1888— George A. Ickes. 
[889— J. H. Bleistein. 
1893— C. E. Gregg. 
1896— W. S. Groninger. 
1899— W. R. Brothers. 
1901 — H. M. Smiley. 
191 1 — George W. Gault* 
1919 — Geo. W. Gault. 



1850 — James Woods. 
1856— James B. Hackett. 
1859 — Samuel Arnold. 
1862— Daniel Rife. 
1865— M. B. Holman. 
187 1 — Samuel Galbreath. 
1874 — Tames Bell. 
1877— David Mitchell. 
1880 — John Rynard. 
1883— Wm. J. Stewart, Jr. 



1886 — Wm. A. Meminger. 
1889— Silas Wright. 
1892 — Tames A. Wright. 
1895— Silas Wright. 
1898— Silas Wright. 
1901 — Silas Wright. 
1904 — Silas Wright. 
1907 — J. L. L. Bucke. 
1910 — Gard C. Palm. 
1919 — J- L. L- Bucke.* 



*In the interim between 1910 and [919, no nominations by either party 
for this office. 



County Auditors. 



1820 — Wm. Smiley. 

A. Fulweiler. 
1821— Robert Kelly. 
1 822 — John Purcell. 
[823 -George Mitchell. 
[824— John West. 
1825 — Henry Fetter. 
1826 — John Junkin. 

David Stewart. 
[827 — William Wilson. 
1828- William Roberts. 



1829 — William Cook. 

Alexander Magee. 
1830 — Jonas Ickes. 
1 83 1 — Wm. Adams. 
1832 — Samuel Beaver. 
1833 — Jacob Bloom. 
1834 — M. Donellv. 
1835— Alex. F. Topley. 
1836 — Robert Adams. 

— S. Darlington. 
1S37— D. G. Reed. 



THE COUNTY'S PCPPIC OFFICIALS 



457 



837— II. R. Wilson. 
838— John Charters. 
839 — Hugh Campbell. 
840 — Jesse Beaver. 
841 — Thomas McKee. 
842 — Hugh Campbell. 
843 — Michael Steever. 
844 — J. B. Zimmerman. 
845 — James I!. Hackett. 

T. M. Graham. 
846 — James L. Diven. 

Peter Sheibley. 
847 — John Witherow. 

Martin Motzer. 
848 — PVancis Mickey. 
849 — W. T. Graham. 
850— W. S. Mitchell. 
851 — D. Kochenderfer. 
852— John Wright. 
853 — Robert Dunbar. 
854 — W. Bosserman. 
855— Robert C. Boden. 
856 — W. A. Morrison. 
857 — Francis English. 
858— Joseph W. Frank. 
859— A. McKenzie. 
860 — Geo. A. Shuman. 
861 — Samuel Beaver. 
863— Philip Huston. 
864— Alex. G. White. 
865— Geo. W. Bretz. 
866 — Simon H. Fry. 
868— George H. Hench. 
869 — Jonathan Michener. 
870 — John English. 
871— S. H. Baker. 
872 — Wm. A. Memingcr. 
873 — David Messinger. 
874 — G. Sheibley. 



1875— John I''. Stouffer. 

1870 — lames C. Hill. 
188] -Geo. A. Sheibley. 
1884— Cluster I.. Steele. 

David Boyd. 

Win. H. Jackson. 
1887 — Wm. Adams. 

John II. M urray. 

Sam'l I*'.. Arnold. 
[890 .las. C. Bistline. 

Chas. S. Henderson. 

Wm. H. Gelbaugh. 
[893— H. P. Stephens. 

C. S. Henderson. 

J no. A. Rhea. 
[896 — S. P. McKeehan. 

Cyrus Smith. 

F. S. Gibson. 
1899 — S. P. McKeehan. 

McClellan Woods. 

Chas. P. Kline. 
iooj— Harrv E. Wilt. 

McClellan Woo, P. 

Chas. E. Zerfing. 
I9 ( >5 — S. P. McKeehan. 

C. A. Smith. • 

Jacob Wolf. 
[908 — D. R. Kane. 

C. A. Smith. 

Jacob Wolf. 
K)i 1 — D. R. Kane. 

S. M. Shuler. 

Jacob Wolf. 
1915 — D. R. Kane. 

S. M. Shuler. 

IP R. Campbell. 
1919 — S. M. Shuler. 

Nelson P Zeigler. 

Cloyd E. Wolf. 



Directors of the Pour. 

The following men have been members of the different hoards 
which have had charge of the county home .and the supervision of 
aid to the outside poor. 

The record starts with 1839, the county home having been burned 
that year, and previous records destroyed. 



1839 — John Tressler. 
1840 — Samuel Hench. 
1841 — Jacob Bixler. 
1842 — Pewis Mickey. 
1843 — John Ritter. 
1844 — Jacob Weibley. 
1845 — None appears elected. 
1846— Charles Wright. 
1847 — Peter Hench. 
1848— Robert Hackett. 
1849 — Thomas Black. 
1850 — Moses Uttjey. 
1851— George Titzell. 
1852 — Henry Lackey. 



1853 — Samuel Arnold. 
[854 Samuel Milligan. 
1855— James McClure. 
1856 — William Kerr. 
1857 — Henry Rhinesmith. 
1858 — Jacob Bernheisel. 
18S9 — John Gensler. 
[860— William Kell. 
1861 — John Stephens. 
[862 -John Ritter. 
1863 — John Weldon. 
1864 — John Arnold. 
1865— Peter Shaffer. 
[866 -John Dtim. 



45 8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



1867— Geo. Hoobaugh. 
1868— John Flickinger. 
1869 — John Newcomer. 
1870— John S. Ritter. 
!8 7I — John Patterson. 
1872— Samuel Dunkelberger. 
1873 — Wm. J. Graham. 
1874 — John Swartz. 
1875— Abraham Long. 
1876— Samuel Sigler. 
1877— Benj. F. Bealor. 
1878— John D. Stewart. 
1879— Geo. C. Snyder. 
1880 — Isaac Hollenbaugh. 
1 881— Benj. Bistline. 
1882— O. S. Green. 
1883 — John Acker. 
1884 — Jos. Flickinger. 
1885 — John Garman. 
1886— John Wilt. 
1887 — John Freeland. 
1888— Jacob W. Wagner. 
1889 — John Swartz. 
1890— John Freeland. 
1891 — George I. Rice. 
1892 — Benjamin H. Inhoff. 
1893— George D. Taylor. 



1894— John Wilt. 
1895— Darius J. Long. 
1896— George D. Taylor. 
1897— James S. Peck. 
1898— Darius J. Long. 
1899— I. B. Free. 
1900 — Zach M. Dock. 
1901— D. M. Hench. 
1902 — I. B. Free. 
1903 — Zach M. Dock. 
1904— D. M. Hench. 

1905— James A. Wright. 

1906— S. S. Orris. 

1907— Samuel M. Rice. 

1908— James A. Wright. 

1909— W. A. Lightner. 

1911— S. S. Orris. 

191 1— E. R. Loy. 

1911— S. S. Orris. 

1913 — W. Harry Smith. 

1915 — E. R. Loy. 

1915— S. A. Shope. 

1917 — Geo. W. Dunkle. 

1919 — S. A. Shope. 

1919— E. M. Wilt. 

1921 — Geo. W. Dunkle. 



County School Superintendents. 



1854— Rev. Adam R. Height. 
1857— Rev. T. P. Bucher.i 
1859 — Lewis B. Kerr. 4 
i860— Lewis B. Kerr. 
1863— Jacob Gantt. 
i860— Silas Wright. 
1869 — Lewis B. Kerr. 
^72— Geo. C. Welker. 2 
1873— Silas Wright.* 
1875— Silas Wright. 
1878— S. B. Fahnestock. 
1881— J. R. Flickinger. 
1884— E. U. Aumiller. 



1887— E. U. Aumiller. 
1890— E. U. Aumiller. 
1893— Joseph M. Arnold. 
1896— Joseph M. Arnold. 3 
1896— E. H. Bryner. 4 
1890— E. H. Bryner. 
1902— E. H. Bryner. 
1905— E. H. Bryner. 3 
1906— S. S. Willard. 4 
1908 — D. A. Kline. 
191 1— D. A. Kline. 
1914— D. A. Kline. 
1918— D. A. Kline. 
1922 — D. A. Kline. 



designed September 1, 1859. 

2 Died March 11, 1873. 

3 Resigned. 

4 Appointed by governor to fill vacancy. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 
THE BENCH AND BAR. 

WITH the land grant to William Penn of the territory com- 
prising Pennsylvania, Charles II conferred the power of 
establishing courts and appointing judges. The Orphans' 
Court was modeled after the Orphans' Court of London. There 
is also a Common Pleas Court, a Court of Quarter Sessions, and 
Oyer and Terminer, all of which are convened and held simul- 
taneously by the same judge or judges. The decisions of the judge 
or judges are subject to appeal and review by the Superior and 
Supreme Courts, the highest courts of the commonwealth. The 
state is divided into judicial districts, some of which are comprised 
of two or more counties. Where a judicial district is comprised 
of two or more countes, there are elected in each county of the 
district, two associates. These are usually termed lay judges and 
are not required to be learned in the law. Perry County is in this 
class and, with Juniata County, comprises the Forty-First Judicial 
District, according to the Act of April 9, 1874. Prior to this, by 
the Act of April 11, 1835, Cumberland, Juniata and Perry com- 
prised the Ninth Judicial District. The Act of Assembly of 1722 
is a codification of the prior acts into one general law. Under the 
Constitution of 1776 and the conventions of 1790, 1836 and 1873 
the system was revised and strengthened. 

At the time of the formation of Perry County as a political 
unit there were no resident attorneys within its confines, conse- 
quently it was the bar of the "mother county" — Cumberland — that 
furnished the legal staff for the institution of the local courts. At 
that time Judge John Reed, originally a Westmoreland County 
man, was president judge of Cumberland County, and upon him 
was conferred the honor of instituting the courts of the new 
county. Landisburg was selected as the temporary county seat, 
and in a log building, fully described in the chapter entitled "Perry 
County Established," the first courts were held. In early days, 
the county being yet in its pioneering period, the principal business 
of the attorneys was with trials pertaining to land titles. Some- 
times almost the entire period of the courts' sessions were devoted 
to such litigation. The attorneys who specialized along this line 
were known as "land lawyers," and a number of members of the 
Carlisle bar were men who had thus attained fame. Among these 
« were David Watts, Thomas Duncan, Andrew Carothers, and oth- 

459 



460 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

ers. As far west as the Allegheny Mountains these men were re- 
tained in legal contests of this nature. 

After the discovery of coal in Schuylkill County the fact that 
many of the mountains there, which were underlaid with coal, ex- 
tended westwardly across the Susquehanna River, where there was 
also supposed to be coal, caused capitalists from Philadelphia and 
elsewhere (about 1796) to warrant the mountain lands and have 
diem surveyed, even befo.re the fertile valley lands were claimed. 




BENJAMIN jrXKIN, 
First Judge Elected from Perry County. 

Without any geological knowledge whatever these men went ahead 
and look up mountain tracts which were even devoid of timber, 
let alone coal. Overlapping surveys and encroachments were 
fought out in the courts with as much avidity as if the lands had 
been underlaid with diamonds. The lawyers were equally ignorant 
of the fact that the mountains of this section were barren of coal 
and naturally fought with all the skill and ability which they pos- 
sessed, with the result that there has been built up in the courts of 
the state a land system as perfect as any in existence to this day, 
and one which, has established precedents that are now followed by 



THE BENCH AND BAR 461 

many other states. The fact thai Perry County was then in its 
formative period in many ways, drew the talent oi men such as 
these to the county. 

During the first year of the county's existence -in fact, at the 
very first session of the courts— John I). Creigh and M. Wads- 
worth were admitted to practice at the Terry County bar. De- 
scendants of Air. Creigh are prominenl to this day in Perry 
County. In 1X21 Alexander Mahon. a man of distinguished ora- 
torical power; William McClure, Cv(k A. Lyon. Alexander A. 
Anderson, John Williamson, Samuel Kiddle, and Charles B. Ten- 
rose came over from Cumberland Count}- and were admitted to 
practice in the Perry County courts. In 1X22-23 Andrew G. Mil- 
ler. Robert Wilson. Thomas McDonald, Baldwin Campbell, and 
Samuel Douglas followed. Of these" latter named men no knowl- 
edge was handed down to posterity, in so far as the records avail- 
able show. 

In 1824, however, came men who were heard and known, some 
even intimately, by such men as B. F. Junkin, once a member of 
the United States Congress, and long a member of the Perry 
County bar, former judge of the courts, and known personally to 
many who will read these words. To the recorded descriptions of 
Judge Junkin we are indebted for much of our material along 
this line. 

Of these lawyers Frederick Watts probably stood at the head 
of the list, but we shall let Judge Junkin describe him: "We re- 
member with pleasure his admirable method of addressing a jury. 
When we first came to the bar, and indeed always, it was a treat 
to listen to his pleading, and we never lost one word he uttered, 
for no one moved or spoke or withdrew attention until he closed." 
About the same time came Samuel Alexander, described as a logi- 
cal reasoner, preeminent for knowledge and skill, genial, witty, a 
musician and scientist, with a wonderfully developed sense of 
humor. In 1825 Benjamin Mclntire was admitted. He located 
here and practiced law in Terry County practically all his life, 
d\ing in 1882. The same year came Richard P. Creigh, E. B. 
Leonard, and William I). Ramsey, hut tiny did not practice 
steadily. 

In the years of \X2j-2X came William Ay res, Charles B. Tower, 
Charles McClure. Hugh Gallagher, N. Smith, and Moses McClain. 
all living out of the county and being only engaged in special cases. 
except Charles B. Power. Andrew Carothers, a crippled man 
from Carlisle, also came over to practice and sat in a chair while 
addressing a jury. John R. McCHntock was admitted in 182c) and 
practiced during his lifetime, to 1X74. From 1840 to 1845 Joseph 
Casey lived here and practiced the profession, lie was quite suc- 
cessful, but left to locate in Union County. He was afterwards 



462 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

elected to Congress, became state reporter, and finally chief justice 
of the Court of Claims of the United States, 1863 to 1870. From 
1842 to 185 1 James McFarlane lived here and practiced success- 
fully. He then removed to Bradford, where he was wed, and 
while still practicing his profession he wrote the article on "Coal 
Formations" for Appleton's Encyclopedia, which gave him na- 
tional fame. 

Admitted to the bar in 1848, Wm. A. Sponsler was one of the 
older school of attorneys, the colleague of Mclntire, Junkin, Pot- 
ter and others of the period before and after the War between the 
States. He was born January 28, 1827, in Cumberland County, 
and removed with his parents to Perry County when but six years 
old. He studied in the offices of Benjamin Mclntire and was ad- 
mitted to practice in 1848. He possessed a thorough knowledge of 
the law, and as a pleader before the bar was unexcelled. He died 
January 15, 1897. 

Benjamin Mclntire, son of Thomas Mclntire, was born in Cum- 
berland County in 1798, and studied law at Carlisle with Charles 
B. Penrose, locating at Landisburg, and moving to New Bloom- 
field, when the county seat was moved there. He was once deputy 
attorney general for Perry County and also was a member of the 
draft board for Perry, Cumberland and York Counties during the 
Sectional War. 

Charles J. T. Mclntire was a son of Benjamin Mclntire, and 
was 1), ,rn January 3, 1830, in New Bloomfield. He graduated at 
Dickinson College in 1847, an( ^ studied law in his father's offices. 
I le was admitted to the bar in 1851. He was twice elected district 
attorney and served in the State Senate in 1868-70, when the dis- 
trict was composed of the counties of Perry, Juniata, Mifflin, Hunt- 
ingdon, Blair, and Center. Pie died in 1886. 

Charles H. Smiley was born at Shermansdale, Perry County, 
on May 9. 1844. He served in the War between the States, and 
after his return was elected prothonotary of the county, serving 
from 1867 to 1870. Concurrently he was a law student in the 
office of Charles A. Barnett. and was admitted to the bar in 1872. 
From 1881-84 he served the district composed of the counties of 
Perry, Juniata, and Mifflin in the State Senate. During the last 
quarter of the last century Mr. Smiley was one of the leading 
attorneys at the county bar. He was a forceful speaker and had a 
thorough knowledge of the law. He died March 18, 1912. 

Lewis Potter, a native of Buffalo Township, was a noted pen- 
sion attorney after the Sectional W r ar. 

( M later attorneys admitted to the bar who left Perry County, 
\\ . I). Ard is now located at Washington, D. C. ; W. H. Kell 
resides at Steelton, Pennsylvania; R. B. Gibson located at Erie; 
( '.ration Junkin is at Rome, Georgia; Arthur C. Eackey is in New 



THE BENCH AND BAR 463 

York ; James R. Magee, in the government service, few being in 
active practice. J. J. Kintner is located and practicing at Lock 
Haven, Pennsylvania. In 1914 and in 1919 he was an unsuc- 
cessful candidate for the nomination for judge of the Supreme 
Court. In 1919 he was elected district attorney of Clinton County 
by "stickers," his name not appearing on the ballot. George R. 
Barnett and Scott S. Leiby retain their residence in the county, 
but have their offices at Harrisburg. George Black Roddy, James 
M. Sharon, D. L. Detra, William S. Seibert, and J. R. Flickinger 
are dead, the latter having long been principal of the Central State 
Normal School at Lock Haven. William S. Snyder practices at 
Harrisburg. 

Following is a list of the attorneys who have practiced at the 
Perry County bar, since the county's organization, in 1820: 

Attorneys at the Perry County Bar. 

Name. Preceptor. Date Admitted. 

John D. Creigh December, 1820 

Fred'k M. Wadsworth December, 1820 

Charles D. Davis September, 1821 

Benjamin Mclntire Charles B. Penrose January, 1825 

Richard M. Creigh John D. Creigh ,. . . January, 1825 

Edward B. Leonard Andrew Caruthers January, 1825 

Charles B. Power April, 1825 

Samuel Creigh January, 1829 

J. R. McClintock Charles B. Power January, 1829 

Samuel Ramsey April, 1829 

Abner C. Harding January, 1830 

Fred'k E. Bailey April, 1839 

Joseph Casey C. B. Penrose and Judge Reed January, 1839 

Henry C. Hickok April, 1841 

Samuel G. Morrison ■ November, 1842 

Paul Corrigan B. Mclntire August, 1843 

Daniel Gantt Joseph Casey August, 1843 

James McFarlane August] 1843 

George W. Power August, 1843 

Mitchell Steever Daniel Gantt April, 1844 

John L. Gallatin Samuel G. Morrison April, 1844 

Benjamin F. Junkin Samuel Hepburn April, 1845 

A. B. Anderson Benjamin Mclntire April' 1846 

Wm. A. Sponsler Benjamin Mclntire \pril] 1848 

C. J. T. Mclntire Benjamin Mclntire January, 1852 

J. Don Carlisle January] 1852 

Wm. R. Shuler August, 1856 

Samuel B. Richey B. F. Junkin April, 1856 

John B. McAlister Wm. A. Sponsler Tanua'ry, 1856 

Charles A. Barnett B. F. Junkin August,' 1857 

Roswell M. Russell Benjamin Mclntire Tanuary, 1858 

Rush T. Roddy Benjamin Mclntire April, 1858 

Henry G. Milans B. F. Junkin Tanuary, 1859 

Joseph Bailey Benjamin Mclntire April, i860 

Joseph H. Arnold Benjamin Mclntire \pril, 1861 

William M. Sutch B. F. Junkin \pril, i86r 

E. C. Long Benjamin Mclntire January, 1862 

A. H. Burkholder Benjamin Mclntire lanuary, 1862 

Lewis Potter Wm. A. Sponsler January, 1863 

David L. Tressler Benjamin Mclntire lanuary, 1864 



464 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Name. Preceptor. Date Admitted. 

John F. I.. Sahm Benjamin Mclntire April, 1865 

John D. Nelson W. A. Sponsler October, 1866 

W. W. Whitmer Benjamin Mclntire January, 1867 

Jacob Gantt Wm. A. Sponsler April, 1867 

Charles L. Murphy B. F. Junkin April, 1867 

James H. Grier Wm. A. Sponsler August, 1867 

Martin Liggett April, 1868 

Benj. P. Mclntire C. J. T. Mclntire October, 1868 

W. S. Milligan W. H. Miller January, 1869 

James H. Ferguson .' August, 1869 

Wm. N. Seibert Wm. A. Sponsler , . August, 1869 

Jacob Bailey C. J. T. Mclntire October, 1870 

Calvin Neilson Wm. A. Sponsler May, 1872 

Charles H. Smiley Chas. A. Barnett August, 1872 

A. M. Markel Chas. A. Barnett August, 1873 

J. K. Junkin B. F. Junkin October, 1873 

J. C. McAlister Wm. A. Sponsler May, 1874 

Wilson Lupfer C. J. T. Mclntire August, 1874 

Wm. H. Sponsler Wm. A. Sponsler April, 1876 

John C. Wallis April, 1876 

Theo. K. Long Harvard Law School April, 1878 

Fillmore Maust Wm. H. Sponsler December, 1881 

R. H. Stewart Chas. A. Barnett December, 1881 

James W. Sbull Wm. H. Sponsler April, 1881 

Edward R. Sponsler Wm. A. Sponsler August, 1881 

C. W. Rhinesmith Wm. N. Seibert December, 1883 

William Orr Chas. A. Barnett December, 1883 

George R. Barnett Chas. H. Smiley August, 1884 

J. L. Markel B. F. Junkin August, 1884 

J. W. McKee Wm. H. Sponsler August, [884 

J. R. Flickinger Chas. H. Smiley August, 1885 

Luke Baker Chas. H. Smiley April, 1891 

James M. Sharon Chas. A. Barnett November, 1891 

James M. Barnett Chas. A. Barnett April, 1892 

Wm. S. Seibert Wm. N. Seibert January, 1893 

John C. Motter Wm. A. Sponsler April, 1893 

Wm. H. Kell James W. Shull April, 1894 

J. J. Kintner Chas. H. Smiley April, 1894 

Arthur C. Lackey Dickinson Law School April, 1895 

R. B. Gibson Dickinson Law School April, 1894 

James M. McKee Chas. A. Barnett April, 1898 

Geo. Black Roddy Chas. H. Smiley November, 1898 

Wm. D. Ard I. L. Markel April, 1900 

Grafton Junkin B. I'. Junkin August, 1900 

Walter W. Rice Chas. A. Barnett August, 1901 

Wm. S. Snyder Jas. A. Stranahan November, 1902 

Chas. H. .Smiley, Jr Chas. H. Smiley January, 1905 

James R. Magee Columbia Law School April, 1916 

Tiii': Bench. 

Before Perry County became a separate political unit, from the 
soil which is now comprised within its borders, there went out one 
ol the greatest jurists, not only of the state but of the nation, a 
man whose opinions are quoted to this day not only in the land of 
lu's birth, but abroad. We refer to John Bannister Gibson, former 
Chief Justice of the State of Pennsylvania. An entire chapter 
devoted to the lite ot Mr. Gibson will be found in this book. 



THE BENCH AND BAR . 465 

At the time of the institution of the courts of Perry County 
there was a life tenure of office connected with the judiciary, but 
in [838 this was changed to an appointive term of ten years. Judge 
Reed, who was in charge of the courts in the new county, presided 
until that time. He is said to have been a learned jurist, a pleasant 
and amiable gentleman, and strong socially. After leaving the 
bench he practiced for over ten years in the judicial district over 
which he formerly presided. He died January 19, 1850, aged 
about 65 years. 

On Judge Reed's retirement Samuel Hepburn became judge, 
being appointed by Governor Ritner. Although quite a young 
man when appointed and without extensive experience at the bar, 
he was apt, accurate, and acquitted himself with credit upon the 
bench. He lived at Carlisle, at which place he died. 

The third judge was Frederick Watts, of Carlisle, who was ap- 
pointed by Governor Johnson, assuming office in 1849. The Con- 
stitution, as amended, however, made the judiciary elective, and 
his term thus ended in December, 1851, although it would have 
been seven more years. Of the talents of Mr. Watts we have 
spoken in the previous pages among the early practitioners. As a 
judge he maintained his reputation as an accurate, prompt and effi- 
cient jurist. A man without fear, expressing his convictions with- 
out regards to consequences. Former Judge Junkin thus described 
him : "What he believed he said, and what he believed was gen- 
erally right, and he, more than any other judge who ever sat on 
this bench, was less careful to conceal his own convictions as to 
what the verdict of a jury ought to be." Judge Watts was a grand- 
son of General Frederick Watts, who was a resident of what is 
new Perry County, and a son of David Watts. Watts Township, 
Perry County, was named in honor of Judge Watts. He resided 
at Carlisle, wdiere he died. See biographical sketches devoted to 
several members of the Watts family elsewhere in this book. 

Judge James H. Graham was the fourth man to fill the position 
and the first one to be elected by the people. Perry was then in the 
old Ninth Judicial District, and over it Judge Graham presided for 
twenty years, a fitting tribute to the new elective system. He was 
pronounced a man of great legal ability, a sound reasoner, ob- 
servant, discerning and rapid in decision. His home was at Car- 
lisle, where he resided until his death. 

Benjamin F. Junkin was the fifth man to sit upon the bench of 
Perry County, the second to be elected by the people, and the 
first citizen of the county to fill the position. He was a son of 
John Junkin, by his first wife, and was born November 12, 1822, 
in Cumberland County. His father, in April, 1823, purchased the 
Stroop farm, between Green Park and Landisburg. and removed 
'to the new county when it was less than three years in existence. 
30 



4 66 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The father continued a resident here until 1853, when he sold the 
farm and removed to Muscatine County, Iowa. B. F. Junkin 
studied law in the offices of Judge Hepburn, and was admitted to 
the bar of Cumberland County in August, 1844. He located in 
New Bloomfield the succeeding year and was elected district attor- 
ney in 1852, serving three terms. In 1858 he was elected to the 
United States Congress from the district composed of Cumber- 
land, Perry and York Counties. In 187 1 he was elected president 
judge of the district then composed of Cumberland, Perry and 




Chas A. Bahnett, James M. Barnett, 

FATHER AND SON WHO BECAME JUDGE. 

Chas. A. Barnett was the first Native Son of Perry County to be Elected Judge. 
James M. Barnett is the Present Incumbent. 

Juniata Counties. He died October 9, 1908. After serving on 
the bench he resumed his practice. He was noted for the sound- 
ness and thoroughness of his legal knowledge. His eloquence of 
diction and sense of humor were marked. 

In 1874, by an act of the legislature approved on April 9th, Perry 
and Juniata Counties became the Forty-First Judicial District, and 
have so remained since. 

The sixth judge of Perry County was Charles A. Barnett, who 
was the third to get the coveted position by election, the second 
resident of the county to attain the distinction, and the first judge 
to have been born within the limits of the county, his birthplace 
having been in New Bloomfield, on the farm from which the lands 
for the county seat were donated by his father, George Barnett. 



THE BENCH AND BAR 467 

He graduated at Marshall College at Mercersburg, in 1853. He 
taught school in the Mississippi valley, and on his return to New 
Bloomfield became the principal of the New Bloomfield Academy 
— now the Carson Long Institute. In the meantime he was reading 
law in the office of B. F. Junkin and was admitted to practice law in 
August, 1857. In 1863 he was elected to the state legislature. He 
was subsequently appointed register in bankruptcy, which appoint- 
ment he held until the repeal of the bankrupt law. He was 
elected president judge in 1881. He died January 29, 19 17, having 
returned to active practice. His high moral standards and sense 
of right, coupled with a thorough legal knowledge, gave him a wide 
judicial reputation. 

The seventh president judge to preside was Jeremiah Lyons, who 
was elected in 1891, being the fourth to attain the judgeship by 
election. He was a son — one of thirteen children — of Nicholas 
and Sarah (Yohn) Lyons, and was born in Saville Township, 
Perry County, September 16, 1839. He was educated in the com- 
mon schools and at Markelville Academy. He read law with Ezra 
Doty, of Mifflintown, and was admitted to the bar there in 1863. 
He practiced at Mifflintown until his election to the bench, Novem- 
ber, 1891. His election came through a four-cornered contest, the 
conferees of both parties of the two counties failing to agree on 
a nominee. He was a member of the electoral college in 1876. He 
was president of the First National Bank of Mifflintown from its 
organization until his election as judge. He died in November, 
1900, while on a visit to Philadelphia. Judge Lyons was a man 
of the people. He was learned in the law, frank in manner, and 
of a genial nature. 

The eighth president judge, L. E. Atkinson, came to the posi- 
tion in 1900, by appointment, to fill the unexpired term of Judge 
Lyons. Mr. Atkinson was born in Juniata County, June 16, 1841, 
and educated in the common schools and at Airy View and Miln- 
wood Academies. He graduated in medicine at the University of 
New York in 1861, entered the medical department of the Union 
Army, serving throughout the war. He was disabled during the 
war so that he had to use crutches and could not follow the prac- 
tice of medicine. He then read law with Edmund S. Doty, and 
was admitted to the bar in 1870. He was a member of Congress 
for two terms. Judge Atkinson was untiring and had a thorough 
knowledge of the law. 

James W. Shull, still in active practice at New Bloomfield, be- 
came the ninth judge, having been elected on the Republican ticket 
in 1901. Mr. Shull was born in Spring Township, November 5, 
1856, the son of Samuel and Elvina (Albert) Shull. He was edu- 
cated in the public schools of Penn and Wheatfield Townships, at 
Prof. Wright's Normal School at Millerstown, and at the New 



468 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Bloomfield Academy. He read law with \Y. II. Sponsler, I, then 
a leading attorney at the bar, and was admitted to practice in April, 
[881. Judge Shull ranks among the foremost members of the 
Terry County bar, which lias always had a reputation for its abil- 
ity and tin in mghness. 

Win. N. Seibert became the tenth president judge, in January, 
KM-'. William Neilson Seibert, son of Rev. Samuel W. Seibert, 
was born in Centre Township, Perry County, May 28, 1848. Kdu- 




JUDGE W'M. N. SEIBERT. 



JUDGE JAMES W. SHULL. 



eated in the common schools and the New Bloomfield Academy, 
he read law in the office of Wm. A. Sponsler, and was admitted 
to the bar in August, 1869. From 1871 to 1875 he was clerk to 
the county commissioners in connection with his practice. He was 
a candidate for judge in 1891, in the four-cornered fight, when 
both the Republican and Democratic parties of the two counties 
( Terry and Juniata) failed to agree upon a nominee, and both par- 
ties presented two candidates for judge, one from each county. 
Mr. Lyons won the election, with Mr. Seibert running second. 
Twenty years later he was the nominee of the Democratic party 
and was elected. He died at Duncannon while awaiting a train, 
February 11, 1918, during his term. Judge Seibert had a great 
legal mind, was over studious, had high moral principles, and a 
genial disposition. 1 lis elder son and law partner, Wm. S. Seibert, 
died a year later, April ij, 1919. 



THE BENCH AND BAR 469 

Jeremiah N. Keller, through appointmenl to fill the vacancy 
caused by the death of Judge Seibert, became the eleventh man to 
fill the judgeship. The appointmenl was valid only until the next 
regular judicial election. Me was born in Juniata County, August 
1, 1858. He was educated in the public schools, at Airy View 
Academy, and graduated from the Central State Normal School 
at Lock Haven in 1883. lie taught in his home county for five 
years, two of which lie was principal at Mifllinlowu. lie read 
law with L. E. Atkinson, and was admitted lo the bar in 1888. 
He represented his county in the legislature in 1896-97. He prac- 
tices his profession at Mifflintown. 

The present president judge, James M. Barnett, the twelfth to fill 
the position, is a son of Charles A. Barnett, who was the sixth judge 
of Perry County. He was born in New Bloomfield, May 24, 1 870. 
llis mother was Mary (McClure) Barnett. He was educated in 
the public schools, the New Bloomfield Academy, and at Princeton 
College, now Princeton University. He was the Republican nomi- 
nee in 191 1, but was defeated by Win. N. Seibert, largely on the 
temperance question, then the foremost issue. He was elected in 
[919, the first to be elected upon a non-partisan ticket, that being 
the law then in force. He read law with his father, and w;as ad- 
mitted to the bar in April, 1892. Judge Barnett has a wide repu- 
tation as a lawyer. His administration so far has met with public 
.approval at home and abroad. 

Special Legislation Relating to Terry County. 

Throughout this book, at various places there will be found the 
record of special legislation pertaining to .Perry County, and, in 
must instances it is not considered necessary to refer to it again. 
This legislation naturally dates to the very act creating Perry 
County, printed elsewhere in full. 

Before the county's erection, special legislation relating to the territory 
was passed, the more important heing the act of February, 1773, making 
Sherman's Creek a public highway and authorizing James Patton to con- 
struct a dam in the creek; that of March 13, 1795, authorizing Wm. Beatty 
to erect a dam in the Juniata River from Sheep Island, near it mouth, to 
the west bank of the river; that of March 8, 1799, authorizing Matthias 
Flam and David Watts to establish a ferry on the Susquehanna at or near 
the mouth of the Juniata; that of March 29, 1813, authorizing the appoint- 
ment of commissioners to make an artificial road from Millerstown to the 
Franklin County line, "to go through McKessonsburg, and thence via 
Daniel Sprenkle's," and that <>! March 28, 1 S 1 4, incorporating (Ik- Millers- 
town Bridge Company. 

The first special act relating lo Perry County after its establishment 
was one passed March 15, 1821, pertaining to the appeals, etc., from the 
judgment of justices of the peace (of that part of Cumberland which be- 
came Perry) which happened after March _»_', [820, transferring them to 
the Perry County courts. 



470 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Another was passed April 2, 1821, and related to fences in Perry and 
Cumberland Counties, boroughs excepted. Section 2 provided that a fence 
four and a half feet high be a legal fence. 

The acts relating to the location of the county seat appear in the chapter 
relating to that subject. 

The act of April 23, 1829, authorized Stephen Duncan and John D. 
Mahon, their heirs and assigns, "to erect, build and support a good and 
substantial bridge over Sherman's Creek, in Perry County, at the mouth 
of said creek," and to 

"Erect a gate upon or near said bridge and collect the tolls hereinafter 
granted, from all persons passing over the same with horses, cattle, carts 
and carriages, or on foot, that is to say : for every coach, landau, phaeton, 
stage wagon or other pleasure carriage with four wheels, drawn by four 
horses or mules, the sum of twenty-five cents ; and for every such carriage 
drawn by two horses or mules, the sum of eighteen cents, and for every 
such carriage drawn by one horse or mule, the sum of twelve and a half 
cents; for every wagon drawn by four horses or mules, twenty cents; for 
every chaise, riding chair, sulky, cart, or other two-wheeled carriage, sleigh 
or sled, with two horses or mules, the sum of twelve and a half cents, 
and so in proportion, if more horses or mules are added to the number 
herein mentioned ; and for every such carriage drawn by one horse or 
mule, the sum of ten cents; and for all the above description of carriages 
drawn in whole or in part by oxen, two oxen to be estimated equal to one 
horse; for a single horse and mule rider, the sum of six cents; for every 
led horse or mule, three cents; for every foot passenger, two cents; for 
every sheep or swine, the sum of half a cent; for every head of horned 
cattle, the sum of one cent." 

A further provision said that "the tolls authorized should not be taken 
from any person or persons going to or returning from public worship on 
the Sabbath, going to or returning from funerals, going to or returning 
from training in the military, or persons going to or returning from general 
or township elections." Section 3 provided that if the commissioners saw 
proper the grand jury could appoint a jury of twelve to place a valuation 
upon the bridge and a sale made to the county on the condition that the 
bridge be free. 

An act of April 8, 1833, authorized John Everhart, of Juniata Township, 
"to erect a wing dam in the Juniata, on the east side thereof, at or near 
Juniata Falls," for the purpose of using water power. 

The Perry County Mutual Fire Insurance Company was incorporated by 
the act of April 18, 1843, by Finlaw McCowen, David Darlington, John 
Gotwalt, John Witherow, David Deardorff, John Rice, John McBride, 
David Lupfer, Joseph Casey, James Black, Samuel Leiby, John Junkin, 
Henry Fetter, Win. B. Anderson, Abram Addams, Thomas Cochran, Rob- 
ert Elliot, Abram B. Demaree, Jacob Evinger, and Jacob Shearer. Among 
the provisions of the act was a requirement that $50,000 be subscribed be- 
fore the act become effective, that the first thirteen names constitute the 
board of directors, and that a twenty-five-year limit be placed on the act 
becoming effective. A supplementary act of April 10, 1845, gave the com- 
pany the privilege of writing insurance in any county of the commonwealth. 
By a provision of a blanket bill covering various subjects, dated March 25, 
1852, members of the company were made competent witnesses in suits 
brought against the company, unless individually parties to the suit. By 
an act of February 25, 1858, the number of directors was reduced to twelve, 
and a number of provisions of the company relative to insurance, defined. 

An effort was once made to build a bridge at Liverpool, as the act of 
April 29, 1844, shows. It provided for the incorporation of a company for 
the erection of a bridge at or near Liverpool. The shares were to be $25 



THE BENCH AND BAR 



471 



each and the following commissioners appointed in the act : From Dauphin 
County, Jacob Seal, James Freeland, G. W. Finney, John Sherer and Israel 
Carpenter; from Perry County, F. Rinehart, S. Shuler, Isaac Meek, D. 
Steward, J. H. Case, H. W. Shuman and James Jackman. 

The recent general act relating to the establishment of the office of 
sealers of weights and measures was not a new law, but rather the revival 
of an old one. Such an act became effective, upon its signature, April 15, 
1845, and on April 14, 1859, its provisions were repealed in so far as Perry, 
Cumberland and Clarion Counties were concerned. John W. Gotwalt was 
once the incumbent in Perry County. 

The act of March 11, 1850, made it illegal to erect a free bridge within 
one mile of a toll bridge over the Juniata River. The act of March 11, 
1851, compelled the supervisors to open a road from Finlaw McCowen's 
(the Oliver Rice farm, in Centre Township) to Caroline Furnace (Bailey's 
Station), in Miller Township. That and other minor acts relating to Perry 
County were passed at that session. 

The Odd Fellows' Hall Association of Perry County was incorporated 
March 22, 1850, for the purpose of building an Odd Fellows' hall at Liver- 
pool. 

A temperance hall had been built at Ickesburg, and the act of April 17, 
1854, authorized its sale, and the money to be returned to contributors. 
The lot had been conveyed to Robert Elliott by James Milligan and Elea- 
nor, his wife. 

The act of March 8, 1856, authorized the county to borrow annually a 
sum not to exceed $1,000. 

An act of March 27, 1865, related to the office of jury commissioner. 

The act of March 27, 1866, provided that "no license be issued to any 
person, or persons, to sell spirituous, vinous, malt or brewed liquors, for 
drinking purposes, in the borough of Duncannon, in Penn Township, or 
within two miles of the same." Six years later, the act of May 12, 1871, 
repealed the former act. 

By an act of February it, 1868, Centre Township was authorized to use 
for school purposes any bounty money for volunteers collected by special 
taxation and yet in their hands. 

A special act of March 18, 1868, was passed and provided for the pro- 
tection of wild turkeys in Perry County and prohibited their being killed 
"except from October 1 to January 1." 

By an act dated March 21, 1868, the island (Wister's) in the Susque- 
hanna River, then a part of Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, 
was annexed to Penn Township, Perry County. It was designated as con- 
taining fifty acres, more or less, and belonging to Langhorne Wister, hav- 
ing thereon erected a tenant house and barn, and located about a mile 
from the mainland of Dauphin County and about 200 yards from the 
Perry County shore, and cultivated by the owner in connection with his 
farm in Perry County. 

An act dated March 25, 1868, applied to Perry County the provisions of 
an act passed April 18, 1853, relating to Westmoreland County, which 
provided that bridges which were erected by the county must be kept in 
repair by the township or townships in which they are located, in the 
same manner prescribed by law in relation to public roads. 

Perry County was included in the act of April 9, 1868, passed for "the 
relief of citizens of certain counties whose property was destroyed, dam- 
aged or appropriated to the public service and in the common defense, in 
the war to suppress the rebellion." 

The act of April 11, 1868, authorized the county commissioners to pay 
$600 to the supervisors of Jackson Township for the erection of a public 



4/2 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



bridge over Houston's Run, at a point near Baltozer's foundry, where the 
main road from Plain to Newville crosses that stream. 

The act of March 12, 1869, gave to justices of the peace of the county 
the right to empanel a jury of six for the trial of certain cases. Another 
act signed the same day created the law library. 

The act of February 10, 1871, incorporated the Bailey's Station Rope 
Ferry Company, with a capital of $25,000. The directors named in the act 
were Isaac Meek, George Blattenberger, David Deckard, John Stephens, 
John Herr, Lewis Acker, Joseph Bailey and George Hoffman. 

The Perry County Mutual Benefit Association was incorporated by the 
Pennsylvania Legislature, March 9, 1872, with John R. Shuler, William 
AlcKee, Robert N. Wallis, Lewis Potter, Charles L. Murray and J. W. 
Gotwalt as incorporators. Section 2 required the payment of an assess- 
ment of $1.10 by the membership on the death of any member. 

The act of April 12, 1872, gave to "Isaac Crow, his heirs and assigns" 
the right to make landings as far north as the canal lock below Liverpool, 
and as far south as Mount Patrick, and on the east side of the Susque- 
hanna, along the line of the borough of Millersburg. 

The act of April 10, 1873, authorized the county commissioners to bor- 
row a sum not exceeding $9,000 to build a bridge over the Juniata River. 

Early legislation appears odd to this generation. For instance, the act 
of March 23, 1818, .authorizing the building of the Clark's Ferry bridge 
provided for 1,000 shares at $25 each, seemingly an insignificant sum in 
our day for such a project. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 
*THE PUBLIC PRESS. 

PERRY C< >UNTY has not only had many able men connected 
with newspaper publications, but it has given to the nation 
one of a quartet of the greatest of American editors, the late 
Col. Alexander EC. McClure, who for so many years was the editor 
of the Philadelphia Times, at that time a paper with a political in- 
fluence that extended over the entire nation. Elsewhere in this 
hook is a chapter which relates to his life. Compared with those 
of other comities, Perry County has several papers and a number 
of newspaper men who are the equals of those to be found any- 
where upon the country press, and whose product equals and ex- 
cels very many city publications. During the past century men 
connected with the press of Perry County have not only repre- 
sented their constituents in the legislative halls of the state, but of 
the nation as well. 

During practically the whole period of the writer's connection 
with the newspaper business, during the last decade of the past 
century, the press of the county was edited by the following : New 
Bloomfield, People's Advocate and Press, John H. Sheibley ; 
Perry County Democrat, John A. Magee; Perry County Times, 
Frank Mortimer ; Perry County Freeman, John A. Baker, and 
later by A. B. Grosh ; Newport News, F. A. Fry; Newport 
Ledger, George Shrom ; Liverpool Sun, J. A. Zellers; Duncan- 
non Record, H. H. Hain. There was a paper at Marysville at 
times, as stated elsewhere. My colleagues of those days, all men of 
mature years, are now dead. However, H. E- Sheibley, now edi- 
tor of the People's Advocate and Press, and James S. Magee, of 
the Perry County Democrat, were associated with their fathers in 
those days, and while their names did not appear "at the mast- 
head," they did much of the real editorial work. 

Before the county of Perry was created there were no news- 
papers published within its borders, the papers from Carlisle, the 
old county seat, being generally read and patronized. The act of 
the: legislature creating the new 7 county of Perry was signed by the 



*To the author this topic is of especial interest, as his connection with 
the press as correspondent, as editor of one of the county papers and as 
an occasional contrihutor to several papers since then, covers the entire 
period of his activity since his twelfth year, when he became a regular 
weekly correspondent from his section for the Duncannon Record, then 
under the management of J. 1,. McCaskey, signing the crude efforts with 
the suggestive nom de plume, "Juvenile." 

473 



474 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

governor, March 22, 1820, and inside of fonr months, on July 12, 
1820, the first copy of a Perry County newspaper, the Perry For- 
ester, appeared at the new county seat, Landisburg, its editors and 
owners being Alexander Magee and H. W. Peterson. In fact, 
these two men had entered the new county with rival schemes. A 
notice in the first issue of the new paper substantiates the fact that 
Alexander Magee, who had been in the printing business in Car- 
lisle, had proposed publishing a paper to be known as the Gazette, 
and that H. W. Peterson one known as The Telescope, but that 
they had pooled their interests and compromised with the name 
Perry Forester. It follows : 

"Those gentlemen, holding subscription papers for the Perry Gazette 
and The Telescope, issued by Alexander Magee and H. W. Peterson, will 
please transmit them to this office, as soon as possible ; or the names and 
places of residence of the subscribers they may respectively contain, as 
H. W. Peterson and Alexander Magee have entered into partnership." 

(Signed) Editors. 

This first paper's cost was $2.50 per annum, but "those who pay 
six months in advance, every six months, will be charged $2.00." 
The first issue contained much literary matter, a lengthy introduc- 
tion, and the following paragraph : "An apology is due our readers 
for the scanty supply of news in this week's Forester. We have 
not yet received any papers of any account from which we could 
make extracts." Another article touched upon the very poor pos- 
tal facilities, as follows : "We labor under a great inconvenience 
in this place, on account of the arrival of but one mail a week. We 
sincerely hope that some proper arrangement will soon be made 
by the good citizens of Landisburg to receive, at least, two mails 
a week ; and to run a post once a week from this place to Millers- 
town.'' In an early copy an article tells of the seat of justice not 
yet being fixed, and another article tells of the capture of Lewis 
and Connelly, the robbers, on July 2, at Belief onte, with the added 
paragraph: "The above information we have received from a 
young gentleman of respectable appearance direct from Belief onte, 
who passed through Landisburg on Thursday last," thus showing 
the pioneer method of transmitting important events. The issue 
of July 26th tells of Lewis' death. A crop report of an early issue 
says: "The harvest is reported fine; corn and potatoes are prom- 
ising well." "Selected Toasts" were a prominent feature of each 
issue for a time, there probably being a demand for them by the 
populace else they would not have appeared. Many volumes con- 
tained much literary material. That the use of liquor was also 
being combated is proven by the many articles appearing against 
drunkenness and the fruits of intemperance. The issue of Sep- 
tember 16, 1820, stated that the proprietors would take wheat, rye, 
corn, hams, butter, tallow and rags, in payment of subscription. 



THE PUBLIC PRESS 475 

Francis Gibson, a brother of the future Chief Justice Gibson, 
writing under the nom de plume of "The Bard of the Vale," fur- 
nished considerable verse of a rather problematical value, often of 
a personal nature. 

In the issue of April 14, 1824, over nine hundred pieces of un- 
seated lands were advertised. Evidently the facilities of the pub- 
lishers were somewhat limited, as in certain issues the type used 
in publishing the text varies from six point to twenty-four point. 
The use of words at that time were not especially complimentary 
on occasions, more especially so between gentlemen of the press, 
and some of them would not be appropriate in a volume such as 
this. On one occasion a rival was referred to as "something like 
a polecat in a menagerie — more offensive than formidable." In 
the issue of January 1, 1823, appears a "Carrier's Address," two 
columns in length, and asks for "a tip or two." The issue of June 
23, 1834, appears with column rules inverted, in mourning over 
the death of the illustrious General Lafayette, who had died on 
May 20th, but news of which had just reached America. Andrew 
Jackson's "Truth is mighty and will prevail," was long carried at 
the Forester's masthead. Mr. Magee was the ancestor of the pres- 
ent Magee family, who edit and publish the Perry County Demo- 
crat, the successor of the Perry Forester, and the papers have been 
issued by the Magees since, excepting for about two decades. They 
have been a power in Democratic politics and have held many of- 
fices, the crowning one being when the late John A. Magee served 
his congressional district in the popular branch of the United 
States Congress. Mr. Peterson later edited a paper in Lebanon 
County. He then removed to Gault, upper Canada, where he died 
later, having in the meantime been a probate judge. The name of 
this first paper seems, looking down the years, singularly appro- 
priate, for was not the county then still almost a vast forest? It 
was at first a four-column, four-page paper. Mr. Peterson retired 
January 13, 1821, and Mr. Magee on January 26th increased it to 
a five-column paper. 

When the county seat was finally located at New Bloomfield 
Mr. Magee made arrangements to follow, and April 9, 1829, the 
Forester appeared from there. He published the Forester until 
March 1, 1832, when he sold it to David A. Reed, who edited it 
until February 14, 1835, when he sold it to Dr. Jonas Ickes, Peleg 
Sturtevant becoming the editor. It was published by them until 
February 13, 1836, when, according to tradition, it was discon- 
tinued. That statement, however, seems doubtful, although it has 
appeared in many volumes and historical articles, for on February 
16, 1837, the Democrat refers contemptuously to an editorial which 
appeared in the Forester the preceding week, accusing the junior 
■or nominal editor of hiding behind Messrs. Porter & Gangewer. 



47 6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Later, on May 4, 1837, the Democrat says thai "We have just 
been informed that William M. Porter, Esq., has this clay sold the 
printing office of the Perry Forester to Mr. Allen M. Gangewer. 
It appears to be the fate of that office to change hands semi- 
annually." References are also made in the Democrat's columns 
during August and September, 1837, to the Forester, and as late 
as May 3d, and August 23, 1838, and in July, 1839. Another evi- 
dence that the last issue was not that of February 13, 1836, is that 
not a word of its discontinuance appeared in that issue. Neither 
did any such notice appear in the following issue of the Democrat, 
which would have been the case had it absorbed the Forester. The 
actual date of its passing, is however, obscure. That it no longer 
existed in 1844 is proven by an article in the Freeman telling of 
the death of David A Reed, which states that he "was once editor 
of the Forester, formerly published in this place." 

The Liverpool Mercury, called after a paper in Liverpool, Eng- 
land, of the same name, was the second paper to be established in 
Perry County. It was started by John Huggins, of a then promi- 
nent family in eastern Perry County. It was started July 1, 1 83 1, 
and was a five-column, four-page paper. The subscription price 
was $2 per year. In June, 1836, it was moved to New Bloomfield, 
and published by James B. Cooper, who then owned it, as The 
Mercury and Perry Intelligencer. He sold to Stroop & Sample, 
who merged it with the Perry County Democrat. 

George Stroop and James E. Sample, on October 7, 1836, started 
the publication of The Mercury and Perry County Democrat, a 
five-column, four-page paper. In December of the same year it 
was made a six-column paper. Sample retired November 16, 1837, 
and from Stroop, who was an associate judge of the county at one 
time, in January, 1854, it passed to his son, George Stroop, and 
John A. Magee, a son of the early proprietor of the Forester. In 
[858 Stroop sold his interest to Magee, whose son, James S. 
Magee, is the present owner. John A. Magee was connected with 
it until his death, on November 18, 1903. In 1867 it had become 
a seven-column paper, and in 1871 added another column. Its title 
had early changed to The Perry County Democrat. 

The Perry Freeman, later changed to the Perry County Free- 
man, was a product of the slavery agitation, as its name implies, 
and was established by the late John A. Baker, June 21, 1839. In 
politics it was Whig, and later, like the Whigs, it became Repub- 
lican. It was started as a six-column folio, and later added a 
column. On June 19, 1854, the Freeman appeared in a new dress, 
typographically, and began publishing local news. In fact, up until 
about thai period all of the papers were devoted mostly to literary 
articles and to politics. John A. Baker was a remarkable man of 
wide knowledge, and it was through him that the late noted editor, 



THE PUBLIC PRESS 



477 



Alexander McClure, of the Philadelphia Times, became interested 
in newspaper work. While learning- the tanning trade at New 
Bloomfield McClure used to while away his leisure time in the 
Freeman office, and when the Republicans wanted to start a new 
paper at Mifflintown, Judge Baker recommended him. He be- 
came one of a quartet of the most noted editors in America and 
a power in politics. ( See sketch of his life elsewhere in this book.) 




HORACI5 E. SHEIBI.EY, 
Editor of "The Advocate and Press." 

The Freeman was purchased by W. H. Sponsler, December I, 
1894. and was sold to Alexander Blaine Grosh, January [9, [895. 
On October 4, 1905, it was sold to and merged with the People's 
Advocate and Press. 

The first issue of the People's Advocate and Perry County 
Democratic Press went to press in New Bloomfield, June 29, 1853, 
with the late John IT. Sheibley as editor. Its start was the result 
of friction between two factions of the Democratic party, and it 
was started by stock subscriptions of the one faction. It was a 



478 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

seven-column folio. When the American party was a vital factor 
in 1854 this paper supported it, and did so until 1856. During the 
interim the Missouri Compromise had been repealed, and a mighty 
force arose throughout the land, and organized the Republican 
party. Its principles became the Advocate's principles, and so re- 
main until this day, no one guarding them more sacredly than did 
the Sheibleys, father and sons. Of course the lengthy name soon 
changed to the present day title, the People's Advocate and Press. 
It was increased to eight columns in 1866. A disastrous fire in 
1873 burned the plant, ruining the type and machinery. A. B. 
Anderson, one of the projectors, in the earlier years was much in- 
terested in its editorial output. It was during only a few years 
that the paper was a stock concern, John H. Sheibley early pur- 
chasing the other interests. He owned and controlled it until his 
death, December 1, 1900, since which time it has remained the 
property of his sons, William B. and Horace E. Sheibley, the latter 
being the editor and manager. He was reared amid the surround- 
ings of a printing office, and is a graduate of Franklin and Mar- 
shall College. Horace E. Sheibley is now dean of the newspaper 
publishers of the county. The Advocate has the distinction of 
having had an employee on its rolls longer than almost any paper 
in the state. With a lapse of a single year the late James P. Laird 
was connected with that paper for forty-five years, mostly in the 
capacity of foreman. 

Frank Mortimer was a merchant in New Bloomfield as early as 
1865, and two years later, in 1867, started a little monthly adver- 
tising sheet. Along with his advertising he ran some local news. 
It was popular and a demand for more frequent publication caused 
him to make it a weekly in 1869, the price being one dollar per 
year. It attained a very large circulation at one time. It was 
neutral in politics. He conducted his paper and his mercantile 
business jointly until 1889, and then sold the latter and de- 
voted his entire time to the paper. On August 1, 1904, he sold the 
paper to William C. Lebo, who. had learned the trade with him, 
and who is still the publisher. Mr. Lebo continued the paper 
neutral in so far as regular political parties were concerned, but 
made it a strong supporter of temperance and a foe of the liquor 
traffic. The Times was the first Perry County paper to have a 
power press. 

During the Lincoln campaign, in the fall of i860, a publication 
appeared at New Bloomfield known as The Test. The name of 
no editor or proprietor appears. It started during the first week 
of August and, according to the Advocate of November 21, i860, 
The Test, the Breckenridge paper, lately put out in New Bloom- 
field, has been discontinued." 



THE PUBLIC PRESS 



479 



During- the "early eighties" of last century another paper was 
published at the county seat. It was established by Chas. W. 
Rhinesmith, and was known as The Enterprise. 

As stated above, the second paper to be started in Perry County 
was at Liverpool, and its title was the Liverpool Mercury and Peo- 
ples' Advertiser. Its editor and owner was John Huggins. It 
first was a five-column folio, the pages being twelve by sixteen 
inches in size. Its first issue appeared July I, 1831, and it was 




JAMES S. MAGEE. WM. C. LEBO. 

Editor of "The Perry County Democrat," Editor f "The Perry County Times," and 

and U. S. Internal Revenue Collector for T ,. „, A i„~„„*o 

the Middle District of Penna. O913-1921). Leading Temperance Advocate. 

published at Liverpool until June, 1836, when it was sold to James 
B. Cooper and removed to New Bloomfield, later being merged 
with the Perry County Democrat. The prospectus proposing its 
publication was dated May 26, 183 1, and its beginning, five weeks 
later, signifies a patronage. 

The Liverpool Sun was established in 1881, by Rev. S. E. Her- 
ring, its initial issue being typographically as neat as any paper. 
Rev. Herring's editorial life was short, as he sold the paper to J. 
A. Zellers in July, 1882, and Mr. Zellers conducted it long and 
ably, until his death, which occurred January 13, 1912. On the 
following April 1st, George M. Deckard purchased the plant and 
conducted it until September, 1921, when it was purchased by 
David S. and George R. Fry, of Newport, at whose plant it is 
now printed. 



480 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



There may have been a paper published at Liverpool in the 
meantime, as the Freeman of December 22, 1853, contains an ac- 
count of a lire at New Buffalo — the Linton and Drummond homes 
— and credits the news item to the Liverpool American. 

Newport was the fourth town in the county to have a news- 
paper established, being preceded by Landisburg, New Bloom- 
field and Liverpool, and its new publication was not to have a 
lengthy existence. Samuel Schrack started the Newport Standard 
September 1, 1841. It was a five-column folio, its pages being 
12x18 in size. August 22, [844, it was removed to New Bloom- 
field by Michael Kepner. who had purchased it. John D. Crilley 




DAVID S. FRY 



GEORGE R. FRY. 



Publishers 



F. A. FRY. 

The Fry Family — Father and Suns. 
of "The Newport News" for Half a Century. David S. Fry is promi- 
nently connected with County Sunday School Work. 



edited it. It was later sold to Rightmeyer & Morgan, and from them 
passed to Samuel G. Morrison and John A. Magee. It was discon- 
tinued in [848, being merged with the Perry County Democrat. 

The Newport News was started November 18, 1868, by Harvey 
Smith and E. T. Williams. Mr. Smith retired January 15, 1869 — 
within its first sixty days — and E. T. Williams had sole control. 
The issue of December 3, 1869, was still issued under Williams, 
but a notice appeared saying that it had been sold to C. A. Wright, 
Esq. It then suspended and, two weeks later, December 18th, ap- 
peared under the editorship of George Shrom, under whose man- 
agement it appeared until August 1, 1874. He enlarged it to seven 
columns. H. B. Zimmerman & Son, according to their salutatory, 
announce that they purchase the plant from W. H. Minich, who 
just purchased it from Mr. Shrom, a short time prior, and the 
News appeared with their names at the helm until December 2, 
1876, when James H. Ferguson, of Newport, and Frank A. Fry, 
of Harrisburg, succeeded them. They remained until November 
-\v l %77\ when J. C. Barrett & Company purchased the plant. The 
company was composed of J. C. Barrett, J. O. McClintock and 



THE PUBLIC PRESS 481 

W. R. S. Cook. This firm was then in possession until January 
30, 1880, when Mr. Cook and Frank A. Fry became the owners, 
under the firm name of Cook & Fry. They made an eight-column 
paper of it. On May 1, 1880, Mr. Fry leased the interest of Mr. 
Cook and secured entire control. Later purchasing this interest 
he remained at the head of the plant until his death, October 18, 
1918. The paper then became the property of his sons, David S. 
and George R. Fry. It was made a semi-weekly, January 2, 1914, 
the only one in the county. Charles Woods English, who retired 
as foreman of the News in 1921, was connected with that paper 
for over thirty-eight years, a fine record, having entered the office 
to learn the printing trade soon after the entry of the late F. A. Fry. 

While Millerstown has no weekly publication now, it has been 
the birthplace of several. January 1, 1857, the first number of the 
Millerstown Gazette appeared under the hands of Levi Klauser, 
and was issued as a five-column folio, 12x18 in size. It was pub- 
lished at Millerstown until April 22, 1858, when it was removed to 
Newport and the name changed to the Newport Gazette. Here it 
was continued until September, 1859, by Klauser & Bowman, when 
it ceased publication. 

George Shrom began the publication of the MUlerstotvn Ledger, 
a seven-column folio, May 1, 1875, and continued it until Novem- 
ber 25, 1876, when it was removed to Newport, and the name 
changed to The Ledger. In 1882 it was made an eight-column 
paper, and the name changed to the Newport Ledger. It was 
edited by Mr. Shrom until his death, November 14, 1907. His son, 
Harry K. Shrom, then edited it until his death, August 24, 1908, 
aged but 33 years, when his sister, Miss Lorena Singer Shrom, 
who assumed charge, beautifully wrote: "I can only whisper gently 
to you, my precious and beloved brother, my comrade, chum and 
friend, Harry Kenower Shrom, has fallen asleep." Miss Shrom 
edited it a short time, when, for various short periods it was 
edited by others, and then discontinued. 

The Duncannon Record has been more unfortunate than any 
paper in the county, by reason of the frequent changes in owner- 
ship, although several others in their earlier years equaled it. The 
Record was established during the spring of 1873, by Abner J. 
Hauck, of Mechanicsburg, over the storeroom long kept by Miss 
Lydia Fenstermacher, on Market Street. It suspended on April 
20, 1874, and then it was taken over by a stock company composed 
of town merchants, and Horace G. Vines and Sylvester S. Sheller 
became the publishers, Mr. Sheller remaining about two years. 
Later Rebecca Sheller (Schiller) became the editress, being suc- 
ceeded by Clarence J. Passmore. In 1878, Henry J. Lupfer bought 
a half-interest in the plant, and later the other half. He then 
.sold a half-interest to Rev. G. W. Crist, and it was operated by 
31 



4 Sj HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Lupfer & Crist. McCaskey & Barnett purchased it about August 
i, [88i, and on March 9, 1883, Mr. Barnett withdrew. J. L. Mc- 
Caskey developed the plant, putting in a power press and doing 
a large commercial business. On January I, 1888, he sold the 
plant lo Suavely Bros., who operated it for three years. On July 
1, 1 891, it passed to J. L. and H. H. Hain, being published under 
the firm name of Hain Bros. Some time later J. L. Hain retired, 
and II. II. Hain remained, editing it for about ten years. During 
this time the entire equipment was replaced and the paper's policy 
was based on three principal objects, which the writer saw accom- 
plished before turning the paper over to his successor. These were 




c. B. SMITH. 
Editor of '"The Marysville Journal." 



R. M. BARTON. 

Editor of "The Duncannon Record." 



the introduction of a water system and a light system, and the 
extension of the borough limits so as to include Baskinsville and 
Carver's Hill, thus giving to the children of those sections the ad- 
vantages of higher graded schools. Early in 1901 the plant was 
sold to J. L. L. Bucke, who leased it at various times to J. S. 
Arnold, John B. Parson, and G. W. Dunkle. In March, 1913, 
Mr. Bucke sold the plant to William Bender, who had been con- 
nected with it in every capacity for over two decades, and who 
was the first native of the town to own it. Mr. Bender, in turn 
sold to R. M. Barton, the present proprietor, July I, 1916. Its 
present proprietor installed the first linotype in the county. 

In July, 1891, a prospectus was issued by citizens of Marysville, 
led by Dr. A. D. VanDyke, Rev. J. David Miller and Frank Stras- 



THE PUBLIC PRESS 



4 s . 



baugh, preparatory to the establishing of a weekly newspaper at 
that place. The name Marysville Advance was selected, and Elmer 
S. .Mills, then a resident of Millerstown, was secured and became 
the first editor. The first issue appeared October 15, 1891. It was 
a four-page, six-column paper. Mr. Mills remained about a year. 
( Mhers who followed in ownership were LaRoss & Jauss, and J). 
S. Funk. The Advance was discontinued. 

In [897 Clarence Passmore opened a job office there and began 
the publication of the Marysville journal. After a year he sold 
the office to J. IT. Meek & Co., who operated it until 1912, 
when it was purchased by C. B. Smith, a native Perry Countian, 
who still conducts it. A notable feature of Mr. Smith's was the 
complete weekly director)- during the World War, whereby one 
was enabled to know the address of every local service man and 
woman, and the contingent to which they belonged. 

Biographical of Noted Editors. 

Alexander Magee, the pioneer editor, was born in Philadelphia, 
September 20, 1791, his ancestry coming from northern Ireland. 
He learned printing in Car- 
lisle, and (hiring the War of 
1812 was in Capt. Alexander's 
army of volunteers. He re- 
mained in the newspaper busi- 
ness until 1832, when he en- 
tered mercantile life. He was 
once sheriff of the county and 
was a member of the Constitu- 
tional Convention of 1837-38. 

Within the earliest recollec- 
tion of the writer John Adams 
Baker was the dean of the 
newspaper corps. His very 
name, "John Adams," echoes 
back to the early days of the 
republic, when that name was 
borne by the second President. 
John Adams Baker's birth oc- 
curred June 5, 181 5. Edu- 
cated in the subscription 
schools of the period, he be- 
came a teacher for a few years, 
but in 1839 founded the Perry 
County Freeman. The new 
county of Perry was then less than two decades old, and the Demo- 
cratic majority was more than the entire Whig vote. He was a 
keen, terse writer, and The Freeman was soon recognized as a 




JOHN A. BAKER 

Long Editor of "The Freeman." Known 

as "Judge" Baker, having been Associate 

Judge of Perry County. 



484 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

leader in Whig circles. In the Polk-Clay campaign his articles 
found state-wide circulation. A vacancy in the office of associate 
judge during the administration of Governor Johnson was filled 
by his appointment, and it was thus that he became known as 
Judge Baker. Later the same governor appointed him as prothono- 
tary, and he was subsequently elected to both these offices. For 
forty-five years he edited The Freeman, retiring in 1894. He died 
December 2, 1895. No Perry Countian was more respected and 
beloved. He was conscientious, and supported everything that was 
for the betterment of his county. 




JOHN A. MAGEE, 
Founder of "The Perry County Democrat." 

Several other county seat editors long stood out prominent in 
the annals of Perry County. Two of them, John A. Magee and 
John H. Sheibley, were born in the same year, 1827, and through- 
out their long lives were close friends, although they represented 
opposing political parties. John A. Magee was a son of Alexander 
Magee, editor of Perry County's first paper, The Forester, and 
Sarah (Crever) Magee. His common school education was sup- 
plemented by a course at the Bloomfield Academy. In 1854 he 



THE PUBLIC PRESS 



485 



entered the office of George Stroop, then editor of the Perry 
County Democrat, to learn the printing trade. He then followed 
printing elsewhere, after completing his trade, and taught school 
for a short time. He was working as a journeyman in Washing- 
ton, D. C, in 1853, and when George Stroop died in 1854, he and 
George Stroop, Jr., purchased the Democrat, Mr. Magee later (in 
1858) securing entire control. He served in the Pennsylvania 
Legislature during the session of 1862-63 as assemblyman. In 
1872 he was elected to Congress from the district composed of 
Perrv, Cumberland and York Counties. He conducted the Demo- 




JOHN H. SHEIBLEY, 
Founder of "The Advocate and Press." 

crat until his death, November 18, 1903. The Democrat under 
John A. Magee was noted for its strong and able support of 
democracy and all public policies. 

John H. Sheibley was born in Landisburg, November 17, 1827, 
the son of Bernhard and Mary (Holman) Sheibley. He was edu- 
cated in the common schools and learned printing in the office of 
the Reformed Messenger, at Chambersburg. He attended an 
academy at Madison Courthouse, Virginia, in 1849, and during 



4 86 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the next three years worked in the Johnson Type Foundry at 
Philadelphia, as a journeyman printer. In 1853, with others, he 
formed a stock company and became the first editor of The Peo- 
ples' Advocate and Press, shortly thereafter securing entire con- 
trol. In that capacity he served until his death, which occurred 
December I, 1900. A staunch Republican, his masterly pen was 
ever busy in advancing that cause, as well as those things which 
tend to community betterment. 

Another of these prominent older editors was Frank Mortimer, 
of The Times. Born in Franklin. Massachusetts, March 14, 1829, 
he was educated in the common schools of his native state. He 
was admitted to the New York bar in 1853. having read law there 
with his brother. Samuel Mortimer, but he never practiced. He 
entered the Sectional War as a captain of Company L. Ninth New 
York Militia. He was later captured and confined in a Confed- 
erate prison, but escaped while being removed to another prison, 
.and found his way to the Union lines. In 1864 he came to Perry 
County and engaged in the mercantile business at Green Park, 
removing to New Bloomfield the next year, where he was in busi- 
ness until 1889. only selling his store then so as to devote his entire 
time to The limes, which had grown from a small advertising 
medium. He sold his office August 1, 1904, and removed from the 
county. 

Francis Allen Fry was connected with the Newport News as 
editor and proprietor for almost four decades. He was the eldesl 
son of William Allen and Mary Louise (Price) Fry, and was born 
at Ickesburg, September 15, 1852. Bereft of a father, who died 
in Harwood Hospital, Washington, D. C, while in the service of 
his country, on November 2, 1863, as a member of Company A. 
Twelfth "Pennsylvania Reserves, he entered the McAlisterville 
Soldiers' Orphans' School, May 12, 1865, remaining four years. 
He then became a member of the family of Col. George McFarland, 
State Superintendent of Soldiers' Orphans' Schools, where he 
learned the rudiments of the newspaper business, as Col. McFar- 
land was then publisher of the Temperance Vindicator. His first 
connection with the News was on December 2, 1876, and from 
then on he never left it, becoming its editor in January, 1800. In 
that capacity he remained until his death, October 18, 1918. Mr. 
Fry's personality shone through his columns, which were ever open 
to the advancement of his town and county. 

George Shrom, once connected with the Newport News as edi- 
tor, and for over three decades editor of the Newport Ledger, was 
born at Carlisle, February 4, 1841. In his fifth year, a gun in 
the hands of a twelve-year-old boy, destroyed the sight of one of 
his eves, the other also being blind for seven weeks. He was edu- 
cated in the Carlisle public schools, and then learned printing in the 



THE PUBLIC PRESS 487 

office of the Carlisle American. 1 te worked at his trade until 1869, 
when he purchased the Newport News, which he published until 
1874. In May, 1875, he started the Millerstown Ledger. Eighteen 
months latex he removed the plant to Newport, changing the name 
to the Newport Ledger, which he published until his death, No- 
vember 14, 1907. His .son. Marry Kenower Shrom, then assumed 
the editorship, but within a year he too passed away. With the 
other papers Mr. Shrom's columns were ever open to the better- 
ment of his community. 

The amount of space available in this hook bars anything bio- 
graphical in reference to the many others who have been connected 
with the press, those mentioned standing out either as pioneers or 
as having had almost a lifetime connection in that held. 

The making of a country weekly newspaper requires the assist- 
ance of a thoroughly trained force of -correspondents or reporters. 
There have been and still are some correspondents of the press oi 
Perry County who deserve especial mention. Of those who have 
passed away are Wm. A. Holland, "the Inkstand Man," of Dun- 
cannon, who was a philosopher; George W. Gehr, of Klliottsburg, 
who, along with his news also contributed many historical and de- 
scriptive articles; G. Gary Tharp, of Liverpool, noted for his abil- 
ity as a correspondent as well as a writer of poems ; Chas. S. Losh, 
of Lebo, a versatile writer; W. W. Welker, of Liverpool; J. B. 
Jackson, of New Buffalo, and E. P. Titzel, of Millerstown. 
Among those still living, but who have left the county, were C. 
Deane Eppley, who as a mere lad started to correspond, and who 
helped build the Panama Canal, and still holds a responsible posi- 
tion there; S. Nevil Gutshall, now of the Lewistown Daily; Dr. 
O. L. Latchford, now practicing in Philadelphia, and George H. 
Zinn, now residing in Lancaster County. Of those still living 
within the county, many of them "still on the job," are John A. 
Bartruff, whose "Chaff From Wheatfield" marks him also as a 
philosopher; H. H. Sieg, of Duncannon, long an interesting regu- 
lar; Harry B. Kell, of Blain, who has no superior in the state; 
John W. Bernheisel, of Loysville, who laid down his pen about a 
year ago owing to age, after a continuous service of about forty 
\rars; Miss Anna McCaskey (now Mrs. R. E. Flickinger), of 
Shermansdale ; W. Scott Fritz, of Saville; Miss Mary E. Sheib- 
ley, of Landisburg; Cloyd A. Wolf, of Southwest Saville; Fred 
Hamilton, of Marysville ; Samuel M. Kistler, of near Mannsville, 
who has seldom missed a week in twenty years ; R. C. Foltz, of 
Landisburg, and former Associate Judge J. B. Garber, of Ander- 
sonhurg. Doubtless there are others worth}- of mention, but these 
are outstanding figures. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 
BANKS AND CORPORATIONS. 

ALTHOUGH Perry is a comparatively small county and the 
population of its largest town is but about two thousand, 
although no large manufacturing establishments are within 
its borders and its soil — generally speaking — is not so fertile as 
those of some other counties, yet within its confines are to be 
found an exact dozen of banks, financed practically altogether by 
Perry Countians, whose stability is shown by their statements. 
In a number of instances their stock, when it occasionally reaches 
the market at all, sells at many times its par value. Of the banks 
now in existence, the Duncannon National Bank is the oldest na- 
tional bank, although the First National Bank of Newport was in 
business longer, but under the name of the People's Bank, and not 
as a national bank. The Duncannon National Bank building was 
also the first building to be exclusively devoted to banking to be 
built in the county, having been erected in 1889. P. K. Brandt, 
of the First National Bank of Newport, served as cashier, 1876 
to 1922, and P. F. Duncan, of the Duncannon National Bank, has 
been the only cashier of that bank since it began business, Janu- 
ary 2, 1890. Prior to the establishment of banks the larger stores 
and business firms did more or less of a banking business, there 
being then little checking, as few had accounts in banks at other 
points. The south side of the county banked at Carlisle, and the 
river section at Harrisburg. The Duncannon Iron Company acted 
in the capacity of banker for the Duncannon section, while in other 
sections merchants, warehouse men, etc., filled the need. 

Before banks were so numerous, and before Duncannon had a 
bank, the safe of the Duncannon Iron Company was used for the 
storage of large sums of cash, which were despatched to and from 
the Harrisburg banks as commerce demanded. Naturally this at- 
tracted the attention of yeggmen, and during the night of February 
12, 1867, the vault and safe were blown open, the noise being 
covered by a passing train and the attendant noises of the big iron 
mill, so that it was not discovered until morning. The burglars 
carried away ten thousand dollars in currency and six thousand 
dollars in bonds. They had come and gone unseen, except that 
John Dudley, an Iron Company employe, had noticed a character 
known as "Jimmie Hope," get off the afternoon train on the side 
opposite the station. "Hope" had a criminal record, and months 
afterwards Mr. Dudley met him in Philadelphia and caused his 



BANKS AND CORPORATIONS 489 

arrest. He was tried, convicted, and served three years in the 
Eastern penitentiary at Philadelphia, known as "Cherry Hill." 
Another one was captured later, bnt failed to be convicted. 

The banking business in Perry County dates back only to 1866, 
in which year two banks were established. The first one to open 
its doors was the Perry County Bank, started at New Bloomfield 
by Sponsler, Junkin & Company, September 20, 1866, and con- 
tinuing until 1894. It opened for business in the office of the Perry 
County Mutual Fire Insurance Company, where it remained until 
the spring of 1868, when the building now occupied by the First 
National Bank of New Bloomfield was completed for its occu- 
pancy, and for residential purposes. 

The second bank to be formed that year was the Newport De- 
posit Bank. It began business on December 12, 1866. in the pres- 
ent Butz building (then known as the Wright building), where 
Miss Sara Adams now (1920) conducts a millinery store. Perry 
Kreamer was president; Isaac Wright, cashier, and Charles A. 
Wright, teller. It reorganized March 23, 1867, with John Wright 
as president, and Isaac Wright as cashier, who remained in office 
until 1872, when another reorganization took place. Thomas H. 
Milligan then became president ; Isaac Wright, cashier, and J. M. 
Wright, teller. In 1876, J. H. Irwin became cashier, remaining 
until it quit business in 1895. In 1877 it was moved from the 
Butz building to the location now occupied by the Citizens' Bank. 

The Juniata Valley Bank, of Miffiintown, opened a branch bank- 
in the Minich building, on Market Street, Newport, in September, 
1873, with J. H. Irwin as cashier, and continued business until 
1876, when Mr. Irwin was elected as cashier of the Newport De- 
posit Bank, and it discontinued business. The Farmers' Bank, of 
Liverpool, was organized in July, 1871, with M. B. Holman as 
president, and J. C. Weirick, cashier. It continued in business 
until 1879. The Farmers' Bank, of Millerstown, was organized 
December 21, 1.872, by electing Perry Kreamer president, and Wil- 
liam S. Rickabaugh, cashier. Samuel Clever and T. J. Kreamer 
were later cashiers. Its capital stock was fixed at $50,000. It quit 
business December 21, 1878. It conducted a branch bank at New- 
port in 1873 and later. Of these first five banks none are in busi- 
ness. 

First National Bank of Newport. 

This bank started in business on August 19, 1875, as the Peo- 
ple's Bank, of Newport, with a capital of only $15,000. Dr. J. E. 
Singer was its first president, and W. S. Rickabaugh, its first 
cashier. Its first board of directors was composed of P. M. Kep- 
ner, H. C. Lewis, John Bair, Jerome Hetrick, Charles K. Smith, 
and James B. Leiby. Dr. Singer died in 1881, and John. Bair 



490 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



became president, and so remained until 1893, when it was reor- 
ganized and became the First National Bank of Newport, with Dr. 
James B. Eby, president ; William C. Pomeroy, vice-president, 
and William Wertz, secretary. The directors other than the officers 
were: George T. Kepner, S. W. Seibert, Joseph W. Stimmel, and 
C. K. Smith. Presidents since then have been Rev. S. W. Seibert, 
beginning with January, 191 1; Win. Emenheiser, January, 1913, 
who served until his death in February, 1916, when A. W. Kough 
succeeded him. The new bank building was erected in 1893, the 
year of the First National's organization. *P. K. Brandt, the 
cashier, has served in that capacity since 1876. The present board 
of directors ( 1920) is composed of A. W. Kough, T. H. Buttnrf. 
|. Emory Fleisher, Singer Smith, James K. Smith, Amos L. Gel- 
nett, and Frank M. Snyder. In 1921 W. R. Bosserman was 
selected to fill the vacancy on the board caused by the death of 
Singer J. Smith. July I, 19.20, its statement showed undivided 
profits of $12,000, and surplus fund of $125,000. The time de- 
posits amounted to $186,347, and individual deposits subject to 
check, $182,887. I ts capital stock is $50,000. 

Citizens' National Bank of Newport. 

The Citizens' National Bank of Newport dates from "April 28, 
1905, James E. Wilson, a resident of Duncannon, becoming its 
cashier, and still occupying that position. Its first officers were 
John Fleisher, president; W. H. Gantt, vice-president; Cbas. A. 
Rippman, Chas. W. Smith, 1 lorace Beard, and Dr. J. F. Thomp- 
son, of Liverpool, directors. Its present officers and directors 
(1920) are: Dr. J. II. McCullogh, president; C. L. Bair, vice- 
president; C. W. Smith, J. C. Swartz, C. E. Noll, and Dr. L. A. 
Carl. During 1916 this bank purchased the Graham Hotel prop- 
erty, at the corner of Market and Second Streets, and turned the 
building into a business block and apartments. July 1, 1920, its 
statement showed undivided profits of $14,502, and a surplus fund 
of $40,000. The time deposits amounted to $216,631, and the 
deposits subject to check to $154,333. The capital stock is $50,000. 

Tite Duncannon National Bank. 

The oldest national bank in Perry County is the Duncannon 
National Bank, opened January 1, 1890, in a new building, the 
first in the county to be built exclusively for banking purposes. 
Its first officers were John Wister, president; Jos. M. Hawley, 
vice-president, and P. F. Duncan, cashier. The first board of 
directors were John Wister, Wm. Rotch Wister, Jos. M. Hawley, 
Samuel Sheller, George Pennell, Dr. T. L. Johnston, G. C. Snyder, 



*P. K. Brandt retired January, 1922, and was succeeded by G. H. Frank 



BANKS AND CORPORATIONS 



49 1 



W. H. Richter, S. H. Moses and John Winter. Mr. Frank Pennell 
was long connected with this hank, but mel death in an automobile 
accident in 1920. The present officers arc George Pennell, presi- 
dent; P. F. Duncan, cashier, and W. Stewart Duncan, assistanl 
cashier. The directors are George Pennell. William Wills, J. D. 
Snyder, J. M. Baer, N. J. Briner, G. B. Noss, S. A. E. Rife and 
P. F. Duncan. Mr. Duncan, in point of service exceeds any other 




THE DUNCANNON NATIONAL BANK BUILDING, 

First Building in the County to be Built Exclusively for 
Banking Purposes. 

banker in the county. Of the original directors Mr. Pennell is the 
only one on the board. July I, 1920, the undivided profits were 
$22,500, and the surplus, $80,000. The time deposits were $350,- 
OOO, and the individual deposits, $157,000. The capital stock is 
$65,000. 

First National Bank of New BeoomeieXd. 

The First National Bank of New Bloomfield was organized in 
1898, opening for business on August 9th, occupying the old bank 



492 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 





NATIONAL BANK, NEW 
BLOOMFIELD. 



building formerly in use by Sponsler, Junkin & Co. Its first offi- 
cers were : W. C. Pomeroy, president ; L. E. Atkinson, vice- 
president ; J. T. Alter, cashier. 
The first board of directors 
were W. C. Pomeroy, L. E. 
Atkinson, Wm. Swartz, George 
T. Kepner, John H. Sheibley, 
and S. S. Willard. Its present 
officers are James W. Shull, 
president ; C. M. Bower, vice- 
president ; J. T. Alter, cashier ; 
D. Boyd Alter, teller. The di- 
rectors are James W. Shull, 
William Swartz, H. E. Sheib- 
ley, C. M. Bower, E. E. Briner, 
Chas. L. Darlington, and F. H. 
Bernheisel. According to the statement of June 30, 1920, it had 
$110,200 as surplus and undivided profits, with $799,924.17 on 
deposit. The capital stock is $50,000. 

The Bank op Landisburg, Pennsylvania. 

The Bank of Landisburg opened for business on October 19, 
1903, with D. B. Milliken, D. H. Sheibley, John A. Bower, J. C. 
Waggoner, Robert Jones, William H. Loy, John A. Bentsel, and 
James R. Wilson, on the board of directors. During the first year 
D. B. Milliken was president ; D. H. Sheibley, vice-president, and 
S. B. Hetrick, cashier. At the expiration of the first year's busi- 
ness D. H. Sheibley was elected president; Wm. H. Loy, vice- 
president, and James R. Wilson, cashier. Mr. Sheibley continued 
as president until his death, September 1, 1913, when he was suc- 
ceeded by W. H. Loy. J. C. Waggoner was then made vice- 
president. The directors (1921) are: W. H. Loy, James M. 
Moose, John A. Bentsel, N. K. Bistline, J. R. Wilson, D. K. 
Lightner, Dr. F. A. Gutshall, Jos. C. Waggoner, Robert Jones, 
A. B. Dum, J. L. Sheibley, and Ward R. Milligan. During 1919 
a handsome new brick banking building, modernly equipped, was 
erected. June 30, 1920, the surplus and undivided profits amounted 
to $72,842.35. The deposits then were $650,402.77. The capital 
stock is $50,000. 

The Bank of Blain, Pennsylvania. 

The Bank of Blain, Pennsylvania, is a branch of the Bank of 
Landisburg, just described, and was opened for business, Novem- 
ber 14, 1904. It has the same president, vice-president and board 
of directors. H. V. Black was the first cashier, being succeeded 
by the present cashier, Creigh Patterson, March 1, 1906. The sur- 



BANKS AND CORPORATIONS 493 

plus «iih1 profits, Tune 30, 1920, were $21,676.26, and the deposits, 
$248,758.82. 

The First National Bank 01? Marysville. 

The First National Bank of Marysville was chartered August 6, 
1904. The original officers were : J. W. Place, president ; J.Har- 
per Seidel, and J. W. Beers, vice-presidents, and James E. Wilson, 
cashier. The directors were: J. Harper Seidel, J. W. Beers, J. 
W. Tauhert, H. J. Deckard, E. Walt Snyder, C. S. Wise, J. S. 
Bitner, J. W. Place, and A. B. Patterson. In 1905, F. W. Geih 
succeeded J. E. Wilson as cashier. The present board of directors 
and officers are: J. W. Beers, president; E. B. Leiby and H. J. 
Deckard, vice-presidents; F. W. Geih, cashier; H. E. Hess, Z. T. 
Collier, and E. Walt Snyder. June 30, 1920, the undivided profits 
were $14,482.34, and the surplus fund, $15,000. The deposits 
amounted to $288,736.68. The capital stock is $50,000. This 
bank occupies its own brick building, erected exclusively for bank- 
ing purposes. 

First National Bank of MillErstown. 

The First National Bank of Millerstown was chartered April 4, 
1904, with Charles H. Rippman, president. At the end of three 
mouths Mr. Rippman resigned, and A. H. Ulsh has been president 
since that time. James Rounsley has been the vice-president since 
its organization. The first cashier was James E. Rounsley, who 
served from the date of organization, April 4, 1904, to the time of 
his death, November 5, 1918. T. Clair Karchner, of Juniata 
County, has since filled the position. The first board of directors 
was composed of C. A. Rippman, James Rounsley, J. G. H. Ripp- 
man, C. A. Rippman, Samuel L. Beaver, George W. Fry, John G. 
Ludwiek, and A. H. Ulsh. The present board consists of A. H. 
Ulsh, James Rounsley, D. A. Lahr, T. P. Cathcart, L. A. Dimm, 
and George W. Fry. June 30, 1920, the surplus and profits were 
$30,894.25, and the deposits, $282,176.82. Its new stone banking 
building faces the public square. The capital stock is $25,000. 

First National Bank of Liverpool. 

The First National Bank of Liverpool was chartered for busi- 
ness August, 13, 1906, and opened October 15, 1906. The first 
officers were Chas. H. Snyder, president ; John D. Snyder, vice- 
president, and H. A. S. Shuler, cashier. The directors were Chas. 
H. Snyder, John D. Snyder, George W. Snyder, G. A. Gale, and 
John H. Weirick. The present officers are : Wm. L. Lenhart, 
president ; J. D. Snyder, vice-president, and H. A. S. Shuler, 
cashier. The board of directors consists of W. L. Lenhart, J. D. 
Snyder, Lafayette Grubb, George W. Snyder, and H. A. S. Shuler. 



494 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The bank occupies its own brick building. An effort was made to 
burglarize it by yeggmen in 1921, but its improved safeguards 
made their efforts futile. June 30, 1920, its surplus was $12,500, 
and its undivided profits, $2,017.55. Its deposits amounted to 
$190,280.43. 

I'lvoruv's National Bank of Duncannon. 
The People's National Rank of Duncannon was organized July 
5. 1907, with Chas. S. Boll, president ; Emanuel Jenkyn, vice- 
president, and Geo. O. Matter, cashier, the officers also being direc- 
tors. The other directors were: Dr. B. F. Beale, Chas. A. Dis- 
brow, Chas. L. Harling, S. W. Lehman, Dr. H. W. McKenzie. 
Allen D. Michener, I. L> Phillips, Adelaide Schiller, Sylvester S. 
Sheller, Enos Smith, Allen R. Thompson, and McClellan Woods. 
The present officers are: Sylvester S. Sheller, president; Dr. B. 
F. Beale, vice-president; M. N. Lightner, cashier, the former two 
also being directors. The other directors are: S. B. Sheller, Miss 
A. Schiller, E. S. Glass, Geo. M. Zerfing, J. James Dowdrick, 
Charles Harling, J. W. Mumper, and G. A. Hemperly. The capi- 
tal is $25,000, and the deposits in a recent statement were $145,000. 

Tiii': IcKKsr.uRG State; Bank. 

The Ickesburg State Bank was first organized on October 30, 
K)i7, but did not open for business until August 15, 1918. It 
occupies a new stone banking building erected for that purpose. 
Its first officers were : C. A. Meiser, president ; Elmer Rice, vice- 
president, and J. F. Rumbaugh, cashier. The first directors were: 
C. A. Meiser, Elmer Rice, S. G. Beaver, E. L. Ernest, John Diven 
W. G. ITench and YV. B. Shull. The present board of directors 
and officers are the same, save that A. W. Shelly takes the place 
of Mr. Meiser as president and on the board of directors. The 
capital is $25,000. During the night of March 28, 1922, the bank 
was burglarized, $3,800 being taken from safety deposit boxes of 
its patrons, which loss the bank assumed. 

First National Bank of LoysvillL. 

The First National Bank of Loysville was chartered November 
28, [919, and opened for business January 2, 1920. Its first offi- 
cers were: Wm. T. Morrow, president; II. O. Ritter, vice-presi- 
dent, and B. Stiles Duncan, cashier. The first board of directors 
was composed of B. Stiles Duncan, Dr. Wm. T. Morrow, H. O. 
Knur. E. G. Briner, J. E. Garber, L. R. McMillen, and Theorus 
Bernheisel. In 1921 James Rhinesmith and John II. Shumaker 
were added to the board. The officers then were B. Stiles Dun- 
can, president; Dr. Wm. T. Morrow, vice-president, and W. H. 
Soule, cashier. June 30, 1920, six months after its opening, its 
surplus and undivided profits were $5,486.90, and its deposits, 
$27,798.48. Its capital stock is $25,000. 



BANKS AND CORPORATIONS 495 

N0T1C. — At Newport during the period between 1895, after the room was 
vacated by the People's Bank, and 1905, when it was again occupied by the 
Citizens' Bank, a bank was established known as the Perry County Na- 
tional Bank, its existence having been but a few years. 

The Farmers' and Mechanics' Mutual Fire Insurance Co. 

The Fanners' and Mechanics' Mutual Fire Insurance Company 
was organized in August, 1872, with George Hoobaugh, president; 
William W. McClure, secretary, and Jacob Sheibley, treasurer. 
The directors were Henry Cooper, James A. Gray, David Clark, 
John Kochenderfer, and Bryan Gibney. Mr. Hoobaugh and Mr. 
McClure Idled the positions of president and secretary for twenty- 
three consecutive years. June 28, 1879, this company absorbed 
the risks of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Mutual Fire Insurance 
Company of Madison, Jackson and Toboyne Townships, which bad 
its headquarters at Blain. From its organization until December 
31, 1920, the company paid claims of $130,246.21. The salaries 
that year totaled only $1,150, while the insurance in force totaled 
$4,607,391. The losses during that year were only $5,650.06. 

Since the organization of the company, forty-eight years ago, 
there have been thirty assessments, totaling fifty-four mills on the 
sum total of written risks, or an average of one and one-eighth 
mills, on the dollar at risk, per annum. ( )n account of the dimin- 
ishing population of the country districts, during the last fifty 
years, many homes were abandoned and left uncared for, which 
naturally increased the fire hazard, yet this company has had very 
few losses, and a loss account considerably lower than the average 
of the companies insuring in Pennsylvania. This appears as evi- 
dence of the honesty of Perry County people. 

David 11. Sheibley served the company as their treasurer 
nine years, and John A. Bower served the company as one of 
the board of directors for nine years, and as their secretary for 
twenty-four years. In the year 1916 the charter was amended, 
permitting the company to carry insurance in the boroughs or 
towns of Perry County. The present officers are: President, Jos- 
eph C. Waggoner, elected in 1913; secretary, Milton R. Bower, 
elected in 1 9 1 < > ; treasurer, A. B. Dttm, elected in 1920; directors, 
James M. Stambaugh, Ezra D. Bupp, Amos L. Dttm, Jacob 
Fleisher, William Turnbaugh. 

Telephone Companjks. 

As near as the facts can be learned probably the first telephone 
line in Perry County was at Bailey's Station, in Miller Township, 
where it connected the old-time water station with the telegraph 
tower a quarter of a mile away. This was a private line used for 
railroad business only. The first line of a semi-public nature was 
the one built by the old Perry County Railroad Company, from 
New Bloomfield, to connect with the offices of the Duncannon 



496 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Iron Company, the Duncaunon National Bank, and the mercantile 
•establishment of Samuel Sheller, at Duncannon. 

In so far as the general public is concerned the real telephone 
construction only began in 1 904, when the Perry County Tele- 
phone Company was organized to build a line from New Bloom- 
field to Loysville, Landisburg, and Bridgeport. The first officers 
were as follows : Dr. D. B. Milliken, president ; J. C. Wagner, 
secretary ; J. R. Wilson, treasurer ; George B. Dum, manager 
The officers were also on the board of directors, with the follow- 
ing others: Dr. L. M. Shumaker, Wm. Dum, Thomas Martin, 
H. M. Keen, Charles Kennedy, John A. Bower, and B. H. Sheib- 
ley. This is less than two decades ago, yet a strange fatality seems 
to have pervaded the board, for only Charles Kennedy, J. C. 
Wagner and J. R. Wilson are living. This company was the 
pioneer one, and from it has come the splendid telephone network 
which covers the county. 

In 1907 it was incorporated with the same officers, save that J. 
J. Wolfe, of Loysville, was made manager. The directors under 
the reorganization were Dr. D. B. Milliken, James Moose, Wilson 
Gray, D. H. Sheibley, and R. J. Makibben. The lines were ex- 
tended to Blain, New Germantown, Ickesburg, and Shermansdale 
in 1908, and a line running from Marysville to Duncannon and 
Newport was purchased in 1910. In 19 14 a controlling interest 
was purchased in the lines through Pfoutz Valley and from Mil- 
lerstown to Ickesburg. The original line had eleven telephones, in 
1904. When incorporated, in 1907, there were forty-seven, and 
early in 1920 there were almost thirteen hundred. On October 1, 
1918, the free service area was extended over the whole county. 
R. J. Makibben, the present manager, was also president of the 
company for a period of ten years and is a practical telephone 
man, having served in every capacity from a messenger boy in 
Harrisburg, in "the eighties," to the head of the company. 

The first telephone line to operate between the two rivers was 
incorporated March 2, 1909, as the Pfoutz's Valley Telephone 
Company. The organizers and stockholders were A. T. Holman, 
A. L. Long, George Rebok, and H. E. Ritter, the latter two re- 
maining with the company a short time, when the business was 
conducted by Messrs. Holman and Long. At the death of A. T. 
Holman, his stock was purchased by the Perry County Telephone 
Company, who own one-half the stock. The Pfoutz's Valley 
Telephone Company has 220 stations, and conducts two exchanges 
one at Millerstown and one at Liverpool. The present officers 
are: J. R. Makibben, president ; A. L. Long, vice-president ; Geo. 
W. Fry, treasurer ; J. C. Wagner, secretary. 

There are also a number of smaller companies, two of which 
operate lines in Buck's Valley, Buffalo Township. 



CHAPTER XXX. 

COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS— A COMPARISON. 
(1820- 1 860.) 

PERRY COUNTY'S organization was almost coincident with 
the organization of the Union and of Pennsylvania. When 
it became a county in 1820 the fifth President of the United 
States, James Monroe, was only serving the third year of his eight- 
year term. At the first fall election in the new county President 
Monroe was on the ticket and was reelected. It was the noted 
"era of good feeling" and it would seem that if ever a President 
had an easy chance for a third term that man was Monroe, al- 
though Washington, Jefferson, and Jackson could have had a third. 
Alexander K. McClure, the prominent editor and historian, who 
was born in Perry County, says : 

"Monroe's reelection in 1820 presents the singular political spectacle of 
his success without having been formally nominated by any party, and 
without a single electoral vote being cast against him. That had occurred 
in Washington's two elections, but it was not believed possible that, with 
the bitter partisan disputes which immediately followed Washington's re- 
tirement, any man could ever be chosen for the Presidency without more 
or less of a contest. Monroe's administration had no serious political or 
diplomatic problem to confront, and the country was rapidly recovering 
from the war and was proud of the achievement of the American Army 
and Navy in the second contest with the English." 

In fact, one electoral vote was cast by a New Hampshire elector 
against Monroe, but he had been elected as a Monroe elector and 
gave as his excuse "that he was unwilling that any other President 
than Washington should receive a unanimous electoral vote. 

Colonel McClure also tells us : 

"Monroe had the most unruffled period of rule ever known in the his- 
tory of the republic. Washington, with all his omnipotence, was fearfully 
beset by factional strife and the wrangles of ambition on every side, and 
there was no period of his two administrations in which he was not greatly 
fretted by the persistent and often desperate disputes among those who 
should have been his friends; but Monroe had an entirely peaceful reign, 
with the single exception of the slavery dispute over the Missouri ques- 
tion. At the close of his term Monroe retired to his home in Virginia en- 
tirely exhausted in fortune. For several years he acted in the capacity of 
justice of the peace, but his severely straightened circumstances finally 
compelled him to make his home with his son-in-law, in New York, where 
he died in 1831, and like Jefferson and Adams, on the Fourth of July." 

These facts are introduced here principally to show what man- 
ner of man was President and what the conditions were nationally 
at the time of Perry County's beginning. President Monroe, like 

497 
32 



498 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

three of his predecessors, was a Virginian, but less aristocratic and 
far from being in such affluent circumstances. There were but 
five cabinet positions in those days, and during the Monroe reign 
the occupants of these offices were: State Department, John 
Graham, Richard Rush, and John Quincy Adams ; War Depart- 
ment, Isaac Shelby and John C. Calhoun ; Treasury Department, 
W. H. Crawford; Navy Department, B. Crowninshield and S. 
Thompson; Post Office Department, R. J. Meigs; Attorney Gen- 
eral, William Wirt. 

Just a year previous to the new county's organization Alabama 
had been admitted into the Union, and in the same year (1820) 
Maine was admitted, with Missouri following the succeeding year. 
In fact, 1820, was the date of the Missouri Compromise, that piece 
of national legislation which lulled to sleep the slavery agitation 
for about twenty-five years before it broke out afresh and eventu- 
ally almost disrent the Union. During the previous year the first 
steamboat had crossed the Atlantic. 

Perry County had existed as a new county less than three years 
when President Monroe enunciated the famous "Monroe Doc- 
trine," sending it to the United States Congress on December 2, 
1823. It follows: 

"We owe it, therefor, to candor, and to the amicable relations 
existing between the United States and those powers, to declare, 
that we should consider any attempt on their part to extend their 
system to any portion of this hemisphere as dangerous to out- 
peace and safety." In the Perry Forester those words show 110 
undue prominence over the rest of the lengthy message. Probably 
no State paper ever issued was more potent for good than that one. 
More than seventy years later President Grover Cleveland, in deal- 
ing with England on the Venezuela dispute, reiterated the doctrine 
in these words: "Europe ought not to intervene in American af- 
i airs, and any European power doing so will be regarded as an- 
tagonizing the interests and inviting the opposition of the United 
States." 

It was during James Monroe's administration, also, that the first 
White House wedding occurred, the bride being a niece of the 
President. Later, March 9, 1820, the President's second daughter 
was married. It was an exclusive home wedding, the public men 
and their families being uninvited. ( )f it the Washington Intel- 
ligencer said : 

"' In Thursday evening last (March 9), in this city, by the Reverend Mr. 
Hawley, Samuel Lawrence Governeur, Esq., of New York, to Miss Maria 
Hester Monroe, daughter of James Monroe, President of the United 

States." 

There is a great contrast between this inconspicuous description 
of a society event of national importance, then, and the flaming 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 499 

"scare heads" running entirely across a page that characterized 
reports by some dailies in connection with White House weddings 
of the last decade or two. 

The early period of the county's history, a matter of two-set ire 
years, was. in fact, coincidenl with that of tin' nation's history in 
which the ever-growing sectional question of slavery was the vital 
issue of the day. Missouri having been admitted as a state, at the 
celebration in Perry County on Independence Day, [821, the fol- 
lowing toast was drunk — toasts at that time being a popular form 
of entertainment: "The admission of Missouri territory into the 
Union — We greet her as a sister, hut heartily despise slavery." 
Anions the volunteer toasts was this by Thomas Craighead: 
"Long corns and short shoes to the enemies of the republic." 

The Florida War. a rather insignificant war, occurring about the 
time when Terry Count)' became a county, was waged with few 
soldiers, yet a Perry Countian, William I ). Mover, of New Bloom- 
lield, who died on March 14, [854, served through it. There may 
have been others, hut no records could he found. 

The year [820 is memorable for another event of importance. 
In that year George III. held in contempt in America, died, and 
the next year Napoleon's career was ended by death. In the year 
[824 the first protective tariff measure was introduced in the 
American Congress, being opposed by the South and strangely by 
New England. Political leadership, which up to this time was pre- 
eminent in the South, began passing to the North. In the fall elec- 
tions there were four candidates all of one party, the Democratic- 
Republican, for the Presidency, and the election was thrown into 
the House of Representatives, which chose John Quincy Adams. 
From this time the demarkation along political lines became more 
acute, the question being whether Adams' successor should he from 
the South or the North, llis opponents were slaveholders and 
their Northern friends, llis supporters were National Republi- 
cans, Whigs, and Republicans. Clay and Webster were the bright 
lights of the United States Senate. 

In 1826 a man named Morgan, of New York State, threatened 
to publish the secrets of Free Masonry. Mis presses were de- 
stroyed and he was never heard of again, according to records of 
the period. This aroused considerable agitation and. in [826, 
there sprang up in many states a party known as the Anti-Masonic 
party. The end of 1838 saw the ending of that party's existence, 
but during its life there was an Anti-Masonic ticket nominated 
and voted for in Perry County. During this period the Masons 
was not the only organization aimed at. but was designated be- 
cause it was the most prominent. There was a general antipathy 
to secret societies, but especially towards the Masons. The politi- 
cal part}' in Pennsylvania erected upon that protest supported Jos- 



5 oo HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

eph Ritner for governor in 1829, but he was defeated. He was 
again defeated three years later, but in 1835 was elected. 

On the Fourth of July, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of Ameri- 
can National Independence, two noted men, John Adams and 
Thomas Jefferson, died, both having been Presidents of the United 
States and signers of the Declaration of Independence. This 
fiftieth anniversary, or semi-centennial, was celebrated throughout 
the United States. Two Perry County towns, Landisburg and 
New Bloomfield, celebrated it. During this year Noah Webster 
revised the proofs of his famous dictionary. In 1829 Andrew 
Jackson became President and instituted the policy of "to the vic- 
tors belong the spoils." During this year South Carolina and 
Georgia affirmed the doctrine of nullification, which was the fore- 
runner of secession in i860. During Jackson's term New Eng- 
land organized its first Anti-Slavery Society. 

The county was in its eleventh year (1833) before Chicago was 
laid out and the first lot sold. During this year James Monroe, 
who was President of the United States when the county was or- 
ganized, passed away on July 4. As early as 1833 throughout the 
new nation newspaper plants were destroyed, public halls burned, 
homes dismantled and citizens of other sections imprisoned and 
even flogged in the agitation on the slavery question. In 1834 
Great Britain liberated the slaves in its colonies and Abraham 
Lincoln entered politics and was elected to the Illinois Legislature. 
McCormick patented the reaper during this year. 

During 1837 the youthful Queen Victoria became the ruler of 
England, and many of us in middle life well remember her notable 
reign, a veritable lifetime. This was the year of an inflated money 
panic, when even Perry County issued "scrip." Martin Van Buren 
was chosen to succeed Andrew Jackson as President. During 1839 
the Whig party was organized, principally from the National Re- 
publicans. Although the election was fifteen months away the new 
party soon thereafter held a convention in Zion Lutheran Church, 
Harrisburg, then building, and nominated William Henry Harri- 
son, who was elected in 1840. This building still stands and is in 
regular use as a place of worship. It is the red brick church in 
the foreground seen when leaving the Pennsylvania Railroad Sta- 
tion. This campaign was the first one in which the people took a 
real interest and in which torch-light processions, etc., were intro- 
duced, with the slogan, "Tippecanoe, and Tyler, too." It was 
broadly heralded that Harrison "lived in a log cabin and drank 
hard cider." The new party's majority was almost a million and 
a half of votes, and took from the Democratic party the executive 
power, which it had held for forty years. Van Buren was the 
first man to occupy the Presidential chair who was born on Ameri- 
can soil and the only one who served as Vice-President during the 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 501 

hundred years between 1800 and 1900 to be elected to the Presi- 
dency. Tyler was the first Vice-President to inherit the Presi- 
dency. 

In 1840 the electric telegraph was first patented by Morse. 
President Harrison, who had been active in politics since 1797 
when he was secretary of the Northwest Territory, died a month 
after inauguration, having contracted pneumonia through expo- 
sure on inauguration day to a chilly rain. As stated, Maine be- 
came a state in the same year as Perry became a county. It was 
followed by Missouri in 1821, Arkansas in 1836, Michigan in 
1837, Florida and Texas in 1845, Iowa in 1846, Wisconsin in 
1848, etc. In the year that gave Perry birth there were only 
twenty-three states in the Union, as against forty-eight at this 
time. There were none west of the Mississippi River at that time. 

In his "Recollections of Half a Century," Col. A. K. McClure 
tells of a personal experience in Perry County during the Harri- 
son-Van Buren campaign of 1840. From it we quote: 

"In those days the rural community was fortunate that had a weekly 
mail. Daily newspapers were unknown in the country, and the people had 
to depend solely upon their local newspapers for their news. * * * On 
Friday, two weeks and three days after the Presidential election of 1840 
in Pennsylvania, a number of neighbors were gathered at my father's, at 
what was then known as a 'raising.' The custom of those days was for 
the neighbors to be summoned when any one of them was ready to erect 
the frame or log work of a building, and spend the day or afternoon in 
fulfilling the kind neighborly offices which have almost been entirely ef- 
faced by the progress of civilization. What a builder would now do in an 
hour with machinery the neighborly gathering would give a day to the 
same task, and make it, besides, one of generous hospitality and enjoyment. 
Friday was the day on which the weekly mail arrived, and the Whigs and 
Democrats who enjoyed their political spats, as both claimed the state for 
their respective parties, were anxious to have the weekly paper to decide 
the attitude of the Keystone State. I was dispatched to the post office, a 
mile or more distant, in time to be there when the postboy arrived, with 
instructions to make special haste in returning. My father was one of 
the few liberal men of that day who received both the Democratic and 
Whig local newspapers, so that the anxious company was insured of infor- 
mation from the organs of both parties. When the mail arrived at the 
post office I seized the Whig paper, and was delighted to find a huge coon 
over the Pennsylvania returns, and the announcement that the state had 
gone for Harrison by 1,000 majority. In generous pity I opened the 
Democratic paper to see how it would accept the sweeping disaster, and 
to my utter consternation, it had a huge rooster over the Pennsylvania 
returns, and declared that the state had voted for Van Buren by 1,000 
majority. I took the shortest cut across the fields to bring the confusing 
news to the anxious crowd that was awaiting it, and both papers were 
spread open and both sides went home rejoicing in the victory. Of course, 
they all felt that there was a strong element of doubt in the conflicting 
returns, but the matter was quietly dismissed without complaint for another 
week, and it was fully two weeks later when the official vote was finally 
received that gave the state to Harrison by 305 majority. * * * The dif- 
ference between the relations of the people and the public men they wor- 



502 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

shiped in the present and half a century ago can hardly fully he appre- 
ciated in this wonderfully progressive age. Then travel was a luxun 
that few could enjoy and was almost wholly confined to those who found 
it a necessity. It was not only tedious and tiresome, but expensive far 
beyond the means of the great mass of the people. The great men of that 
day were idolized by their partisans as we now pay homage to the statue 
of some great leader as it poses on the pinnacle of the temple with its 
imperfections obliterated by distance." 

These were the principal political and national events in the na- 
tion (hiring- the first two decades of the county's history, 1820- 
1840, and are here printed by way of comparison. 

Jn Pennsylvania, at the time of the formation of Perry County, 
William Findlay, of Franklin Comity, was governor, being the 
fourth to fill the office, having been inaugurated on December 16, 
1817, and serving until December [9, [820, when Joseph Heister, 
of Berks County, became his successor. At that time slavery was 
still lawful in Pennsylvania, and Governor Findlay was the owner 
of a slave whom he freed in 1817, with the declaration, "The prin- 
ciples of slavery are repugnant to those of justice, and are totally 
irreconcilable with that rule which requires us to do unto others 
as we would wish to be done by.'' It was usual in those days to 
chain slaves together and thus - they passed across Pennsylvania. 
especially the southwestern part. Under the Constitution of 1790, 
then in effect, the patronage of the governor was immense. With 
few exceptions be bad the power to appoint all state and county 
officers. The erection of the state capitol was begun about this 
time. Up until then the state legislature had met in the old court- 
house of Dauphin County at Harrisburg. There was no executive 
mansion — not even an executive chamber — for the transaction of 
the business pertaining to the governorship. The population of 
1 tarrisburg in 1820 was only 2,990. 

According to Dr. Lyman Abbott, in The Outlook, during the 
firsl fourth of the last century drunkenness was common and there 
were no temperance societies. Slavery existed in half the United 
States and there were no anti-slavery societies ; there were no labor 
laws and from ten to sixteen boms of work were required, and 
there were public schools in only half of the United vStates. While 
things had improved over the pioneer period, yet the beating of 
homes was by open fires and air-tight stoves, with no warm rooms 
save the kitchen. Candles and whale-oil lamps furnished light. 
Goodyear bad not yet discovered the uses of India rubber and the 
heavy boots of the period were well greased to turn water. Medi- 
cine was hardly a science and surgery practically in its infancy, 
as anesthetics were unknown ; amputations were made in a rude 
way. Tuberculosis ran rampant and people were of the opinion 
that night air was unhealthy and slept in closed rooms. Cholera 
visited our shores every summer and yellow fever was epidemic 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 503 

in our Southern cities, both of which have heen abolished by 

science. Even long- years afterwards when passenger trains ran 
fifteen to twenty-live miles an hour it was considered a wonderful 
feat. 

( )f life in those early days of the new county let us again recall 
the words of one horn and reared in Perry County. Col. Alexander 
K. McClure, in his "Old-Time Notes of Pennsylvania," says: 

"The memory of the people d" those days that comes to me with the 
sweetest incense is that of the serene content that prevailed among all 
classes and conditions. No one possessed great wealth, hut none were so 
p. 101- that they could not have food and raiment unless hindered by serious 
illness. In such cases there were always prompt and generous ministra- 
tions. The sick and the sorrowing of every community were known in 
almost every household, and where there was want there was always a 
most willing supply. No matter how people differed in politics or in reli- 
gion, or on any of the other questions which at times divided rural com- 
munities, the duty of caring for the children of sorrow was accepted by 
all. Religion was the common law, and Sunday was made a day of most 
tedious and laborious worship. The neighborly feeling that was cherished 
by all was one of the most beautiful attributes of human nature, and it 
is a misfortune that it has almost wholly perished as the railroad, the 
telegraph, the newspaper and all the other many agencies of progress have 
transformed our rural communities of long ago into the unrest of modern 
and better civilization. There can be.no great transformation of the tastes 
and habits of a people without some loss of that which should have been 
preserved ; but, discounted by all the unrest that modern civilization has 
brought, it has made men and women stronger and nobler, and has vastly- 
greater sources of restraint than were thought of in the quiet days of the 
contented rural life. The house in which I was born and reared, although 
a brick building and comfortably furnished, never had a lock on door or 
window, and the burglar, or even the petty sneak thief, was entirely un- 
thought of." 

First Justices of the Peace. 

From documents in the Bureau of Records in the State Capitol 
at Harrisburg it has been found possible to give the original list 
of the first justices of the peace for the new county of Perry. 
Evidently power to appoint them was delegated to the court, as 
the following would imply: 

l.ANajTSBURG, Sept. 6, 182 1. 
To Andrew Gregg: 

Enclosed I hand you a list of all the justices of the peace who have 
been appointed in Perry County, agreeable to your direction, in your cir- 
cular of the 17th of July last, but which I did not receive until the 30th 
of the same month. 1 could not get all the information on the subject, 
before our court, which commenced on the y\ instant. 

Very respectfully, 

Abm. Fulwrilhr. 
The List: 

Jacob'Barkstraser, Toboyne, residence Toboyne. 
Daniel Bloom, Toboyne, residence Toboyne. 
Robert Adams, Toboyne, residence Toboyne. 



504 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Jacob Fritz, Tyrone and Saville, residence Landisburg. 
Wm. Power, Tyrone and Saville, residence Landisburg. 
Samuel Linn, Tyrone and Saville, residence Landisburg. 
Jacob Stroop, Tyrone and Saville, residence Tyrone. 
*Henry Titsel, Tyrone and Saville, residence Tyrone. 
Wilson McClure, Tyrone and Saville, residence Tyrone. 
John Taylor, Tyrone and Saville, residence Saville. 
John Owen, Rye, residence Rye. 
John "White, Rye, residence Rye. 
John Ogle, Rye, residence Rye. 
Robert Clark, Rye, residence Rye. 
Frank Orwan, Juniata, residence Juniata. 
Benjamin Bonsall, Juniata, residence Juniata. 
James Black, Juniata, residence Juniata. 
George Monroe, Juniata, residence Juniata. 
John Purcell, Greenwood and Buffalo, residence Millerstown. 
Caleb North, Greenwood and Buffalo, residence Millerstown. 
Abraham Adams, Greenwood and Buffalo, residence Millerstown. 
John Turner, Greenwood and Buffalo, residence Greenwood. 
Samuel Utter, Greenwood and Buffalo, residence Greenwood. 
William Linton, Greenwood and Buffalo, residence Buffalo. 
Richard Bard, Greenwood and Buffalo, residence Buffalo. 
John Huggins, Greenwood and Buffalo, residence Liverpool. 



*Has not acted; pays no attention to the duties of justice of the peace. 

Fees were small in those days, roads were bad and evidently 
some duties were also offensive, as the record of an old suit will 
verify. A suit was instituted by the Commonwealth of Pennsyl- 
vania vs. George Leiberich to recover the license ($5.00) for sell- 
ing wines and liquors, the summons being dated December 11, 
1826. At the December court Robert Welch, constable of Tyrone 
Township, returned it marked "not served for want of time." 
The summons was turned over to David Miller, constable of 
Wheatfield Township, on February 5, 1827. At the February 
court he returned it marked "not served for want of time." On 
April 12, 1827, it was reissued to Miller, and at the April session 
he returned it marked "not served." On May 7 it was reissued 
to him and (strangely enough) by the May court it had been 
properly served and George Leiberich, the defendant, and his clerk, 
appeared and proved that he had not sold any wines or "foreign" 
liquors. His business tax of $10.00 he had paid at the proper time. 
This suit was brought at the office of Samuel Linn, of Tyrone 
Township, from whose docket the transcript, on file at the Capi- 
tol, was made. 

The county's early years, not unlike the beginning of time, were 
marred by a brotherly quarrel, resulting in its first murder. The 
court, in December, 1823, sentenced the convicted man to the 
Eastern Penitentiary, the verdict having been "in the second de- 
gree." With the affair this book has nothing to do and the matter 
is merely introduced here to show the method of travel, the time 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 505 

consumed, and the cost at that period. The sheriff's bill for ex- 
penses of taking the prisoner to Philadelphia read like this : 

To stage fare from Carlisle to Philadelphia, sheriff, 

guard and prisoner @ $875, $26.75 

To ditto, sheriff and guard back 17-50 

To 7 days spent by sheriff in taking prisoner from 

Landisburg to city @ $2.00, 14.00 

To 7 days for guard @ $1.00 7-00 

To sheriff's expense for 7 days @ $1.50 10.50 

To guard's expense for 7 days (a) $1.50, 10.50 

To expenses of prisoner @ $1.00 3 00 

To amount paid for keeping prisoner at night, 1.00 

To ditto, 50 

Total $90.25 

During 1829, a prisoner, convicted for manslaughter, was taken 
to Philadelphia to the penitentiary. The county seat was then at 
New Bloomfield, and the route taken was another, via Clark's 
Ferry (now Duncannon). The stage fare had decreased consid- 
erably over what it had been six years before. It will be noticed 
that the word sundries had already reached the public records of 
the new county. The bill : 

To taking prisoner from Bloomfield to Clark's Ferry 
with Dearborn (a type of carriage) and horse, in- 
cluding sending Dearborn back and expenses at 

ferry, $ 2 • 47 

To stage fare (prisoner and staff) from Clark's Ferry 

to Philadelphia 10.00 

To stage fare (sheriff) from Phila. to Harrisburg, 4.00 

Tavern bill at Buehler's, going down, -94 

Tavern bill at Womelsdorf, going down, .75 

Tavern bill at Reading, going down, 1 .00 

Jailer, for keeping prisoner at Reading, -37>2 

Tavern bill at H. Styer's 68-J4 

Stage driver, from office to pen. with prisoner, .50 

Tavern bill for sheriff in Philadelphia, 2.00 

Tavern bill at Styer's, returning, .31 

Dinner at Womelsdorf, returning, -37^ 

Bill at Buehler's, returning, 1 .00 

Conveyance and expenses from Hbg. to Bloomfield, . 4.00 

Sundries, for which no vouchers were taken, 2.00 

For six days for sheriff @ $2.00, 12.00 



$42.90 
When the county was new, almost at its very beginning, at the 
December session of 1823, an indictment was brought against a 
justice of the peace, the charge being that he entered (June 11, 
1821) a judgment and when it was paid kept the money; that on 
July 9, 1821, he gave another judgment, and when it was paid 
him he withheld part of it three months and later paid the balance, 
.and that he refused to pay the prosecutor's attorney. The indict- 



506 HISTORY <)F PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

ment is marked "A true bill as to the first two charges in the in- 
dictment and an ignoramus as to the third." The commission of 
the justice was revoked by Governor Shulze, May 27, 1824. The 
first special election was held on February 26, 1828, to fill the of- 
fice of member of assembly, owing to the resignation of Jesse 
Miller. At the election William Power defeated Jacob Huggins. 
The return of 1822 shows the tavern keepers (then the term 
used) by townships, but it must be remembered that these early 
townships were much more extensive than are those of the same 
names at this time, as will be noted in the history of the various 
townships in this book. The list for 1822 follows: 

February Sessions, iSjj. 

Toboyne Township. — Henry Zimmerman. 

Tyrone Township. — John Hubler. 

Greenwood Township. — David Pfoutz, Anthony Brandt. 

Rye. — John Woodburn. 

April Sessions, 1822. 

Tyrone Township. — John Long, John Hippie, Andrew Tressler, John 
Foose, Gilbert Moon, Jonathan Dunkelberger, Henry Lightner, Thomas 
Craighead, Samuel Shoemaker, James Kennedy. 

Greenwood Township. — John Miller, Frederick Rinehart, Peter Mussel- 
man, Benjamin Leas, Peter Wolf, George Wilt, John Knight, Philip Brady. 

Rye. — Peter Yoder, Frederick Smiley, David Gallatin, James Kirkpat- 
rick, George Billow. 

Saville. — John Strawbridge, William Roberts. 

Juniata. — Joseph Jones, George Eckert. 

Toboyne.— John Snell, David Koutz, John Baird. 

September Sessions, 1S22. 

Tyrone. — Abraham Shively, David Heckendorn. 

Saville.— Gotleib Sheaffer. 

Juniata. — Alexander Watson, Abraham Rider, Dr. John Eckert, John 
Koch. Joseph Power, Francis Beetem. 

Greenwood. — William Waugh, Henry Landis, John Stailey. 

Rye. — Henry Layman, John Fritz, Peter Harrup. 

Buffalo. — Joseph Sheaffer, Magdalena Baughm'ari, William Montgomery, 
James Freeland. 

While the number of licenses granted at the Quarter Sessions 
tdr the year 1821 totaled but thirty-four, yet by 1829 the number 
had almost doubled, sixty-four being granted to the following per- 
sons. However, it is hardly possible to believe that they were all 
for hotels, as in the earlier years merchants ofttimes sold "wet 
goods" as well as dry goods, but ot course had to be licensed. The 
list : 

January Sessions, x82Q. 

Saville. — William Roberts. 

Buffalo. — Rachel Freeland, Thomas Wells, Michael Albright, Joshua 
Byers. 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 507 

Juniata. — David LuptYr, James McNamee, Dr. Jonas Ickes, Conrad Roth. 
Toboyne. — John Zimmerman. 
Wheatfield. — Abraham Bruner. 
Rye. — Leyman Jackson. 

April Sessions, 1S29. 

Greenwood. — John Shuman, James McClelland, Philip Brady, David 
Rickabaugh, William Hunter, George Keely, William McGowan, Eli Mil- 
ler, John M. Schoch. 

Toboyne. — Daniel. Koutz, Thomas B. Jacobs, Daniel Sheaffer. 

Tyrone. — David Heckendorn, John Adams, Abraham Sheibley, George 
S. Hackett, Robert Welsh, John Kibler, Gilbert Moon. 

Saville. — Mathias Myers. 

Rye. — Robert Boner, Charles Bovard, George Billow, Daniel Gallatin. 

Wheatfield. — John Cougler, Robert McCoy, John Fritz, David Miller, 
James Baskins, John Strawbridge. 

Liverpool Township. — John Stailey, Frederick Rinehart, Philip Etter, 
Samuel Sipe, Richard Knight, Philip Moyer, James Stewart. 

Buffalo. — Alexander Watson, John Miller, Joseph Sheaffer, Charles L. 
Berghaus, William Montgomery, John Livingston. 

Juniata. — John Comp, John Baskins, Margaret VanCamp, John Sipe, 
David Deardorf, Jonathan English, John Rice, Henry Ewalt, Robert 
Cochran. 

The first census enumerator having in charge the taking of the 
census of Perry County was John Wilson. 

In 1824 the clerk of the courts returned the following list of 
retailers to the state as doing business in the new county : Anthony 
Black, Samuel Abernathy, Henry Fetter, William McClure, Abra- 
ham Fulvveiler, Robert H. McClelland, William Roberts, James 
Black, Ephraim Bosserman, George Tharp, John Rice, William 
Irvine, Nathan VanFossen, Richard Stewart (liquors only), Jacob 
Hollenhaugh, Edward Purcell, Isaiah Clark, Robert B. Cochran 
& Co., Mealy & Beaver, Henry Walters, John K. Boyer, and 
Thomas Gallagher. 

In 1825 the following new ones appear: Robert Welch, Robert 
lions & Kepner, George Lebrich, Jonas Ickes, Frederick Baker 
& Co., and John Kverhart. In 1826 others entered business pur- 
suits, as follows: Valentine Smith. Henry Brinton, John Bosser- 
man, and George I). Reeky. The names of the last three are al- 
most defaced by lime and the writer has tried to decipher them. 
During that year the county treasurer remitted $125 for twenty- 
five state maps. 

In r82/ there were twenty-four returns for selling merchandise 
only, .and sixteen for merchandise and liquors. New names ap- 
peared as follows: Daniel Gallatin, Cadwallader [ones, Jonathan 
Lesh, Roger Claxton, Israel Downing. Ezra Squire, Dodd & Co., 
John Salmon, and Alexander Rogers. 



5 o8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

For the first time, in November, 1828, the dealers' returns were 
made to the state, showing the townships in which the mrechants 
were located. Those marked with a * also sold liquors. The list : 

Buffalo: Saville: 

*William Parson. William Roberts. 

♦Roger Claxton. Valentine Smith. 

♦Patrick Downey. Toboyne : 

Bouz & Kepner. Anthony Black. 

Catharine Urban. George D. Leckey. 

funiata: Ewing & Morrison. 

♦Alexander Rogers. James Davidson. 

♦Robert H. McClelland. Tyrone: 

♦Black & Beaver. ♦Abraham Fulweiler. 

Black & Beaver. ♦Henry Fetter. 

John Everhart. ♦William McClure. 

John Hippie. Cadwallader Jones. 

Jonas Ickes (apothecary). Wheatfield : 

John Rice. ♦William Clark. 

Rye : ♦William Irwin. 

Daniel Gallatin. ♦Richard Stewart. 

John Mateer. Greenwood: 

Liverpool: ♦Samuel Mealy. 

♦George Tharp. ♦Robert B. Cochran. 

♦Henry Walters. ♦Isaiah Clark. 

♦John Salmon. ♦Edward Purcell. 

It will be noted that Black & Beaver had two places, one of 
which sold dry goods and the other wet goods. 

In 1829 the following new entries were reported : Toboyne, 
Benjamin Fosselman & Co., James Ewing;* Tyrone, Carothers 
& Stroop,* Bernard Sheibley; Greenwood, Samuel and Jacob 
Beaver; Juniata, Fulweiler & Bosserman,* John W. Bosserman. 

The State Legislature of 1833-34 passed an act placing a tax 
upon retailers of foreign merchandise. In conformity with that 
law R. H. McClelland, then county treasurer, published a list of 
the dealers within the county, as required by the sixth section of 
the act. Under the classification, "Retailers of wines and spirits," 
appears no names. Under "Retailers of merchandise other than 
wines and liquors," appears the names of Samuel Abernathy, 
Nathan VanFossen, and William Roberts. Under "Retailers of 
merchandise, including wines and liquors," are Anthony Black, 
Henry Fetter, Abraham Fulweiler, Robert H. McClelland, James 
Black, Ephraim Bosserman, Edward Purcell, Isaiah Clark, Samuel 
Mealy & Beaver, Henry Walters, and George Tharp. Under this 
latter list are the following names, marked "refused to take out 
license" : William McClure, John Rice, William Irwin, Jacob Hol- 
lenbaugh, Robert Cochran & Co., and Frederick Baker. 

By 1837 the retail merchants of the county had increased con- 
siderably and we find the following names on the return made to 
the state: 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 



509 



Tyrone : 

Henry Fetter. 

A. & S. Black. 

Pleis, Frering & Thudium. 

Michael Kepner. 

C. Jones. 

Wm. Dalton. 

Jos. Welch. 

Toboyne : 

Ewing & Morrison. 
David Moreland. 
Adams & Row. 
James Ewing. 

Madison : 

John Reed. 
Fetter & Dunbar. 
R. & J. Hackett. 

Saville: 

John Rice. 
James Milligan. 
John English. 

Juniata : 

Wm. Bosserman. 
Murphy & Orwan. 
Smith & Everhart. 
Abraham B. Demaree. 
Samuel Leiby. 
Gantt & Etter. 
John T. Robison. 
R. B. Jordon. 
John English. 



Carroll : 

Egolf & Mickey. 

John Wallace. 
Wheatfield : 

Jacob Keiser. 

Richard Stewart. 

Lindley & Fisher. 

William L. Fisher. 

Centre : 

Charles Portley. 

Buffalo : 

Mitchell & Steever. 
George W. Urban. 
William Jackson. 
William A. Dickenson. 

Greenwood : 

I. & T. Beaver. 
Jacob Emerick. 
Isaiah Clark. 
D. & I. Strawbridge. 
Henry Thatcher. 

Bloomfield Boro : 

Alexander Magee. 

John Rice. 

Thomas Black. 

William Lackey. 
Liverpool Boro : 

Samuel Mealy. 

Walters & Jackman. 

William Walters. 

John Reifsnyder & Co. 



Toboyne then included Blain ; Tyrone included Landisburg ; 
Juniata included Newport; Wheatfield included Duncannon ; 
Greenwood included Millerstown, and Buffalo included New Buf- 
falo. Various townships were still unformed and were a part of 
the older townships. 

The early stores did some queer advertising. On July 19, 1820, 
the following appeared: "Dry, Goods, including Straw Bonnets, 
Hardware, Glass and Queensware, Brandy, Spirits and Wine." 
The prices for tailoring in 1825 were : Making fashionable coat, 
$3.50; next quality, $3.00; homemade cloth, $1.50 ; fashionable 
pants, $1.00. 

The first appointee from Perry County to carry the returns of 
a presidential election to the office of the Secretary of the Com- 
monwealth was John M. McKeehan, in 1824. 

At the quarter session of April, 1828, an indictment was brought 
against one Joseph Jones for keeping a "tipling house." In No- 
vember, 1829, and August, 1834, similar indictments were before 
the courts. 



5 io HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Early tavern keepers were at times inclined to "drift into verse" 
in their advertising. An advertisement in the fifth number of the 
Perry Forester, dated August 9, 1820. contains the following- 
Come, gentlemen, try my good whiskey; 
Come drink "a glass," 'twill make you "frisky"; 
Come, weary traveler, try my brandy; 
'Tis very good — 'twill make you handy. 

Come breakfast, dine and sup with me, 

At my own table ; 
Put up your nags— for a small fee. 

Just in the stable. 
Come lodge with me— I've beds aplenty, 

(And not a flea ;') 
Come try my fare, 'tis all good ware. 

just as you'll see. 
Need I say more, you to invite? 

No, I think not 
"Put up" with me. if hut one night; 

And then you'll see 

What I have got. 

Under date of April 14, 1832, signed by John Junkin and A. 

Branyan, county commissioners, a statement of the valuations ot 

personal property is made to the state, as follows: 

'Taxable Personal 

Township. Property. Property. 

luniata 200,400 8,008 

Liverpool, 125,120 7.78o 

Wheatfield 165.900 9730 

Rye, 142,706 7,620 

Saville, 167,700 4.700 

Centre, 17.175 -',790 

Greenwood 144.813 8,890 

Buffalo, 181,820 6,090 

Tyrone 375.36o 12,760 

Toboyne, 311.690 29,030 

The first traveling show to visit Perry County exhibited in Lan- 
disburg, September 7. 1826. The original show of the noted Dan 
Rice exhibited in New Bloomfield on October 4. 1855. 

Those early settlers realized that the fruits of the earth consti- 
tute the reward of labor, and the plow, the harrow, the scythe and 
the grain cradle were plied in season, so that the valleys and pas- 
ture lands were soon stocked with cattle and the cribs and bins 
filled with grain. The surplus produce of the county in those days 
consisted of wheat, rye. oats, flour, whiskey, peach and apple 
brandy, livestock and salted provisions. Fishing during the spring 
and fall seasons with nets and fish baskets where channels were 
walled up added to the supply of food. Wild pigeons were plenti- 
ful. Lands were still being cleared of brush and trees and the 
burning of clearings was made a gala affair, as were the early 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 511 

husking bees and barn dances. Grain cradlers received 75 cents 
per day and reapers and mowers (scythe) half of thai amount. 
In other instances the wage was $1.00 per day for cradlers and 
very rarely, $2.00. Farm hands received $5.00 to $7.00 per month, 
including their hoard. Until [846 there were no sewing machines, 
and until [847 postage stamps were not used. 

When the panic of 1837 struck the country its effect was felt in 
Perry County as elsewhere, and the new county, then less than two 
decades in existence, was forced to issue paper currency for a time, 
rare specimens still being in existence. The text of the money 
was as follows: "This will entitle the Bearer-to receive from the 
County of Perry the sum of Twenty-five Cents, payable on de- 
mand in current Bank Notes at the Treasurer's Office in Bloom- 
field. Per Resolution of the Board of County Commissioners, 
passed July 1, 1837." 

Singing schools were conducted in the various communities and 
many men and women of mature years recollect well this ancient 
institution where they got their first (and ofttimes only) musical 
education. A notice of what was probably one of the first of these 
schools appeared in the Perry Forester — Perry County's first paper 
— on November 15, 1827. it follows: 

Singing School. 
The lovers of Sacred Harmony, of Landisburg and vicinity, arc in- 
formed that a meeting will be held at Mr. T. B. Cooper's schoolroom, on 
Monday evening next, with a view of making up a singing school, where 
all persons desirous of encouraging the same, are invited to attend. 

(Signed) Many. 

In 1821 the Landisburg Harmonic Singing Society already ex- 
isted. R. H. McClelland being- the secretary. ( )n November 2^, 
1826, the Handelian Society was organized at Union schoolhouse, 
four miles east of Landisburg. In 1852 the New Bloomfield Sing 
ing .School held a public concert in the courthouse 

The preparation and burial of the dead a century ago was also 
done in the most primitive way. Outside of the large cities the 
undertaker was still unknown. All cabinetmakers made coffins, 
which were unlined. A handfull of the most delicate shavings, 
covered with a piece of muslin tacked over them, sufficed for a 
pillow. Bodies were invariably dressed in shrouds, usually of 
cambric muslin. The bottom of the coffin was also covered with 
muslin, upon which the body was placed and covered with a part 
of the same piece of muslin, which was known as the "winding- 
sheet." The casket was painted with a crude stain. Ice was as 
yet unknown as a preserver and enbalming undreamed of. so that 
funerals followed deaths inside of twenty-four hours. Without 
telegraph and telephone lines and with mails far apart it was nec- 
essary to convey the news of deaths to relatives by special mes- 



512 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

sengers. As an example an actual occurrence is quoted. When 
Henry Thatcher lived at New Buffalo and Charlotte Catharines 
Albert, Mrs. Thatcher's mother, died at her home near Landisburg, 
on February 4, 1846, her nephew, John Smith, carried the sad 
news overland on horseback. 

The following incident is also illustrated of the customs of the 
early part of the last century : Upon the death of Abraham Smith, 
who was buried in the cemetery at Loysville, the body was con- 
veyed to the grave in a large four-horse wagon, the friends riding 
in the same conveyance, as hearses were not then in use in the 
country districts, and even spring wagons were unknown. The late 
D. H. Smith, of "Little Germany," and later of Duncannon, was a 
descendant of this family. 

Before the county's establishment, in 1780, when Francis West 
died at his home near the Gibson mill, the interment was made at 
Carlisle, and the body was borne across the Kittatinny or Blue 
Mountain in a wagon, the friends following in wagons, on horse- 
back and afoot, over rough roads for a distance of fifteen miles. 
Having been a prominent man the cortege was attended by promi- 
nent men from the north side of the mountain. A delegation of 
prominent Carlisle men met the procession outside of that town 
and claimed the honor of replacing them, which was resented and 
a free-for-all fight followed, after whch they jointly accompanied 
the remains to the place of interment and spent the balance of the 
day in a custom then too much in vogue, but happily no longer 
tolerated. 

In those days boys were bound out to learn trades, at a very 
small compensation, and often for only their clothes and boarding. 
The time to be served was usually three or four years and some- 
times, when the years stretched out ahead, the time seemed so far 
off that the apprentice ran away. In cases like that he usually se- 
cured his first publicity, as one of the advertisements from the old 
Perry Forestef. will show. In this case the advertiser seems dis- 
gusted, offering only six cents and "no thanks" for the return of 
the apprentice : 

Six Cents Reward. 

RUNAWAY from the subscriber, living in Toboyne Township, Perry 
County, on Saturday, the 21st of February, inst., Augustus Waggoner, an 
apprentice to the shoemaking trade — about fifteen years of age — had on 
when he went away, Linsey pantaloons and roundabout jacket, an old black 
coat, old shoes and stockings, an old hat and good linen shirt. Whoever 
takes up said apprentice so that I get him again, shall have the above re- 
ward, but no charges will be paid nor thanks given for their trouble. 

Andrew Beishlein. 

February 26, 1824. 

According to an advertisement in the Perry Forester of April 
12, 1830, placed there at the instance of Samuel Linn, executor of 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 513 

Ahram Fulwiler, milady of that period wore as dainty lingerie as 
her sister of the present day, as the materials offered for sale com- 
prised a very extensive assortment and one that would have done 
credit to many stores of a much later day. The word "consorts" 
was then much used instead of wives, carriages were called Dear- 
horns jnst as the most common motor cars are called Fords, and 
farms were plantations in many cases, until about 1823. The 
stores, in their advertisements, invariably used "a good assortment 
of liquors" as part of their stock in trade. An advertisement of 
Mary Seott, of Carlisle, in the Forester, stated that she "will pur- 
chase flaxseed, flour and whiskey," all of which were extensively 
produced north of the Kittatinny Mountain. Patent medicines 
were already on the market in 1825, one advertiser offering a won- 
derful "panacea." The newspaper files show many columns of ad- 
vertisements praising their merits. The picnic of our day was the 
"celebration" of those days, even being so termed as late as 1855. 

The census of 1840 showed that Perry County, then in its twen- 
tieth year, had eight furnaces which produced 2,951 tons of cast 
iron, and two forges and rolling mills which produced 1,300 tons 
of bar iron. These furnaces and forges consumed 16,152 tons of 
fuel and, including mining operations, employed 339 men. The 
capital invested in them totaled $303,150. There were then twenty- 
three tanneries which tanned 9,720 sides of sole leather and 4,814 
sides of upper leather. They employed fifty-eight men and the 
capital invested amounted to $56,550. There were thirty-one other 
leather manufacturers, such as saddlers, whose product was valued 
at $14,715. Thirteen distilleries distilled 31,475 gallons, the capi- 
tal invested being $8,590. Four potteries turned out $2,100 worth 
of manufactured product. There were then fifty-seven stores, 
with a capital of $169,200, five lumber yards with a capital of 
$1,600 and employing fifty-seven men and sixty men engaged in 
transportation. Fisheries were operated which produced a product 
worth $14,335, an( l twenty-two barrels of tar was manufactured 
which sold for $1,893, employing five men. Bricks and lime were 
manufactured to the value of $7,269. There were seven fulling 
mills and five woollen manufactories which manufactured goods 
worth $4,370, their capital being $8,700. Two printing offices and 
two weekly papers supplied the populace with literature. Their 
capital was $2,000. There was one "rope walk," the value of 
whose product was $3,000, the capital invested being $2,200. The 
value of carriage plants was $685, and of their product was $2,000. 
Twenty-four flour mills manufactured 11,200 barrels of flour, and 
twenty-six gristmills ground grain. There were 120 sawmills of 
the "up-and-down" type. The furniture manufactured was valued 
at $3,679, and the capital invested $1,760. The value of other 
33 



5 i4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

manufactured goods was $14,910, and the capital invested $5,905. 
The total capital invested in manufacturing was $264,024. Eight 
houses of brick and stone and seventy-seven of lumber were 
erected. The cost of constructing or building was $38,842. 

According to a record of 1840 the lands of Perry County were 
classified at that time as follows: 

Limestone land, cleared, i3.4 J acres 

Limestone land, uncleared 6,050 

Slate land, cleared 46,660 

Slate land, uncleared 58,120 

Gravel land, cleared, 53,ioo 

Gravel land, uncleared, 21,610 

Sand land, uncleared, 5*040 

Mountain or rock, 68,240 

Known to contain iron ore, 4° 

Cleared land of all kinds, 139,000 

Uncleared land fit for cultivation, 54,ooo 

Unfit for cultivation, 74,ioo 

The average value of cleared land at that time is stated as $25 
per acre, and of woodland, $5 per acre. The whole value of the 
cleared land was estimated as $1,527,000, and of all the uncleared 
land, $787,000. 

The census of 1840 contained the following in reference to the 
young county : 

Number of horses and mules, 4-383 

Number of cattle, 15.043 

Number of swine, 21,485 

Value of poultry, $6,403 

Wheat raised 200,638 bushels 

Barley raised, 4 1 J 

Oats raised, 192,258 

Rye raised, 143,519 

Buckwheat raised, 37.052 

Indian corn raised, 150,095 

In an old "State Book of Pennsylvania." printed in 1846, de- 
voted to the geography, history, government, resources, etc., of the 
state, is a map of the state in which Perry County is included in a 
belt known as the "Iron Mountain Counties," which runs from 
the Maryland line north to include Lycoming and Northumberland 
Counties. The Cumberland and Lebanon Valleys — really one val- 
ley — is known as the Kittatinny Valley on the same map. The 
area of Perry County is given as 540 square miles, and the popu- 
lation as 17,096. The property value is quoted as $2,895,758, and 
the population of the county seat as 412. The minerals are enu- 
merated as iron ore "in great quantities" and limestone. It then 
had fifteen townships and six boroughs. It says "the boroughs are 
Bloomfield, Liverpool, Newport, Petersburg (now Duncannon), 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 



515 



Landisburg, and New Germantown, and the villages are Ickesburg, 
Duncannon, Millerstown, and Buffalo." The public improvements 
are noted as the Susquehanna Canal, from the mouth of the Juni- 
ata at Duncan's Island, up the eastern line of the county, and the 
Juniata Canal, from the same point, up the Juniata; the northern 
turnpike from Duncan's Island along the Juniata and several large 
bridges. Educationally the county was credited with one academy, 
one hundred common and some private schools and about thirty 
churches. Politically at that time Perry had one member of as- 
sembly and was joined with Cumberland in the election of a sena- 
tor and with Cumberland and Franklin in the election of a con- 
gressman. The townships at that time were Buffalo, Carroll, 
Centre, Jackson, Greenwood, Juniata, Liverpool, Madison, Oliver, 
Penn, Rye, Saville, Toboyne, Tyrone, and Wheatfield. Liverpool 
was then the largest town in the county, with 454 inhabitants. 
Newport, Millerstown, and Bloomfield all followed closely, with 
over 400 each. 

One of the county's early contractors was Peter Bernheisel, a 
son of John B. and Catharine (Loy) Bernheisel, born August 18, 
1806, in Sherman's Valley. Recognizing a larger field for his in- 
dustry, he located at Harrisburg, where he was a contractor from 
1832 to 1859. Among his contracts in Dauphin County was the 
erection of the county jail and the Market Square Presbyterian 
Church, built in 1841, and burned March 31, 1858. 

A surveyor who did work over the county during the middle 
of the last century was James H. Devor, who came to the county 
from Shippensburg in 1845. He was known as "the blacksmith 
lawyer" and practiced that profession also for almost twenty years. 

Most salaries were not princely in those days, even for office of 
great import. In 1833 the annual salaries of a number of gover- 
nors of states was as follows : Rhode Island, $400 ; Vermont, $750 ; 
New Hampshire, Indiana, and Illinois, $1,000. 

During the earlier years of the county's existence a popular 
method of worship was in the groves and woods ; and the camp 
meetings of that period were largely attended by those who went 
there to worship instead of as a pleasure trip, which is so largely 
the case in this modern day. Among these old camp meeting 
grounds, the Bruner grove, in Centre Township, was used as early 
as 1830, and sometimes in recent years also, but for the first fifty 
years camp meeting was almost an annual event. Both the Meth- 
odist and United Brethren denominations have occupied it. In 
1834 Rev. S. T. Harding had the meetings in charge. Rev. S. W. 
Seibert, an Evangelical minister, and the father of the late Presi- 
dent Judge William N. Seibert, held many camp meetings, one of 
which was at the Ricedorf place in Juniata Township, in 1849. 
He also had charge of the camp meetings in Buffalo Township. 



5 i6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

A typical camp meeting was long held by the United Brethren 
and other denominations in Wm. Stonffer's woods, near Sher- 
mansdale. The tents (mostly rude wooden structures) were 
erected in an oblong block. In the middle of one end was the 
speakers' stand, with a sounding board. Board seats, nailed to 
logs, occupied the enclosed space, save the aisles. Here were held, 
as at various other places, great harvest home camp meetings, with 
their renewals of faith and repledging of vows. The impression 
made by these old camp meetings, canopied by huge forest trees, 
while the glaring light gave a colorful effect, with their songs of 
Zion, are vivid in the minds of many living to-day. As a general 
thing these camp meetings have passed away, but an occasional 
one is still held, but not like those of old. 

Those of the present generation remember the frequent articles 
of the late John Rice, of Little Germany, a settlement in Spring 
Township, relating to Andrew J. Smolnicker and the Peace Union. 
Smolnicker was an eccentric character who came to the county and 
purchased a tract of land at sheriff's sale for the erection of a new 
church. The land had belonged to a man by the name of Eld- 
ridge, who resided in Baltimore, and was located near the top of 
Tuscarora Mountain, in Tuscarora Township. Here in 1853-54 
Smolnicker erected a church, 20x40 feet in size. It was also used 
as a residence by him. He published a book about that time, which 
contained the dogma which he preached. It was proposed to build 
steps up the mountain, but it never was done. Smolnicker was 
nominated by the National Peace Union Convention, at Baltimore, 
for the Presidency of the United States. 

John Hartman, an early settler, built a tavern on top of Tusca- 
rora Mountain, at the gap over the mountain and at the county 
line between Perry and Juniata Counties. As the modern prize 
fight is to the generations of this period so were the bare fist fights 
of early days, and it was here that the "bullies" of Perry and Juni- 
ata used to show their prowess. Almost a century later two de- 
scendants, unknown to each other, met there in the wilds and the 
following conversation took place: "Good morning, sir!" reply. 
"Good morning!" "What are you looking for?" "Hunting for 
the ruins of the old Hartman tavern !" "I am too, but here is all 
that is left of it!" "Who are you?" "Wesley Fuller!" "Who 
are you?" "John M. Hartman!" 

During the early period of the county's history the law of the 
state required the enrollment of all able-bodied men between the 
ages of eighteen and forty-five, who were assigned to companies, 
battalions, etc., the officers being elected at a special election held 
for that purpose. There were two training days during May and 
June. The first was known as muster day and a penalty of one 
dollar was imposed for failure to report. As all did not have guns, 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 517 

canes helped to augment the supply of "arms." The second day 
was parade day and the battalions were reviewed, being com- 
manded by mounted regimental officers in uniform. The parade 
grounds were usually near a road house or tavern. The ladies, 
accounts tell us, attended the festivities, which were not unlike the 
modern carnival. This system became unpopular and with the 
advent of the Mexican War it began to decline. Landisburg was 
the headquarters of the Landisburg Guards, the Landisburg Artil- 
lery, and the Terry Rangers. The location of one of these old 
mustering grounds was at the "Rope Ferry," below Millerstown, the 
near-by hotel being kept by the captain, George Kelly. About 1830 
it was changed to Millerstown. Liquor was then more or less in 
general use. Two old orders echo down to posterity from this old 
"Rope Ferrv" mustering ground : "Move up into solemn column !" 
and " 'Rest any one coming back from dinner toxicated." Among 
the officers of the State Militia was Andrew Loy, who resided on 
the Fort Robinson farm, having been appointed by Governor 
WOlfe, in 1835; Robert Fulton Thompson, of Watts Township, 
who was a colonel prior to the Mexican War ; George Shuman, 
of near Millerstown, a captain, of whom Priscilla, his daughter 
(wife of Dr. Mahlon J. Davis), said, "I thought my father was 
a second George Washington, when he was captain of the militia, 
and had stripes on his trousers and a red plume on his hat" ; Wil- 
liam Rough, father of Amos W., John, and William Rough, now 
or late of Newport ; Lieut. Colonel John Tressler, of Loysville, 
commissioned by Governor Wolf ; Capt. Zephaniah Willhide, of 
the Montgomery Cadets, commissioned April 26, 185 1, by Gover- 
nor Johnson and renewed by Governor Bigler ; Colonel Robert 
McCoy, of Duncannon, whose daughter, Mrs. Adaline Brown, still 
lives and tells of the big review when the militia paraded in all 
their gay trappings in the fields where Baskinsville is now located, 
and John Kibler, colonel of the Thirty-Ninth Regiment. 

During this militia period Perry County citizens sometimes be- 
came attached to important titles. In 1843, on the list is Brigadier 
General Henry Fetter. During that year Camp Perry was the 
scene of the military festivities, being located on the George Bar- 
nett farm at a point three hundred yards east of Bloomfield. Not 
only did all the local units encamp there, but the United States 
mounted artillery from Carlisle Barracks were their guests. The 
units at Camp Perry were: 

Landisburg Artillery, Capt. Fenstermacher. 
Landisburg Guards, Captain Wilson. 
Newport Guards, Captain Cochran. 
Bloomfield Light Infantry, Capt. Casey. 
Juniata Hornets, Capt. Moyer. 
Perry Hornet Riflemen, Capt. Diven. 
Green Mountain Riflemen, Capt. Hall. 



518 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Several of these companies had been but recently organized, 
yet all were well uniformed according to the county press. The 
Green Mountain Riflemen from Ickesburg was a crack company 
during the period from 1830 to 1840. Daniel W. Flickinger was 
once its captain, but was promoted to major. In 1840 he moved 
to Juniata County. His son, Rev. Robert E. Flickinger, is an 
able Presbyterian minister located at Rockwell City, Iowa, as well 
as the author of four or five noted historical volumes. Three 
brothers of Major Flickinger were also members of the Green 
Mountain Riflemen. At an earlier period Brigadier General David 
Mitchell was in charge of the militia of Perry and Franklin 
Counties. 

That rumblings of the coming storm of secession were apparent 
is shown by the numerous cases in which the matter of disunion 
was spoken of. In the drinking of toasts at the military meetings, 
then so common, or at public celebrations, the matter of the Union 
was ever to the fore. When the Union troops of the county met 
at the house of John Patterson, at Juniata Falls (now the Steckley 
place, in Howe Township), on January 8, 1834, Dr. W.B. Mealey, 
a prominent physician, proposed the toast, "The union of the States 
— may it be perpetual and enduring to the end of time ; it must 
and shall be preserved." This is merely cited here as an example 
of those at all other celebrations, as various public meetings were 
then termed. In fact disunion had shown itself in 1828 and again 
in 1832, when President Andrew Jackson quickly crushed it. 

Public sales were long known as public "vendues," which title 
often appeared in sale bills as late as 1880. It appears that public 
"vendues" were sometimes held for the renting or leasing of lands, 
according to data taken from an advertisement dated October 22, 
1819.' On Monday, November 29, at the home of Major Leyman, 
at Clark's Ferry (now Clark's Run, Duncannon), Robert Clark 
held a public vendue to rent the following : 

1. Elegant merchant mill and farm adjoining Petersburg, with a good 
dwelling house and barn. 

2. Complete sawmill at the mouth of Little Juniata Creek, near the 
other mill, with a lot of ground of about two acres. 

3. The Petersburg farm, containing 216 acres, with good dwelling house 
and barn, and about one-half of the farm clear land under good fence. 

4. Farm and ferry at the mouth of Sherman's Creek, with good dwell- 
ing house, barn and orchard. 

5. Farm adjoining Clark's Ferry, Major Jones and others, containing 120 
acres, half clear land, house, barn, etc. 

6. Noted tavern stand, opposite mouth of Juniata, Dauphin County, with 
large dwelling house, still house and fifty acres of land. 

In the earlier days, when hunting and fishing helped provide 
a part of the livelihood of many families, most men were good 
marksmen, and shooting matches were of frequent occurrence and 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 519 

largely attended. There was a great rivalry between the sections 
on opposite sides of the Kittatinny Mountain, and with the form- 
ing of the new county, the rivalry became more marked, but the 
Perry County lads were usually the winners, according to news- 
paper records. 

Before the advent of railroads and long afterwards cattle for 
markets elsewhere were driven overland in large droves and many, 
even in middle life, well remember of it. Among Perry Coun- 
tians long engaged in that business was George Johnston, of To- 
boyne Township, who bought his stock in western Pennsylvania 
and eastern Ohio and drove the herds eastward over the Alle- 
gheny Mountains. Mr. Johnston met Margaret Russell, of Miami 
County, Ohio, and they were wed in May, 1835, making the jour- 
ney eastward via Cincinnati. From there they took a boat up 
the Ohio River to Pittsburgh, and from that point came via the 
Pennsylvania Canal and inclined planes over the Allegheny Moun- 
tains to their home here. Contrast the methods of travel and 
transportation then and now. Oxen were used as beasts of bur- 
den by the earlier residents, and, while the writer is no patriarch 
by any means, he still remembers seeing at least one ox team on 
the streets of each of the two principal business town of the 
county. The many four and six-horse teams from western Perry, 
as they brought their heavy loads of bark, potatoes, wheat, corn 
and other produce to the shipping point at Newport are remem- 
bered by those of middle life. 

Early Tradl With Baltimore. 

Before the Pennsylvania Canal and the Pennsylvania Railroad 
were built, and even after the construction of the canal, much of 
the marketing of Perry County products was done at Baltimore, 
Maryland, the goods being conveyed in old English wagons which 
got their motive power from four- and six-horse teams. x At least 
one of these wagons is yet in use in the county, the writer having 
passed it near Centre Presbyterian Church on the way to Loys- 
ville with a load of grain, in July, 1919, while engaged in seeking 
material for the publication of this book. It is now in the posses- 
sion of Mr. Walter Moose, who got it from an uncle, John Moose, 
it originally having been the property of his grandfather, Samuel 
Moose. The tires were originally of one-inch iron, but now it is 



1. While passing this historic wagon the writer accompanied Mr. John 
Waggoner, postmaster at Centre, in his automobile, he being a descendant 
of the famous family of millers of that name. At the time, we were in 
sight of the home where Col. A. K. McClure spent his boyhood days, 
the site of old Fort Robinson and of Centre Presbyterian Church. Within 
a mile either way were the old Bixler flour and fulling mills and the Wag- 
goner gristmill, whose history goes back over a hundred years, and the 
birthplace of the late Prof. Junius R. Flickinger, principal of the Lock 
Haven State Normal School. 



520 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

tired with one-half inch iron, which reduces the height of the rear 
wheels from six feet to seventy-one inches. The tires are four 
inches wide, and at the present price of iron would cost about fifty 
dollars for the four wheels. 

'Idie wagons on the downward trip were laden with the products 
of the county flour mills, tanneries, distilleries, and farm, including 
pork, beef, clover-seed, grain, etc. On the homeward trip the load 
was principally fish, merchandise, etc. It took about two weeks 
to make the round-trip in these (English-bed) wagons, which were 
the prototype of the "prairie schooner," which later played so great 
a part in the colonization of the western frontiers of the United 
States. They were covered with canvass and the feed boxes and 
blankets were attached to the rear by chains when not in use. The 
sleeping was often done in fair weather beneath the wagons, and 
when inclement often on cots or benches in bar rooms. 

These wagons were equipped with chains to keep the wagon bed 
from spreading, and on one of the last trips to Baltimore before 
the advent of the railroad Daniel Minich's team lost this chain. 
He missed it shortly afterwards near the Waggoner mill, in Madi- 
son Township, and went back a distance to search for it, being 
assisted by W. H. Waggoner, then a boy, but late the proprietor 
of this mill, but the search was unsuccessful. About 1913, when 
the state took over the highway passing the mill and its improve- 
ment was under progress Mr. Waggoner had charge of the men 
and the chain was dug up in the vicinity of where the original 
search was made, a mute reminder of that early method of trans- 
portation. It was over a foot under ground and had lain there 
for over a half century. 

Of the pioneers engaged in this business were Samuel Moose, 
mentioned above; Daniel Gutshall, father of Mrs. Wilson Mor- 
rison. New Germantown; Henry Hench, of near Ickesburg; 
Jonathan Swartz, Ickesburg; Thomas Adams, Toboyne ; Harry 
C. Boden, Duncannon, and David Stambaugh, of Elliottsburg. 
There were many others, but of them the records are vague. 
Henry Hench made teaming between the two points a regular 
business, and on account of his proficiency with large teams was 
known as "Whip-cracker Harry." The commerce in part con- 
sisted of distilled liquors in barrels, and the strength of David 
Stambaugh is a matter of record, he being able to load a barrel of 
whiskey unaided, a herculean task. In an old ledger which be- 
longed to Harry C. Boden, who also carried on a regular traffic 
between the two points, the accounts bear date of 1799 and 1S00. 
Many of its pages are pasted together, it having been utilized for 
a scrapbook. Among the articles brought back by him as entered 
in the ledger are sugar in barrels, coffee in bags, salt purchased 
by the bushel, shot in bags, pepper and tea in kegs, etc. 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 521 

Others engaged in trafficking to Baltimore were James McNeal, 
who came from Virginia and settled in what is now Jackson Town- 
ship, in 1795, he being the maternal grandfather of William S. 
Endslow; Robert Mitchell, who was a member of the first hoard 
of county commissioners ; Abraham Bower, grandfather of Abra- 
ham Bower, of Falling Springs, a farmer who also operated a 
still ; Major John Zimmerman, who was robbed of a bale of goods 
worth $50 on September 2, 1826, at Reistertown, where he had 
put up for the night; Henry Rice, born April 1, 1812, and the 
father of Henry Rice, later county treasurer ; William W^oods ;. 
Samuel Endslow, and Wayne Woods, of Blain. 

When the canal and railroad, with its old single-track system,, 
came through the county, this traffic from western Perry was di- 
verted to Newport, and Thomas Adams then kept two six-horse 
teams busy, and many of the older residents yet remember them, 
as there was a bell attached to the names of each horses' harness, 
and the tinkling of these bells could be heard long before the teams 
came into view. 

When these early wagoners sold goods of great value at Bal- 
timore they run many chances of being robbed between there and 
their homes by crooks who kept track of them. When Philip 
Boyer left Baltimore, having closed a business deal, he was shad- 
owed by one of these crooks, and on December 18, 1823, when he 
arrived at Peters' Mountain (opposite Duncannon), he was at- 
tacked and, after pulling him from his horse, his portmanteau was 
seized, he was stripped of his great coat, his undercoat, his pan- 
taloons, his cravat, and with a dirk knife his belt was cut and his 
money taken. It consisted of twelve fifty-dollar bills on the Bank 
of Baltimore, ten fifty-dollar bills on the Mechanics' Bank of Bal- 
timore, eight fifty-dollar bills on the Union Bank of Baltimore, 
and $80 in five- and ten-dollar bills. 

David Gutshall, born in 1835, residing at Blain, was along with 
his father, Daniel Gutshall, when a lad. He tells of the wagoners 
carrying their folding cots along in the wagons and of placing them 
in bar rooms and hallways to sleep. Daniel Gutshall was a farmer, 
yet in a single year he managed to make thirteen trips to and from 
Baltimore for the A. R. Foss tannery, hauling leather on the down- 
ward trip and bringing back raw hides. Among the things recol- 
lected by the present Mr. Gutshall was that whiskey was in gen- 
eral use and sold for three cents a glass. York Springs tavern or 
inn was one of the stopping places for farmers on their way to 
and from Baltimore. It was not far from the present town of 
York Springs, in Adams County. 

From that section of Perry County lying east of the Juniata 
the traffic was principally to Pottsville, Lancaster, and Philadel- 
phia, which were nearer than Baltimore. The wagons used were 



522 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

of the same type and the traffic of the same nature. Newton Wil- 
liamson, a resident of Liverpool, now in his eighty-first year 
(1920), distinctly recollects when this traffic was in existence, he 
being then a young lad. 

The; Political Trend. 

The germ of party differences began almost with the birth of 
the nation. 'Twas during the term of the immortal Washington 
that Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton, representing dif- 
ferent ideas relative to government and having antagonistic con- 
ceptions of power and its use, began thinking along party lines. 
During the first half -century of the county's existence political 
matters occupied a very conspicuous part of the young nation's 
affairs and in no other section did the political tides ebb and flow 
with greater violence than in Perry. The surge of the tide bore 
to the shores the wreckage of the Anti-Masonic party, the Whig 
party and the American party, all great political factors in this 
great commonwealth and in the nation, and it is from their wreck- 
age that originated and developed the great Republican party, the 
party of Lincoln, Grant, Garfield, Elaine, Roosevelt, and Harding, 
which was to succeed the historic Democratic party in continuous 
rule of the nation for a quarter of a century. 

The Perry Forester, Perry County's first newspaper, of Novem- 
ber 15, 1827, contains an account of an early political meeting held 
in the courthouse on November 7th. The officers elected were : 
President, Judge Madden ; vice-presidents, George Barnett, Dr. 
Joseph Foster. C. B. Power, Esq., John Chisholm, and George 
Monroe, Esq., were named a committee "to draft an address to 
the citizens of the county." A committee on correspondence con- 
sisted of Peter Ritner, Esq., Samuel Linn. Esq., and George Mon- 
roe, Esq. Peter Ritner was a brother of Governor Ritner and 
owned the farm at Mt. Patrick long known as the Blattenberger 
farm. He was chosen a delegate to the convention to be held in 
Llarrisburg the succeeding January. The secretaries were G. 
Monroe and Jacob Gantt. The meeting passed resolutions favor- 
able to John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay. The above from a 
report of the secretaries. 

In the same issue is an account of the Jackson meeting held the 
night previous, from the pen of the Forester's editor. It follows: 

"The Jackson meeting at Bloomfield, on Tuesday evening, the 6th in- 
stant, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, was most numerous 
and respectable. The court room was filled to overflowing. Nothing can 
exceed the zeal with which any measures connected with the elevation of 
the Hero of Orleans is hailed among nine-tenths of the people of the 
county, of which this meeting gave ample testimony. We are confident 
the administration men cannot poll 200 votes out of 2,000 in the county." 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 523 

A petition dated June I, 1824, to Gabriel Heister, Esq., Sur- 
veyor General of Pennsylvania, asked the appointment of George 
Mitchell, as deputy surveyor, in these glowing words : "We take 
it for granted that it will be a leading consideration with you in 
making your appointments to select the most confidential, capable 
and deserving men." The statement then follows "that he is well 
versed in geometry, trigonometry, an excellent and practical sur- 
veyor and an accurate and neat draughtman ; that he would cheer- 
fully submit his competency as a surveyor to a critical examination 
by those well versed in the business, and that as a politician he has 
ever been a firm, active and undeviating Democrat-Republican." 
Among the signatures are J. Miller, H. B. Mitchell, Alex. Magee, 
John Hippie, Frederick Rinehart, Jr., and Jacob Huggins, then 
member of assembly from Perry County. Another dated April 
16. 1825, asks the appointment of Alexander Branyan to succeed 
John Ogle, deceased, as justice of the peace for a part of Rye 
Township, as "he is a fit person, who has always been a firm and 
undeviating Republican." It is signed by Thomas Barnett, Robert 
Branyan, William, David and Isaac Ogle, James and Cornelius 
Baskins, John McKenzie, Frederick Barnett, Jacob Keel, Jacob 
Weiser, and Richard Stewart. 

In those early days with political issues ever to the fore, some 
strangely worded petitions appear. There is one on file in the 
Bureau of Records at Harrisburg, at the Capitol, asking an ap- 
pointment as justice of the peace of Dr. James R. Scott. It is 
addressed to Governor Shulze. It describes the candidate as a man 
"who is eminently qualified to discharge the duties of said office ; 
moreover, he is a member of that Great Democratic Family which 
constitutes the basis of our Republican Government." It is dated 
April 18, 1825. Another to Governor Shulze, asking the appoint- 
ment of Alexander Rogers, of Rye Township, "lately district No. 
12 in the county of Cumberland," as justice of the peace to suc- 
ceed Joseph Ogle, who died. It says "he has ever been a firm, 
undeviating Democrat and an active politician." Of the attain- 
ments necessary to conduct the office it is mute. Rogers was com- 
missioned August II, 1824. A petition of the citizens of Liver- 
pool and Buffalo Township asks the appointment of George 
Mitchell as a justice of the peace, describing him as "well quali- 
fied," but omits reference to politics. 

So frequent is the remark made that as a nation we are degen- 
erating, politically, that the following from McClure's Old-Time 
Notes of Pennsylvania, written by a Perry Countian who for vir- 
tually a half-century was in the very vortex of politics, is here 
reproduced as showing the opposite trend : 

"It is a common and very erroneous belief that the political battles of 
the early days were much more dignified, and much more free from dis- 



524 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

honest manipulation than the political contests of the present (1905)- The 
student of our history who carefully studies the early political contests of 
Pennsylvania will find that a degree of political intolerance prevailed even 
among the more intelligent citizens that would not now be tolerated in 
any community. Party leadership, as a rule, was more blindly followed 
than it is to-day, as few even of the more enlightened people accepted any 
political literature but that which came from a county party organ, or from 
other partisan sources. Party revolts were as common then as now, and 
often precipitated the most desperate and defamatory contests, and the 
state political struggle of 1838 between Ritner and Porter has never been 
approached in any modern political struggle in reckless prostitution of the 
ballot or in malignant, wanton defamation. No political journal with any 
pretension to decency could print to-day against a candidate any of the 
many defamatory articles which swept over the state like a tempest in 
1838. A larger measure of fraud has doubtless been perpetrated in mod- 
ern elections, but as far as the limited opportunities of that day offered, 
the same of fraud was played to the limit. One township in Huntingdon 
County returned 1,060 majority for Ritner in a district where there were 
not two hundred citizens. The excuse given for the vote was that there 
was a breach in the canal and that some 800 laborers had been employed, 
when it would not have been possible to give employment to half that 
number. The new railroad in Adams County for which Stevens had ob- 
tained state aid, and that was commonly known in political circles as "the 
tapeworm," swelled the majority in Adams up in the thousands, and dual 
returns for members of the legislature in the county of Philadelphia led 
to the creation of two houses at Harrisburg and wrote the history of 
the Buchshot War to shame the annals of the state." 

The adoption of the Constitution of 1838 made a marked 
change in Pennsylvania. Prior to that time the governor pos- 
sessed almost unlimited power. 1 le appointed all the judges of the 
entire commonwealth and they were commissioned for life or dur- 
ing good behavior. He also held the appointive power for deputy 
attorneys general — those who executed the duties of district at- 
torneys before the creation of that office — the associate judges and 
the justices of the peace. At that time the term of office of the 
governor was not limited to a single term and this vast patronage 
was largely used to secure a reelection or build up a political 
dynasty. 

Although the Republican party of a later day was to a great 
extent the successor of the Whig party of the time of Henry Clay, 
the Whig party of that time embraced many of the most decided 
pro-slavery men, and the Democratic party of the period contained 
many men who became active and persistent Republicans. 

In 1838 the names of fourteen candidates were voted for for 
sheriff of Perry County, at the general election on October 9th. 
Joseph Shuler, a Whig, was the successful candidate, receiving 824 
votes. Prior to this only Democrats were elected to the more im- 
portant offices. 

Before the canals were purchased by the Pennsylvania Railroad, 
the office of canal commissioner was filled at the general elections. 
It was an office of importance and eagerly sought. 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 525 

Unfortunately, as the years passed, no historian recorded the 
ebb and flow of the county's political tides, and only occasionally 
do we find a slight record of them or their relation to the larger 
affairs of the state and nation. ( )f the Clay-Polk campaign for the 
Presidency, in which the latter won, it was different. While his- 
tory calls Polk the original "black horse." such is far from the 
truth. Virginia hacked Polk and he was nominated as part of a 
new hut unavoweel policy pertaining to slavery. The motive lay 
in the fact that the South "saw the handwriting on the wall," and 
if slavery was to he continued as a permanent institution its terri- 
tory must be extended. Accordingly the plan was to annex Texas, 
a republic where slavery thrived, with the right of division into 
four additional states, as well as the acquisition of additional ter- 
ritory from Mexico. Up to that time the Democratic party had a 
majority rule in their nominations. Van Buren had a majority 
of delegates to the convention but not two-thirds. The convention 
adopted the two-thirds rule by a vote of 14S to 118. As no 
President was ever elected without the support of the Common- 
wealth of Pennsylvania until the Cleveland campaign of 1884, the 
contest of 1844 largely hinged upon the election for governor of 
Pennsylvania, which was held in October, prior to the general 
election, just as the Maine elections of the present period largely 
show the drift of political thought. Of that campaign in Perry 
County, McClure's "Old-Time Notes of Pennsylvania" says: 

"The leaders of both sides realized the vital importance of the contest 
in this state, and I well remember how earnestly and desperately it was 
contested. I was a boy not more than half-way through the teens but I 
was living in the political centre of the mountain forests of my native 
county, and cherished a devotion for Clay that has never been repeated 
in all the many political struggles I have seen. The supporters of Clay 
as a rule literally worshiped him. He was their idol, their political deity, 
and they believed him to be the noblest, the grandest, the ablest and the 
most chivalrous of men, while his opponents met him with a tempest of 
defamation, publicly charging him on the hustings and through every news- 
paper opposed to him as a gambler, a libertine, a horse racer, a Sabbath- 
breaker and a murderer. The Whigs responded by charging Polk with 
disgraceful littleness, studied hypocrisy and the offspring of a traitor." 

The slow manner of communication, before the days of the tele- 
graph and telephone, is well illustrated in an instance taken from 
the writing of Colonel McClure. Governor Moorehead, who pre- 
sided at the convention which nominated Gen. Zachary Taylor for 
the Presidency, wrote to Mr. Taylor, advising him of the fact. 
We quote : 

"At that time the prepayment of postage was not compulsory, and un- 
paid letters were charged from five to ten times the present rate of post- 
age. President Morehead promptly mailed a letter to (General Taylor at 
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, notifying him of the nomination, but several 
weeks elapsed without any response. The telegraph was then in its in- 



526 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

fancy and unthought of as an agent, except in the most urgent emergency, 
and Governor Morehead finally sent a trusted friend to visit General 
Taylor and inquire why his letter of acceptance had not been given. Every 
political crank, as well as many others in the country, had been writing 
letters to General Taylor on the subject of the Presidency, very few of 
whom prepaid their letter postage. Old Rough and Ready vexed beyond 
endurance, at the tax thus imposed upon him, gave peremptory orders to 
the postmaster to send to the dead letter office all unpaid letters addressed 
to him." 

In the gubernatorial fight of 1848 between Johnston and Long- 
street, the latter was reported elected. The Democrats at New 
Bloomfield immediately held a public celebration, only to learn a 
few days later that their candidate was defeated. The Whigs then 
held a celebration in honor of Governor Johnston's election. 
When Johnston was a candidate the second time, in 1852, he vis- 
ited New Bloomfield during the campaign. Among those taking- 
part in that meeting was Mr. Ickes, a Revolutionary hero who was 
ninety years of age. 

The gubernatorial campaign of 1851 was conducted along very 
strenuous lines, and Governor Johnston spoke at Liverpool, Peters- 
burg (Duncannon) and Bloomfield, during September. 

The Whig element almost all became Republicans when, in 1854, 
the Kansas-Nebraska bill made slavery extension the Democratic 
program. The North was stirred as never before, and Horace 
Greely declared that Douglas and Pierce had made more abolition- 
ists in three months than Garrison and Phillips could have made in 
half a century. In earlier days the West had clung to the South 
politically, but the development of the railroads to the Atlantic 
seaboard in the preceding dozen years created a stronger physical 
bond between the West and the East than the Mississippi had done 
between the West and the South. This, and the fact that the 
East furnished the principal home market for Western products, 
and provided most of the supplies for which these were exchanged, 
was the economic reason for the agricultural West breaking away 
from the agricultural South and joining the manufacturing East. 
Pennsylvania, however, still gave its electoral vote to the Demo- 
crats in 1856. The vote in Perry County was Millard Fillmore, 
Whig, 1,407; James Buchanan, Democrat, 2,135; John C. Fre- 
mont, Republican, 521. When the campaign was on the county 
was wild with excitement. A monster Democratic meeting was 
staged at New Bloomfield, the county seat town then being but 
thirty-two years in existence. Thomas Adams, of Toboyne Town- 
ship, a radical Democrat, who was engaged in wagon transporta- 
tion from western Perry to Newport, turned out with a sixteen- 
horse team, decorated with bunting, bells and flags. Wilson Mor- 
rison, yet living at New Germantown, attended, he being then a 
young man. According to his statement when "the lower county 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 



527 



delegation" arrived, it passed up Main Street, New Bloomfield, to 
the mill, turned north to High Street, east to Carlisle Street, and 
as the head of the parade came down Carlisle Street to the court- 
house, the rear of the parade was just passing. In the parade, 
among other features, was a team of six oxen, with an attendant 
opposite each ox bearing a pail. In the Polk-Dallas and Shunk- 
Henry Clay campaign one of , the features of the Democratic parade 
was a hickory tree which had been dug from the woods and 
mounted on a wagon, according to a reliable tradition. David 
Gutshall, of Blain, distinctly remembers this campaign. 

With the defeat of General Wiufield Scott for the Presidency 
of the United States in 1852, the great Whig party virtually went to 
pieces. Shortly thereafter a mysterious political organization, based 
upon opposition to foreign immigration and known as the "Know 
Nothing" party, began to be heard of and spread with remarkable 
rapidity over the entire United States. It seemed especially hos- 
tile to Catholics and foreigners. It was, in point of fact, a secret 
organization and got its name through the fact that its adherents 
when questioned invariably said that they knew nothing. The local 
organizations began forming about 1854 and absorbed most of the 
old Whigs as well as many of the Democrats, especially those who 
were dissatisfied with the faction then in power. In 1855 this party 
had a ticket in the field and carried Perry County, the entire ticket 
being elected by a majority of about two hundred votes. The 
motto of the Know Nothings, "Put only Americans on guard," 
was a mighty good one, even though the party passed away, and 
might well be used by the present-day political parties. And by 
"Americans," the writer does not mean simply those born on 
American soil, but good, honorable men, without the taint of any 
hyphen, or any other ism save Americanism, in their systems. 

On August 2, 1856, a public meeting was held at the county 
seat as a protest against "the wrongs- perpetrated in Kansas." It 
was attended by three notables who delivered addresses. They 
were Governor Ford, of Ohio ; Andrew G. Curtin, then Secretary 
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Hannibal Hamlin, 
governor-elect of Maine — one a governor, one a governor-elect, 
and the third soon to be the great war governor of Pennsylvania. 
The parade features are designated as the Liverpool Sax Horn 
Band, the Patterson (now Mifflin) Band, a fourteen-horse team, 
and the Millerstown delegation carrying the flag of the 113th 
Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, which was at the battles of 
Chippewa, Lundy's Lane, and other battles along the lakes in the 
Second War with Great Britain. It was carried by Dr. Mealy, 
a Millerstown physician, at the battle of Chippewa. The flag was 
perforated by a cannon ball and by other shots. 



r 2 8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Three (lavs later, Agust 5, 1856, a public meeting was held in the 
courthouse, the call being signed by 340 citizens of the county. 
It declared for "Free Kansas and no Popery." Jesse Beaver pre- 
sided The speakers were Joseph Casey, General Samuel C. 
Pomeroy, and a Mr. McAfee, of Kansas, and B. F. Junkin The 
parade contained 700 determined men, many of them affiliated 
with the camps of the Junior Sons of America, then flourishing at 
Duncannon, Newport, and Bloomfield. 

In connection with the birth of the Republican party an occur- 
rence which happened at New Bloomfield is worthy of note 
Samuel Wiggins, one of the first members of the new party and 
the first man in the county to declare himself unconditionally an 
abolitionist, determined to celebrate the birth of the new party on 
election night. Benjamin F. Junkin, late president judge, was at 
that time holding the onerous office of burgess of the borough, and 
appealed to him not to build a bonfire within the borough limits 
Mr Wiggins then placed barrels of shavings, boards, boxes and 
other inflammable material on his wagon and drove to the eastern 
borough line, on the Newport road, where he started the fire, lne 
matter caused an excitement and drew a crowd. He kept marching 
around his bonfire and cheered for the new party, declaring that it 
was "a small fire, but one that would burn all over the Union 
The Wiggins home, on the square at the county seat, was painted 
a dark steel gray, and was to some "the black Republican head- 
quarters." There every evening during the War between the 
States the populace would gather to hear Mrs. Wiggins read the 
war news from the daily papers brought to town over the noted 
Rice Stage Lines. There they discussed the outcome of each cam- 
paign and the qualifications of the changing commanders, always 
uniting in the belief that the North would win. 

The Democratic National Convention first met at Charleston on 
the 1 vl of April, i860, and after wrangling for ten days adjourned 
to meet at Baltimore on the 18th of June. The bolters from the 
Charleston convention adjourned to meet in Richmond on the nth 
of June, but on meeting they adjourned until the 21st, being three 
davs after the meeting of the regular convention in Baltimore, 
with the view of harmonizing on a ticket, if possible. The Bal- 
timore convention declared Douglas the Democratic nominee, and 
the Richmond convention then rejected both Douglas and the plat- 
form, and nominated Breckenridge and Lane. John Reifsnyder, 
of Liverpool, was a delegate to the Charleston and Baltimore con- 
ventions. While at Charleston he attended a sale of slaves, and a 
small negro boy, seeing his kindly face and evidently comparing it 
with the average customer's, begged that he buy him. Mr. keit- 
snyder came home very much dejected and realized that it probably 
meant disunion and war. When informed that Fort Sumter had 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 529 

been fired upon his only comtnetit was, "So soon?" On August 
6, i860, Andrew G. Cnrtin was again at New Bloomfield, then the 
nominee of the new Republican party for the governorship of 
Pennsylvania, to which he was triumphantly elected. During the 
Cnrtin campaign for the gubernatorial chair all seemed serene until 
the Philadelphia Evening Journal, an organ of the American party, 
withdrew its support from Cnrtin, stating that he was a Catholic, 
which, if true, meant a sweeping defeat. Rev. James Linn, a 
native of Perry County, then living at Belief onte, Pennsylvania, 
where he was pastor emeritus of the Presbyterian Church, imme- 
diately gave to the press a public notice stating that he had bap- 
tized Cnrtin in his own church, and that Curtin had always been a 
member of his congregation, thus reaction saved his election. 

In the elections of 1862 the Democrats carried the Pennsylvania 
Legislature on joint ballot, having a majority of one vote. John 

A. Magee represented Perry Conty, and was renominated in [863, 
the elections then being annual. His opponent on the Republican 
ticket was Charles A. Barnett, and the election was the closest con- 
test of any importance since the formation of the county. Mr. 
Magee had 2,310 votes, and Mr. Barnett 2,311, a majority of one. 
Later Mr. Magee became a member of the United States Congress 
and Mr. Barnett became president judge of the Forty-first Ju- 
dicial District, being elected, however, by the Democratic party 
this time. In the election of 1864 Abraham Lincoln lost the 
county, the vote being 2,018 for Lincoln, and 2,148 for George 

B. McClellan. Four years later General Grant carried it over Sey- 
mour, the Democratic nominee, for the Presidency, by over two 
hundred votes. In the nation the Republicans came into power 
with Lincoln's inauguration in 1861, and remained in power until 
the inauguration of Grover Cleveland in 1885 — practically a quar- 
ter of a century. 

Colonel McClure, in his "Old-Time Notes of Pennsylvania," 
has the following two paragraphs 1 elating to political matters dur- 
ing the closing years of the sectional war which are of interest to 
Perry Countians : 

"The burning of Chambersburg, on the 30th of July, by General M< 
Clausland's forces, precipitated new conditions in my section of the state. 
Most of the residents in the town were entirely homeless and business was 
suspended. An extra session of the legislature was promptly called by 
Governor Curtin and $100,000 appropriated that was apportioned among 
the most needy. While nearly all the property destroyed was insured, the 
insurance was lost, as the destruction was caused by a public enemy. 
The people of Chambersburg were, therefore, largely without capital or 
credit to resume their various occupations, and despair very generally pre- 
vailed in all business and industrial circles. 

"J. McDowell Sharpe, the leading Democratic member of the Chambers- 
burg bar, was then a member of the house, and after various conferences 
on the subject, it was decided that I should accept the Republican nomi- 
34 



530 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

nation for the house, with the general expectation that both of us would 
be elected, to have an active Democrat and Republican in the next legisla- 
ture to secure a liberal appropriation from the state. The district was 
composed of Franklin and Perry Counties, and a Democrat and Repub- 
lican were nominated in each county. The district was naturally Demo- 
cratic and the people of the smaller county of Perry were not greatly en- 
thused by the undeclared but generally well understood purpose that 
Franklin would elect both members of the house. It was a demand that 
I could not hesitate to obey, and as the national battle could be well 
fought between the October and November elections I remained at home 
and devoted my entire time to the care of the suffering people of the 
town and to the contest in the district; but I was in constant communica- 
tion with the leading men of the state, and before the October election I 
was well convinced that there was danger of the state being close or lost 
in October. Three weeks before the election I was in Washington and 
gave the President a statement of the unfavorable condition, and urged 
him to have Cameron appreciate the peril and make an aggressive cam- 
paign. He conferred with Cameron on the subject and Cameron assured 
him that the state would be Republican by a large majority. The result 
was practically a Republican disaster. There were no state officers to 
lose, but a number of Republican congressmen fell in the race who should 
have been successful. Sharpe and I were elected by the common interest 
felt by both parties in Chambersburg and generally throughout the county 
in favor of state aid to those who suffered from the destruction of the 
town, and the Republican congressmen in several districts were saved 
only by the army vote." 

The County in the Mexican War. 

When the Mexican War came on traffic in America was still 
principally overland and by canal and the larger waterways. Con- 
gress passed the act on May 13, 1846, declaring war upon Mexico 
by authorizing the President of the United States to employ the 
militia, naval and military forces of the United States, and to call 
for and accept the services of 50,000 volunteers. General Taylor 
had previously entered Mexican territory with his army of occu- 
pation, and the battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma had 
already been fought. The President called upon the governor of 
Pennsylvania for six regiments of volunteers "to be held in readi- 
ness to serve for twelve months unless sooner discharged." Within 
thirty days enough men for nine regiments had volunteered. The 
order for mustering in the troops did not come from the War 
Department until November. The troops went by boat, via the 
Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. The First Regiment was organized 
at Pittsburgh, but included none from this section. The Second 
Regiment was organized at Pittsburgh, January 5, 1847. Others 
followed later. 

This war was so distant from Washington, in those days of dif- 
ficult travel, and was so easily accomplished and so devoid of dis- 
aster to the American cause that it was a mere ripple as compared 
to several of our later wars. 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 



531 



Perry County furnished a lieutenant, Michael Steever, and 
sixty-six privates, which were mainly recruited from the Landis- 
burg Guards and the Bloomfield Light Infantry, Perry County's 
two crack militia companies of that day. They participated in the 
Battles of Beuna Vista, Vera Cruz, Cerro Gordo, Contreras, 
Cherubusco, Molino Del Rev, and Chapultepec. Their districts 
are not given. The roster: 



Lieutenant: 

Michael Steever. 
Privates: 

Applegate, Hezekiah. 

Allison, Joseph. 
*Bistline, George. 

Blain, William. 

Baker, Fred'k. 

Brown, Alexander. 

Bolmer, Jacob. 

Boyer, John. 

Barnhart, Martin. 

Baskins, Daniel. 
*Boden, Hugh. 

Black, David M. 

Coheck, Daniel. 

Charles, Henry. 

Cornyn, Barnard. 

Dayton, Hezekiah. 
*Evinger, Peter. 

Etter, Bayard H. 

Elliott, James. 

Ernest, . 

Frank, Hiram. 

Geysinger, Saml. 

Hippie, William. 

Hatter, George. 

Huggins, Samuel, Jr. 

Horting, ■ -. 

*Holland, John. 

Johns, 



McGowan, James. 
*0'Bryan, Thos. 

Peary, George. 
*Peck, Samuel. 

Rosley, Charles. 

Roller, Samuel. 

Rodgers, Robert. 

Stump, David. 

Sweger, Henry. 

Sweger, Samuel. 

Sweger, Levi. 

Simmons, Samuel. 

Shatto, Isaac H. 

Snyder, John. 

Shull, William. 

Scholl, George K. 
*Sipe, Samuel B. 

Shoch, John. 

Sullenberger, Joseph. 

Shuman, J. Stroop. 

Simons. lohn. 
*Titzell, William H. 

Tagg, Wilson. 

Tweed, Jesse. 

Trotter, William. 

Varnes, . 

Wiseman, Andrew. 

White, David. 

Williams, John. 

Woodmansel, W. 

Wolf, Samuel. 

Whitsel, Daniel. 

Willis, William. 



Miller, Marshall. 
Miller, Dr. G A. 

Samuel Simons, a blacksmith from Perry County, also served 
in the Mexican War, but enlisted with the Cameron Guards, of 
Dauphin County. 

One of these soldiers, Samuel Roller, captured a Mexican flag 
at the gates of the City of Mexico. Mr. Roller had this flag in 
his possession until his death. With it he appeared in several 
parades at the soldiers' reunions of over a score of years ago. 
After his death Samuel B. Sheller, of Duncannon, a former mem- 
ber of Assembly, purchased the flag and presented it to the state. 

Part of Proposed County of DeKalb. 

Physically the lands which comprise Perry County make it log- 
ically a separate political division, as the western part is in reality 

*Died or lost. 



53^ 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



a great cove, and the eastern end is practically an extension of that 
cove along the northern side. Notwithstanding that fact, how- 
ever, there was once an effort made to have the extreme western 
part form a part of a new county, to he named DeKalb. From 
the Perry freeman of March 13, 1846, comes the information that 
(in March 13. 1836, Representative Means introduced into the 
legislature a bill to make a new comity, to be called DeKalb, out of 
parts of Cumberland, Franklin and Perry. The division line was 
to have been as follows: 

"All those parts of Cumberland, Franklin and Perry lying and being 
within the following boundaries, to wit: Beginning at a point on the 
Adams County line, near, but southwest of Southampton furnace (includ- 
ing said furnace within the new county), thence east by said line to the 
line between Newton and Dickinson Townships in Cumberland County, 
thence north by said line and the West Pennsborough Township line, cross- 
ing the turnpike east of Stoughstown, to a point immediately east of the 
town of Springfield, thence by a straight line to the ford in the big spring 
below McFarland's mill, thence by a straight line to the bridge over the 
Conodoguinet Creek northeast of Newville, thence by the state road to 
McCormick's mill, thence to the eastern line of Toboyne Township in Perry 
County, thence by said line to the summit of Conococheague Ridge, thence 
by said ridge to the road leading from Shippensburg to Water ford, thence by 
said road to the crossing of the Perry and Juniata County lines, thence 
by said line to the corner of Huntingdon and Franklin Counties, thence by 
the Huntingdon County line to the corner of Metal and Fannett Townships 
in Franklin County, thence by the line of said townships to their corner 
on the North Mountain, thence by a line running immediately west of 
( Irrstown, to a point on the Adams County line, the place of beginning." 

Naturally the bill was reported unfavorably. It was illogical 
and a wild scheme. What its purport was is probably unknown to 
I lie present generation, but Shippensburg seems to have been the 
most logical place for the county seat, and probably therein lies the 
secret. The size of the new county would have been approximately 
that of Snyder County, judging by a look at the map. 

The Rush for Gold. 

Ferry Count ians and native Perry Countians who had located 
elsewhere, joined in the rush for gold in '49 and the following 
years, and, from among their number, furnished to the Golden 
State a governor. John Bigler was the man. and he was the 
third governor of California, while at the same time his brother, 
William Bigler, was governor of Pennsylvania, the only instance 
in America where brothers were governors of different common- 
wealths at the same time. While John Bigler failed to find gold, 
he did find a place in the hearts of California's pioneers, The 
biography of these two prominent Perry Countians is of such im- 
portance that it is covered in another chapter. 



COUNTY' EARLY YEARS 533 

Henry Ulsh came from Germany and settled in what is now 
Liverpool Township, where his son Joseph was born in 1804. 
When the quest for gold hired the adventurous to California, 
[oseph Ulsh and his three sons, Reuben, Leonard K., and John 
W. Ulsh, were among the number, going in 1851. To-day the 
trip is possible in considerable less than a week, but then no rail- 
ways spanned the continent and they went, via New York, sailing 
on the United States mail steamship, Ohio. They arrived at Aspin- 
wall and proceeded up the Jaguar River to Archipelago. There 
Joseph Ulsh was made captain of the mule team which trans- 
ported the baggage of over six hundred passengers to Panama. 
The three sons made the journey on foot, traveling from the first 
dawn of day. until the shades of night were falling. At Havana, 
a small town on their route, they were ordered to stop by native 
soldiers, but the order was disregarded, when they were fired upon, 
but luckily not hit. At Panama they took the ship, "Isthmus of 
Panama," and reached San Francisco forty-two days after leaving 
New York. Joseph Ulsh returned the following year, but his sons 
remained and worked in the mines four years, earning sufficient 
to purchase several farms. Upon their return from San Fran- 
cisco, in 1855. the Panama Railroad had been completed, which re- 
duced the time of the trip over the isthmus from four weeks to 
four days. Their return trip occupied only twenty four days, or 
little more than half the time consumed in going. 

Jacob Shearer, who came from Frederick, Maryland, and lo- 
cated in Tyrone Township, in 1843, was another whom the lure of 
gold drew to California. He had learned tanning and was in the 
business here, but left for California, where he located at Park's 
Bar, Yuba County, remaining there almost eight years. While 
there he was elected to represent Yuba County in the California 
Legislature for two years. He returned to Perry County in 1857. 
He was the father of the late LI. C. Shearer, once sheriff of Perry 
County. 

Abraham Vandling, of Liverpool, was another emigrant in '49, 
and remained in California, where he died in 1877. Others who 
went, in 1855, were Joseph McClure, James McClure (son of 
James), Peter Bernheisel and a Mr. Robinson, of Tyrone Town- 
ship, and Samuel McClure, William McCardle and William Rhine- 
smith, of Jackson Township. 

Another who went via the Isthmus of Panama was Abram 
Clouser of near Newport, who long remained in that state, but 
later returned to Perry County, where he spent the last five years 
of his life, dying in 1907. In later years when the Klondike fever 
drew thousands to Alaska among the number were Mr. and Mrs. 
W. Scott Toomey and Harvey Wilson, a brother of Mrs. Toomey's. 



534 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Slaves Owned in Perry County. 

Slavery in America dates to the early period of the English 
colonies, when negroes were imported into them and sold as 
slaves. With the sanction of no law, save that of common con- 
sent, the traffic became an awful and debasing system. The intro- 
ducing of slave labor was not confined to any particular section 
or colony, and both Cavalier and Puritan were owners of slaves. 
However, it was in the Southland, with its broad plantations, 
where slave labor could be most profitably employed, that it grew 
to its greatest magnitude and sunk its fangs the. deepest. The 
original list of offenses in the protest against the Mother Country, 
in 1776, when freedom and liberty were sought, first brought for- 
ward prominently the question of slavery — for how could liberty 
be asked by a people which themselves held other men in bondage ? 
There, even before the colonies became a nation, already appeared 
that great question, which, eventually, almost wrecked the Union. 
The protest against King George in that original list follows : 

"He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its 
most sacred rights of life and liberty, in the persons of a distant people 
who never offended him, captivating and carrying them into slavery in 
another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation 
thither. This piratical warfare, the opprobrium of infidel powers, is the 
warfare of the Christian king of Great Britain. Determined to keep a 
market where men should be bought and sold, he has at length prostituted 
his negative for suppressing any legislative attempt to prohibit and re- 
strain this execrable commerce." 

The paragraph was objected to by the Georgia delegation in the 
Congress of the Colonies and was expunged from the document 
for the sake of unanimity, and almost a century later in many 
states men weltered in blood to settle for all time that which for 
unanimity was passed over. Just as studiously did the Articles of 
Confederation of 1781 avoid mentioning the subject, either by 
endorsement or censure, yet there are evidences that the leading 
men of both North and South at that time looked with disfavor 
upon it. In 1789 the Constitution of the United States was 
adopted, and at that early day a threat of disunion appeared, 
thereby again compromising the matter. While the word slavery 
was not mentioned in that great document, yet in deciding the 
basis of representation in Congress and the proportion of taxation 
to be borne by each state, the apportionment among the respective 
states was made by adding to the whole number of free popula- 
tion, "three-fifths of all other persons," a stipulation which gave 
the slave-holding states a predominant position in the national 
government ; and yet it was probably the only way out, as any 
direct action against slavery precluded the formation of our great 
republic. 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 535 

Strangely enough, one of the very first acts of the new Congress 
under the Constitution was to prohibit the introduction of slavery 
in that great and extensive domain then known as the Northwest 
Territory, comprising the present states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois. 
Michigan, Wisconsin, and Iowa. Thomas Jefferson wrote the 
measure and the entire South supported it. Even at that lime the 
better opinion of the South recognized slavery as a great moral 
evil. With the addition of the Louisiana purchase of 1803 and the 
opening of the great Mississippi valley to settlement the breeding 
of slaves became a profitable business, and from a financial stand- 
point an asset of many of the Southern states with the result that, 
instead of having an apology for the traffic, they began to endorse 
it, and by the time Perry County was organized, in 1820— in that 
very year — Missouri was admitted as a slave state. 

The Province of Pennsylvania early had an experience on the 
matter of slavery. Benjamin Furly, a Rotterdam merchant born 
in 1636, to whom William Penn submitted his famous Frame 
of Government for advice and criticism, wrote the first protest 
against slavery on this side of the Atlantic, in these words : "Let 
no blacks be brought in directly, and if any come out of Virginia, 
Maryland, or elsewhere, in families that have formerly bought 
them elsewhere, let them be declared (as in ye West Jersey Con- 
stitutions) free at eight years' end." Mr. Furly was largely inter- 
ested in the founding of the Frankford Company, and Francis 
Daniel Pastorious, the agent of that company and a German 
Quaker, in 1688, wrote the first protest against slavery ever 
adopted in America. In 1790 Pennsylvania had 3,737 slaves, and 
by 1820, when Perry County was organized, the number had 
dwindled to 211. The census of 1830 still showed four slaves 
owned in Perry County, but the next census, 1840, showed none. 
The mother county — Cumberland — had 223 slaves in 1790; 228 
in 1800; 307 in 1810, and 17 in 1820. 

In speaking of the great slavery question, which eventually led 
to the War Between the States, and which is forever settled in so 
far as the United States is concerned, the average reader locates the 
slave states south of the Mason and Dixon line, and such, in fact, 
is the case. However, slavery was originally not confined to the 
South, alone, but existed throughout the North, including Penn- 
sylvania and even our own native Perry County, but not on so 
extensive a scale. There were several slaves still owned in Perry 
County after its organization, as the following advertisement taken 
from an issue of the Perry Forester of 1826 and other facts will 
show : 

"For sale, a healthy, stout mulatto man, aged about 22 years. 
.To be sold as the property of Rev. John Linn, deceased." 



536 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

In the issue of the same paper, dated December 2, 1920, an ad- 
vertisement of sale of some of the effects of Rev. John B. Linn 
includes "the unexpired time of a Mulatti Boy, aged 15 years." 
Whether this boy was not then sold and is the one appearing in the 
advertisement of 1826 we have no way of determining, yet be- 
lieve such to be the case. 

The slave was not only owned, but was to be sold, and further- 
more was the property of a minister of the Gospel and a very 
pious one. Mad this same minister lived a quarter of a century 
later he would likely have been thundering from his pulpit against 
the very system of which he had been a beneficiary. On August 
17, 1X22, Cassanda Campbell, of Landisburg, registered "a male 
child named Jeremiah, born March 7, 1822, of negro woman 
Junian, the property of Cassanda Campbell." 

From an early issue of the Forester the following advertise- 
ment is copied, which shows that Northern slaves sometimes ran 
away, but also shows that not much excitement was created, as 
the huge reward of six cents would indicate: 

Six Cents' Reward. 

Ran away from the subscriber, living in Toboyne Township Perry 
County, on the second of June inst., an indented 

Mulatto Man, 
aged about 22 years; who calls himself James Diven, but is better known 
by the name of Pad. He had on, when he ran off, a brown underjacket, 
tow check pantaloons, and half-worn roram hat. Whoever takes up said 
runaway and returns him to the subscriber, shall have the above reward, 
but no other charges will be allowed. Andrew Linn. 

Toboyne Township, June 22d, 1826. 

John Shuman died at Millerstown, March 7, 1807, and the fol- 
lowing interesting story told by his granddaughter, Caroline, of 
Iowa, in 1913, when she was in her seventy-seventh year, recorded 
in the "Genealogy of the George Shuman Family," page 112, re- 
lates to another slave owned on soil which is now comprised within 
the borders of Perry County : 

"My grandparents had a slave named Sam. My grandmother 
gave him his freedom and he went West. At the burial of my 
grandfather (prior to his emancipation), Sam carried my father 
to the grave ; and while standing at the grave, one of my father's 
shoes fell off his foot, down into the grave and was covered up." 

Tier father, Michael Shuman, was then a little child in his fourth 
year. Another slave and his wife, also a slave, were baptized and 
admitted into membership in a Ferry County church, St. Michael's 
Lutheran Church, in Pfoutz Valley, according to the "Churches 
Between the Mountains," by Rev. D. H. Focht. The negro's name 
was "Bob." and the date of their admission, according to the 
church record, was July 5, 1776. 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 537 

But of all the slave owners within the borders of what is now 
Perry County, Francis West, the grandfather of Chief Justice 
Gibson, Rev. William West, and the wife of Rev. David Elliott 
D.D.. was the chief, having had six at one time. Mr. West came 
to this country from "Westover," the ancestral home in England, 
in 1754, and first settled in Carlisle, where he was an early justice 
of the peace and for many years the presiding justice. While he 
is credited with living in Carlisle by some authorities and dying 
there, his will, dated September 6, 1781, and probated December 
31, 1783, refutes that statement, as he speaks of the lands in Ty- 
rone Township "where I live" (Book D. p. 193, Register of Wills, 
Carlisle). In this will he gives his Northumberland County lands 
and his "mulatto boy, Chamont," to his son William; to his son 
Edward, a tract of land in Tyrone Township, called "Clover Hill," 
excepting sixty acres at the east end, and adjoining the survey of 
William West, Sr., a tract on Sherman's Creek called "Upper 
Bottom," and a tract of land adjoining Alexander Diven's, reserv- 
ing all the walnut and pine trees fit for sawing ; to his sons, Wil- 
liam and Edward, and his brother-in-law, Alexander Lowry, the 
tract of land where he lived, with the mills, and the sixty acres from 
the "Clover Hill" tract, including the afore-mentioned timber re- 
served and his "negro wench called Poll," to rent or lease and 
apply the one-half "to the maintenance and support of his daughter 
Ann, the wife of George Gibson, during her natural life, and the 
other half to the maintenance and support of Francis Gibson, son 
of the said Ann and the other lawful issue of the said Ann (she 
to have preference in leasing), at her death to be sold and divided 
among the issue, share and share alike." To Ann he gave also 
his stills, with vessels and utensils. To Edward West he be- 
queathed his negro man, named "Sligo," his mulatto man named 
"Jacob," and his mulatto child named "Lewis," also 250 acres of 
land in Fermanagh Township, and the residue not otherwise de- 
vised. To his granddaughter, Mary Mitchell, he gave a tract of 
land in Tyrone. Township, together with a mulatto child named 
"Xila," but in case she die without heirs then it was to go to the 
three named executors for the use of Ann West Gibson and her 
heirs. A codicil dated April 24. 1782, revoked the disposition of 
the "negro wench Poll" to the executors and gave her to his son 
Edward, and another codicil, dated July 12, 1783, took from his 
son, William West, the Northumberland County lands and his 
mulatto boy "Chamont," and devised them to John Donnelson, of 
Philadelphia, merchant, "in trust for sole use and benefit of said 
son. William West," but with the stipulation that "at the request 
of said William West they be sold to said William West, or any 
other persons, and the benefits accrue to William West." 



538 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

It will be noted that the will disposes of six slaves. There is 
no available record known to the writer of the final disposition 
of these slaves. 

In 1778 James Blain (the father of Ephraim Blain, Commissary 
General of the United States, and ancestor of James G. Blaine, 
the statesman), was assessed in Toboyne Township (then Cumber- 
land County, now Perry, with "a gristmill, a still, and a negro." 
Another man to be assessed with a slave in 1820, the year of the 
county's creation, was William Anderson, after whom the village 
of Andersonburg was named, and who represented Cumberland 
County in the legislature before the formation of Perry. He had 
married Isabelle Blaine, of the famous Blaine family, and his own 
daughter Isabelle became the wife of Alexander McClure and the 
mother of the noted journalist, Alexander K. McClure, long editor 
of the Philadelphia Times. The last man to own a slave in Perry 
County was William Anderson, whose son, A. B. Anderson, was 
an attorney at New Bloomfield ; that was about 1827, the negro's 
name being "Bob," according to the late Alexander Blaine Grosh, 
a descendant, who gave the information to the writer in 1919. 

The escape of slaves was not altogether foreign to Perry County, 
either, as an advertisement of February 6, 18 18, signed by John B. 
Gibson, advertises for a lost slave. While the advertisement does 
not state which John B. Gibson it was, yet there is no doubt that 
it was he who later became the celebrated chief justice, as the will 
of Francis West, his grandfather, gave several slaves to trustees 
for his daughter Ann, which at her death was to descend to her 
issue, one of whom was the future chief justice. 

Even that unspeakable crime, which fosters lynching in the 
South and occasionally in the North, was not unknown to Pennsyl- 
vania at the early day of Perry County's formation. An early 
issue of the Perry Forester tells of the attack of a negro, the victim 
being a ten-year-old girl, near Carlisle — within six miles of the 
Perry County line. 

On November 6, 1858, Mary Barton (colored) died in Buffalo 
Township, aged about sixteen years, the newspaper account of her 
death stating that "she was formerly employed in the family of 
Dr. Grosh as a bound girl." 

The Quakers who at first controlled the provincial affairs were 
not opposed to slavery, and even William Penn, with all his reli- 
gious scruples, owned slaves. As early as 1688 the Friends or 
Quakers had agitated the subject, and in 1758 further traffic in 
slaves was abolished by them. In 1776 they decided that all slaves 
held by them must be set free. As early as 1778 an effort was 
made to abolish slavery in the province, but was unsuccessful. On 
March I, 1780, by a vote of thirty-four to twenty-one, Pennsyl- 
vania, then a colony instead of a province, enacted a law to gradu- 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 539 

ally free the slaves, being the first in the Union to do so, notwith- 
standing that Massachusetts was the abolition centre. While the 
law was enforced yet the census of 1840 still showed sixty-four 
slaves in Pennsylvania. When this act of 1780 passed in order to 
prevent slave owners evading the law it was made mandatory to 
register the births of all children born to slaves after that dale, 
and a heavy penalty was attached for failure so to do. 

Anti-Abolition Feeling in County. 

That there was, even as late as "the thirties" of last century an 
anti-abolition feeling in the North, in Pennsylvania, and even in 
Perry County, may be a surprise to many, yet such is the truth and 
the facts came down the generations through old newspaper files. 
On January 17, 1837, an abolitionist was to speak in New Bloom- 
field, the county seat, in the basement of the Presbyterian Church. 
When he appeared, with a band, a riot was threatened, and upon 
the intervention of wiser heads, and more prudent friends, he was 
conducted to his lodgings, amid the hoots and jeers of the crowd. 
But, even that occurrence pales into insignificance when it is 
known that there was actually held in the Perry County court- 
house an anti-abolitionist meeting, at which resolutions were passed 
protesting against the freeing of the slaves. The resolutions which 
appear a little farther on, while adopted in Perry County, might 
easily be mistaken for a series adopted in any South Carolina 
county, or, in fact, in any of the slave-holding states. The second 
resolution classes slavery as "repugnant to no precept of the Chris- 
tian religion." While the resolutions uphold slavery, yet the sev- 
enth one shows that slavery was really repugnant to the very men 
who passed them, as the seventh one admits that they would "not 
submit for one moment" to slavery in the North. Those very men, 
in the following years, themselves became abolitionists, and their 
sons marched away under the flag of their country in "the sixties." 
Captain Tressler, the son of a member of the resolution committee, 
organized a company composed principally of his pupils at the 
Loysville Academy, and joined the Union forces at the front. 

On April 4, 1837, according to the Perry County Democrat of 
April 6 of that year, a largely attended anti-abolition meeting was 
held in the Perry County courthouse, and that the attendants were 
men of prominence is evidenced by the names of those among the 
list of officers and upon the resolution committee. Many of their 
descendants of to-day are likewise prominent in county affairs. 
The verbatim account of the meeting from the old files follows : 

"In pursuance of public notice a meeting of the friends of the integrity 
of the Union, and opposed to the wily schemes of modern abolitionism, 
convened in the courthouse, in the borough of Bloomfield, Perry County, 
on Tuesday evening, the 4th of April, instant, and organized by appointing 



540 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr. Jacob Shearer, president; Martin Stambaugh, Esq., Solomon Bower, 
Esq., Cornelius Baskins and Samuel McKenzie, vice-presidents, and Dr. 
James H. Case and Francis English, secretaries. 

"( )n motion Dr. Joseph Speck, James Wilson, Col. S. Loy, Dr. J. Foster, 
E. Dromgold, Edward Miller, Esq., and C. Jones, Esq., were appointed a 
committee to draft a preamble and resolutions expressive of the sense of 
the meeting, who retired some time and reported the following which was 
agreed to : 

"Whereas, The spirit of dissension is abroad in our happy land, having 
for its object a no less mighty aim than the destruction of our Republican 
Union, under which we enjoy so many political, civil and religious lib- 
erties, and 

"Whereas, The total abolition of slavery among a degraded race of be- 
ings who are incapable of appreciating or enjoying the blessings of free- 
dom, is the dangerous watch-cry with which the unsuspecting and unin- 
formed are incited to participate in this prostration of the Constitution 
and laws, it becomes the imperative duty of every well wisher to* his 
country, as it is one of his guaranteed rights to express his humble but 
honest opinions on a subject so momentous in itself, and so ruinous in its 
consequences. Misguided philanthropy may find some extenuation for 
calamities inflicted, in the purity of its motives; but in questions so 
fraught with danger as the present, all should be held criminal who aid 
in raising a demon of discord, which some kindred spirit of a master 
mind first invoked in charitable accents, but with fiendish intent. There- 
fore, be it 

"Resolved, That the present exciting question of the Abolition of Slav- 
ery in the Southern States of this Union, is one raised by a total ignorance 
of the moral condition of the people for whom they wish to legislate; or 
by minds darker than the tawny skins of the objects of their pretended 
commiseration, seeking in scenes of excitement some degree of elevation, 
which times of peace and contentment could not call forth with honor to 
themselves or usefulness to their country. 

"Resolved, That the question of Slavery is, of these United States, one 
in all its features purely political, being repugnant to no precept of the 
Christian religion, or the practice of its apostles ; and the advocates of 
abolition who would proclaim slavery sinful and un-Christian in the midst 
of their mad zeal, ought to remember that the Founder of Christianity 
was born among slaves, and disseminated His divine commandments 
among them; but never by word or deed declared their bondage sinful; 
nor did he ever meddle with any of the established political institutions 
of his country. 

"Resolved, That we approve of slavery, so far only, as an evil which 
cannot at once be removed ; and that the people among whom it exists, 
are more capable of determining the time when it should cease, than we, 
who are happily distant from it. The Southern states are not culpable for 
its introduction, as it was imposed against their counsel, when colonies, by 
the mother country. 

"Resolved, That slavery is recognized by the Constitution of the United 
States and Congress has no right to legislate upon the subject; and any 
attempt to enforce the question of Negro Emancipation upon that body, 
evinces in the petitioners an equal ignorance of the rights of the States, 
and the true interests of the slaves. 

"Resolved, That inasmuch as the Constitution declares that 'AH rights 
not delegated to the General Government, are reserved to the States, re- 
spectively,' it is the duty of every friend to its provisions to see that the 



COUNTY'S EARLY YEARS 541 

States are protected in the just rights of legislating on subjects exclusively 
within their province, and that the integrity of the constitutional compact 
be preserved. 

"Resolved, That until some practicable mode can be devised to remove 
the colored population entirely from the country with the consent of the 
people of the slave-holding states, their emancipation would be the greatest 
curse to the non-slave-holding states, as it would bring upon them all the 
evils of a mixed and a degraded population. 

"Resolved, That the people of Pennsylvania have no more right to abol- 
ish slavery in the South, than those of the South have to establish it 
within our borders— a thing we would not submit to for one moment. 

"Resolved, That we approve of the proposition to hold a state conven- 
tion of the Friends of the Union, at Harrisburg, on the first Monday of 
next month, and that this county should send delegates to the said con- 
vention." 

Perry County did send delegates to that convention to the num- 
ber of eighteen, or at least that number were named, upon motion, 
to attend" it, and among those named the reader may discover the 
name of an ancestor — a loyal Unionist and abolitionist of a later 
day. The delegates named were as follows: Dr. Joseph Speck, 
George S. Hackett, Dr. Joseph Foster, R. R. Guthrie, W. B. 
Anderson, M. Stambaugh, John McGowan, Dr. J. H. Case, C. Bas- 
kins, Wm. White, W. Messinger, E. Dromgold, James London, 
P. Orwan, S. Bower, Joseph Ulsh, Frederick Orwan, and Henry 

Fetter. 

The Underground Railroad. 

That "the Underground Railroad" once operated in Perry 
County may seem incredible to some, yet such is a fact. As far 
hack as 1726 several Quakers had settled along the Susquehanna 
River in Lancaster County, having brought their slaves with them. 
In a few years their slaves were liberated, and in 1787, when 
Samuel Wright laid out the town of Columbia, provision was made 
for the settlement of free colored people in the northern part of 
the borough. Quakers in Maryland and Virginia freed their slaves 
and they settled in Columbia. In that way other Southern colored 
people (slaves) heard of that town and its provision for them, 
and it became a refuge for runaway slaves. Naturally when slaves 
had good masters they bad no desire for freedom, but those who 
were owned by men of the type of the novelist's "Simon Legree," 
took a chance for liberty. In escaping they only dared travel by 
night, as their detection often meant their return. Some traveled. 
only guided by the North star, while others followed mountain 
chain or river. Large numbers entered Pennsylvania via the Sus- 
quehanna River territory. York, Gettysburg, and Hagerstown. 
Slave hunters often traced them to these Pennsylvania border 
towns, where all trace seemed to vanish. Throughout the North 
kind-hearted families who were opposed to slavery as an institution 
helped these unfortunates to food and shelter, the homes of some 



542 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



of them coming to be known as ".stations" and the system of es- 
cape, as "the Underground Railway." It had no charter, no offi- 
cials, no organization, yet was encouraged by public sentiment. 
Carlisle, but little over a half-dozen miles from the southern Perry 
County border, was a "station" on the "underground" route, and 
Landisburg and Ickesburg, two Perry County towns, "stations" 
of somewhat less import, but nevertheless a part of the system. 
So secretly was this system operated that even neighbors were not 
aware that adjoining farms harbored runaway slaves throughout 
tin' day, and there are descendants of some of those who helped 
whose eyes will scan these pages. 

The name came about from the fact that when owners or agents 
from the South followed slaves and suddenly lost all trace of them, 
they were ironically informed that "there must be an underground 
railroad somewhere." With the passing of the fugitive slave law 
in 1850 the hunting of runaway slaves became a regular business. 
Many of these slaves went to Canada and remained there until 
freedom became assured. By 1852 "the underground railroad" 
was in full swing. On at least one occasion a slave was drowned 
in Perry County in attempting to flee from his master. On 
July 8, 1841, Coroner David Tressler held an inquest upon the 
body of a colored man drowned above Newport, in the Juniata. 
He was one of three negroes who were pursued as runaway slaves, 
under the technical charge of having robbed their master. They 
were traveling along the bank between the canal and river, closely 
pursued by their master, and when they arrived at the Millerstown 
dam they found that that point of land terminated. Two escaped 
to North s Island (now the property of A. W. Kough), where they 
were captured, and the third, as stated, was drowned. The cap- 
tured two again escaped. The record shows that their master 
gladly stood the expense of the inquest and burial. 



CHAPTER XXXI. 

PERRY COUNTY IN THE SECTIONAL WAR. 
(The Civil War.) 

ALMOST a century had sped after the realization of freedom, 
before the climax came to the perplexing slavery question, 
which was the cause of secession, and had there been no 
secession there would have been no War Between the States. 
From the very beginning of slavery on our shores it was a thorn in 
the side of the nation, then only in embryo ; for, it was unpopular 
•from a moral standpoint to many in "the Land of the Free" — a 
revolting practice which was contrary to the principles on which 
the government was founded. Outside of that one mooted ques- 
tion the traditions of the North and the South were of the same 
proud origin. They were of one blood. They had shown heroism 
and won distinction on field and forum side by side. It seems 
strange and almost impossible that they should have misunderstood 
each other or attributed cowardice to one another. 

The Presidential election of i860, on which much hinged, oc- 
curred at a momentous period in the history of the nation. The 
vexed question of the admission of Kansas into the Union under 
the Lecompton Constitution, which was claimed by the Republi- 
cans as being fraudulently concocted by the pro-slavery party, and 
which was also opposed by a powerful element in the Democratic- 
party headed by Stephen A. Douglas, was to result in a schism in 
the latter party, which eventually caused four candidates to be 
placed in the field. When the votes were counted it was found 
that the young Republican party had won on a platform opposing 
slavery, and that Abraham Lincoln, the tall, gaunt, intelligent 
young giant from the Middle West would be the next President 
of the United States. Within sixty days after the election the oft 
threatened secession had become a fact. 

A great many Northerners would not have offered their lives to 
efface slavery, to limit the territory in which slavery was permis- 
sible, or to meddle with the question in any other way ; but with 
the matter of the withdrawal of any part of the Union they were 
deeply concerned. Perry Countians, generally, were of that class. 



The author is indebted to Rev. H. F. Long, a veteran of the 1626. Regi- 
ment, Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, and a native Perry Countian, 
for help in revising this chapter. Rev. Long was twice wounded at Cold 
Harbor, losing an arm in the battle. He was also an eye witness when 
Levi R. Long, a brother of Senator Long, of Kansas, lost a leg at Falling 
Waters. 

543 



544 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Even President Lincoln, while opposed on general principles to 
slavery, in a letter written as late as August 22, 1862, to Horace 
Creel v, in reply to a public letter addressed to him through the 
New York Tribune, says, among other things: 

"I would save the Union. I would save it the shorest way under the 
Constitution. The sooner the national authority can be restored the nearer 
the Union will be "the Union as it was." If there be those who would not 
save the Union unless they could at the same time save slavery, I would 
not agree with them. If there be those who would not save the Union 
unless they could at the same time destroy slavery, I would net agree with 
them. My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is 
not to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing 
any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I 
would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others 
alone I would also do that. 

"What I do about slavery and the colored race I do because I feel it 
helps save this Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am" 
doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe that 
doing more will help the cause. I shall try to correct my errors, when 
shown to be errors, and I shall adopt new views so fast as they appear 
to be true views." 

South Carolina had seceded on December 17, and all America 
looked forward to what Coventor Curtin, the newly elected execu- 
tive of Pennsylvania, would say in his inaugural address, which 
came a month later, and which would likely interpret, in words, 
the feeling of the entire North. Lincoln's inauguration would 
come about six weeks thereafter, but Curtin would be likely to 
strike the keynote of Northern thought, Pennsylvania being the 
kevstone for the preservation of the Union as it had been in its 
formation almost a century previous. Of Governor Cttrtin's en- 
tire address everything hinged upon his opinion of secession and, 
strange as it may seem, that paragraph was written by a native 
Perry Countian, Colonel A. K. McClure. Governor Curtin had 
sent business friends and educated and shrewd young men into the 
South and was in possession of their reports. His only hope was 
that Pennsylvania, while maintaining thorough loyalty to the 
Union, would exercise a wholesome influence on the border states 
of Virginia and Kentucky, and restrain them from joining the 
Confederate movement. 

PF,RRY CoUiNTIAN WRITES SECESSION EniCT. 

Governor Curtin was entirely satisfied with every part of his 
inauguration address save that of the relation of the state to the 
nation. There was no precedent in the civilized world covering 
just such a situation — the secesssion of part of a republic. Mr. 
Curtin himself was the one to criticise his own paragraph. He 
finally suggested that his five friends, then in consultation with 
him, the hour being three o'clock in the morning, go to their rooms 
and each write the paragraph for the inaugural as he thought it 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 



545 



should be written, all to meet again at ten in the morning. At 
that hour each man had his paragraph ready for submission. 
Morton McMichael being the senior of the party, his paper was 
read first, and without comment. Colonel William B. Mann, next 
in seniority, followed. Curtin then called for Col. A. K. McClure's 
paper and McCIure read it. McMichael requested its rereading, 
after which he requested the withdrawal of his own and the adop- 
tion of the McCIure paragraph, in which Colonel Mann joined. 
Secretary Slifer and Attorney General Purviance joined in the de- 
mand and did not present their papers. Curtin cordially accepted 
the paragraph and seemed greatly relieved that all had finally agreed 
upon the declaration which Pennsylvania should make. The inau- 
gural address was well received and was heralded throughout the 
North as the general attitude to be pursued by the entire section. 
Those words will ever stand as a legacy to the entire nation, hut 
more particularly so to the fellow natives of Perry who lived to 
see their boyhood friend McCIure help write in the annals of the 
ages the fact that "government of the people, by the people, and 
for the people" shall not perish from the earth. Here follows the 
clear ringing statement : 

"Ours is a National Government, and has within the sphere 
of its actions all the attributes of sovereignty, and among these 
are the right and duty of self-preservation. It is based upon 
a compact to which all the people of the United States are 
parties. It is the result of mutual concessions which were 
made for the purpose of securing reciprocal benefits. It acts 
directly on the people and they owe it a personal allegiance. 
No part of the people, no state, nor combination of states can 
voluntarily secede from the Union, nor absolve themselves 
from their obligations to it. To permit a state to withdraw 
at pleasure from the Union without the consent of the rest 
is to confess that our government is a failure. Pennsylvania 
can never acquiesce in such a conspiracy, nor assent to a doc- 
trine which involves the destruction of the government. If 
the government is to exist, all the requirements of the Consti- 
tution must be obeyed, and it must have power adequate to the 
enforcement of the supreme law of the land in every state. 
It is the first duty of the national authorities to stay the prog- 
ress of anarchy and enforce the laws, and Pennsylvania, with 
a united people, will give them an honest, faithful and active 
support. The people mean to preserve the integrity of the 
National Union at every hazard." 

When secession was sweeping the South from its moorings, 
every state which went out gave added strength to the Confederacy 
and weakened the Union just that much. As one of the border 
states Kentucky refused to join the movement and thus helped sus- 
tain the government, and it must be remembered that that action 
was largely through the stand of the governor, and that there then 
sat in the governor's chair James Fisher Robinson, the son of Perry 
35 



546 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Countians, Jonathan and Jane (Black) Robinson, who had mi- 
grated from Sherman's Valley to Kentucky. 

It is not within the province of this book to go into the history 
of the war, save as it affected Perry County or Perry Countians, 
as in the cases just quoted. 

The inauguration of Governor Andrew Gregg Curtin occurred 
January 15th, but even before that, scenting the trend of events, 
an offer of volunteers, in fact of an entire company, was made by 
John A. Wilson, captain of the Washington Artillery, of Blain, 
Perry County, who dispatched the following letter to James 
Buchanan, President of the United States and Commander in 
Chief of the Army, but in whose hands the nation was as a drift- 
ing derelict upon the great high seas: 

Blain, Pa., Jan. 12, 1861. 
Hon. James Buchanan: 

Dear Sir: Not knowing how soon your honor will have need of the 
services of the uniformed volunteers to suppress the Southern fire-eating 
disunionists. we hereby tender the services of our company, subject to your 
orders. The following are the names. We number about seventy-five 
members. Very respectfully, 

John A. Wilson, 

Captain Washington .irtillcry. 

Nowhere else, from coast to coast or from the lakes to the gulf, 
did patriotism ring more true than in the little mountain-bound 
county of Perry, which was at the forefront in every war, whether 
for freedom or the preservation of the Union. The attack on 
Fort Sumter was all that was needed to unite opposing partisans 
and send men to the front in large numbers. 

just as in the recent World War, the Sectional War was a young 
men's war. largely, as over a million Union soldiers entered the 
service when they were twenty-one, and over 600,000 before they 
reached that age. This was also true of the Perry County con- 
tingent, many of whom were men of the early twenties and 
younger. 

The growing sectional feeling which precipitated the war found 
those of one section either visiting the other or there on buisness 
bent, and it was with difficulty that the homeward trip was made, 
as no sooner had Lincoln's call for men gone forth than a band of 
steel spanned the country. David Mitchell, a Perry Countian, and 
General McCausland had a contract to build a railroad in Virginia 
at the time, and Mr. Mitchell, being a Northerner, had to make a 
hasty exit. 

When war became inevitable, Governor Curtin's call for volun- 
teers brought to the State Capital hundreds of men over every 
intersecting railway and highway, and it was necessary to have a 
place of encampment and for the organization of units. The result 
was that a field north of Harrisburg was leased and was designated 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 547 

Camp Curtin. The city has long since spread over the ground and 
its location at the present time would be designated as lying be- 
tween the Pennsylvania Railroad and Fifth Street, and extending 
from Watts' Lane southward to Maclay Street. There, from 
April, [86l 3 until the last tent was removed in September, 1865, 
were equipped the finest; contingents of fighting men that ever 
issued from any home base. It was the military camp that has 
been located closest to Perry County soil, although Cam]) Meade. 
near Middletown, during the Spanish-American War, was but ten 
mill's further. All the fatalities were not of the battlefield. In the 
rush of troops to the front accidents sometimes occurred, the late 
Prof. L. E. McGinnes recalling to the writer's memory one such 
which took place opposite Montgomery's Ferry, which took the 
lives of four or five young soldiers on their way to the front, 
which created a deep impression on him as a lad. 

The writer has no faith in the "conscientious scruple" plea, save 
as an excuse for cowardice. Unfortunately there were a few in 
Perry County who made this plea, the evidence of which is on file 
in the Bureau of Records at Harrisburg. Persons enjoying all 
the rights of a free land should also he held responsible for its 
preservation and maintenance, along with the rest, when its exist- 
ence is threatened. While the Sectional War has long since passed, 
it is hardly far enough in the background of history to justify the 
placing of the four names here ; but all must be glad that the num- 
ber was but four. The war had not progressed very long before 
it became necessary to draft men for service, which was the occa- 
sion for these men thus going on record. John R. Shuler, of Liver- 
pool, superintended the draft in Perry County. 

The Perry County territory, so long upon the very border of 
Indian warfare, was again destined to be the actual Northern bor- 
der of the great sectional war. Through it passed scouts and spies, 
and when General Lee crossed the Potomac and entered the Cum- 
berland Valley, although the harvest was ripe, almost everybody 
began retreating over the mountains and across the Susquehanna 
with their families and stock. Property was hidden and buried, 
but the various gaps crossing the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain were 
literally packed with a vast train of men, women and children, 
horses, cattle, and even other animals. The town of Blain, in 
Perry County, resembled a huge horse market, according to Rev. 
J. D. Calhoun, of Washington, Illinois, then a lad of thirteen, re- 
siding at Blain. In the vicinity of Green Park, according to S. 
H. Bernheisel, long a New Bloomfield merchant, the hand boards 
were torn from their posts to confuse spies, and many refugees ar- 
rived seeking safety. Rye Township was a haven for many horses 
and much other livestock. To the Confederate credit it must be 
said that no destruction of grain crops or buildings was permitted, 



548 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

General Lee's orders against the wanton destruction of property 
being complied with to the letter. Milroy's command was scattered 
among the mountains in small squads as far west as Altoona. The 
last echo of the Southern advance into Pennsylvania came from 
the immense battle-train— almost twenty miles long — that left Lee 
at Gettysburg on the 4th and lumbered southward, leading the re- 
treat. To escape Union cavalry it crossed the South Mountain 
and turned southward at Greenwood to the Potomac, along an 
unfrequented road at the mountain base, where it was witnessed 
only by the two small villages of New Guilford and New Franklin. 
The wagons were largely filled with wounded, the less seriously 
wounded traveling on foot. It took thirty-four hours to pass a 
given point. 

When General Ewell, of the Confederate Army, led his raiders 
far into the Cumberland Valley and took possession of Carlisle, 
June 27, 1863, many of the supporting cavalry contingent arrived 
at Carlisle Springs, within a mile of the Perry County line. Fear- 
ing foraging trips to the county, especially that part known as 
Sherman's Valley, the home folks, even including the women and 
the clergy, rushed to Sterrett's Gap and fortified the top of the 
mountain commanding the approach with a wall of rocks, stones 
and boulders. No attack was made, neither was an attempt to 
cross discovered on the part of the Perry Countians, who kept at 
the work even during the night, but it is supposed that spies for 
the raiders discovered that the place had been fortified. From 
that point a dozen well-armed men would have held many men at 
bay. Evidences of these rude fortifications still remain. Among the 
younger men who went there armed, some of whom later entered 
the Union Army, were John Dice, Samuel Hall, Henry Kocher, 
Jesse Nace, and Frank Raum. This entry into the Cumberland 
Valley occurred late in June, and the entry into Carlisle, on Satur- 
day, June 27, 1863. On Sunday, June 28, half of the congregation 
at the Presbyterian Church was composed of Confederate officers 
in uniform. On Monday, June 29, they destroyed the railroad 
bridge at the east end of Carlisle, and on the 30th the town was 
shelled by General Fitzhugh Lee, when signals from the South 
Mountains called away the invader, who passed on to Gettysburg, 
where that world-famous battle opened the next day. As the gray 
columns passed away Perry Countians and those who had fled to 
the county for safety breathed a sigh of relief. The reverberation 
of the cannonry at Gettysburg — forty miles away — could be dis- 
tinctly heard as it echoed along the mountains. It was at this time 
that Rev. D. H. Focht, father of Congressman B. K. Focht, went 
to the mountains with the emergency men, which experience caused 
bis death a little later. When border raids were anticipated or 
actually occurring many refugees or fugitives from border counties 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 549 

would arrive at [ckesburg and other towns. Alexander Barnes 
then kept a hotel at Ickesburg, and at such times his hostelry was 
packed. 

Thk Famous Ride Down Sherman's Valley.* 

Many of the famous rides of men and women of history have 
been immortalized by poet and painter. Almost every schoolboy 
and girl can recite the stirring stanzas which tell of the daring rides 
of Paul Revere and Sheridan, but few people even residing in the 
territory know of the dashing ride of Benjamin S. Huber, a young 
Chambersburg lad, down the main highway through Sherman's 
Valley, hearing to Governor Curtin the minutest facts relating to 
the invasion of the North by General Lee, during the great conflict 
between the States for the preservation of the Union. The vast 
conflict at Gettysburg so occupied the minds of the entire nation 
that Ben HubePs ride, which helped turn that battle to a victory 
for the Pmion forces, seemed a mere passing episode and was for- 
gotten. 

When the seemingly innumerable waves of gray were sweeping 
through the streets of Chambersburg hey had thrown outposts far 
in every direction and had cut the telegraph wires, so that no facts 
from hack of Lee's lines could get to Harrisburg, to the ear of 
that great war governor, Andrew G. Curtin, who in turn could 
acquaint the Northern forces of the facts and the direction taken 
by Lee. The more active loyal men of Chambersburg knew the 
great necessity of getting to Governor Curtin the facts and espe- 
cially the fact that the infantry had taken the Gettysburg road. 
General Knipe, of Harrisburg, with a weak force, could not con- 
tend with Lee's immense army and his forces were practically only 
harassing the advance outposts. Between him and Chambersburg 
was a virtual barrier of gray. To Benjamin S. Huber, a country 
lad. went the task of getting the facts to the governor. He was 
one of a brave lot of young and daring fellows used in that service 
from about Chambersburg, others being Shearer Houser, J. Por- 
ter Brown, Anthony Hollar, Sellers Montgomery, T. J. Grimeson, 
Stephen \Y. Pomeroy, and a Mr. Kinney. 

According to the records of the period Huber carried no notes, 
but was to personally meet the governor and convey to him not 
only the fact that the infantry took the Gettysburg road, but the 
approximate number of men and supplies and the multitude of 
things which might be desired in the way of information. He 
made his way up a ravine and being familiar will the mountain he 
crossed through a gap known as the "Three Square Hollow" road. 



*Not to be confused with the ride of Stephen W. Pomeroy, down the 
Tuscarora Valley, a few days later. 



550 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

above Blain, having succeeded in getting a horse. On swiftly 
mounted steed he sped through Blain, Andersonburg, Loysville, and 
New Bloomfield, arriving at Newport, where he took a Pennsylvania 
Central train — as the Pennsylvania trains were known in that day 
— and was carried to Harrisburg, where he laid before the gover- 
nor the information which was flashed to General Meade and 
i iinicd that warrior and attendant victory towards Gettysburg. 

Again let us draw from a Perry County author. Col. A. K. Mc- 
Clure, in his "Lincoln and Men of War Times," says: 

"Lee then commanded the largest and the most defiant army the Con- 
federates ever had during the war. General Ewell's corps, over twenty 
thousand strong, encamped on my farm (at Chamhersburg), and thence 
General Rhodes and Early made their movements against York and Har- 
risburg. On the 26th of June, General Lee entered Chambersburg with his 
staff, and it is needless to say that his movements were watched with in- 
tense interest by all intelligent citizens. Early and Rhodes were already 
operating on the lines of the Susquehanna, and Lee's army was so disposed 
that it could be rapidly concentrated for operations in the Cumberland 
Valley and against Philadelphia or thrown south of the South Mountain 
to operate against Washington. Lee held a brief council in the Centre 
Square of Chambersburg with General A. P. Hill and several other offi- 
cers, and when he left them intense anxiety was exhibited by every one 
who observed them to ascertain whether his movements would indicate 
the concentration of his army in the Cumberland Valley or for operations 
against Washington. When he came to the street where the Gettysburg 
turnpike enters the square, he turned to the right, went out a mile along 
that road, and fixed his headquarters in a little grove close by the road- 
side, then known as Shetter's woods. When Lee turned in that direction, 
Benjamin S. Huber, a country lad, happened to be present, and, as he had 
already exhibited some fitness for such work, he was started immediately 
overland for Harrisburg to communicate to Governor Curtin the fact that 
l.ee's movement indicated Gettysburg as his objective point. Lee was 
fated to lose three days in valuable time at his headquarters in the quiet 
grove near Chambersburg, as his cavalry had been cut off from him by 
encountering our cavalry forces in eastern Maryland, and he could get no 
information whatever of the movements of the Union Army." 

Not until the night of the 29th, however, when the Confederate 
wagon train was hurried through Chambersburg towards Gettys- 
burg, was it certain that that was the objective point. Stephen 
W. Pomeroy, of Strasburg, with a despatch telling that fact sewed 
inside the lining of the buckle-strap of his trousers, managed to get 
to bis father's home, secured a horse and hurried through the gap 
of the mountain from Path Valley to Tuscarora Valley, where he 
secured a fresh horse and sped down that valley to Port Royal, 
arriving between two and three o'clock in the morning. The mes- 
sage was quickly sent to Governor Curtin, but unsigned, as the 
lad was so exhausted that he left at once. 

Tbe following bit of verse which first appeared in Colonel Shoe- 
maker's Altoona Tribune, may not be inappropriate here: 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 55I 

BEN HUBER'S RIDE. 

BY H. H. HAIN. 

Of the famous rides of yesteryear, 
Of Sheridan and Paul Revere; 
Of those daring rides on worthy steed, 
Have been read by men of every creed. 
The Union of States was almost rent 
By insurrection and discontent, 
On the part of the South in '63— 
'Twas the aftermath of slavery ; 
Lee, with his army in fettle fine, 
Crossed the Mason-Dixon line, 
And in Chambersburg, where the ways diverge, 
A halt occurred in the onward surge ; 
Lee and his staff, in conference there, 
In bold relief in the public square, 
Decided the route of those clad in gray 
As they marched forth in battle array. 

To points far out outposts were flung, 

And wires were cut — No word of tongue 

Could hope to pass the band of steel; 

The town was 'neath a despot heel. 

To get facts to Governor Curtin then, 

Was a task worthy of any man. 

Ben Huber quietly stole away 

And slipped through mountain pass that day, 

And how those Northern lads did rally 

As he sped down the Sherman's Valley, 

Telling that Lee, awaiting his fate, 

Had entered the loyal Keystone State. 

On fiery steed he ne'er drew rein, 

At Newport swung aboard a train, 

And soon poured into the governor's ear 

Details of Lee's army drawing near ; 

And instantly the Union code 

Flashed, "Lee takes Gettysburg road." 

Northern troops then turned that way, 
Ben Huber's ride had saved the day. 
At Gettysburg the tide was turned, 
And into the hearts of men were burned, 
The Union shall not be rent in twain, 
But undivided ever remain, 
And guarantee to all and each 
The words of Lincoln's famous speech, 
That the government of Freedom's birth 
Shall never perish from the earth. 
Harrisburg, Pa., May 11, 1921. 

This record of Ben Huber's daring ride down Sherman's Valley, 
when every echo of the clattering hoofs spelled the beginning of 
the end of disunion, comes not only from one source, but is a part 
of the annals of the great Sectional War, when the swords of 
brothers met in mortal combat. In a volume by Lieut. Joshua 



55 2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Smith, entitled "From Gettysburg to Appomatox," he relates the 
incident and so graphically that it is here reproduced : 

"The latter part of June it was discovered at Chambersburg that Lee 
was moving towards Gettysburg. The Confederates having possession of 
the Cumberland Valley and all lines being down, it was difficult to commu- 
nicate with Harrisburg, so that the authorities there might know of the 
movements of the armies. 

"On June 26, 1863, Ben S. Huber, a young lad, volunteered to carry a 
dispatch to Governor Andrew G. Curtin, apprising him of Lee's move- 
ments and the probable concentration of the armies at Gettysburg. Huber 
rode through the 'Three Square Hollow,' through New Germantown, Blain, 
Andersonburg, Loysville, New Bloomfield and at Newport intercepted a 
Pennsylvania Central train, and soon appeared before the governor with 
the very important intelligence, being identified by some reliable parties 
from Chambersburg. The authorities acted accordingly and our troops 
were ordered to move toward Gettysburg. The fact that Perry County 
harbored so many refugees with their horses and the significant ride of 
young Huber through Sherman's Valley, indicates that it was the extreme 
northern border of the great war drama of the sixties." 

The acts of the Pennsylvania Legislature covering the payment 
of border raid claims, dated April 9, 1868, and May 22, 1871, 
names the counties damaged by raids, and includes York, Cumber- 
land, Adams, Franklin, Fulton, Bedford, and Perry. The latter 
act authorized the appointment of a commission, consisting of two 
members from each of these counties, to consider the claims pre- 
sented. 

While the Cumberland Valley was in the hands of the Confed- 
erates Surgeon William W. Bowles, of the Confederate Army, 
wrote a letter from Shippensburg to his former instructor, Charles 
A. Barnett, late judge of Perry County, he having been a student 
at the New Bloomfield Academy while Mr. Barnett was principal. 

Colonel A. K. McClure graphically sums up a few facts of the 
Battle of Gettysburg, which follow: 

"The Battle of Gettysburg v/as not only fought on Pennsylvania soil, but 
in no other important battle of the war was Pennsylvania heroism so gen- 
erally and so conspicuously displayed. General Meade, a Pennsylvanian, 
was suddenly thrust into the command of the Army of the Potomac only 
three days before the Battle of Gettysburg began, and he was the chieftain 
who won the greatest of all the Union victories in the fratricidal strife. 
General Reynolds, another Pennsylvania soldier, was charged by Meade 
with the responsible duty of making the reconnaissance in force that pre- 
cipitated the battle in the undulating plains between Gettysburg and Cash- 
town, where the heroic Reynolds fell early in the action when his single 
corps' was driving the enemy. General Hancock, another Pennsylvanian, 
was hurried to Gettysburg by Meade after the report of the defeat and 
death of Reynolds, and authorized to decide whether the discomfited 
corps at Gettysburg should fall back upon Meade's line or whether Meade 
should advance the entire army. It was Hancock's command that received 
and repulsed Pickett's charge with the Philadelphia brigade in the Bloody 
Angle. Hancock lay on the field severely wounded until he was able to 
send the cheering report to his chief that the final charge of the enemy not 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 553 

only resulted in failure, but in the almost annihilation of the charging 
columns. Sykes, another Pennsylvania soldier, commanded his corps and 
performed heroic service in the many conflicts of the memorable field. 
Birney, another Pennsylvania soldier, commanded Sickels' corps after 
Sickels had fallen in the bloody conflict in the Peach Orchard, and the last 
clash of arms at Gettysburg was made by part of the Pennsylvania Re- 
serves, led by the heroic McCandless, who closely followed Pickett's retreat, 
and who recovered the position the enemy had won from Sickels the day 
before, with many prisoners and 5,000 stand of arms. 

"Armistead, the only officer of Pickett's command who successfully 
crossed the stonewall into the Union lines with a number of his followers, 
was struck by the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania that forced them to accept 
surrender or death, and it was there that Armistead, the hero of the gray, 
and Cushing, the hero of the blue, made the high-water mark of American 
heroism for the entire Civil War. Thus four Pennsylvania soldiers — Rey- 
nolds, Hancock, Sykes, and Birney — commanded corps in the great decisive 
battle of the war, and to these must be added the gallant Gregg, the Penn- 
sylvania trooper, who met the attack of Stuart's whole cavalry force as 
more than 10,000 cavalrymen made the hills tremble in the shock of battle, 
and won a victory quite as important to the Union cause as was the repulse 
of Pickett's charge. No half-dozen other states of the Union furnished 
such a galaxy of chieftains as did our grand old commonwealth in the 
desperate and bloody conflict that decreed the continued life of the greatest 
republic of the world's history." 

While it is impossible to go into any general detail of the various 
soldiers, yet there are a few facts here recorded, which are but illus- 
trative and almost had their counterparts in many other cases. 
Many families sent two, three, four, five, and even six sons to de- 
fend the flag. From a little home one mile east of Blain, on the 
Ickesburg road (in Jackson Township), went six stalwart sons of 
Cornelius Baker and wife, the son Samuel falling in action near 
the close of the war. The Blain G. A. R. Post was named after 
him. A younger brother — a mere lad — went to Harrisburg to en- 
list, but was rejected on account of his youth. From Saville went 
five sons of Mrs. Ellen Hall, all of whom returned safe, yet one's 
life was saved by the deflection of a bullet by a little pocket Testa- 
ment which he carried. I may be pardoned for mentioning an- 
other. From the farm of John Hain, Sr. (grandfather of the 
writer), in Howe Township, went five sons, the younger, Fred- 
erick Hain. dying at Washington, D. C, ten days after the battle 
of Antietam, where he was wounded. His remains lie in the 
Centre Union churchyard, in Buck's Valley. Sheridan's famous 
ride was viewed by a number of Perry Countians, several con- 
tingents being at Cedar Creek, as will be seen in the brief descrip- 
tion of companies, farther on, with their muster rolls. The story 
is told of a man named Brown, from Toboyne Township, an ex- 
pert fifer, who crossed the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain, when hon- 
orably discharged. The first notice his family had of his coming- 
home was when they heard afar the sweet notes of his fife playing, 
"Oh, My Poor Nelly Gray." 



554 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

George A. Shuman, a Perry Countian, was made a major, June 
16, 1865. During the war he had a part in thirty-six engagements. 
A horse was shut beneath him at Lafayette and another at Fair 
Garden. At Thompson's Station eleven holes were left in his 
clothing and a bullet cut his beard. At Readyville a ball battered 
.the scabbard of his saber. On his return from the war he brought 
with him his faithful war horse, and for years she occupied 
a prominent place in the parades at the county soldiers' reunions. 
She was captured in South Carolina and Major Shuman had rid- 
den her on Sherman's March to the Sea. She lived to be thirty- 
seven, although blind. At New Albany, Indiana, Major Shuman, 
with some of his men, were captured by Confederate General Mor- 
gan's men. Upon learning that they belonged to the same fra- 
ternity General Morgan ordered returned to him his watch and 
revolver, which had been appropriated. After the war Major Shu- 
man was engaged in breeding thoroughbred messenger horses. 

Sadly enough when the Union of States was almost rent by se- 
cession, the second officer of the Confederate government was 
Vice-President Alexander H. Stephens, the son of a native Perry 
Countian, his father having been born at Duncannon, as told in a 
sketch of Mr. Stephens, elsewhere in this volume. Like even the 
wife of the great President, Abraham Lincoln, whose brothers 
were in the Confederate service, there were other Perry County 
descendants, and even natives, who wore the uniform of gray. In 
the hearts of a very few conflicting emotions labored, for their kin 
— yes, even their own sons — were fighting in opposing armies. The 
most noted of these was General James A. Beaver, whose uncle, 
Thompson McAlister, once a representative in the Pennsylvania 
Legislature from Franklin County, had located in Covington, Vir- 
ginia, where he raised a Confederate regiment and marched to 
Manassas, participating in the battle. However, his heart was not 
in the cause and he resigned and returned home. He had married 
a Miss Addams, a sister of the governor's mother. He was also 
an uncle of Mrs. Beaver, whose maiden name was McAlister. 
Rev. William Cochran, a noted Presbyterian minister, who had 
been born in Millerstown, and was long located in Missouri, had 
a son in blue and one in gray. He came North during that trying 
period and preached in Perry County. Alexander Moreland, a son 
of Captain David Moreland, of the War of 1812, left Blain, Perry 
County, and located in Jackson, Missouri, where he had married 
a lady of considerable wealth and strong Southern proclivities. He 
had entered mercantile life and when the storm broke between the 
North and South he became a supporter of the Confederacy, en- 
listed as a private, was awarded a commission, and when General 
Lee led his powerful Southern army into Pennsylvania, he was 
among the commissioned officers in command. Frederick Watts 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 555 

Hulings, a grandson of Marcus Hillings, the pioneer, and also of 
General Frederick Watts, and the son of Thomas and Elizabeth 
( Watts) Hulings, born in what is now Perry County, removed to 
the South and was once speaker of the House of Representatives 
of Tennessee. He was a captain in the Confederate service, but in 
attempting to get on a passing train during the war period, was in- 
jured so badly that he died from the effects. 

While no soldier enlisting from Perry County attained such 
noted designation, yet two native Perry Countians who went to the 
front, became brigadier generals on the Union side, and later both 
men became governors of commonwealths of this gnat land. 
General fames A. Beaver, who became governor of Pennsylvania, 
entered the service as a lieutenant, and General Stephen Miller, 
who became governor of Minnesota, entered the service as a lieu- 
tenant colonel. The names of both are enshrined in the hearts of 
their people. Biographies of both appear elsewhere in this volume, 
and show them not only to have been brave and good men, but 
men of the highest character in every respect. 

Rev. W. R. H. Deatrich, D.D., long a Reformed minister in 
.Perry County, was arrested on July 1, 1863, near Chambersburg, 
by order of General Imboden, of the Confederate Army, on sus- 
picion of robbing his mail, and was marched on foot along with his 
cavalry to Gettysburg, a distance of twenty-four miles. Wearing 
a silk hat and weighing over two hundred pounds, with the ther- 
mometer over ninety degrees in the shade, the trip was anything 
but enjoyable. While a prisoner there he witnessed the famous 
Pickett charge from the Confederate side. He was given his re- 
lease pass on July 3. 

Just as women served in the recent World War so did they 
serve their country within certain lines during the great sectional 
struggle. Miss Sarah M. Kerr, later the wife of Major Peter 
Heistand (long residents of Newport), was one of the Pennsyl- 
vania telegraphers during the war when the men were needed else- 
where, being stationed at the Spruce Creek tower. 

At various times during the war different contingents were on 
President Lincoln's guard. One Perry Countian so placed was the 
late David H. Smith, of near Elliottsburg, later of Duncannon. 
When President Lincoln was delivering his famous Gettysburg 
speech, Mr. Smith was stationed immediately behind him. 

Benjamin Mcfntire was provost marshal during part of the war 
period, his successor being Hiram Fertig. Dr. Joseph Swartz, of 
Duncannon, was surgeon of the 166th Regiment, and Dr. J. M. 
Miller, of Newport, assistant surgeon of the i/2d Regiment. 

At the end of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad bridge, al 
Marysville, a block house was built to guard against invaders, ac 
- cording to W r ris;ht's Historv. 



556 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The List oe Soldiers From Perry County. 

It is impossible to give a complete list of the Perry County sol- 
diers during- the Sectional War, as many went to Camp Curtin at 
Harrisburg, to enlist and did not give their residence, and conse- 
quently were credited to Dauphin County. Others enlisted in regi- 
ments from other counties, and as the government did not keep a 
record of their residences in the official rosters, it is impossible at 
this late day to make a correct list without spending years at the 
work, and even then its correctness would be doubtful. The lists 
printed in the following pages are drawn from various volumes. 
regimental records and other publications, being corrected where 
they were known to be wrong. While they are almost all from 
Perry County, there will be found some from other counties, which 
belonged to Perry County companies. They follow: 

Three Months' Service— Second Regiment, Company D. 

This company was mustered into the service of the United States on 
April 21, 1861, and, their time having expired, they were mustered out on 
July 26th, having been on guard duty in Maryland and Virginia, but es- 
caped action at the front. Their eagerness to go at the very beginning of 
the war showed their mettle, and they were the vanguard of a vast array 
of Perry Countians, who, in a steady stream flowed into the Union lines. 
The enrollment for this company began on the very day of President Lin- 
coln's call for troops. Three days later, on April 18th, it was off for the 
front. The names : 

H. D. Woodruff, Capt., Bloomfield. DeBray, G. Smith, Millerstown. 

J. H. Crist, Newport. Duncan, Win. C. 

C. K. Brenneman, Newport. Eby, James B., Bloomfield. 

Joseph Fry, Bloomfield. Egolf, John F., Bloomfield. 

Jacob Stump, Centre. Etter, Isaac, Newport. 

fames Hahn, Newport. Elliott, John B., Saville. 

George Stroop, Bloomfield. Ernest, Wesley H., Millerstown. 

George W. Topley, Bloomfield. Ferguson, John F. 

Wra. H. Troup, Oliver. Fertig, Wm. R., Millerstown. 

DeWitt C. O'Bryan, Newport. Fertig, John H., Millerstown. 

George Kosier, Bloomfield. Gardner, Reuben S., Newport. 

Daniel Howard. Hostetter, Wm. S. 

Charles Weber, Newport. Holt, Frank. 

. Heany, Thomas J. 

Privates: Hartzell, Adam J. 

Albright, H. A., Newport. Howell, John W., Greenwood. 

Arnold, John H., Madison. Heany, James M., Juniata. 

Allwood, Wm. H. Holman, Daniel. 

Bergstresser, Jacob, Carroll. Idal, Comly. 

Best, J. Edwin. Jumper, Conrad. 

Barnes, William H. Lynch, Michael C, Bloomfield. 

Bent, Charles C. Lutman, Daniel W., Centre. 

Becker, Philip. Leiby, Benj. F., Newport. 

Baldwin, Isaac, Millerstown. Maxwell, David. 

Clouser, Wm., Centre. Mastha, Lewis. 

Clouser, Isaiah W., Centre. Mysel, George. 

Clay, Samuel, Centre. Moore, George. 

Campbell, John W., Bloomfield. McDonald, Thomas, Carroll. 

Charles, Eli B., Buffalo. M'Clintock, John. 

Dial, George. Orwan, George W., Centre. 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 



557 



Orwan, Samuel B., Centre. 
Oman, Martin V. B., Centre. 
Power, Wash. A., Centre. 
Rumbaugh, H. S. 
Robeson, Amos, Bloomfield. 
Rider, Thad. C, Newport. 
Rider, Oliver P., Newport. 
Roddy, Lewis, Newport. 
Swartz, John M., Newport. 
Sanno, George, Newport. 



Swartz, Daniel, Jr., Newport. 
Shively, David P., Newport. 
Sullenberger, Jacob, Newport. 
Shultz, Van Buren, Newport. 
Smith, Joseph F, Newport. 
\\ atts, Andrew, Newport. 
Wallace, Wm. M., Newport. 
W'eilly, Wm. C, Newport. 
Wright, Thomas, Newport. 
Wright, Charles J., Millerstown. 

Three Years' Service— Thirty-Sixth Regiment, Company B. 
(Seventh Reserve.) 

The Thirty-Sixth Regiment of the Union Army included Company R 
of Perry Countians, as well as a considerable number in Companies A and 
H. The regiment was organized in the early summer of '61, under com- 
mand of Colonel Elisha B. Harvey, of Wilkes-Barre. It was mustered 
at Camp Wayne, near West Chester. The state uniformed and equipped it. 
Company B was mustered in on May 4th. It was assigned to duty in the 
Second Brigade, commanded by General Meade. This company, as a part 
of the Seventh Reserve Regiment, participated in a skirmish at Great Falls 
on the Potomac, and in the engagements at Gaines- Mill, Charles City Cross- 
roads, the Seven Days' Fight on the Peninsula, Groveton, South Moun- 
tain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, and the Wilderness. In the latter engage- 
ment, April 5, 1864, part of the regiment (272 officers and men) were 
taken prisoners and not released till the close of the war. They had be- 
come separated from supporting troops in the tangled wilderness. The 
private soldiers were sent to Andersonville prison, where sixty-seven died. 
The remnant of Campany B was mustered out on June 16, 1864. The roll : 

John Jameson, Capt, Liverpool. Dewalt, Wm. H. 

John Q. Snyder, Capt., Liverpool. Deemer, John. 



H. Clay Snyder, Capt., Liverpool. 
George K. Scholl, Liverpool. 
John Deitrick, Liverpool. 
W. H. Deifenbach, Liverpool. 
Amos W. Hetrick, Liverpool. 
Henry H. Winters, Liverpool. 
John J. Hamilton, Liverpool. 
Benjamin Huff, Liverpool... 
Wm. H. Portsline, Liverpool. 
Justus W. Eshelman, Liverpool. 
Samuel Haas, Liverpool. 
Harrison McCracken, Howe. 
John Grimes. 
William Newkirk. 
James Hebel, Buffalo. 
Philip Klinger. 
T. Kirkpatrick, Penn. 

Privates: 

Adams, Matthew, Howe. 
Bowers, Michael W., Greenwood. 
Bitting, Lewis, Greenwood. 
Boyer, John B., Newport. 
Beaumont, EHas, Liverpool. 
Billman, Wm. 
Blakely, Joseph C. 
Bowers, Edward. 
Brown, George W., Liverpool. 
, Chamberlain, John, Liverpool. 
Cluck, John, Liverpool, 



Derr, John, Liverpool. 

Duffy, James C. 

Deitrick, Leonard, Liverpool. 

Free, Wm. 

Foley, George, Liverpool. 

Grissinger, Geo.. Liverpool T. 

Glaze, John W. 

Griffin, Andrew H. 

Gebhart, Charles. 

Glaze, Stephen F. 

Hain, lohn S., Howe. 

Hebel, John C, Buffalo. 

Hassinger, John F., Buffalo. 

Huggins, Jacob, Buffalo. 

Hilbert, Jonathan, Howe. 

Heckard, James. 

Holmes, John W., Buffalo. 

Hebel, David. Buffalo. 

Hebel, Alfred, Buffalo. 

Harmon, Fred'k H. 

Harmon, Calvin R. 

Harmon, Newton C. 

Holman, Jacob, Liverpool. 

Reiser, Leonard, Liverpool. 

Keagv, William, Liverpool. 

Keller, William T. 

Laning, John S. 

Larzalier, James, Millerstown. 

Liddick, Daniel, Howe. 

Leitzel, Solomon, Howe. 



55 8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Lowe, Thomas. Liverpool T. Shuler, Henry H., Liverpool. 

Lenhart, Isaac R., Liverpool T. Sheibley, James P., Landisburg. 

Lindsay, William, Liverpool T. Stephens, Joseph, Buffalo. 

Light Jacob, Buffalo. Snyder, James, Liverpool T. 

Liddick, Jeremiah, Buffalo. Shatto, David, Liverpool T. 

Liddick, Benj. E., Buffalo. Staily, Jere. J., Liverpool. 

Miller, William, Howe. Smith, George. 

McConnell, Thomas, Howe. Tagg, Richard. 

McLaughlin, C, Liverpool. Temple, Robert. 

Myers, Lewis, Liverpool T. Ulsh, William. 

Monroe, John, Liverpool. Vandling, Wesley, Liverpool. 

Mc Knight, John A.. Liverpool T. Wingard, William. 

Matchett, George, Liverpool. Welsh, Elias. 

McLaughlin, James, Liverpool. Weikell, William. 

Potter, Joseph, Buffalo. Williamson, G. W., Liverpool. 

Preisler, Rudolph. Winters, Joseph, Liverpool. 

Portsline, Silas. Williamson, Cyrus, Liverpool. 

Reen, Christopher C, Liverpool T. Wagner, John, Liverpool T. 

Reen, Frederick, Liverpool T. Winters, Isaiah D., Liverpool. 

Rinehart, Fred'k, Greenwood. Williamson, J. W. 

Ritter, Israel, Liverpool. Wolf, Alfred. 

Rice, Elias. Williamson, P. E., Liverpool. 

Shoe-maker, Jacob, Liverpool. Walker, William. 

Sheibley, D. P., Spring. Zitch, John. 

At Fredericksburg Lieut. John Q. Snyder and John Cluck each lost a 
leg. Amos W. Hetrick, William Newkirk, and George W. Brown were 
killed at Gaines Mill. Leonard Deitrick, Jacob Holman, Jeremiah J. Staily, 
and Elias Rice were taken prisoners. The date of Elias Rice's capture was 
May 5, 1864. He was confined at Andersonville, where he died September 
3d of the same year. His remains rest in grave 77 T 6. Elias Rice Post, at 
Landisburg, was named in his honor. Many others were wounded. 

Three-Year Service— Forty-Second Regiment, Company B. 
("Bucktails.") 
The war had but virtually started, when the company previously men- 
tioned (Company B, Thirty-Sixth Regiment) was mustered in, yet just 
one month later, to the day, the "Bucktails," Company B, Forty-Second 
Regiment, was sworn into the Union Army. It was the company recruited 
at Duncannori and mustered in June 4, '61, with Langhorne Wister as cap- 
tain, but who was soon promoted to colonel and assigned to the 150th 
Regiment, September 4, 1862. Thomas B. Lewis succeeded him as cap- 
tain. In organizing this regiment the intention was to include only com- 
panies of skilled marksmen, principally from the lumbering districts of the 
state. It was encamped at Cam]) Curtin, at Harrisburg, and was placed 
under command of Colonel Charles J. Biddle, the lieutenant colonel being 
Thomas L. Kane, largely instrumental in its organization, and later pro- 
moted to brigadier general. The regiment participated in the action at 
Dranesville, and six companies of which Company B was one, in the 
action at Mechanicsville, where the regiment's loss was terrific through 
guarding the rear of the division in retreat. According to Bates' History 
of the Pennsylvania Volunteers but 125 men and six officers returned. At 
Gaines Mill, the next day, twenty-six more men were lost. At Charles City 
Crossroads the regiment was almost annihilated. It also took part in the 
second battle of Bull Run. The four detached companies then rejoined 
the regiment and participated in the actions at South Mountain and An- 
tietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg, entering the latter fight on the 
afternoon of the second day's battle. In 1864 it engaged in the Battle of 
the Wilderness, and in the actions at Spottsylvania. on the Po and at 
Bethesda Church. It was mustered out on June II, 1864. Captain Lewis 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 



559 



had a brilliant war record, having distinguished himself at the "Devil's 
Den" in the Gettysburg fight, lie was the last of the Bucktail captains, 
having lived until 1917. The roll of Company B: 



Langhorne Wister, Capt., Duncan- 

non. 
Thomas B. Lewis, Capt., Duncan- 

non. 
John A. Culp, Duncannon. 
William Allison, Duncannon. 
Philip K. Keiser. 
Joel R. Spahr, Bloomfield. 
Fred'k A. Perry, Duncannon. 
Thomas J. Belton, Duncannon. 
Charles W. Tierney. 
Robert B. Bothwell, Duncannon. 
J. W. Mutzebaugh, Duncannon. 
Lemuel K. Morton, Carroll. 
John O'Brien, Penn. 
Mark Burke. 

Joseph H. Meek, Wheatfield 
Hiram G. Wolf. 
J. H. Mutzebaugh, Duncannon. 
John W. Parsons, Watts. 
Henry J. Jones, Duncannon. 
Jacob E. Stuckey. 
Samuel Oalbraith. 
John Wilkinson, Duncannon. 

Privates: 
Arnold, George L. 
Branyan, Robert H., Penn. 
Branyan, James A., Penn. 
Breckbill, Jeremiah. 
Burns, James E. 
Bolden, James, Penn. 
Black, Isaac G., Duncannon. 
Barth, John. 
Cook, George L., Penn. 
Caswell, Edward. 
Duncan, Joseph, Penn. 
Dile, George L. 
Davis, Enoch R. 
Evans, David. 
Ebright, George W. 
Etter, Jacob, Newport. 
Fissell, William A., Penn. 
Fissell, John A., Penn. 
Farnsworth, Samuel. 
Foster, Erastus R., Penn. 
Fleck, Ephraim B., Duncannon. 
Furlong, Philip. 
Foran, Patrick. 
Green, Thomas G., Penn. 
Gillespie, T. W. 
Holland, Wm. A., Penn. 
Hartzell, Isaiah, Penn. 

George Raup and Samuel Galbraith were killed at Dranesville ■ Theo- 
dore A. Parsons and John Savers, at Charles City Crossroads; Thomas 
J. Belton and Samuel Spear, at Gettysburg; Conrad Jumper at South 
Mountain, and William Allison, at Antietam. The G A R Post at Dun 
-X n knird a in n aTon. in h ° n ° r ° f LieUtenant A,Hson - Ambrose Magee was" 



Hood, John, Duncannon. 
Hayner, Edward. 

Irvin, W. H. II. 

Jones, Nicholas Y., Penn. 

Jamison, John. 

Jumper, Conrad. 

Johnson, Wm. II. 

Kugler, Charles. 

Lenig, Joshua. 

Lewis, John B., Penn. 

Lehman, Peter. 

Lawler, Joseph T. 

Mayall, Miles A., Penn. 

M'Callum, George. 

Mell, John H. 

Myers, Jacob. 

Mitchell, Samuel M., Greenw 1. 

Meek, Solomon. 

Meek, John C. 

Metz, Andrew J., Carroll. 

Magee, Ambrose B., Carroll. 

McCloud, Jacob. 

Pressley, William. 

Pennell, John, Wheatfield. 

Parsons, Theodore A., Watts. 

Roberts, Thomas C. 

Richard, Davis. 

Reynolds, John, Penn. 

Rennard, Charles. 

Raup, George, Penn. 

Sweger, Absalom, Penn. 

Shively, Thomas J., Duncannon. 

Shively, George W, Spring. 

Smith, John C. 

Staekle, John F., Howe. 

Sheaffer, Oliver. 

Stevenson, Wm. M., Duncannon. 

Stewart, Levi. 

Snyder, Truman I\., Duncannon. 

Shatto, George W., Duncannon. 

Shatto, Alexander, Duncannon. 

Savers. John. 

Spear, Samuel. 

Spahr, George H. 

Seiler, Reuben, Liverpool T. 

Seiler, John, Buffalo. 

Shatto, John E. 

Topley, Samuel A., Bloomfield. 

Valentine, Robert B. 

Vans'ant, James N. 

W r alker, James. 

Watson, George C. 



560 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Three- Year Service— Forty-Sixth Regiment, Company D. 

While Perry County had no company in the Forty-Sixth Regiment, yet 
Company D contained a number of Perry County men. This regiment was 
raised during the summer of '61 and organized at Camp Curtin, September 
i. Colonel Joseph F. Knipe was at its head. This regiment was in the 
action at Winchester, at Cedar Mountain charged three times across an open 
wheat field, each time being driven back by a superior force ; at Antietam, 
Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg. In the advance on Atlanta they also 
fought in eleven actions, including Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree 
Creek. Atlanta was captured September i, and ten days later the regi- 
ment was moving with the army on Sherman's march to the sea, capturing 
Fort McAlister. The Perry County men in Company D were : 
Albright, Tohn A. Shelly, John, Watts. 

Bachman, Win. H. Smith, Joseph S. 

Chisholm, John W. Tromble, Solomon. 

Foster, Francis A. 

On Tuly 20, 1864, Tohn Shelly lost a leg in the action at Peach Tree 
Creek. 

Three- Year Service— Forty-Seventh Regiment, Company D. 

Perry County was contributing men in a speedy manner. It had already 
put two entire companies in the field, besides many other man, yet when the 
Forty-Seventh Regiment was organized, two Perry County companies were 
on its roster. Company D was mustered in on August 31, '61, and Com- 
pany H, on September 19. These companies, with their regiment, were 
ordered to Key West, Florida, to open St. John's River and to garrison 
Forts Jefferson and Taylor. February, 1863, it was transferred to the 
command of General Banks' army in Louisiana and was assigned a part 
in the Red River Expedition, being in action at Sabine Crossroads, La., 
Pleasant Hill, and Cane Hill. On July 5, 1863, it was transferred to the 
Army of the Shenandoah, under Sheridan, arriving from Louisiana on 
July 12th. It was assigned to the Nineteenth Corps then engaged in ex- 
pelling the invader from Maryland, and in the defense of the National 
Capital. These companies participated in the battles of Opequan (Win- 
chester), Fisher's Hill, and Cedar Creek. This regiment was the only one 
from Pennsylvania serving in the Red River Expedition. Among the regi- 
mental officers from Perry County were Elisha W. Baily, surgeon, and 
Rev. W. D. C. Rothrock, chaplain, the latter mentioned for bravery in 
every action. The enrollment of Company D follows, and immediately 
thereafter, Company H. Company D : 

Henry D. Woodruff, Capt., Bloom- Jacob P. Baltozer, Madison. 

field. John E. D. Roth, Bloomfield. 

George Stroop, Capt., Bloomfield. Noble Henkle, Juniata. 

George Krosier, Capt., Centre. Benj. F. Shaffer, Spring. 

Samuel A. Auchmuty, Penn. Win. D. Hays. 

George W. Clay, Centre. William Powell, Tuscarora. 

Jesse Meadith, Landisburg. James Downs. 

James Crownover, Centre. James T. Williamson. 

John G. Miller, Duncannon. Cornelius Stewart, Penn. 

John V. Bradv, Penn. Saml. A. M. Reed, Bloomfield. 

Isaac Baldwin, Millerstown. George Rohm. 

Theodore R. Troup, Oliver. Wm. P. Weaver. 

William R. Fertig, Millerstown. Francis Brown. 
Henry Heikel, Duncannon. Privates- 

Alexander D. Wilson, Bloomfield. 

Frank M. Holt. Albert, James E.. Juniata. 

Edward Harper, Newport. Anthony, John M. 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL W \U 



56i 



Anthony, Bcnj F. 
Auker, Joseph, Greenwood. 
Bender, Amos. 
Brady, Wm. F., Madison. 
Baltozer, B. F., Madison. 
Brady, Atkinson M.-, Madison. 
Brady, Leonard W., Madison. 
Baskins, James C, Penn. 
Bowing, Ephraim. 
Blain, Lewis, Juniata. 
Barnes, Wm. H. 
Barton, Uriah. 
Bullard, Aaron. 
Hamilton, Blanchard. 
Berrier, George. 
Bistline, Joseph, Juniata. 
Baltozer, Geo. W, Madison. 
Bullard, John. 
Bryan, Albert C. 
Carpenter, Thos. B., Duncannon. 
Clouser, Wm. H., Bloomfield. 
Clouser, .John D., Bloomfield. 
Clay, John B., Centre. 
Clouser, Ephraim, Centre. 
Charles, Eli B., Buffalo. 
Clouse, Wm. 
Charles, Jacob, Buffalo. 
Collins, William. 
Coulter, Wm. H., Buffalo. 
Crook, David. 
Donahoe, John F. 
Diller, Oliver P. 
Dill, Washington, Penn. ' 
Deitzinger, John. 
Ewing, Wm. H. 
Earhart, Wm., Juniata. 
Egolf, John F., Tyrone. 
Fertig, Franklin M. 
Foreman, Henry. 
Forman, Levi. 
Frank, David R., Howe. 
Foltz, William, Carroll. 
Foltz, Michael, Carroll. 
Foltz, Henry W., Carroll. 
Foltz, George W., Carroll. 
Foley, George, Liverpool. 
Foose, Samuel. 
Gohn, Samuel. 
Gibson, George H., Spring. 
Hershey, Wm. A. 
Harper, Martin, Newport. 
Humes, Alexander, Sandy Hill. 
Harper, Wm. G., Newport. 
Haas, John W., Liverpool. 
Isett, George S. 
Jordan, Anthony. 
Jury, George W. 
Jones, Harrison. 
Kirkpatrick, Wm., Penn. 
Rosier, Wm. S. 
Kochenderfer, Geo. 
Keim, John. 
Keim, A. F., Newport. 
36 



Rosier, Jesse. 

Kern, Samuel M. 

Leary, Jeremiah. 

Lickel, Simon. 

McCarty, Timothy. 

McCuskey, James. 

McKee, William A. 

Mysel, George. 

Myers, John C. 

McClure, Wm. H. 

Me Cully, John. 

Messimer, Josiah. 

Messimer, Geo. W. 

Messimer, Lemuel. 

Myers, Joseph. 

Myers, Amon. 

Mays, William. 

Musser, Alexander. 

Mehaffie, Andrew. 

Newkirk, Reuben H. 

O'Neil, Hugh. 

Prothero, Fred'k. 

Petre, Peter. 

Peterson. Aaron. 

Powell, Andrew. 

Power, Wash'gt'n A. 

Porter, Robert. 

Powell, Solomon. 

Powell, John, Jr. 

Powell, David, Jr. 

Raffensperger, S, 

Rhoads, Wm. H. 

Reynolds, Tohn W. 

Rigler, Geo. H. 

Robinson, Wm. H. 

Reynolds, Jesse D. 

Rose, David. 

Shannon, Ellis. 

Sailor, Cyrus J. 

Stall, Abraham. 

Smith, Albert G.. Carroll. 

Smith, Wm. D., Carroll. 

Smith, James, Carroll. 

Shaffer, Jesse M. 

Smith, Wm. J. 

Sowers, George. 

Sellers, Toseph M. 

Shaffer, Wm. 

Stites, Wm. D. 

Shaver, Joseph B. 

Snyder, Emanuel. 

Small, Jerome Y. 

Souder, William. 

Shaffer, Michael. 

Stroop, Wm. J. 

Swartz, Daniel. 

Tagg, Richard. 

Tagg, James D. 

Topley, George W., Bloomfield. 

Tagg, Wilson. 

White, Wesley M. 

Weimer, Samuel. 

Weiand, Benj. 



562 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Wright, Thomas. 
Woodrow, James. 
Work, Washington, Duncannon. 
Work, Andrew, Duncannon. 
Wantz, John. 



Williams, Andrew J. 
Wetzel, William, Spring. 
Wantz, Jonathan. 
Wagner, Samuel, Spring. 
Zook, Daniel S. 



Solomon Powell and Jonathan Wantz were captured at Pleasant Hill, 
La., where both died in June, '64. Samuel Wagner was lost at sea from 
the U. S. S. Pocohontas. Alexander Musser was killed at Pocotaligo, 
S. C. Harrison Jones, John F. Egolf, Joseph Auker, and Jerome Y. Small 
were killed at Cedar Creek and are buried in the National Cemetery at 
Winchester, Virginia, the remains of Egolf and Auker in lot 10, and those 
of Small in lot 25. 

Three-Year Service— Forty-Seventh Regiment, Company H. 

This company's record is the same as that of Company D, immediately 
preceding. The roster: 



James Kacey, Capt., Elliottsburg. 

Reuben S. Gardner, Capt., Newport. 

Win. W. Geety. 

James Halm, Greenwood. 

C. K. Breneman, Newport. 

Alfred Billig. 

David H. Smith. 

George Reynolds. 

John A. Gardner, Newport. 

John S. Snyder. 

Michael, C. Lynch, Bloomfield. 

Robert H. Neilson, Centre. 

John P. Rupley. 

Isaac C. Foye. 

James F. Naylor. 

Isaac Billett. 

Daniel Urich. 

Daniel K. Smith, Newport. 

Daniel W. Fegley. 

Elkana Sweger, Centre. 

Amos T. Brown, Carroll. 

Henry C. Weise, Millerstown. 

John Clemmons, Greenwood. 

John Kitner. 

Wm. M. Wallace, Toboyne. 

George W. Harper, Newport. 

Daniel Reeder, Spring. 

P. W. Stockslager. 

James J. Kacey, Spring. 

George W. Albert, Juniata. 

Edw. H. Marchley. 

John H. K. Boyer, Newport. 

George Kipp, Newport. 

Allen McCabe, Newport. 

Privates: 

Anderson, John, Newport. 
Albert, James, Juniata. 
Andrews, Valentine. 
Bernheisel, Luther, Tyrone. 
Bear, George W. 
Bupp, Augustus, Newport. 
Bucher, Edward M. 
Burd, Abraham, Newport. 
Brooks, William, Penn. 
Bollinger, Henry. 



Briner, Jerome, Tyrone. 

Baldwin, Charles E. 

Bigger, Alexander. 

Bistline, Daniel, Tyrone. 

Barry, William. 

Beers, Henry W. 

Campbell, Oliver H. 

Cooper, John. 

Cunningham, Robert. 

Clay, John-D., Centre. 

Deily, Edward F. 

Duncan, James. 

Dunlap, Milton H., Penn. 

Dessmer, James R. 

Durham, John H. 

Dorman, William. 

Davenport, Valent. 

Deitz, Augustus. 

Detrick, Peter, Liverpool. 

Dumm, Wm. F., Spring. 

Eckerd, Harrison, Greenwood. 

Evans, John. 

Fink, Emanuel. 

Fosselman, Daniel. 

Flint, Dwight H. 

Fry, Robert. 

Faling, Michael. 

Frank, David R., Newport. 

Foose, Samuel, Duncannon. 

Fisher, Daniel W. 

Fink, Simon C. 

Gechenbaugh, Daniel. 

Gusler, Wm. H., Centre. 

Garris, Henry F. 

Guera, Emanuel. 

Gardner, Jacob R. 

Galbraith, James. 

Hammaker, Isaiah, Watts. 

Hammaker, Thomas, Watts. 

Hostetter, Jacob C. 

Huggins, Samuel, Newport. 

Hartshorn, John. 

Heenan, Michael. 

Hoffman, George W. 

Henderson, Tsaac. 

Horting, Michael, Newport. 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 



563 



Haney, Thomas 7., Juniata. 

Hutcheson, \Vm. 

Hammaker, Adam, Watts. 

Hammaker, Jacob, Watts. 

Horting, Ananias, Newport. 

Hall, James. 

I I ay wood, Thomas. 

I laves, William. 

Harper, Martin, Newport. 

Holmes, John W., Newport. 

Idall, Comly. 

Johnson, Cyrus, Greenwood. 

Jassum, Edward. 

Kingsborough, R. A. 

Kochenderfer, Daniel, Saville. 

Knech, Wm. H. 

Keim, John M., Wheatfield. 

Kingsborough, R. R. 

Klotz, Charles. 

Liddick, Jacob, Buffalo. 

Liddick, Jacob II, Buffalo. 

Laub, Aaron. 

Leedy, Henry. 

Louden, Adam, Watts. 

Liddick, Adam, Watts. 

Liddick, John H., Buffalo. 

Liddick, Wm. 

Lowe, James. 

Long, John D., Newport. 

Liddick, John. 

Lupfer, Michael, Jackson. 

Lightner, Sterrett, Madison. 

Labar, Lorenzo. 

Lightman, John. 

Morton, Edward J. 

McCoy, David, Penn. 

McLaughlin, Peter, Toboyne. 

Mowery, Henry. 

McKibben, Robert. 

Miller, Walter C, Juniata. 

Morian, John. 

Meyers, John H., Juniata. 

Messimer, Benjamin, Bloomfield. 

Mclntire, John. 

Mullen, Patrick. 

Naylor, Jacob. 

Newman, Edw. 

Nagie, John, Liverpool. 

Orner, John, Newport. 

O'Brien, Wm. H., Newport. 

O'Connor, Michael. 

Orris, Nicholas I. 



Purcell, Dennis. 

Reichner, Michael. 

Rider, James, Newport. 

Radabaugh. S. M. 

Rider, John W., Newport. 

Reed, Samuel A. M., lUoomiield. 

Robinson, Wm. EL; Bloomfield. 

Robinson, Jason T., Bloomfield. 

Rickenbaugh, Jacob. 

Ridgway, John. 

Shelley, William. 

Shipley, Parkinson H. 

Seiders, Jeremiah. 

Smeigh. Michael, Bloomfield. 

Schofield, John J. 

Sailor, Lewis W. 

Simpson, James. 

Stamp, William. 

Stitler, William. 

Schlocter, Tsaac. 

Simonton, Wm. J. 

Saylor, Lewis W. 

Shull, William, Newport. 

Smedley, Francis J. 

Smith, Thomas. 

Stoutsaberger, H. 

Sweger, George, Centre. 

Savior, Alexander, Greenwood. 

Small, Charles H. 

Smith, Jeremiah, Millerstown, 

Stambaugh, Henry. 

Smith, George H. 

Shelley, Joseph. 

Smith, Joseph. 

Shepley, Henry. 

Shaffer, Stephen. 

Shaffer, Reuben. 

Schofield, William. 

Thompson, David. 

Thornton, Benj. 

Thompson, Wm. R. 

Turpin, George. 

Warner, Charles F. 

Watt, Michael. 

Wright, Joseph A., Howe. 

Watt, Frederick. 

Waggoner, Jefferson. 

Whealand, John. 

Yohn, John, Jr., Tuscarora. 

Yohn, Daniel, Tuscarora. 

Yohn, John, Sr. 

Zinn, George W., Newport. 



Wright's History adds the name of Wm. S. Kosier, corporal, to the list, 
but omits ninety-five of the other names. 

Many of this brave little band sleep on Southern soil. Henry Shepley, 
who died December 10, '64, and Stephen Shaffer, who died January 8, '65, 
passed away in a Confederate prison at Salisbury, N. C. Nicholas I. Orris 
and Wm. F. Dumm were killed at Pleasant Hill.' William Barry was killed 
at Sabine Crossroads. John Mclntire, Valentine Andrews, Michael Heenan 
and Joseph Shelly were killed at Cedar Creek and their remains rest in 
the National Cemetery at Winchester, the first three in lot 10, and the last 
named in lot 9. 



564 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The action at Pocotaligo, South Carolina, was hard on the company. 
Many were injured, among whom was Daniel Reeder, who lost an arm. 
Peter Deitrick, Jason T. Robinson, Henry Stambaugh, and Jefferson Wag- 
goner were killed in action. 

Three- Year Service— Forty-Ninth Regiment, Company A. 

While the Forty-Ninth Regiment contained no company from Perry 
County, yet it contained a number of Perry County men in Company A, 
and is important to Perry Countians for further reasons. Company E, of 
Lewistown, had as its captain, Henry A. Zollinger, of Newport, who had, 
prior to that time, been interested in recruiting the Logan Guards and 
Burns' Infantry. Succeeding its first colonel, Thomas M. (Marcus) 
Hidings — descendant of Marcus Hidings, a Watts Township pioneer — 
was made colonel of the regiment. He had been first lieutenant of the 
Logan Guards, of Lewistown, the first company to reach the National 
Capital in the War Between the States. He had then been major of the 
Forty-Ninth. He took part in the Peninsular campaign under McClellan, 
in General Hancock's brigade. At Young's Mill and Williamsburg (where 
Hancock's fame began), Hidings was a brave officer. At Spottsylvania he 
fell, pierced by a bullet. 

This regiment was organized during September, '61. and was assigned to 
General Hancock's (First) Brigade. At Williamsburg, North Carolina, 
many prisoners of the Fifth North Carolina Regiment were captured. The 
regiment participated in the actions at Young's Mill, Williamsburg, Savage 
Station, Charles City Crossroads, Malvern Hill, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, 
Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, Winchester, and 
others. The Perry Countians in Company A : 

Ernest S. David, Corporal, Mil- Samuel McClenehan, Millerstown. 

lerstown. John P. Patterson, Millerstown. 

William Attig, Millerstown. Jacob R. Runyan, Millerstown. 

Three-Year Service — Seventy -Seventh Regimental Band (Co. C). 

While no Perry County company was a part of this regiment, yet a large 
part of the Regimental Band were from Perry County, being members of 
Company C, of Mifflin County, before being assigned to the band. It was 
encamped at Camp Wilkins, near Pittsburgh, in October, '61. It was en- 
gaged in the actions at Shiloh, Murfreesborough, Liberty Gap, Chicka- 
mauga, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek, and a number of others 
The Perry Countians in the band: 

Geo. W. Monroe, Leader, Liver- Orwan, Lewis W., Liverpool. 

pool. Shure, Jacob D., Liverpool. 

Arndt, John J., Liverpool. Shuman, Wm. A., Liverpool. 

Haas, Henry, Liverpool. Shuler, Samuel M., Liverpool. 

Monroe, A. Worley, Liverpool. Welzer, George C, Liverpool. 

Nagle, Daniel, Liverpool. Zinn, William A., Newport. 

Three- Year Service — Seventy-Eighth Regiment, Company K. 

A number of Perry Countians were enrolled in Company K, of the 
Seventy-Eighth Regiment, although the county had no company therein. 
The names : 

John Deitrick, 1st Lieut., Liver- David O. Ritter, Liverpool. 

pool. Henry Derr. Liverpool. 

J. J. Spoonenberger, Liverpool. Peter Derr, Liverpool. 

C. R. Buffington, Liverpool. John Ditty, Buffalo. 

None of these men were privates. 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 



565 



Three-Yeak Service— Ninety -Second Regiment, Company A. 

The Ninety-Second Regiment, otherwise known as the Ninth Cavalry, 
had within its organization one entire company of Perry Countians, Com- 
panj A, with other detachments in Companies B, C, G, H. L, and M. It 
was organized at Camp Cameron, Harrisburg. in the fall of '61. As- 
signed the duty of combating Morgan, the raider, they captured 291 of 
his men at Gallatin, Tennessee, and were in action with his troops at Spring 
Creek and Tompkinsville, Kentucky. They were in the actions at Perry- 
ville, Holstein River, Franklin, Shelbyville (Tenn.), Elk River, Cowan, 
Lafayette (Ga.), Chickamauga, McMinnville Road, Lovejoy, Macon, Bear 
Creek, Waynesborough, Louisville, Blacksville (S. C), Aiken, Lexington, 
and Averysborough (N. C). On April 13, '65, the Ninth received a mes- 
senger under a flag of truce. It was a message from the Confederate Gen- 
eral Johnston to General Sherman, proposing a surrender of the Southern 
Army. A detachment of the Ninth also escorted General Sherman, when 
he advanced to meet General Johnston. It will be noted that the Ninth 
was in the very last action east of the Mississippi in that great struggle. 
The roster : 

Company A. 

Griffith Jones, Capt., Duncannon. Barrett, John. 

Geo. J. K. Farrall, Capt. Bechtel, David S 

John Boal, Capt. 

Wm. M. Potter, Capt., Wheatfield 

Charles Webster. 

Charles A. Appel. 

Eugene S. Hendrick. 

Eleazer Michener, Penn. 

Thos. D. Griffith. 

Sam'l H. Schneck. 

Harry S. O'Neil. 

Jacob H. Low. 

John M. Graybill, Penn. 

James B. Hammersly. 

James M. Haney, Juniata. 

Wm. H. Coleman, Greenwood. 

James H. Marshall. 

Henry K. Myers, Newport. 

Thomas J. Foose, Duncannon. 

Henry Kroh, Bloomfield. 

B. H. Branyan, Penn. 

M. B. P. Stewart, Duncannon. 

Robert McEliget. 

Henry Haverstick. 

Wm. Rodemaker. 

Wm. G. Sheets, Duncannon. 

Rudolph Wire. 

Josiah Sweezy, Greenwood. 

Tames W. Kennedy, Tyrone. 

George W. Penned, Wheatfield. 

John A. Haney, Juniata. 

Tighlman Miller. 

Stephen B. Boyer. 

John A. Gilmore, Millerstown. 

Charles Dixon. 

John H. Noss, Duncannon. 

Privates: 



Albright, Louis M., Buffalo. 
Albright, Fred'k. 
Allen, Samuel. 



Buchanan, David K., Greenwood. 
Banely, Augustus. 
Bellman, Samuel S. 
Brass, Luke. 
Boyer, Samuel. 
Bates, Paul Q. 

Barrick, Daniel W., Tuscarora. 
Burd, John W., Juniata. 
Billow, John W., Greenwood. 
Beasom, John, Greenwood. 
Benner, Ferd I. 
Coup, Michael. 
Cassidy, Edwin S., Newport. 
Carroll, Jeremiah. 
Dunn, John B. 
Donohue, Hugh. 
Donally, John, Tuscarora. 
Dailey, Thomas. 
Emerson, George S. 
Ellenthorp, Sol. B. 
Ebert, Augustus, Duncannon. 
Ebright, Benj. 
Ettine, Philip. 

Frank, Cyrus A., Liverpool. 
Foster, Martin. 
Fritz, John T., Centre. 
Foose, Cornelius, Duncannon. 
Finton, Jacob, Howe. 
Grubb, Isaac, Greenwood. 
Gintzer, Lewis F. 
Gates, James P. 
Greek, John W. 
Grier, Cyrus. 
Gelbaugh, John T. 
Gunderman, D. V., Greenwood. 
Grove, John M. 
Haines, Wm. M. D., Greenwood. 
Hamersly, Ellis T. 
Himes, Charles H. 



566 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Hoffman, Oscar T. 

Hozan, George. 

Hite, John. 

Huggins, Jacob, Buffalo 

Hamilton, Samuel. 

Hazzard, John. 

Hosan, John. 

Irely, Samuel. 

Jones, Ezekiel, Howe. 

Jones, Henry C, Penn. 

Jones, Isaac. 

Kelley, David. 

Kauffman, Vy'm. H., Greenwood. 

Kenely, David. 

Kern, Jacob, Tohoync. 

Kemmerer, Jacob. 

I.esh, Peter S., Juniata. 

Liddick, Wm.. Buffalo. 

Lamberton, W. H. 

I. inn, Samuel B. 

Long, Abraham W., Greenwood. 

Lowe, John H., Newport. 

Liddick, John W. 

Metz, Henry H. 

Matauer, Victor. 

Mountz, John. 

Masonhimer, John. 

Musser, John S., Newport. 

Mutzebaugh, Wm., Penn. 

Murray, Lewis E., Liverpool. 

Mitchell, Charles, Greenwood. 

Miller, David H., Penn. 

Mott, Michael. 

Mitchell, John. 

McClintock, John S., Carroll. 

McDonald, Robert, Carroll. 

McCoy, Isaac, Penn. 

McCann, Robert S., Duncannon. 

McConnagha, E. 

McCoy, Alexander, Penn. 

McClintock, Wm., Carroll. 

Nixon, Robert. 

( )mer, Joseph, Millerstown. 



Owens, Davis A., Wheatfield. 

Phillips, Lazarus. 

Potter, Hiram, Wheatfield. 

Palmer, Solomon P. 

Parks, Noah. 

Pines, Reuben M., Liverpool. 

Penned, Robert, Wheatfield. 

Parsons, George B., Watts. 

Rose, William, Wheatfield. 

River, George, Spring. 

Rice, Ephraim, Spring. 

Reynolds, Thomas C, Spring. 

Ricedorff, Daniel W. 

Shingler, John. 

Sager, Richard N. 

Shaw, Albert. 

Shuman, Peter S. 

Stutzholtz, John. 

Shearer, Reuben, Duncannon. 

Smith, Michael. 

Sheibley, David R., Spring. 

Sheaffer, Israel E., Greenwood. 

Showers, David. 

Stodter, John H. 

Smith, George. 

Seisholtz, George. 

Thompson, Joseph A. 

Toland, John M., Penn. 

Tallant, Sidney. 

Volzer, Christian. 

Wertz, George W., Greenwood. 

Wiley, James R. 

Wellman, Hiram. 

Walter, Frederick. 

Winters, Josiah. 

Wright, Josiah, Greenwood. 

Wiley, William T. 

Wells, William. 

Wilson, Robert. 

Winters, Isaac I. 

Wilson, John. 

Young, Levi, Duncannon. 

Yeager, Edward G. 



Capt. John Boal was killed at Averysborough ; Tighlman Miller, bugler, 
at Louisville; Philip Ettine and Cornelius Foose, at Stone River, and M. 
B. 1*. Stewart and David Showers, at Griswoldsville, Ga. Benjamin 
Ebright was captured and sleeps in grave 3,823, at Andersonville. Alexan- 
der McCoy was captured and died in a prison camp at Goldsborough, N. C. 

Companv B. 

I'.lias Heiney, Juniata. William Reed, Liverpool. 

Company C. 

Geo. A. Shuman, 2d Lieut., Carroll. Henry Baker, Saville. 

Jacob Coller, 1st Lieut., Saville. Cornelius Baker, Saville. 

Samuel E. Spohn, Tyrone. 

J ere. W. Weibley, Saville. 

Samuel P. Gutshall, Jackson. 

Jacob I',. Sheaf er, Spring. 

Samuel W. Fickes, Juniata. 

Wm. R. Fertig, Millerstown. 

James P. Cree, Landisburg. 



Privates: 

Anderson, James A., Jackson. 
Attig, Henry H., Millerstown. 
Baker, Samuel, Saville. 
Linn, William S., Tuscarora. 
Labr, Jerome B., Greenwood. 



I'KRRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 



56/ 



Messimer, W. D., Bloomfield. 
Noll, Samuel, Spring. 
Raffensberger, Jere., Juniata. 
Ricedorff, Daniel. 
Scott, Walter A., Bloomfield. 
Smeigh, Walter H., Centre. 
Slieafer, David L., Tyrone. 



Sheafer, Charles H., Tyrone. 
Saylor, Allen, Newport. 
Stone, Simon, Newport. 
Stambaugh, Wm, Tyrone. 
Spohn, John I'., Spring. 
Tressler, Henry L., Juniata. 
Zeigler, Reuben, Oliver. 
Company G. 

Hohenshildt, D. M., Madison. 
Jones, John, Juniata. 
Lackey, Geo. S., Carroll. 
Laird, James P., Bloomfield. 



Arnold, John H., Bloomfield. 
Grosh, Alex. B., Blain. 
Gingrich, Aaron H., Saville. 
Heinbach, Chas., Greenwood. 
John Jones was killed at Solemn Grove, N. C. 

Company H. 
Geo. A. Shuman, Capt., Carroll. James P. Cromleigh, Duncannon. 

Henry Fritz, Centre. 

Company I. 
Henry K. Myers, First Lieut., Newport. 

Company M. 

Shottsberger, M., Greenwood. Webster, Edmund, Greenwood. 

Shottsberger, Jesse, Greenwood. 

Regimental Officers from Perry, Ninety-Second Regiment. 
Roswell M. Russell, Lieut. Col., Griffith Jones, Major, Duncannon. 

Bloomfield. Thomas Foose, C. S., Duncannon. 

Three- Year Service — 104TH Regiment, Company F. 

Perry County had Company F in the 104th Regiment, organized in No- 
vember, '61. It participated in the actions at Fair Oaks, Allen's Farm, 
Peninsula, Malvern Hill, and Harrison's Landing. The regiment also 
participated in the attack in front of Petersburg, Virginia. The roll of 
Company F : 



Joel F. Fredericks, Capt., Bloom- 
field. 
David C. Orris, Saville. 
Wm. Flickinger, Madison. 
Wm. E. Baker, Saville. 
Richard P. Hench, Saville. 
William A. Boden, Saville. 
William C. Marshall, Howe. 
A. J. Kochenderfer, Saville. 
Solomon E. Bower, Saville. 
Irvin Kerr, Tuscarora. 
William Jacobs, Tuscarora. 
Henry B. Hoffman, Greenwood. 
Martin L. Liggett, Saville. 
John E. Miller, Juniata. 

Privates: 

Briner, Tohn H., Tyrone. 
Baker, John T., Saville. 
Bender, Benj. F., Saville. 
Blain, George W., Juniata. 
Chamberlain, L. 
Coller, Andrew, Saville. 
Crawford, Andrew, Millerstown. 
Ernest, David, Millerstown. 
Flickinger, J. R., Saville. 
Flickinger, Geo. W., Saville. 
Flickinger, J. W., Saville. 



Fritz, George W., Centre. 
Fry, James, Tuscarora. 
Flickinger, H. W., Juniata. 
Gallatin, Albert, Bloomfield. 
Ickes, John, Saville. 
Jacobs, Henry S., Tuscarora. 
Kepner, James, Tuscarora. 
Kepner, Robert M., Tuscarora. 
Kerr, Ephraim, Tuscarora. 
Kline, Jacob. 

Kochenderfer, T. M., Saville. 
Kline, George L., Duncannon. 
Mickey, Augustus, Carroll. 
Miller, Davidson. 
Reeder, David, Spring. 
Reisinger, Jacob, Saville. 
Reisinger, Philip O., Saville. 
Reisinger, Wm. H., Saville. 
Rice, Absalom. 
Rice, Benj. 
Rice, Conrad S. 
Shuman, Jacob B. 
Simonton, Hamilton. 
Swartz, Frederick N. 
Trostle, Solomon. 
Witmer, William W. 
Zimmerman, O. P. 



568 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Three-Month Service — io6th Regiment, Company C. 
Monroe, John, Liverpool. Mitchell, James, Liverpool. 

Three-Month Service — 107TH Regiment, Company B. 

This regiment was organized in March, '62, and contained a number of 
Perry County men. It participated in the actions at Cedar Mountain, Sec- 
ond Battle of Bull Run, South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chan- 
cellorsville, Gettysburg, and others. The roster of Company B's Perry 
County men : 

David W. Wagner, Spring. James R. Mcllhenny, Bloomfield. 

John Kozier, Saville. Benjamin Keck, Spring. 

All were minor officers. David W. Wagner was captured at the Wel- 
don Railroad and died a prisoner at Salisbury, N. C. James R. Mcllhenny 
was killed in the same action. John G. Frow, of Perry County, was the 
surgeon of this regiment. 

Nine-Month Service — 133D Regiment, Company G. 

This regiment was organized during the summer of '62 at Camp Curtin, 
Harrisburg. It contained three companies from Perry County, Company 
G, commanded by Capt. F. B. Speakman, later promoted to the colonelcy ; 
Company H, commanded by Capt. David L. Tressler, and Company I, com- 
manded by Capt. Albert I. Demaree. In the attack on Fredericksburg the 
regiment lost over a hundred and fifty men. It also participated in Chan- 
cellorsville. It was mustered out the latter part of May, '63, the term of 
service having expired. Perry Countians who were field and staff officers 
were: F. B. Speakman, colonel; Edward C. Bender, adjutant, killed at 
Chancellorsville, and Robert M. Messimer, sergeant major. Company G's 
roster: 

F. B. Speakman, Capt., Bloomfield. 
Wm. H. Sheibley, Capt., Landis- 

burg. 
Joel F. Fredericks, Bloomfield. 
James B. Eby, Bloomfield. 
David C. Orris, Saville. 
Wm. L. Spanogle, Saville. 
George B. Roddy, Landisburg. 
William A. Boden, Saville. 
John Jones, Juniata, 
lere. J. Billow, Bloomfield. 
John N. Belford, Bloomfield. 
John S. Wetzell, Spring. 
Samuel Baker, Saville. 
Jonas F. Bistline. 
James L. Moore, Centre. 
Daniel L. Smith, Centre. 
Isaac B. Trostle, Centre. 
F. A. Campbell, Centre. 
Wm. Flickinger, Centre. 
F. M. Witherow, Centre. 
Chas. C. Hackett, Bloomfield. 



Privates: 

Anderson, Thomas, Jackson. 
Baughman, Isaac, Tuscarora. 
Baker, John, Tuscarora. 
Bucher, Adam, Tuscarora. 
Brown, Samuel, Tuscarora. 
Beaver, John, Jr., Centre. 
Beaver, Jacob, Centre. 



Beaver, Solomon, Saville. 

Bumbaugh, Wm. 

Beichler, Peter, Toboyne. 

Bender, Edward C, Bloomfield 

Baxter, Solomon, Spring. 

Collins, Michael. 

Clouser, Thomas. 

Clouser, Wm. 

Dernbaugh, Lewis. 

Flickinger, Jacob R., Madison. 

Flickinger, Geo., Madison. 

Fry, David, Greenwood. 

Finley, Chas. 

Gussler, Wm. H., Centre. 

Heckman, Albert J. 

Hohenshildt, D. B., Madison. 

Holman, Abraham, Greenwood 

Hench, Richard, Saville. 

Hayner, Henry C. 

Hostetter, Jacob C. 

Heim, George, Tyrone. 

Hartman, Joseph. 

Jacobs, Wm, Newport. 

Kough, Wm., Tuniata. 

Kell, Philip, Tyrone. 

Kistler, David S., Sandy Hill. 

Lupfer, Wm., Bloomfield. 

Lupfer, George, Centre. 

Liddick, Jacob L., Buffalo. 

Miller, Wm., Howe. 

Morrow, Robert, Tyrone. 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 



569 



Messimer, Geo. W., Bloomfield. 
Miller, Wm. K. 
Miller, Davidson. 
Markcl, Jacob, Juniata. 
Mehaffie, Wm., Saville. 
Morrow, James S-, Tyrone. 
Mathers, James, Saville. 
Miller, Jacob, Juniata. 
McKee, James S., Bloomfield. 
Noll, Moses F., Centre. 
Neilson, James G., Centre. 
Orris, Eli, Saville. 
Powell, Hanford, Tuscarora. 
Reiber, Geo. W., Tuscarora. 
Robinson, David E., Tuscarora. 

James Mathers and Jacob Miller 
others were wounded there. 



Rhinesmith, Jacob, Toboyne. 
Rhnle, Jacob, Toboyne. 
Smith, William, Tuscarora. 
Sweger, Nicholas, Centre. 
Smeigh, John. 
Shatto, Wm. 

Shearer, Henry C, Tyrone. 
Shreffler, Henry, Tyrone. 
Sutch, Wm. M., Bloomfield. 
Spanogle, Abram. 
Topley, Lemuel, Bloomfield. 
Toomey, Henry A., Juniata. 
Woods, James E., Jackson. 
Witherow, John M., Centre. 
Zeigler, Reuben. 

were killed at Fredericksburg. Many 



Company H. 



David L. Tressler, Capt., Tyrone. 
Henry Keck,. Spring. 
Hiram A. Slighter, Spring. 
Augustus McKenzie. 
John Rynard. 
George Tressler, Tyrone. 
Robert A. Murray, Landisburg. 
Peter Lightner, Tyrone. 
Samuel H. Rice, Tyrone. 
William Power, Tyrone. 
Lewis Sweger, Centre. 
J. A. Raudenbaugh, Centre. 
Jacob Rowe, Madison. 
John A. Boyer, Newport. 
Gardner C. Palm, Tyrone. 
Josiah E. Tressler, Tyrone. 
Levi Steinberger, Tyrone. 
Robert M. Messimer, Bloomfield. 
Lemuel T. Sutch, Bloomfield. 
John S. Kistler, Sandy Hill. 

Privates: 

Albright, John, Newport. 
Bear, Henry, Spring. 
Bergstresser, Jacob, Carroll. 
Bergstresser, J. W., Carroll. 
Baltozer, Benj., Jackson. 
Bryner, John H., Tyrone. 
Bryner, Geo. W., Tyrone. 
Briggs, Samuel, Carroll. 
Baker, A. J., Jackson. 
Calhoun, Wm. F. ( Saville. 
Craig, Joseph, Centre. 
Clouser, Joseph W., Centre. 
Campbell, John W., Juniata. 
Chestnut, Anderson. 
Clellan, Allen, Spring. 
Clouser, Simon W., Centre. 
Dumm, Wm. R., Spring. 
Dromgold, Michael, Saville. 
Elder, David P., Newport. 



Harris, James C, Saville. 
Hutchison, Wm., Tuscarora. 
Jumper, George, Centre. 
Keck, Solomon. 
Kepner, Erasmus D., Saville. 
Lightner, David P. 
Mehaffie, Amos, Saville. 
Mehaffie, John S., Saville. 
Mehaffie, David, Saville. 
Minich, Wm. H., Tyrone. 
Messimer, W. D., Bloomfield. 
March, Jesse, Bloomfield. 
Milligan, Thos. H., Newport. 
Morrison, Emanuel, Toboyne. 
Minich, Henry, Tyrone. 
McKee, William A., Bloomfield. 
Mcllhenny, James, Bloomfield. 
McCaskey, Fred, Saville. 
Neely, David. 
Owen, Isaiah P. 
Pennell, Geo., Wheatfield. 
Rice, Samuel, Jr. 
Riggleman, George W. 
Rhodes, Samuel, Carroll. 
Rhea, Wm. M., Toboyne. 
Robinson, Samuel, Toboyne. 
Reed, John A., Jackson. 
Scheaffer, John B., Jackson. 
Smith, Samuel B., Juniata. 
Smith, Josiah R., Juniata. 
Sowers, Emanuel, Tyrone. 
Stuckey, John J., Newport. 
Stump, John K. 
Swartz, Francis W. 
Stutsman, Jacob B., Juniata. 
Van Camp, J. E., Miller. 
Van Dyke, James. 
Weller, John C, Tyrone. 
Witmer, Joel W., Saville. 
Wagner, David T., Spring. 
Yohn, James, Tuscarora. 
Zeigler, John A., Sandy Hill. 



Quite a number from this company were wounded at Fredericksburg. 



5?o 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Company I. 



Albert B. Demaree, Capt., Newport. 
Hiram Fertig, Millerstown. 
Samuel R. Deach, Millerstown. 
William A. Zinn, Newport. 
George S. DeBray, Millerstown. 
Levi Attig, Millerstown. 
Joseph R. Tate, Newport. 
Jacob B. Wilson, Greenwood. 
Frank Thomas, Centre. 
J. Fetter Kerr, Tuscarora. 
S. P. McClenegan, Millerstown. 
Joseph S. Bucher, Tuscarora. 
Wm. Howanstine, Tuscarora, 
David Snyder, Millerstown. 
William S. Linn. Tuscarora. 
Jefferson Franklin, Newport. 
John Beasom, Greenwood. 
Benj. M. Eby, Toboyne. 
William Stahl, Millerstown. 
Mahlon T. Bretz, Newport. 
David H. Scott, Millerstown. 
Geo. S. Goodman, Millerstown. 

Privates: 

Attig, Henry H., Millerstown. 
Attig, Peter, Millerstown. 
Bender, Cloyd C, Greenwood. 
Beasom, Lewis, Greenwood. 
Beaumont, J. L. S., Liverpool. 
Boyer, Samuel K., Watts. 
Butz, John C, Newport. 
Boyer, Jacob K., Millerstown. 
Beatty, Robert T., Newport. 
Brown, Alex. M., Tuscarora. 
Bistline, David, Toboyne. 
Bretz, John C, Howe. 
Clouser, Wm. H., Juniata. 
Cox, William H., Howe. 
Cox, Joseph, Howe. 
Carwell, Jere. M., Greenwood. 
Clouser, Isaiah, Bloomfield. 
Campbell, S. P., Tuscarora. 
Diffenderfer, Amos, Millerstown. 
Duncan, Joseph, Newport. 
Etter, Eli, Newport. 
Freeburn, Jesse, Newport. 
Freeland, James, Howe. 
Foreman, Joseph, Newport. 
Frank, Lewis, Howe 



Cable, Samuel K., Millerstown. 
Gingrich, Augustus, Tuscarora. 
(amderman, D. W., Howe. 
Howell, Theophilus, Newport. 
Harman, Wm. H., Greenwood. 
Huggins, Geo. W., Buffalo. 
Horting, Henry C, Howe. 
Hughes, Stephen A., Newport. 
Holtzapple, Michael, Millerstown. 
Hopple, William, Newport. 
Howanstine, And. J., Tuscarora. 
Hain, Frederick, Howe. 
Jacobs, Wm. S., Tuscarora. 
Jacobs, James, Tuscarora. 
Kipp, Peter, Newport. 
Keely, Isaac, Newport. 
Leas, Samuel R., Juniata. 
Linn, John J., Tuscarora. 
Lahr, Jerome B., Greenwood. 
Liddick, Daniel, Howe. 
Lightner, Scott W., Madison. 
Loughman, Wm. H., Greenwood. 
Mitchell, Joseph B., Greenwood. 
Myers, George K., Millerstown. 
Noll, Martin^ Millerstown. 
Omer, Joseph, Millerstown. 
Rider, josiah, Oliver. 
Reiber, James, Spring. 
Risher, Wm., Greenwood. 
Shottsberger, Michael, Greenwood. 
Shell, John, Millerstown. 
Shade, Wm. H., Greenwood. 
Sheaffer, W. M. D. 
Smith, Josephus W. 
Tschopp, A., Greenwood. 
Tschopp, Cyrus, Greenwood. 
Toland, John M., Penn. 
Umholtz, W. H. W. 
Van Newkirk, C. L., Penn. 
Wright, James A., Greenwood. 
Wagner, Joseph, Liverpool. 
Watts, Samuel T., Juniata. 
Wertz, William, Newport. 
Williams, Stephen, Newport. 
Whitekettle, Andrew, Juniata. 
Yohe, John. 
Yohn, Henry L. 
Zimmerman, O. P., Tuscarora. 



David Bistline and Joseph Duncan were killed at Fredericksburg. Many 
were wounded at both Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. 

Chaplain, a Perry Countian— 140TH Regiment. 

Rev. J. Linn Milligan, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this vol- 
ume, was the chaplain of the 140th Regiment. 

Three-Month Term — 149TH Regiment, Some Perry Countians. 

Patterned after the original Bucktail Regiment, the 149th wore "buck- 
tails" as an insignia. It was organized in 1862 and was ordered to the 
front very suddenly to help repel the Confederate invasion. When the 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 571 

enemy retreated from Antietam the regiment was ordered to join Burn- 
side's Army on the Rappahannock. It participated in the actions at Chan- 
cellorsville, at the very beginning and all through Gettysburg's three days. 
losing 205 killed and wounded and 131 missing most of whom were dead 
or captured; also at the Wilderness, l.aurel Hill, Spottsylvania, Bethesda 
Church, Petersburg, the Weldon Railroad, and a number of others. The 
Perry Countians : 

Francis B.Jones, Capt., Duncannon. Clemson, W. E., Juniata. 
John T. Miller, Duncannon. Ehrhart, W. H., Tuscarora. 

John J. Boyer, Newport. Jones, Joseph, Juniata. 

John Graham, Liverpool T. Lefevre, D. P., Juniata. 

|ohn Morris, Penn. Mutzebaugh, Daniel, Penn. 

Jacob A. Young, Penn. Miller, Alfred P. 

Thomas B. Jones, Penn. Myers, O. G., Juniata. 

Thomas J. Evans, Duncannon. Potter, Silas, Wheatfield. 

Shies, Thomas, Rye. 
Privates: Sme£; j ohll) Rye 

Coulter, David W., Greenwood. Sharp, Henry, Rye. 

Charles, Simon B., Liverpool T. 

Colonel a Perry Countian— 150TH Regiment. 

This regiment was raised during the summer of '62 and mustered in at 
Camp Curtin. Its commander was Colonel Langhorne Wister, of Duncan- 
non. It went into battle 011 the first day of July, '63, at Gettysburg. It 
lost many of its members there through being taken prisoner. The loss 
was 181 killed and wounded and seventy-two taken prisoners. It was in 
the actions at Laurel Hill, Spottsylvania, Bethesda Church, the Siege of 
Petersburg, the Weldon Railroad fight, as well as others. 

Chaplain a Perry Countian — 158'fH Regiment. 

The 158th Regiment had as their chaplain Rev. Daniel Hartman, of 
Duncannon, Perry County. 

Three-Year Term— 162D Regiment, Company I. 
(Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry.) 

The i62d Regiment of the Pennsylvania Line— ordinarily known as the 
Seventeenth Pennsylvania Cavalry— contained Company I, composed prin- 
cipally of Perry Countians. Capt. John B. McAllister, of Company I, upon 
the organization of the regiment, became its lieutenant colonel. It was 
recruited in the summer of '62, going to Washington November 25th. 
In the Chancellorsville campaign Companies C and I (the Perry Coun- 
tians) were on escort duty with General Meade, and during the action 
their duty was the transmission of orders. At the commencement of the 
Battle of Gettysburg the division to which the Seventeenth Cavalry be- 
longed held at bay the Confederates until the arrival of the First Corps. 
It later prevented flanking attacks. They were with General Sheridan 
during '64. General Devin's farewell order contained this beautiful tribute 
to the Seventeenth Cavalry : "In five successive campaigns, and in over 
three score engagements, you have nobly sustained your part. Of the 
many gallant regiments from your state, none has a brighter record, none 
has more freely shed its blood on every battlefield from Gettysburg to 
Appomattox." The roster of Company I: 
Jno. B. McAllister, Capt., Bloom- George W. Orwan, Centre. 

field. John M. Fry, Tuscarora. 

Andrew D. Vandling, Capt., Liver- William C. Long, Greenwood. 

pool. David R. Gussler, Centre. 

Isaac N. Grubb, Capt., Liverpool T. Ephraim C. Long, Bloomfield. 
Lewis W. Orwan, Centre. David H. Lackey, Carroll. 



572 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Privates: 

Arndt, John J., Liverpool. 
Arndt, Abraham, Liverpool. 
Brandt, Daniel, Greenwood. 
Bitting, Henry, Liverpool T. 
Black, George W., Bloomfield. 
Berry, John, Bloomfield. 
Bradley, Simeon, Liverpool. 
Blain, Jasper, Bloomfield. 
Best, William T., Bloomfield. 
Cluck, Simon, Liverpool. 
Campbell, James C, Bloomfield. 
Drexler, Geo. S., Landisburg. 
Drexler, John L., Landisburg. 
Fry, John, Saville. 
Fry, David, Saville. 
Fry, William. 
Foley, James, Liverpool. 
Haas, Henry, Liverpool. 
Hippie, Jeremiah, Bloomfield. 
Henderson, Nathan, Bloomfield. 
Kleckner, Daniel, Saville. 
Kocher, Wm., Bloomfield. 
Lamca, John, Greenwood. 
Long, Jonas, Greenwood. 
Long, Levi R., Greenwood. 
Long, H. F., Saville. 



Lesh, Wm. W., Juniata. 

Meginness, , Bloomfield. 

Maxwell, G. W. 
Mengle, Thomas, Liverpool. 
Paden, Andrew J., Saville. 
Ritter, John, Liverpool. 
Reed, Elias, Liverpool. 
Rhoads, Amos, Liverpool. 
Sharon, John, Liverpool. 
Snyder, Silas, Liverpool. 
Sweger, Levi, Liverpool. 
Snyder, John J., Liverpool. 
Scholl, Charles J., Sandy Hill. 
Shafer, Edward, Juniata. 
Smith, J. P., Juniata. 
Stine, John, Juniata. 
Swartz, John M., Bloomfield. 
Stouffer, G. W., Carroll. 
Stahl, Wm. C, Bloomfield. 
Stouffer, John, Carroll. 
Spriggle, Benj., Saville. 
Swartz, Daniel, Bloomfield. 
Sharon, Lawrence, Liverpool. 
Vanaman, George, Greenwood. 
Vanaman, Thomas, Greenwood. 
Whitekettle, Chas., Juniata. 
Wox, L. C, Marysville. 



Wox, S. S., Carroll. 
James C. Campbell was killed at White House, Virginia, and is buried 
in the National Cemetery at Yorktown, Virginia, in Section A. Daniel 
Brandt lost an arm at Opequan ; Levi R. Long lost a leg at Falling 
Waters, being struck by a shell ; Henry F. Long lost an arm at Cold Har- 
bor, also being shot in the shoulder just previously. (Note: Mr. Long, 
now a retired Lutheran minister, is a near neighbor of the writer's.) 

Nine-Month Service — 173D Regiment, Company E. 

During the fall of '62 the 173d Regiment of nine-month drafted men was 
organized at Camp Curtin, and in the latter part of November left for the 
field of action. During its entire time of service it did not get into any 
battles. Company F, was from Perry County, its roster being : 



Henry Charles, Capt., Buffalo. 
Isaac D. Dunkle, Bloomfield. 
Samuel Reen, Liverpool T. 
S. Kirk Jacobs, Tuscarora. 
Joseph Hammaker, Watts. 
David P. Egolf, Tyrone. 
Samuel R. P. Brady, Tyrone. 
Henry M. Hoffman, Greenwood. 
Simon S. Charles, Liverpool T. 
Win. Kipp, Greenwood. 
Theodore O'Neil, Greenwood. 
Robert Crane, Liverpool T. 
Elias Clay, Centre. 
Andrew Noye. 
Jacob Potter, Buffalo. 
Josiah Clay, Centre. 
Alex. McConnel, Buffalo. 
Julius Welner. 

Privates: 

Bressler, Charles, Oliver. 
Brown, Christian. 



Beasom, Henry, Greenwood. 

Bealor, Wm. B., Greenwood. 

Bair, Samuel, Buffalo. 

Bucher, George, Tuscarora. 

Baker, Abram, Greenwood. 

Brenley, Benedict. 

Beihl, Fred. 

Bomisted, Joseph. 

Brenley, Joseph. 

Clemens, Peter, Greenwood. 

demons, Geo. J., Greenwood. 

Crater, Lewis. 

Derr, Henry, Liverpool. 

Ditman, Francis. 

Dunkel, John. 

Dressier, John. 

Fortenbaugh, D. P. 

Fry, Samuel, Greenwood. 

Ferre, Cyrus. 

Foulk, Philip. 

Fisher, Ernest F. 

P'leurie, Abram, Oliver. 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 



573 



Parson, William, Watts. 

Powell, Lewis, Tuscarora. 

Propping, Fernando. 

Percher, Jacob. 

Pilger, Charles. 

Roush, David, Greenwood. 

Reed, Jacob. 

Reisinger, Lewis, Liverpool. 

Smiley, Henderson, Carroll. 

Shearer, William, Duncannon. 

Sweger, David, Centre. 

Saucerman, Wm. 

Scandling, Jacob. 

Smith, Daniel, Juniata. 

Stoner, Emanuel. 

Shearer, John D., Duncannon. 

Scott, John, Juniata. 

Sheaffer, Reuben. 

Sheaffer, Daniel F, Liverpool T. 

Smith, Jonas, Juniata. 

Smith, William, Juniata. 

Smith, Jacob. 

Trostle, Solomon. 

Tobias, Reuben. 

Ulsh, Joseph, Greenwood. 

Williams, Wm. 

Womelsdorf, George. 

Warner, Samuel, Centre. 

Young, Reuben. 



Gougler, Absalom. 

Gohn, Samuel. 

Garnett, Andrew, New Buffalo. 

Goudy, John. 

Geiger, Philip. 

Geiger, Jacob. 

Hunter, Robert, Buffalo. 

Hair, Joseph. 

Hippie, John, Carroll. 

Heckard, Lewis F., Liverpool T. 

Hammer, Henry. 

Heinsman, Daniel. 

Jones, Theodore. 

Jones, Ezekiel, Greenwood. 

Jones, William. 

Kinzer, William, Oliver. 

Killinger, John, Greenwood. 

Krumbaugh, Charles. 

Leiby, Samuel, Oliver. 

Liddick, Wm., Buffalo. 

Long, John, Greenwood. 

Lear, William. 

Liddick, Samuel, Buffalo. 

Lightner, Samuel. 

Langan, Mathias. 

Mvers, William A., Centre. 

Miller, Charles S. 

Miller, Jacob. 

McClintock, Benj. 

Naher, Charles. 

Three-Year Service— 187TH Regiment, Quota in Companies D and K 
The 187th Regiment contained contingents of soldiers from Perry 
County, in Companies D and K. Those of Company D were : 

Kennedy, Nathaniel, Tyrone. 
Keck, Aaron, Tyrone. 
Kiner, John I., Tyrone. 
Morrison, Wm. T. 



Henry H. Peck. 
Henry H. Shearer, Tyrone. 
Alexander Kennedy, Tyrone. 
David Morrison. 



Privates: 

Allen, George N. 

Burtnett, Wm. H., Landisburg. 

Gensler, Peter. 

Gensler, Tohn F. 

Gensler. Wm. P. 

Kiner, William J., Tyrone. 



Nonemaker, Henry. 
Sheaffer, Joseph. 
Sheaffer. Wellington. 
Shannafelser, Michael. 
Sheriff, David. 
Toomev, Henrv. 
Umholtz, Wm. W., Tyrone. 
Warner, John. 



Company K. 

Baltozer, Z. T. Minich, John W. 

Rhoads, Cornelius-, Newport. Sweger, Nicholas. 

William P. Gensler was killed in front of Petersburg. Virginia, during 
the battle, and Henry Toomey was killed at the Weldon Railroad action 
and sleeps in the Poplar Grove National Cemetery in Virginia. 

One- Year Service— 201 st Regiment. 
The 201st Regiment was raised during the summer of '64 and organized 
at Camp Curtin, August 29th, under the command of Col. F. Asbury Awl. 
[t contained a quota of Perry Countians recruited at Duncannon and vicin- 
ity. This regiment was broken up to detail the various companies at dif- 
ferent points on provost duty, hospital duty, and as guards. 



574 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



One- Year Service— 2o8th Regiment, Companies E, F, G, and I. 

The 208th Regiment included four companies, E. F. G., and I, of Perry 
Countians. It was organized at Camp Curtin, September 12, '64, and left 
Harrisburg the next day. It was assigned to the Army of the Potomac 
and during the winter was under fire at various times. After the Confed- 
erates captured Fort Steadman this regiment was engaged with the Fed- 
eral troops in its recovery, losing forty-two killed and wounded, and taking 
300 prisoners. It was engaged in the final assault on Petersburg. 



Company E. 



F. M. McKeehan, Capt., Centre. 
John T. Mehaffie, Saville. 
Ephraim B. Wise, Juniata. 
Joseph W. Gantt, Centre. 
Joshua E. Van Camp, Miller. 
David R. P. Bealor, Juniata. 
William R. Dumm, Spring. 
Daniel W. Lutman, Centre. 
Darlintgon, Meredith, Centre. 
John Raffensperger, Juniata. 
William Dumm, Spring. 
Joseph S. Wagner, Spring. 
Samuel I. Shortess. 
Wm. S. Mehaffie, Saville. 
George Ramper, Saville. 
Peter S. Albert, Juniata. 
Harris A. Rohrabach. 
Henry A. Albright. 
David Adams. 

Privates: 
Albright, George. 
Bitner, John, Carroll. 
Bistline, George, Jackson. 
Baker, John S. 
Barrack, Fred'k, Tuscarora. 
Bupp, John, Newport. 
Burd, Ephraim, Juniata. 
Burkpile, Jacob B., Centre. 
Bryner, George M., Tyrone. 
Best, William. 

Barrack, Andrew J., Tuscarora. 
Blain, Jasper, Juniata. 
Billman, Daniel. 
Boston, Thomas. 
Clouser, Simon W., Centre. 
Clemens, Adam, Greenwood. 
Dehaven, Wm. H., Liverpool T. 
Dice, John. 
Davis, George E. 
Foose, Jacob, Spring. 
Foose, Isaiah C, Spring. 
Eoose, Frank, Spring. 
Foose, Henry D., Spring. 
Eerris, Henry. 
Gantt, Isaiah M., Centre. 
Garlin, John S., Madison 
Gregg, John. 
High, Jacob. 
Hirt, Joseph. 
Heckart, Joseph. 



Jackson, William. 

Jacobs, Charles. 

Jones, Thomas. 

Kocher, George, Tyrone. 

Kell, John W., Tyrone. 

Kepner, William T., Saville. 

Klinepeter, Darius I., Centre. 

Kacy, William H., Spring. 

Kennedy, William M., Tyrone. 

Kinsloe, Edmund B., Centre. 

Keilholtz, George. 

Loy, John C, Jackson. 

Lupfer, William. 

Long, Robert W. 

Martin, Samuel A. 

Mercer, Manoah. 

Miller, Jonathan, Centre. 

Moore, James L., Centre. 

Markle, Levi, Centre. 

Markle, Robert, Centre. 

Mickey, James, Carroll. 

Magee, Richard, Carroll. 

Mercer, John. 

Mace, John. 

Meginly, James L. 

McCabe, Joseph P. 

Nichols, Charles. 

Power, William, Centre. 

Persing, Wm. A. H. 

Perry, William H. 

Reamer, George W., Juniata. 

Reapsome, John. 

Ricedorff, Henry. 

Rank, Harvey. 

Robinson, William. 

Snyder, Christian, Jackson. 

Sullenberger, T. M., Jackson. 

Shatto, Peter. 

Swartz, Franklin, Jackson. 

Spriggle, Jacob. 

Shadel, Daniel. 

Snyder, George. 

Surrell, Robert. 

Snyder, Henry. 

Toomey, Jerome, Juniata. 

Tressler, David P., Centre. 

Turnbaugh, Jacob, Juniata. 

Wertz, Daniel. 

Warren, John S. 

Zeigler, John. 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 



575 



George Rampfer, Henry I). Foose, and William H. Perry were killed at 
Petersburg, and Joseph lieekart, near the Appomattox River. 



Co Mr 
Card C. Palm. Capt., Tyrone. 
Henry Sheaffer, Toboyne. 
Francis A. Campbell. Toboyne. 
Thomas J. Sowers, Tyrone. 
Martin II. l'nnnan. Jackson. 
Robert H. Campbell. Toboyne. 
William Merrier, Jackson. 
Hugh Smith. 
Henry A. Wade. 
Samuel C. Smith. 
George Bistline. Madison. 
George W. Reiber, Spring. 
James Meminger, Saville. 
John K. Stump. Tyrone. 
John A. Newcomer. Tyrone. 
David T. Ritter. Tyrone. 
Samuel S. McKee, Madison. 
Frederick Shull, Saville. 
John A. Ettinger. 
George H. Hahn, Jackson. 

Privates: 

Adams, Thomas A., Toboyne. 

Armstrong, Win. H., Newport. 

Blackburn, Robert A., Toboyne. 

Brickley, David B. 

Burkel, Gottleib. 

Bistline, Solomon, Madison. 

Berrier, Thomas, Jackson. 

Baltozer, Sylvester K. 

Bender. Jacob R., Greenwood. 

Bernheisel, S. W., Madison. 

Berrier, Peter, Jackson. 

Berrier, Henry, Jackson. 

Bistline, Joseph, Madison. 

Baltozer. William. 

Bryner, John H., Tyrone. 

Bryner, George S., Tyrone. 

Collins, Joseph C. 

Connor, Barnard A. 

Damn, Fred. 

Dillman, Reuben, Saville. 

Droneberger, G. W. 

Delancy, John, Juniata. 

Ernest, Daniel, Madison. 

English, James, Saville. 

Emory, George. 

Foose, James, Spring. 

Finley, James A. 

Fritz, Jacob, Centre. 

Getz, John. 

Gutshall, Jacob. 

Garland, William, Madison. 

Frederick Shull, of this company. 



any F. 

Garber, William H., Madison. 
Hoffman, Michael. Centre. 
Hoffman, David, Centre. 
Hull, William A. 
Hollenbaugh, D. A., Madison. 
Hollenbaugh, W. C, Madison. 
Hohenshildt, A.T., Madison. 
Henry, Daniel S., Madison. 
Hench, John B., Madison. 
fohnston, Samuel A., Toboyne. 
Kistler, Lloyd K., Sandy Hill. 
Kern, Simon, Jackson. 
Kline, Charles W., Penn. 
Lowe, Jacob S., Newport. 
Morrow, Samuel R., Tyrone. 
Messimer, Thomas, Jackson. 
Mumper, Andrew J., Jackson. 
Morrison, Wm. A., Toboyne. 
Mathers, John H. 
McKlheney, Philip. 
McElheney, S. W. 
Peckard, Jonathan. 
Rinesmith, Samuel, Jackson. 
Reed, Robert. 
Rhea, James D., Toboyne. 
Reeder, William T. 
Reeder, John. 

Shaffer, Samuel F., Spring.' 
Shoff, George, Centre. 
Sheibley, William, Spring. 
Sheibley, George, Spring. 
Shearer, Andrew, Jackson. 
Smith, Samuel G., Blain. 
Seager, William H., Jackson. 
Swales, John. 

Shumaker, Benj. F., Jackson. 
Stroup, William, Madison. 
Savior, David E. 
Sbearer, Jacob, Saville. 
Seibert, William D. 
Shreffler, Andrew B., Toboyne. 
vShope, Elias. 
Shope, Henry. 
Shields, Charles S. 
Snyder, John G., Jackson. 
Seager, Win. H. R., Jackson. 
Titzel, John H., Spring. 
Waggoner, Henry, Madison. 
Welsh, Samuel. 
Wentzel, S. 
Wilt, Daniel. 
Walker, George E. 
Zeigler, Philip. 

was killed at Fort Steadman. 



Company G. 
Benj. F. Miller, Capt., Newport. Lewis Beasom, Greenwood. 

William A. Zinn, Newport. William A. Blain, Tuscarora. 

Wm. Fosselman, Juniata. Wm. S. Hostetter, Centre. 



576 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Thomas J. Latchford, Juniata. 

Jere J. Billow, Carroll. 

Nicholas Hogentogler, Greenwood. 

D. B. Hohenshildt, Madison. 

Isaiah W. Clouser, Centre. 

Joseph S. Bucher, Tuscarora. 

John B. Swartz, Saville. 

L. H. C. Flickinger, Juniata. 

Findley Rogers. 

Daniel W. Gantt, Newport. 

A. Worley Monroe, Liverpool. 

John Howell, Greenwood. 

Privates: 

Acaley, John, Greenwood. 

Arndt, Valentine, Liverpool T. 

Byrem, Sylvester, Millerstown. 

Baker, Peter S-, Tuscarora. 

Burrell, George W., Saville. 

Bucher, Adam, Tuscarora. 

Barnhart, Benj. F., Watts. 

Clouser, William H. 

Clouser, Cyrus S. 

Clouser, Calvin H. 

Charles, Henry C, Buffalo. 

Cox, John H. 

Comp, George L-, Juniata. 

Comp, Jacob S., Liverpool. 

Dunn, Edward T. P. 

Deitrick, Wesley, Liverpool. 

Duffield, Samuel. 

Fleck, Alex. M., Newport. 

Fair, John. 

Ferguson, Jesse M., Centre. 

Flickinger, Wm. H., Juniata. 

Fosselman, John, Juniata. 

Fisher, Christopher. 

Gardner, Ephraim F., Miller. 

Gutshall, John. 

Gantt, Watson L., Newport. 

Hain, Isaac, Howe. 

Hain, Jacob S., Howe. 

Haines, Wendell. 

Hoffman, Jacob. 

Heinbach, William, Greenwood. 

Hain, David W., Howe. 

Johnson, William T. 

Kochenderfer, J. B. 

George W. Weise, of this compan 
ginia. 

Comp 
Jas. H. Marshall, Capt., Bloomfield. 
Isaac D. Dunkle, Bloomfield. 
John D. Neilson, Bloomfield. 
George K. Scholl, Liverpool. 
John J. Monroe, Liverpool. 
Samuel Keen. 

Edwin D. Owen, Liverpool. 
John F. Ayle, Centre. 
Theodore Jones. 
Abraham Kitner, Carroll. 
Frank W. Gibson, Spring. 



Kerlin, Peter. 

Klinepeter, Jacob. 

Kleffman, John I., Greenwood. 

Lesh, John, Juniata. 

Lesh, Baltzer, Juniata. 

Long, Jacob M., Millerstown. 

Latchford, James P., Tuscarora. 

Maginnis, Samuel. 

Mogel, Jacob. 

Meredith, Henry C. 

Myers, Daniel, Jr. 

Miller, Shuman, Millerstown. 

Miller, John, Millerstown. 

Miller, Samuel G. 

McLaughlin, Jacob. 

Nace, Jesse S., Rye. 

Newman, William. 

Nipple, George F., Greenwood. 

Nipple, James C, Greenwood. 

Orner, Martin V., Greenwood. 

Powell, Lewis W., Tuscarora. 

Page, Adam J. 

Price, Charles N. 

Peterman, George. 

Reeder, Thomas A., Centre. 

Reichenbaugh, W. C. 

Roush, Justice. 

Rohm, Frank, Centre. 

Reigle, William J., Greenwood. 

Rider, Jacob R., Newport. 

Sheaffer, Edward G. 

Spahr, George A. 

Sweger, George, Carroll. 

Smith, John M. 

Smith, Andrew C. 

Smith, Abraham S. 

Shoop, Christian, Buffalo. 

Tschopp, Isaac, Greenwood. 

Trego, George. 

Troup, William H., Oliver. 

Watts, Frederick. 

Wright, John B., Greenwood. 

Wrey, Daniel D. 

Witherow, Samuel S., Centre. 

Wagner, John W., Spring. 

Weaver, Jonathan. 

Weise, George W., Newport. 

Yohn, David. 



y, was killed at Fort Steadman, Vir- 

,\ny I. 

Benjamin Shaffer, Spring. 
Rufus Potter, Buffalo. 
Jacob Seiler, Buffalo. 
Samuel Landis. 
Henry F. Sweger, Centre. 
Jacob P. Kerlin. 
Vincent M. Gallen. 

Privates: 

Albright, Samuel, Buffalo. 
Bruner, Owen, Wheatfield. 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 



577 



Behel, Samuel. 

Pair, Samuel \Y., Buffalo. 
Hair, Jeremiah, Buffalo. 
Bair, Samuel W., II, Buffalo. 
Bruner, Wm. H., Centre. 
Bruner, George W., Penn. 
Pair, Peter, Buffalo. 
Clegg, James, Centre. 
Clouser, John A., Bloomfield. 
Clouser, Cornelius, Bloomfield. 
Cless, Daniel, Bloomfield. 
Clouser, Andrew J., Bloomfield. 
Clouser, Simon S., Centre. 
Carl, Abraham, Saville. 
Duke, William, Juniata. 
Dehiser, Wm. J., Juniata. 
Derr, John T., Liverpool. 
Dressier, George, Landisburg. 
Dressier, Edward, Landisburg. 
Dile, Abraham. 
Donaldson, Wm. H. 
Fetrow, Elias L.. Bloomfield. 
Gibney, James, Carroll. 
Garlin, Abraham, Saville. 
Gibney, Patrick. 
Gohn, Samuel. 
Gurdom, Ernest. 
Grubb, Josiah, Liverpool. 
Holmes, Benj. 
Hench, John W., Madison. 
Hunter, Levi, Liverpool. 
Hilbert, Daniel, Buffalo. 
Haines, Samuel. 
Hammaker, Geo. 
Hain, Jacob, Buffalo. 
Hull, Jacob. 

Hilbish, John A., Buffalo. 
Howe, Abraham E., Buffalo. 
Hunter, Robert, Buffalo. 
Inch, William, Liverpool. 



Kumler, William, New Buffalo. 
Lickel, Christian. 
Lenhart, George S., Liverpool. 
Liddick, Samuel, Buffalo. 

Lackey, William A.. Carroll. 

Miller, John H. 

Miller, Joseph W. 

Marshall, Henry, 1 [owe. 

Morris, William. 

Motter, John P. 

Motter, Daniel \\ '. 

Myers, George W. 

Motter, John N. 

Meek, Jacob B., Liverpool T. 

Mckenzie, William, Centre. 

Potter, John, Buffalo. 

Rice, John, Bloomfield. 

Reubendall, Reuben, Buffalo. 

Ritter, John L. 

Ready, Joseph. 

Swartz, George W., Watts. 

Small, Benj. W. 

Smith, Israel W. 

Shortess, Alex., Juniata. 

Sweger, Henry M. 

Shearer, John. 

Souder, George W., Spring. 

vStoner, Emanuel. 

Shaffer, John. 

Shaffer, Daniel T. 

Silks, John W., Buffalo. 

Silks, John, Buffalo. 

Shottsberger, John, Greenwood. 

Shottsberger, Samuel, Greenwood. 

Shottsberger, Henry, Greenwood. 

Shoop, Noah, Watts. 

Skivington, Isaiah, Bloomfield. 

Spotts, Henry H. 

Troutman, Emanuel, Greenwood. 

Williams, William. 

Zeigler, John A. 



Kepperly, Samuel. 

During 1862 and 1863 emergency troops and militia regiments were called 
to the colors to help repel the invasion of the Confederates into the North. 
Very many of these men had previously seen service during the war, in 
other units. The Sixth Regiment, called for that purpose, contained two 
companies partly from Perry County, D and E. 

The Thirty-Sixth Regiment of ninety-day militia in '63 contained Com- 
panies B and I, partly from Perry County. 

Company D, First Battalion, ioo-Dav Men. 



D. C. Orris, 1st Lieut., Saville. 
George Flickinger, Saville. 
And. J. Kochenderfer, Saville. 

Privates: 

Bender, Henry O., Saville. 
Bender, Benj. F., Saville. 
Flickinger, H. W., Saville. 
Flickinger, Martin, Saville. 
Graham, William H., Saville. 
37 



Cut shall, David, Saville. 
Jacobs, Henry S., Saville. 
Kerr, Irvin, Tuscarora. 
Long, Peter, Saville. 
Odell, William T., Tyrone. 
Odell, John A., Tyrone. 
Rice, David M., Saville. 
Stambaugh, Wm. P., Saville. 
Stambaugh, John A., Tyrone. 



5/8 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Company E, Second Battalion, ioo-Day Men. 



Joel F. Fredericks, Capt, Bloom- 
field. 
John Jones, Juniata. 
Samuel Briggs, Carroll. 
George S. Lackey, Carroll. 
Isaac B. Trostle. 
James P. Laird, Bloomfield. 
Israel Bair, Buffalo. 
James E. Woods, Jackson. 
Wilson D. Messimer, Bloomfield. 
Carson S. Gotwalt, Bloomfield. 
Charles B. Heinbach. 

Privates: 

Adams, John C, Tyrone. 
Demaree, David R., Newport. 
Duram, David T., Spring. 
Eby, Henry B., Toboyne. 
Frank, John, Newport. 
Grosh, A. Blain, Jackson. 



Gibbons, Anthony, Spring. 
Hollenbaugh, D. H., Madison. 
Hench, Alex. M., Madison. 
Hohenshildt, D. M., Madison. 
Hoffman, Aaron, Madison. 
Kochenderfer, Geo., Saville. 
Miller, John. 

Mickey, Silas H., Carroll. 
Lightner, Andrew. 
Musser, Isaiah D., Newport. 
Murray, Charles, Bloomfield. 
Musser, John S., Newport. 
Noll, Samuel, Spring. 
Noll, John M., Spring. 
Rice, Benj., Spring. 
Sheibley, Wm. W., Madison. 
Sheibley, Wm. F., Madison. 
Smith, David R., Spring. 
Shuler, Philip, Jackson. 
Waggoner, Alfred, Spring. 



One-Year Service— Company A, Forty-Ninth Regiment. 



J. W. Eshelman, Corporal, Liver- 
pool. 

Privates: 

Beigh, John R., Liverpool. 
Bowers, John H., Liverpool T. 
Brink, Bradford, Liverpool. 
Brink, William, Liverpool. 
Charles, Ira, Buffalo. 
Dudley, John C, Liverpool. 
Deitrick, Jacob R., Liverpool. 
Funk, James, Liverpool. 
Holman, Jacob, Liverpool. 
Hamilton, Levi W., Liverpool. 
Hunter, Isaiah, Liverpool. 
Inhoff, Benj. H., Liverpool T. 
Reiser, Jacob, Liverpool. 
Knight, Cyrus, Liverpool T. 
Kline, Jonas, Liverpool T. 
Lebkickler, Joseph, Liverpool T. 

This company was mustered in 
out on June 28, '65, their term of 



Lebkickler, Geo. W., Liverpool T. 
Long, William, Liverpool T. 
Lutz, Isaac, Liverpool. 
McLaughlin, G., Liverpool. 
O'Neil, Jeremiah, Liverpool. 
Reifsnyder, Lewis C, Liverpool. 
Ritter, Wm. R., Liverpool. 
Roush. Daniel, Liverpool. 
Shull, Henry, Liverpool. 
Snyder, Chas. C, Liverpool. 
Sponenberger, Foster, Liverpool. 
Sponenberger, Fred, Liverpool. 
Shuman, Michael, Liverpool. 
Sheesly, Geo., Liverpool. 
Williamson, Cyrus, Liverpool. 
Williamson, Ramsey, Liverpool. 
Weirick, Henry H., Liverpool. 
Zaring, John W., Liverpool. 
Zeigler, Alfred C., Liverpool T. 

early in March, '65, and was mustered 
service being less than three months. 



Eighty-Third Regiment, Company I. 

The following Perry Countians were enrolled at Harrisburg, in Com- 
pany I, Eighty-Third Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, during 
February, 1865, serving until the close of the war. They were mustered 
out in June, 1865. 



John S. Campbell, Sgt., Newport. 

Privates: 
Gardner, James T., Newport. 



Gantt, John C, Newport. 
Hay, Thomas, Newport. 
Woods, Samuel W., Newport. 



Pennsylvania Infantry, Twenty-Sixth Regiment, Company C. 

The late Geo. W. Campbell and Andrew J. Fickes were members of 
Company C, Pennsylvania Emergency Troops. 



PERRY COUNTY IN SECTIONAL WAR 579 

Other Soldiers. 

Names not contained in any of the units, but known to be Perry County 
soldiers, are Benjamin Culler, Saville ; Jacob Kleckner, who lost his right 
arm at Gettysburg; David Graham, killed in action; Frank Hench, killed 
at Gettysburg. 

It is to be regretted that the home districts of the soldiers are not avail- 
able, as official records never carried them, which accounts for the ab- 
sence, no doubt, of many brave and good men who were in the service of 
their country. As previously stated, some of the names here mentioned 
are not Perry Countians, but where the unit was practically all from 
Perry, their names are included, in order to keep the rosters of such com- 
panies intact. 

Even so great a Southerner as Henry Watterson, probably the 
greatest of all American editors, and long editor of the Lonisznllc 
Courier-Journal, in his autobiography published in 1919, tells how 
he was swept into the army of secession, probably just as were 
hundreds of others. It follows: 

"I could not wholly believe with either extreme. I had perpe- 
trated no wrong, but in my small way had done my best for the 
Union and against secession. I would go< back to my books and 
my literary ambitions and let the storm blow over. It could not 
last very long ; the odds against the South were too great. Vain 
hope ! As well expect a chip on the surface of the ocean to lie 
quiet as a lad of twenty-one in those days to keep out of one or the 
other camp. On reaching home I found myself alone. The boys 
were all gone to the front. The girls were — well, they were all 
crazy. My native country was about to be invaded. Propinquity. 
Sympathy. So, casting opinion to the winds, in I went on feeling. 
And that is how I became a rebel, a case of 'first endure and then 
embrace,' because I soon got to be a pretty good rebel and went 
the limit, changing my coat as it were, though not my better judg- 
ment, for with a gray jacket on my back and ready to do or die, 
I retained my belief that secession was treason, that disunion was 
the height of folly, and that the South was bound to go down in 
the unequal strife." 

Along with Watterson there is in the Southland to-day an ele- 
ment and an overpowering one, who, with the North and West, 
are a unison in the sentiment expressed by the song : 

"Sail on, O Union, strong and great! 
Humanity with all its fears, 
With all its hopes of future years, 
Is hanging breathless on thy fate." 



CHAPTER XXXII 
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. 

COL. A. K. McCLURE, in his "Recollections of Half a Cen- 
tury," says: "Soon after William McKinley entered the 
Presidential office he was confronted with the Cuban trou- 
bles which ultimately resulted in a war with Spain. I saw him 
many times during the progress of events which led up to the war, 
and he was often torn by conflicting desires. Like Lincoln, he was 
profoundly averse to war, and shuddered at the- sacrifice of lives of 
his countrymen; but the wrongs of Cuba became so intolerable 
and aroused the country to such a measure of resentment that when 
the battleship Maine (which had gone there on a friendly errand) 
was blown up and the lives of hundreds of our brave sailors sac- 
rificed there was no alternative but to accept the arbitrament of 
the sword in behalf of humanity and justice. He was reluctant 
until the last moment to accept war, but when it was no longer 
possible to avoid it with honor he entered into it with all the ear- 
nestness of his patriotic nature. After battles had been fought 
and victories won by both our army and navy he was earnestly for 
peace, and was largely instrumental himself in effecting the pre- 
liminary agreement that practically ended the war. But for the 
extraordinary efforts of himself, his cabinet and warm personal 
political supporters, the country would have been involved in inter- 
minable complications at the very outset of the war. It required 
all the political sagacity and moral power of the government to 
restrain Congress from involving us in the recognition of the 
Cuban Republic and making us accountable to the world for obli- 
gations entirely beyond the scope of our humane purposes or our 
national necessities." 

This war of short duration, declared against Spain on April 20, 
1898, was really the outcome of the horrible crimes committed by 
General Weyler in Cuba, the blowing up of the Maine having had 
a somewhat similar effect to the firing upon Fort Sumter prior to 
the War between the States. Perry County being a county of 
small population, had no military contingents of the National 
Guard within its confines, and accordingly had few soldiers in this 
war, as the army was almost wholly drawn from that source. 
From other contingents the following Perry County names are 
taken: 

580 



THE SPANISH- AMERICAN WAR 581 

Barrack, Wm. 11., served in Cuba. 

Black, John, Tuscarora Township; Co. B, Nebraska Regiment. Died U. 
S. Hospital, Cavite, September 5. [898. 

Blain, Wm. A., Greenwood Township; Troop P, U. S. Cavalry. Enlisted 
at Reading, June 2, 1898. 

Burd, John W., Buffalo Township; Co. 1), Eighth Regt., P. V. I. 

Fissel, Wm. H., Duncannon; Co. 1, Fourth Regt., P. V. 1. 

Fosselman, [ohn [., Tuscarora Township; C. G, Fifth Regt. 

Frank, lohn R.; Co. C, Twelfth Regt. 

Gettys, 14. A., Marysville; Co. 8, Fourth Regt., P. V. I. 

Gunderman, Edward C. ; Ninth Infantry and Fifteenth Cavalry, Philip- 
pines. 

Hain, Wm. J.; Sheridan Troop, Tyrone, Pa. 

[ones, Harry P.; Co. 1, Fourth Regt., P. V. I. 

McNeely, lohn \1.; Co. I, Fourth Regt., P. V. P 

Mover, Chas. W. ; Co. R. Twelfth Regiment. 

Ney, Charles P.; Co. I, Fourth Regiment, P. V. P 

Pfafllin, Adolph R., Marysville; Co. I, Fourth Regt., P. V. P 

Patterson, Harry A., Marysville; Co. I, Fourth Regt., P. V. P 

Sellers, Harvey, Marysville; Co. I, Fourth Regt., P. V. 1. 

Shaffer, Elmer E., served in Philippines. 

Shannon, Frank A. 

Sharon, Austin C. ; Co. I, First Regt., P. V. I. 

Toland, Thomas E., Duncannon; Co. I, Fourth Regt, P. V. 1. 

Wise, Walter E., Marysville; Co. I, Fourth Regt., P. V. P Died in 
Brooklyn Naval Hospital, September 7, 1898. 

Wolfe, Harvey P.; Co. I, Fourth P. V. P 

Wright, Jesse W. ; Co. B, Twelfth Regt., Philippines. 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 
THE WORLD WAR, AND PERRY COUNTY. 

"It's not the guns nor armament, 
Nor funds that they can pay, 
But the close cooperation 

That makes them win the day. 
It's not the individual 

Nor the army as a whole, 
But the everlasting teamwork 
Of every bloomin' soul. 

— Kipling. 

NO human being could ever tell the stupendous story of this 
war. Much of it was a part of the annals of particular 
contingents, and, before there had been time to make any 
record, its men had again faced the enemy and paid the last great 
price. It was the most marvelous war of all ages. For over four 
years it swept through the continent of Europe and parts of Africa 
and Asia. Thirty nations and scores of different races were in- 
volved. Almost ten millions of men were slain in battle and thirty 
millions injured. Thousands were made blind and insane. No 
country on earth escaped the attendant losses and terrors of the 
war in one form or another. The high seas were ravaged and 
thousand of ships sent to the bottom. Millions of noncombat- 
ants, nurses, teachers, mothers and even little children — were slain 
or suffered death of starvation and disease. And then, when it 
was about over, that dreadful influenza, said by many to be one of 
the frightful war schemes, carried to their graves many thousands 
and left many other thousands with enfeebled systems. 

America had stood aloof too long. In 191 7, the world stood 
aghast. Was civilization to be overwhelmed? Then America 
plunged into the very vortex and was largely instrumental in grasp- 
ing victory from defeat. From farm, mill and office two millions 
of Americans were rushed across the Atlantic, although a fiendish 
government had its submarines lurking beneath the waves to sink 
the liners and transports, just as they had sunk a passenger ship 
containing women and children some time before. To-day thou- 
sands of those boys are buried on foreign soil. 

As long ago as 1899 it was no secret that Germany was prepar- 
ing for war, and when Admiral Coghlan (then a captain), at a 
Union League dinner in New York, recited a pertinent poem, 
"Meinself und Gott," caricaturing the Kaiser, it caused a diplo- 
matic flurry and even a conference between President McKinley 

582 



THE WORLD WAR AND PERRY COUNTY 583 

and the German Ambassador. During all those years the great 
Krupp work- were turning out huge cannon and other manufac- 
turers were making smaller firearms in vast quantities. For what? 
"The day!" (When Germans met they always drank toasts to 
"Der tag.") That day finally came when the little Austrian Arch- 
duke was assassinated. Germany started its army to invade Bel- 
gium, although there was no trouble there, and that was the begin- 
ning of the most horrible holocaust of all ages. But that was not 
the first time the Teuton has shown his perfidy. It dates back to 
the early days of written history, 55 B. C., when Caesar was on the 
banks of the Meuse and the Germans made an armistice with the 
Romans. Scarcely had the envoys left when the Germans fell 
upon the Roman brigade. 

Perry County is only a small part of one of the forty-eight states, 
but the effect of the war on the nation was felt there just as every- 
where else. During those memorable days of 1914, the average 
American little dreamed of the great effect the war would have on 
the United States and that eventually we would be drawn into it. 
German propaganda was at work, however, and the public press, 
the religious press, the forum and the pulpit of the nation were 
insidiously and unknowingly corrupted. A strain of American 
citizenship was organized with a hyphen name. War was levied 
on our industry and commerce. An effort was made to embroil 
our country in a war with Mexico and Japan, and this having 
failed, Americans were impudently warned off the great high seas, in 
an advertisement in the public press. A ship, disregarding the warn- 
ing, was torpedoed, and hundreds of women and children, along 
with the men — all noncombatants — were drowned in midocean. 

Perry County had been largely settled by a German population 
(many Wurtembergers), but not Prussianized Germans of the type 
that started the war, and there were mighty few sympathizers of the 
Prussian war machine, be it said to their credit. Government loan 
quotas were oversubscribed in the county, the quotas of troops 
went with regularity, and many a lad of German strain was in the 
ranks. Germany had long been held up as an example of efficiency, 
but America put them to shame. Germany had been preparing for 
forty years, and America was unprepared for war ; yet in less than 
forty weeks she was operating a big railroad system on foreign 
soil, her merchant marine had grown to be the second largest in 
the world, she had dredged a foreign harbor and made docks for 
forty ships, and had a convoy system which was the marvel of the 
ages. The war had been in progress 1,452 days until America got 
to the front line, and in just 115 days the armistice was signed. 
German propaganda had kept us out of the war when we should 
have been in, but once in the Americans changed the German spell- 
ing of the word efficiency, to inefficiency. 



584 1 1 fST< )KV < )F PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

just as Col. A. K. McClure is quoted in the nation's affairs at 
various places in this book, let another former Perry Countian 
now be quoted. Charles William Super, Ph.D., LL.D., Ex-Presi- 
dent of the Ohio University and noted author, studied at Tubingen, 
Germany, in 1869-71, and in 1882, 1896 and 1903 he again visited 
that country in research work. He has an intimate knowledge of 
Germany and its people, and until 1914 was an ardent pacifist. It 
is from such an authority, who even witnessed the bombardment 
of Strasburg in the Franco-Prussian War, that we would quote. 
The following is from his "Pan-Prussianism," 1918: 

"I am not ashamed to confess that up to July, 1914, I was an ardent paci- 
fist. Although 1 was not unaware of the spirit that reigned in Wilhelm- 
strasse, I could not believe it capable of the perfidy that it soon came to 
make a part of its settled policy. I was opposed to spending money on a 
great navy, because I was convinced that we had nothing to fear from 
any European or Asiatic power. I saw no use in fortifying the Panama 
Canal, because I believed that every government would pledge its word to 
regard it as passing through neutral territory and keep its pledge. 

"Nevertheless, wdien the storm broke I was not for a moment in doubt 
as to its significance. For more than two years I was fully convinced that 
we were delaying participation in a conflict in which we were vitally in- 
terested,— on the issue of which our very existence as a nation probably 
depended. On the other hand, I realized that in a democracy the party in 
power can only act as far and as fast as it is supported by public opinion ; 
and our public was utterly incredulous as to the aims and perfidious 
methods of the government that was responsible for the war. Our people 
had heard and read so much about the progress of Germany in the arts 
of peace, about its admirable educational system, and about its superior 
educational methods, that they mistook knowledge and power for enlight- 
enment. * * * 

"There is no crime in the penal code that the German soldiers, encour- 
aged and abetted by their officers, have not committed. There is no prohi- 
bition laid down in the moral law that they have not disregarded. There 
is no deed of violence of which they are not guilty. They have raped, they 
have murdered in cold blood, they have looted, they have stolen or broken 
in pieces what they could not carry away. They have murdered without 
pity,— and slain without remorse,— women, children, old men and invalids. 
They have enslaved those they did not wish to kill, especially if they were 
women. From the lowest to the highest they have lied, they have per- 
jured themselves without scruple, they have broken the most solemn prom- 
ises, and have laughed at those who were credulous enough to trust their 
word. They have laid waste the invaded districts, they have ravished 
cities and villages, respecting neither crucifixes, nor priests, nor churches, 
nor hospitals, nor private property. They have made themselves drunk 
on stolen liquors, after which they demeaned themselves as men in that 
condition are wont to do, especially if there is no one to call them to ac- 
count or to punish them for their villainies. They have shot innocent peo- 
ple by squadrons, and have executed individuals after a farcical trial. 
They have gloated over the sufferings of their victims and mocked at their 
agonizing cries for mercy. Their pastors have shouted paeans of victory 
over all these things and over worse,— if there could possibly be any 
worse — as if they deserved praise rather than the bitterest execra- 
tion. * * * 



THE WORLD WAR AND PERRY COUNTY 585 

"In June, tgo8, Wilhelm presided at a council held at Potsdam. * * 
He spoke al greal length, saying among other things: 'At this solemn hour 
I repeat tins pledge before you, with the addition, however, thai I shall not 
rest or be satisfied until ail the countries and territories that once were 
German, or where great numbers of my former subjects now live have be- 
come a part of the great mother-country, acknowledging me as their su- 
preme lord in war and peace. Even now T rule supreme in the United 
States, wdiere almost one-half of the population is either of German birth, 
or of German descent, and where three million German voters do my bid- 
ding at the Presidential elections. No administration can remain in power 
against the will of the German voters, who through that admirable organi- 
zation, the German-American National League of the United States of 
America, control the destinies of the vast republic beyond the seas.' 

"In 1017 the Committee of Puhlic Information in the United States re- 
ported the following activities of German agents, all or nearly all of the 
participants being in the pay of the Imperial German Government: 

"Destruction of lives and property in merchant vessels on the high seas. 

"Irish revolutionary plots against Great Britain. 

"Fomenting ill-feeling against the United States in Mexico. 

"Subordination of American writers and lecturers. 

"Financing of propaganda. 

"Maintenance of a spy system under the guise of a commercial investi- 
gation bureau. 

"Subsidizing a bureau for the purpose of stirring up labor troubles in 
munition plants. 

"The bomb industry and other related activities. 

"When the international roll of dishonor is made up, German names will 
be placed first, and there will be no one to challenge their primacy. 

"From the very beginning of the conflict the Germans fired shells into 
the most thickly settled parts of cities and towns, whether fortified or not; 
and fortifications are never in cities. * * * Men were tied to stakes and 
burned alive. Mothers were shot with children in their arms and the chil- 
dren dealt with in the same way because they were orphans. Unarmed, 
youths were shot to prevent their becoming soldiers later on. Belgians of 
all ages were dispatched with bullets because they were a filthy people. 
Priests and nuns were special objects of ruffianism. * * * 

"Another form of outrage upon women and children that was frequently 
committed by the Prussians was to take refuge behind them. At one place 
twenty-five women and children were compelled to walk beside a column 
of the invaders to protect them against an enfilading fire. In numerous 
places the German solders forced civilians of both sexes to walk before 
them. At Nemy they drove five hundred men, women and children toward 
the English, who of course, not being Germans, did not fire upon them. 

"There could hardly be a greater contrast than that which exists be- 
tween the English workingman and his German peer. The former feels 
a class consciousness, a sense of power and dignity; he is firm, often to 
the verge of obstinacy, while the latter is hardly more than a chattel." 

Dr. Super is recognized as an authority everywhere. He goes 
into the race characteristics of the Teuton, accounts for the status 
of the German woman, for the looting propensity of the Prussian, 
for the misconception of kultur against civilization that ahides in 
the Teutonic mind, and other phases in all their bearings. His 
familiarity with Germany and its people and his skill as an accom- 
plished reasoner, together with his ability as a ripe scholar, com- 



5 86 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

mands attention. He is a former Perry Countian, and elsewhere 
in this book will be found a biographical sketch of him. 

The registration board, which conducted the selective draft, was 
composed of D. L. Kistler, chairman ; J. C. Hench, secretary, and 
Dr. A. R. Johnston. Later James W. McKee was secretary, and 
still later, Luke Baker. Attorney John C. Motter was chief clerk. 
The legal advisory board was composed of James W. Shull, James 
M. Barnett, and Win. S. Seibert. The associate advisory board 
was composed of Win. H. Sponsler, Luke Baker, Walter W. Rice, 
James W. McKee, James M. McKee, and Charles H. Smiley, 
attorneys-at-law ; Samuel S. Willard, and Rev. Homer C. Knox. 
There were 1,616 men in the registration of June 5, 1917; 147 i n 
the registration of June 5, 1918; forty-seven in the registration 
of August 24, 1918, and 2,366 in the registration of September 12, 
1918, a total of 4,176. To thirty-nine camps and stations were 
entrained 474 drafted men, of whom fifty-two were rejected, thus 
leaving the number sworn into the service as 422. Owing to Perry 
County being an agricultural county many of the young men seek 
employment elsewhere. The high wages paid in the industrial 
plants during the war made this especially so, with the attendant 
result that the proportion of men sent from Perry County is much 
smaller than it would otherwise have been, as those men are cred- 
ited to their place of residence at that time. 

Proportionately Bloomfield Borough furnished by far the largest 
number of voluntary enlistments in the county, having had thirty- 
one from a possible forty. Marysville led the county in number, 
having had forty. The voluntary enlistments from all districts 
follow: Blain, 4; Bloomfield, 31 ; Buffalo, 3 ; Carroll, 7 ; Centre, 
6; Duncannon, 26; Greenwood, 9; Howe, o; Jackson, 5 ; Juni- 
ata, 8; Liverpool Borough, 16; Liverpool Township, 2 ; Madison, 
9; Marysville, 40; Miller, 2 ; Millerstown, 17 ; New Buffalo, 4; 
Newport, 34; Oliver, 1; Penn, 10; Rye, o; Saville, 6; Spring, 
3; Toboyne, 3; Tuscarora, 3; Tyrone, 8; Watts, 7; Wheat- 
field, 3. 

One of the incidents connected with the World War, in so far 
as Perry County is concerned, was the bringing of two French 
brides to its soil. Sergeant Montgomery Gearhart, of Millerstown, 
was united in wedlock to Miss Alice LeCointre, of Angiers, France, 
November 20, 1918. The other was reared in Soissons, Aisne, and 
was a prisoner of the Germans for fifteen days, who became the 
wife of Sergeant Robert Miller, having lost her father and only 
brother while fighting beneath the tri-colors of France. 

Upon the ending of the World War the returned soldiers formed 
the American Legion, which has a number of Posts in Perry 
County. Its preamble is a masterpiece : 



THE WORLD WAR AND PERRY COUNTY 587 

"For God and country we associate ourselves together for the following 
purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States; 
to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate one hundred per cent 
Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our association 
in the great war; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the state, 
community, and nation; to combat autocracy, both of the classes and the 
masses; to make right the master of might * * * to safeguard and trans- 
mit to posterity the principles of justice, freedom and democracy." 

The American Expeditionary Forces, like the fighting forces of 
all our wars, have left their impress upon the period. They left 
part of their number to sleep on foreign soil, and the rest are scat- 
tered throughout the land. The American Legion Weekly, in a 
poem entitled "Requiem," gives a pen picture of them, which is 
worthy of being recorded, as a tribute to their spirit : 

"It sprang from town and crossroads, when the call to battle came, 

And grinned and slung its pack upon its back ; 
It wrote red Chateau Thierry and the Argonne into fame, 

And swaggered, roaring down adventure's track. 
It took a blasting, killing job, and damned it and went through, 

It faced six hells as part of every day; 
In lousy barns and trenches, just before the whistle blew 

It sang of homes three thousand miles away. 

"It knew the sleepless box-car nights, the sweat, the drawn fatigue, 

It lined itself with "willie" and hard bread ; 
Its hobnailed columns pounded France, for league on rain-swept league, 

Its nearest dream of Heaven was a bed. 
Its days are done and ended now ; its taps are sounding clear, 

One last long note, "Farewell" — and it is gone ; 
It lives in distant memory, but that memory is dear, 

The soul of it alone still carries on." 

Were it possible to publish a cut of every Perry Countian who 
participated in the World War it would gladly be done, but that 
would fill a volume in itself. From among them we have chosen 
three who were from typical Perry County families, and from 
three different sections of the county : Lieut. Edward Moore, son 
of Dr. and Mrs. E. E. Moore, of New Bloomfield ; Sergeant Paul 
Fleisher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Amos Fleisher, of Oliver Township, 
and James G. Zimmerman, son of the late L. C. and Mrs. Zim- 
merman, of Duncannon. These three young men came from 
among the best and most substantial families of Perry County and 
were educated young men of promise and character, and one likes 
to think of them as representative of the rank and file which left 
the county for camp and cantonment, brave, resolute, and sturdy. 
Their photos are selected, for I knew them best. James Zimmer- 
man and Edward Moore I had known from their childhood, and 
Paul Fleisher, in young manhood, as a fellow student of a member 



g88 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

of my family in the Newport High School. Lieutenant Moore 
was killed in action in the Argonne Forest, September 23, 1918; 
Sergeant Paul Fleisher had been overseas with the Expeditionary 




LIEUT. EDWARD MOORE. 



SERGEANT PAUL FLEISHER. 




JAMES G. ZIMMERMAN. 

Forces and had reached 1 lohoken on the return with the victorious 
army when he died Janary 23, [919, and James Zimmerman died 
at the ( M'licers' Training Cam]), at Camp Taylor, Kentucky, of the 
dreaded influenza. 

The limited size of this volume admits of but the most brief 
record or roster of the noble band. They follow: 



THE WORLD WAR AND PERRY COUNTY 589 

Soldiers of tin'. Would War* 

Blain Borough. 
Dolby, Clarence, 47 Co., Group 4. W. T. D. C. O. K., iS I. R. T., Camp 

I [ancock, Ga. 
Gutshall, Benj. 

Gutshall, Geo. L., 3d Engineers, Canal Zone. 
Kern, Edward, U. S. New Hampshire Band, Ft. Monroe, \ a. 
Knox, Paid, ii-'th Inf. Supply Co., France. 
Knox, Stanley, 112th Inf. Supply Co., France. 
Martin, Arthur, Exca. Hosp. No. 38, Ft. McHenry, Md. 
Martin, George D., Marine Barracks, Hingham, Mass. 
.Martin, James (Sgt.), 314th Inf. N. A., France. 
Shannon, John Miles, 307th Engineers, France. 
Snyder, William, 336th Machine Gun Co., France. 
Spotts, Carl, N. C. O. Training School, Camp Greenleaf, Term. 
Wilt. Clarence R., 219th Aero Squadron. England. 
Woods, Dr. II. W. (Captain), Convalescent Camp No. 3, France. 

Bloomfield Borough. 

Adams, Frank A., Officers' Reserve Corps, Camp Oglethorpe, Ga. 

Adams, John P. (Captain), 7th Reg. M. G. Co., U. S. Marines, Cuba, U. 
S. Marine Corps since 1915. 

Adams, Raymond, S. A. T. C, Univ. of Pa. 

Askins, J. Stewart, 60th Pioneer Inf. Band. 

Briner, Leon B., Quartermaster's Corps, Camp Upton, N. Y. 

Bernheisel, Geo. H. (Captain), io2d Reg. Artillery; gassed Oct. 11, 1918; 
France. 

Bucher, John B., 463d Aero Squadron, France and Germany. 

Clouser, Duke P. (Sgt.), Infantry, Camp Taylor, Ky. 

Clouser, John, Heavy Artillery, France. 

Darlington, Jos. G., Sapper Troops, In transit, Nov. 11, 1918. 

Darlington, Paul W. (Master Eng'r S. C), Engineer Corps, France. 

DeLancey, Chas., Infantry, France. 

DeLancey, Harry, Infantry, France. 

Fox, Paul N. (Sgt.), Motor Transport Corps, France. 

Garber, Edgar M., Motor Transport Corps, France. 

Harper, D. Neil, Flying Cadet Aero Service; died Feb. 11, 1918, from acci- 
dental machine gun wounds; San Antonio, Texas. 

Johnston, John W., Cent. Medical Laboratory, England and France. 

Kell, Frank E., Instruc. Co., Signal Corps, Leavenworth, Kansas. 

Kell, George R. (1st CI. Sgt.), 25th Reg. Engineers, France. 

Keller, B. Frank, Trench Motor Battery, France. 

Logan, Robert, Mechanic (?) Aviation, France. 

Magee, John A. (2d Lt.), Aviation, Garden City, N. Y. 

Masterson, Edw. M. (1st Lt.), 1st Philippine Inf.; Reg. Army since 1905; 
Ft. McKinley, P. I. 

Miller, David, Quartermaster's Corps. Ice Plant Co. 301, France. 

Miller, James, Motor Transport Aviation School, St. Paul, Minn. 



*The list of soldiers was compiled by Dr. A. R. Johnston, of New Bloom- 
field who credits the following with rendering valuable assistance: 
Ralph B. Kell, L. M. Wentzel, Dr. E. C. Kistler, W. E. Meek, John 
Asper, F. A. Johnston, Dr. J. A. Sheibley, H. W. Robinson, Ezra Bupp 
Duncannon Record, B. Stiles Duncan, Harry G. Martin, A. L Long, D. A. 
Lahr, Harry L Stephens, M. E. Flickinger, Jas. R. Wilson, Harry \\ . 
Morris, John D. Snvder, G. E. Beck, Robert Loy, Marysville Journal, 
Charles O. Houck, Walter Harper, A. R. Thompson, Thomas L. Smith, 
Rev. Win. Dorwart. John S. Eby, James Bistline, Claude S. Fleisher, Linn 
C. Lightner, J. Claire Gray, Charles J. Swartz, Cyrus S. Bender. W. II. 
Grav, P. S. Dunbar, Ernesl M. Stambaugh, Harry I.. Soule, Russell Johns- 
ton," I.. E. Donnally, Dr. W. T. Morrow, J. R. Lepperd, John F. Moreland, 
E. C. Dile, Fairlie'M. DeLancey, and John Y. Wills. 



590 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Millington, Harold (Sgt), died July 18, 1918, from wounds received in 

Battle of Marne, France. 
Millington, Margt. M. (Nurse), R. C. Nurse, Evacu. Hosp. No. 26, France 

and Germany. 
Moore, Edward L. (2d. Lt.), 39th Reg. Inf. Wounded in Argonne Bat- 
tle, Sept. 28, 1918, and died in Evacuation Hospital No. 4, Sept. 30, 

1918. Regular Army since September, 1916. 
Myers, Henrv G. (Sgt.), 314th Machine Gun Company, France. 
Nickel, Ernest H., U. S. Marines, Washington, D. C. 
Ramsay, Jas. M. B. (Mast. Sgt.), 28th Inf. ; Regular Army since June, 

1917; France and Belgium. 
Seibert. W. W., S. A. T. C, State College, Pa. 
Shearer, Tames M., 109th Inf., France. 

Shearer, Louis G., M. G. O. T. Corps, Camp Hancock, Ga. 
Shumaker, Wilbur, 7th Field Artillery; died Oct. 13, 1918, from wounds 

received in Battle of Argonne, France. 
Stein, Dr. M. I. (1st. Lt.), Medical Service, Camp Travis, Texas. 
Stambaugh, Samuel, Infantry, Camp Lee, Va. 
Swartz, Paul G. (Musician), 59th Inf. Wounded doing first aid on lines 

at St. Martin, France ; U. S. Regulars ; France and Germany. 
Sweger, Edward M., Infantry, Camp Upton, N. Y. 
Sweger, Hobart M., Camp Hospital No. 40, England. 

Buffalo Township. 

Fortney, John W., Field Hospital No. 39, France. 

Johnson, Elmer, 128th Infantry; wounded; France. 

Johnson, Lawrence, 330th Ambulance Co., France. 

Killinger, Reuben, Camp Hancock, Ga. 

Knuth, Fred W., Camp Meade, Md. 

Miller, Harry A., 313th Mac. G. Batt ; gassed and otherwise injured; 
France. 

Moretz, Ralph, Motor Transport Corps, France. 

Nowark, Fred W. (Sgt.), R. R. Trans. Corps, 21st Div., France. 

Rhoads, Harry E., 169th Inf. Killed in action, Nov. 7, 1918, France. 

Rhoads, John W. (Sgt.), Quartermaster's Corps, Camp Eustis, Va. 

Rhoads, Ralph M., Infantry, Camp Lee, Va. 

Shriver, Charles, Camp Meade, Md. 

Shuler, Chester E. (Sgt., Sen. Grade), Quartermaster's Corps, Camp Han- 
cock, Ga. 

Stephens. Miles M., 56th Pioneer Inf., Camp Wadsworth, S. C. 

Carroll Township. 

Adams, Oscar, France. 

Adams, William W. 

Barrick, Guy, France. 

Beam, Elmer Nelson, Artillery, France. 

Beam, Herman, France. 

Beam, Rue, France. 

Bear, James, France. 

Boyer, Richard S.. 112th Inf. Wounded July 26, 1918, at Velse River. 

France. 
Dick, Cloyd O., Quartermaster's Corps, Camp Meade, Md. 
Dundorf, Lloyd P., Camp Meade, Md. 
Eberly, Norman M. 
Eberly, William A., France. 
Kerns, Roy W., Navy. 

Kitner. Foster S., 20th Engineers, United States. 
Long, Harry (Sgt.), Motor Mech., 3d Reg. Air S. 
Lupfer, Harry ('., Pioneer Inf., France. 
McCallister, Archie, Pioneer Inf., France. 
Meiss, Elwood, S. A. T. C. 
Owen, John, France. 
Sheaffer, Amos H., France. 



THE WORLD WAR AND PERRY COUNTY 591 

Sheibley, C. Wilmot, Med. Corps, 1 12th Ohio Eng., France. 

Sloop, John, Infantry. Killed in action, Sept. 30, 1918, France. 

Sloop, Russell, 23d Infantry, France. 

Smee, John H., Pioneer Infantry, France. 

Smith, John, France. 

Stone, Charles Wilson, 28th Infantry, France. 

Stone, John H., France. 

Sweger, James O., Ambulance Driver, France. 

Weise, Floyd. 

Yolin, Lawrence, Heavy Artillery, France. 

Centre Township. 

Bupp, John E., Aviation, Garden City, N. Y. 

Foose, Charles W., Casual Battalion, Camp Merritt, N. V. 

Gantt, Bruce, Aviation, Kelly Field, Texas. 

Gantt, Lloyd W., Infantry, France. 

Heckendorn, Wm. M., died of disease, Camp Meade, Aid. 

Kepner, Arden B., Infantry, France. 

Myers, Henry G., 314th M. G. C, Reg. Army, France. 

Myers, Vernon, Camp Dix. 

Rodemaker, Benj., 332d M. G. C, ; slight shrapnel wound; France and 

Italy. 
Rodemaker, John F. T., 317th Supply Co., France. 
Sheaffer, Horace, Quartermaster's Corps, France. 
Smith, J. Roy, Navy. 
Thebes, Henry, 60th Inf. Captured Oct. 15, 1918, at Metz, and held at 

Lemberg and Rastatt until Dec. 12, 1918; France and Germany. 
Zeigler, John F., 3d Battalion, United tSates. 

Duncannon. 

Alander, Willis Wilmer, 77th Field Artillery, France. 

Barringer, Arthur P., Machine Gun Tr. Camp, Camp Hancock, Ga. 

Barringer, Francis, Aviation Mechanic, Camp Rockview, Cal. 

Barringer, W. Van. 

Black, Clyde E. 

Bolden, James A. 

Boyer, Elton W., Artillery Officer Tr. Camp, Camp Custer, Mich. 

Boyer, George H. (Sgt., Sr. Grade), Quartermaster's Corps, Camp Mer- 
ritt, N. J. 

Boyer, Wallace K. (Sgt.), Headqtrs., 3d Army, France; Ambulance Co. 
No. 342, Camp Grant, 111. 

Bucke, Samuel, Medical Department, Wash., D. C. 

Collins, Elmer P., 314th Infantry, France. 

Cretzinger, John I., 314th Infantry, France. 

Dearolf, Abram (Master Engineer), 35th Engineers, France. 

Derick, J. Homer, 40th Engineers, France. 

Dunkle, Harry M., U. S. S. Winding-Gulf. 

Ellis, F. B., Sig. Corps, Aviation Sec, France. 

Fortenbaugh, Harrison Reid, 318th Field Hospital, France. 

Foster, Walter, Washington, D. C. 

Freeburn, C. A., 315th Tank Corps, Camp Cold and Camp Dix. 

Fuller, W. E., France. 

Hamilton, Elmer E. (Sgt.), Medical Dept., Gen. Hosp. 8, 30th Engineers 
Otisville, N. Y. 

Hamilton, G. C, 30th Engineers. 

Hammaker, Charles, 107th M. G. B. 

Hart, John L. (Sgt.), 77th Field Artillery, France. 

Hart, John R., Flying Cadet, Mili. School of Aeronautics, Urbana 111 

Hart, Lane Scofield (1st CI. Sgt.), Ambulance Co. 342, 68th Div., France 

Hart, Wm. B., Wagoner, Evac. Arab. Co. No. — , France. 

Hays, W. Linn, 342d M. G. B., France. 

Heckendorn, Wm. Roy, Ambulance Section, France. 

Hockenberry, Berlin E., Aviation Corps, Lake Charles, La. 



^ J2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA 

Jennings, Crisl L., ioist Field Artillery, R. D., France. 
Jennings, Ross S. (Sgt.), nth Engineers, France, 
rennings, W. W. (Sgt.), 4th Div. P. O. D., France. 
Kennedy, A. L-, S. A. T. C, Bethlehem, Pa. 
Kines, Norman W.. 313th Field Artillery, France. 
Kirkpatrick, Samnel Blake, 305th Infantry, France. 
Klinepeter, Frank L. (Sgt.), 58th Infantry, France. 
Knight, Lawrence, 20th Cavalry, Ft. Riley, Kan. 
LaForm, Horace B., Headquarter's Department, Guatanamo, Cuba. 
Lepperd, Floyd Charles, Chem. Div., Washington, D. C. 
Light, Frank F., 1st N. H. Infantry. 
Ughtner, Herman, 112th Infantry. Died Jan. 14, 1910, from accident in 

France ; France. 
Loper, Joshua Gladden, 21st Engineers, France. 
Lowe, Fred Thomas, 155th Dep. Brigade, Camp Lee, Va. 
Lukens, Elton, 304th Am. Train, France. 
Mikle, Oren, 107th Field Artillery, Camp Hancock, Ga. 
Nolde, R. A., 112th Infantry. 

Noss, Oscar Fritz (Lt. Col.), Construction Dept., Washington, D. C. 
Noss, S. Russell, 110th M. G. Co.. Camp Hancock, Ga. 
Noye, David R., 15th Training Div. 
Owen, William. 
Poff, Harvey. 

Poff, Joseph (Sgt.), Ambulance Co. 338, Russia. 
Poff, Roy H., Ambulance Co. 362, Camp Lewis, Wash. 
Quigley, Clinton Howard, 61 st Engineers, France. 
Raisner, Florian R. 

Reynolds, Robert R., 154th Depot Brigade, Camp Meade, Md. 
Richter, John Harper (Sgt.), Marines, Guatanamo, Cuba, Port an Prince, 

Haiti. 
Knsborough, F. Win, 310th Engineers, France, 
knsborough, John E., 323d Reg.F. A. 
Sterner, Jacob, 109th Machine Gun. Killed in action. 
Stewart, William A., Aux. Depot No. 312, Camp Sheridan, Ala. 
Toland, Thomas E., France. 

Wills, John Y-. Ambulance Section, with French Army, France. 
Wolpert, Earl N., Ambulance Co. 344; died of disease; Camp Clark, Tex. 
Wright, Harry Clayton, Med. Dept., Camp Greenleaf, Ga. 
Wright, Orville Harrison, Wagoner, 312th M. G Co., France. 
Zeigler, George Morris (Sgt.), 304th Eng. T., 79th Div., France. 
Zerfing, George R. 
Zimmerman, Tames G., F. A. Training School; died of disease; Camp 

Taylor, Ky. 

Greenwood Township. 

Anderson, Raymond S., noth Inf. Wounded in Sergie Woods, July 28, 

1918, France. 
Anderson, Wilbur G., 110th Inf. Killed in action, Roucher's Woods, July, 

29, 1918, France. 
Earner, George E., Expert Rifleman. 332d Regiment, France and Italy 
Beaver, Ralph G.. M. Gun Off. Training Camp, Camp Hancock, Ga. 
Bucher, Emery A., 314th Inf., Med. Dept., France. 
Cameron, George J., Wagoner, 304th Ammunition Train, France. 
Cauffman, Emery J., Medical Department, Overseas. 
Cauffman, Wesley M., 349th Infantry, France. 
Dillman, Earl, 322d Infantry, France. 
Doughten, John J., United States. 

Frey, Annabelle D. (Nurse), Base Hospital No. 57, France. 
Grubb, Norman M., 43d Infantry, United States. 
Hogentogler, John I... 314th Infantry, France. 

Holman, Edward 1,. (1st Lt.), I52d Depot Brigade, United States. 
Kramer, James 1... 112th Infantry, France. 
Markley, Norman S.. <Juartermaster's Detach., Camp Lee, Va, 



THE WORLD WAR AND PERItt COUNTY 593 

Minium, Ezra H. 

Sarver, Warren R., 110th Inf. Under constant shell fire from July 4, 

1918, until Sept. _7, 1918, when he was severely wounded; France. 
Satzler, Roscoe L, 125th Infantry, France. 
Snook, Ernest B., 112th Regiment, France. 

Troutman, Horace, Orderly to Gen. Cloe, Quartermaster's Office, Haiti. 
Ward, D. Karl, Wagoner, 314th Infantry, France. 

Howe Township. 

Freeland, David F., Camp Greenleaf, Ft. McHenry. 

Henderson, Elmer E., Co. G., 145th Infantry, France and Belgium. 

kirkpatrick, H. E., Camp Lee, Va. 

Oren, Melvin, Co. E., 103d Art. Amu. Tr., France and Belgium. 

Shull, Marlin, Evac. Camp, Co. 49, France and Germain. 

Jackson Township. 

Berrier, Charles, 2d Bn. Inf. Replacm., England. 

Rritcher, Miles, 314th Infantry, France. 

Gibbens, Maurice, United States. 

Gibbens, William, United States. 

Gutshall, David B., 1st Evac. Hospital, Camp Greenleaf, ('.a. 

Gutshall, Foster L- (2d Lt.), United States. 

Hall, William F. (2d Lt.), United States. 

Hockenherry, James, 155th Detroit Brigade, France. 

Kunkle, Harry, Base Hospital, Camp Meade, Md. 

Moreland, John F., 112th Inf. Severely wounded in action in shoulder, 

near Vesle River, Aug. 7, 1918, France. 
Neidigh, Orth, Co. 3, Bn. 1, Camp Greenleaf, Ga. 
Pryor, Hayes V., 312th Cavalry, Ft. Sheridan. 
Pryor, L. B., 3d U. S. Cavalry. 

Pryor, Nellie F. (Nurse), Base Hospital No. 8, France. 
Pryor, Sarah E. (Nurse), Gen. Hospital No. 2, Ft. McHenry, Md. 
Pryor, S. C, 339th Field Art., Camp Dodge. 
Rohm, Banks, 16th Bn. and I. R. C, France. 
Shanafelter, Guy D., 23d Engineers, France. 
Shumaker, Leslie, Tank Corps, Camp Colt, Pa. 
Stahl, Clarence, Ammunition Train, France. 

Sunday, Pierce (Sgt), 112th Headquarters Inf., Camp Hancock, Ga. 
Waldsmith, Earl G., 29th Infantry, Canal Zone. 
Wilt, John Lloyd, 56th Pioneer Infantry, France. 

Juniata Township. 
Brown, Russell. 

Flickinger, J. Clarence, United States. 
Hench, Allen, Navy. 

Latchford, Chester A., Mechanic, 9th Inf., Reg. Army, France. 
Latchford, John R. W., wounded in right arm at Soissons, July [8, [918, 

France. 
Leinaweaver, Harvey J.. 106th Field Artillery, France. 
Leinaweaver, Robert B., I2ist Machine Gun B., France and Germany. 
Leubergh, Lester. 
Patton, Carl. 
Patton, Ralph. 
Reeder, James Albert. 
Shotzberger, Norman. 
Shotzberger, William. 

Sheaffer, Graphus, Camp Hosp. 941, France. 

Shumaker, Guy R., Evac. Hospital, No. 45. Camp Greenleaf, ('.a. 
Smith, Luther. 
Smith, Chester. 
Smith. 

Staples, Oscar, died of diesase, United States. 
Walker, Earl, France. 
38 



594 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Landisburg Borough. 

Burtnett, Charles F., 15th Engineering Corps, France. 

Burtnett, George P., Base Hospital No. 80, France. 

Gibson, Robert, 50th Inf., Med. Corps. 

Keck, Oliver B., Medical Corps, Georgia. 

Lightner, Bowman E., Aviation, France 

Lightner, Hobson S., Coast Artillery, Philippine Islands. 

Lightner, Noy I. (1st CI. Sgt.), Signal Corps, United States. 

Mumper, Frank L., 41st Div. Inf., France. 

Wertz, Vernon A., 167th Reg., Co. C. France. 

Liverpool Borough. 
Barner, Emmett E. (2d Lt.), Construction Engineers, United States. 
Boger, Dr. Geo. M. (1st Lt.), 1st Army Headquarters, France. 
Brink Ellismere (2d Lt.), 190th Aero Squadron, United States. 
Dehaven, J. Wesley (Sgt. Mjr.), 5ist Coast Art. Corps. Killed in action, 

Oct. 17, 1918, France. 
Hoffman, Russell, noth Infantry, United States. 
House, Jas. G., 5th Un. Marines, France. 

Kurtz, Edward M., 103d Ammunition Train, France. 

Kurtz' Marshal L., 504th Laundry Co., France. 

Long, Harvev, Field Hospital No. 29, France. 

Lutz, Elmer E., 6th Military Police Co., France. 

Lutz, Geo. T. (Sgt.), 3d Motor Mechanics, France. 

McKinn, Robert R., 316th Infantry, France. 

Morris, Harry W., Wagoner, 55th Sanitary Squadron, France. 

Mottern, Chas., M. Engineer, 6th Engineers, France. 

Murray, Wm. H., Bugler, 2d Air Park Co., France. 

Ritter,'Deckard, U. S. S. Wyoming, foreign waters. 

Seiler, Norman, 155th Depot Brigade, United States. 

Shumaker, Wm. M., 154th Depot Brigade, United States. 

Snyder, Eldon W., 2d Air Service Mechanic, France. 

Williamson, Ralph (Sgt), Quartermaster's Dept., West Point, U. S. 

Wilt, Norman J., 304th Signal Battalion, France. 

Zellers, Park L., 14th Field Artillery, France. 

Liverpool Townshtp. 

Hoffman, G. Cleveland, 314th Infantry, Co. C, France. 

Long, Herman. 372d Aero Squadron, France. 

Long, J. Russell, noth Infantry, France. 

Mangle, Ross, 533d Ambulance Co., Base Hospital No. 71. In hospital 
four months on account of injuries received in fall from ambulance 
train, France. 

Sweezy, Josiah, 314th Infantry, France. 

Watts,' Guy M., nth Field Artillery. France. 

Madison Township. 
Baltozer, Benjamin B., Machine Gun Bat., Quantico, Ya. 
Baltozer, Jacob, Officers' Training Camp, Atlanta, Ga. 
Bechtel, Albert. 

Brickner, Cloyd C, 33<1 Infantry, Canal Zone. 
Cooney, Andrew, Infantry, Camp Meade, Md. 
Cooney, Cloyd W., Camp Meade, Md. 
DeLancev, Alford, United States. 

Dillman, Jesse, Cook, 314th Regiment, Camp Meade, Md., and France. 
Flickinger, Frank A., 7-d Infantry, Camp Meade, Md. 
Flickinger, George, 155th Depot Brigade, France. 
Foose, Frank E., Camp Dix. 
Foose, George, 3d Infantry. Canal Zone. 
Foose, John, Panama. 
Foose, Lee, Oversea. 
Fritz, Frank, France. 
Gutshall, Harry, 20th Engineers. Died of disease, Washington, D. L. 



THE WORLD WAR AND PERRY COUNTY 595 

Gutshall, Harry R, 314th Regiment, France. 

I [eckendorn, Miles, United States. 

Hench, John, France. 

Hench, Roy, < I i v ■ < 1 of disease. France. 

Hench, Thomas, France. 

Hess, John Albert, 56th Pioneer Infantry. France and Germany. 

Hess, Roy L,ee, 56th Pioneer Infantry, France and Germany. 

Hockenberry, Robert, United States. 

Hollenbaugh, Roy, 363d Regiment, France. 

Irvin, W. 1... Sharpshooter, 314th Infantry, France. 

Johnson, John W., 311.4th Engineers, France. 

Junkin, Harry B., 155th Depot Brigade, Camp Lee, Va. 

Lightner, Herman, Camp Meade, Aid. 

Lyons, David R., 303d Inf., 91st Div., France and Belgium. 

Lyons, Jerry, 314th Inf., 70th Div.. France. 

Metz, Jesse R., 103d Ammunition Train, Oversea. 

Morrison, Win., 146th Infantry ; wounded in hip ; France. 

Mort, James K., 119th Infantry, France. 

Motzer, John, 314th Infantry. Died of disease; United States. 

Moyer, Herbert, 363d Inf., 91st Div., France. 

Moyer, William. 

Nesbit, Earl A., l62d Infantry, France. 

Reapsome, James, 363d Inf., 91st Div., Oversea. 

Reed, Lee, 7th Division, France. 

Rowe, Chester, Wagoner, 314th Infantry, France. 

Rowe, William A. 

Scott. Merle. 

Sheaffer, Roy, Hdq. Co., 112th Inf., 28th Div., France. 

Seilhamer, Luther, Oversea. 

Shope, Samuel, 155th Depot Brigade, Camp Lee, Va. 

Smith, Charles R., 155th Depot Brigade, Camp Lee, Va. 

Smith, K. P., 56th Pioneer Infantry, France and Germany. 

Smith, Ralph K., Infantry, 41st Division, France. 

Snyder, Arthur, United States. 

Snyder, Lenas, Oversea. 

Stroup, W. R., 112th Inf. Gassed at Fismes, Aug. 21, 1918, France. 

Wentz, Samuel, Army Training Detach., Cambridge Springs. 

Weibley, Shelburn, United States. 

Yohn, James, 314th Field Artillery, France. 

Yohn, Joseph, 20th Field Artillery Supply Co., France. 

Yohn, Jos. A. H., 20th Field Artillery, Camp Stanley. 

Yohn, Russell Stroup, France. 

Zimmerman, George (1st Lt.), 318 Field Artillery, Camp Jackson. 

MarysvillE. 

Anspach, Paul (Sgt.), 3 Cavalry, Camp Clark, Tex. 

Bare, Dewey O., S. A. T. C., Myerstown, Pa. 

Bare, Earl H., Bugler, Engineers, France. 

Barshinger, Blain, Infantry. Died of pneumonia, Oct. 15, 1918, France. 

Beers, Walter B., Bugler, Engineers, France. 

Benfer, James, S. A. T. C, State College. 

Bitting, Berkley, Gunner's Mate, U. S. S. Louisiana. 

Bitting, Laurie (Sgt.), 78th Field Artillery, Egypt and Palestine. 

Bitting, Thomas B., Signal Service, France. 

Bratton, Harry, S. A. T. C, Lancaster, Pa. 

Brightbill, Ellard, Cavalry, Passadena, Cal. 

Brightbill, James, Field Artillery. Died Oct. 23, 1918, of pneumonia, 

France. 
Carnes, William (Captain), Quartermaster's Corps, Newport News, Va. 
Clendenin, Martin J., Quartermaster's Corps, Camp Lee, Va. 
Cunningham, Wm. (Sgt.), Field Artillery, France. 
Damn, Andrew, noth Infantry, Camp Lee, Va. 
Davis, J. D., 314th Machine Gun Co., France. 



596 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Deckard, Harry M., Gen. Hospital 36, Detroit, Mich. 

Dice, N'iles F. (Sgt.), 5th Field Artillery, France. 

Dick, Frank T., 313th Field Artillery, France. 

Dissinger, V. T., Ammunition Train, Camp Meade, Md. 

EUenberger, Paul (Sgt.), Officers' Training Camp, Waco, Texas. 

Eppley, Roger, 67th Reg. Trans. Corps., France. 

Eppley, S. Arthur, C. O. T. S., Camp Lee, Va. 

Fenicle, Harry, Infantry, Camp Freemont. 

Fenicle, Russell, S. A. T. C, Pittsburgh. 

Fortenbaugh, Reid, 318th Field Hospital, France. 

Gandy, William H, 3d Regiment, France. 

Gault, Harry, Base Hospital 61, France. 

Gault, Miss Jennie (Nurse), Red Cross Nurse, France. 

(Iain, John L. (Sgt.), 155th Depot Brigade. Camp Lee, Va. 

Hammaker, Joseph, 304th Engineers, France. 

Hess, George A. (Sgt.), 19th Engineers, France. 

Hippie, Herman H., 155th Depot Brigade, Camp Lee, Va. 

Jones, K. C, 314th Infantry, Camp Meade, Md. 

Keller, Wm. T., U. S. Marines, France. 

Kennedy, Cassius M., S. A. T. C, Myerstown, Pa. 

Kennedy, Lester, Squadron E, Selifige Field, Mich. 

Kline, Frank (Sgt.), 303d Reg. U. S. Engineers, France. 

Kocher, L. K., Quartermaster's Corps, Camp Merritt, N. Y. 

Leonard, Jesse F., 5th Co. C, M. G. O. T. S., Camp Hancock, Ga. 

Lick, Alton W. (2d Lt.), 31st Field Artillery, Camp Meade, Md. 

Lightner, Joseph K., S. A. T. C, State College, Pa. 

Lightner, Linn C, 6th Co., Del. C. A. C, Ft. Du Pont, Del. 

Longanecker, Benjamin, 3d Class Quartermaster, U. S. S. Wisconsin. 

Luckenbaugh, John C, Camp Wheeler, Ga. 

Martin, Miss Blanche, U. S. Debark. Hos. No. 3, New York City. 

McConnell, Bryan C, Camp Lee, Va. 

Mendinghall, A. M., 5th Div. Ammunition Train, France. 

Miller, Harry, 6th Reg. C. & C, France. 

Miller, Robert, Motor Truck Co. 105, France. 

Mutch, Harry, 25th Aero Squadron, France. 

Mutch, Haven, 1st Inf. M. G. Co., Camp Lewis, Wash. 

Naylor, George R., Quartermaster's Corps, France. 

Neff, Edward N., Embarkation Hospital, Camp Stuart, Va. 

Palmer, Robert (2d Lt.), 4th Officers' Co., I. R. T. T., Camp Grant. 111. 

Palmer, Vernon, 15th Engineers, France. 

Palmer, W. Foster, 5th Field Artillery, 1st Div., France. 

Picerilli, Antonio, 314th Infantry, France. 

Pierson, Frank A., Mechanic, 314th Infantry, France. 

I'inci, Guiseppo, 314th Infantry, France. 

Radabaugh, Wm. R., Quartermaster's Corps, Camp Gatun, Canal Zone. 

Reynolds, H. M., Camp Hospital 35, England. 

Rhinehart, John, Field Hospital 23, France. 

Rice, Josenh (2d Lt.), Hgd. 3d Bat. Der Camp, Camp Upton, N. V. 

Rider, Bruce, S. A. T. C, Carlisle, Pa. 

Rinehart, Burt, Camp Raritan, N. Y. 

Roberts, Edgar, Pittsburgh S. A. T. C, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Robinson, E. W, Camp Wadsworth, S. C. 

Sellers, Miss Nellie, U. S. Navy, Yeowoman. 

Shearer, John, S. A. T. C, State College, Pa. 

Slmmaker, Charles, 1st Class Gunner's Mate, Submarine K-l. 

Shumaker, Dawson, Navy, Seattle, Wash. 

Smith, Edgar S., 304th Engineers, France. 

Smith, Ralph A., 107th Field Signal Bn., France. 

Snyder, Dr. C. R. (Captain), Med. Det. 5th A111111. Train, France. 

Sommers, Jesse, Petersburg, Va. 

Speck, Russell, Navy, U. S. S. Louisiana. 

Spiedel, Howard, killed in action, May 23, 1918, France. 

Stouffer, Paul, 314th Infantry, Camp Meade, Md. 



THE WORLD WAR AND PERRY COUNTY 597 

Swart/, Ray, 311th Tank Corps, France. 

Sweger, Charles, 303d Center Tank Corps, France. 

Troy, John D., 1 ^th Balloon Co., France. 

\ itullo, Edward, 35th Engineers, France. 

Wallace, John T. R., 155th Depot Brigade, Camp Lee, Va. 

Weaver, John, 23d Machine Gun Battalion, Camp Freemont, Cal. 

Weaver. John M., U. S. Marine Corps, San Juan, D. R. 

West, Mrs. Florence Miller, Red Cross Nurse, Philadelphia, Pa. 

Westfall, Harry, Hohoken, N. J. 

White, Miss Grace, Red Cross Nurse, France. 

Whitmyer, Ambrose, Camp Lee, Va. 

Whitmyer, Thomas, Camp Jackson, S. C. 

Wileman, L. Edison, S. A. T. C. State College, Pa. 

Wise, Miss Elsie E., Red Cross Nurse, France. 

Wise, M. L. (Sgt), Kelly Field, Texas. 

Wolf, Elmer E., Co. L, 358th Infantry, France. 

Zimmerman, Albert, M. O. T. C, France. 

Zimmerman, George. British waters. Tor. B. Cummings. 

Zimmerman, Elmer, U. S. S. Dixie, Navy, France 

Mii.lkr Towns 1 1 rp. 

Baker, Albert, Infantry, France. 

Baker, Edward, Camp Lee, Va. 

Baker, Walter, Camp Meade. Md. 

Campbell, Charles, Aviation, Texas. 

Campbell, Harry F., Artillery, Camp Meade, Md. 

Campbell, Joseph, Hospital, Baltimore, Md. 

Hammaker, Harry, Camp Meade, Md. 

Harper, W'alter, Motor Transport., Camp Jessup, Ga. 

Henderson, Elmer, France. 

Kraft, Austin, Military Police, France. 

Potter, Paul, Camp Meade, Md. 

Roush, Nevin, Infantry, France. 

Smee, Raymond, Infantry, France. 

MlLLERSTOWN. 

Allen, Lee T., Aero Photo. Service, United States. 

Brown, Israel, 320 Supply Train, Camp Meade, Md. 

Coffman, George, 16th Infantry. Wounded July 19, 1918, on Alsace-Marne 

Front; gassed Oct. 2, 1918, on Meuse-Argonne Front; France and 

Germany. 
Diffenderfer. Guy. 20th M. G. Bat., foreign service. 
Fahnestock, Wm. H., Camp Lee, Va. 
Fry, Emory R., 355th Bat. Tank Corps, Oversea. 
Garman, Robert H., 363d Inf. Died Feb. js~ 1010, from wounds; foreign 

service. 
Gearhart, Mont. (Sgt.), Med. Dept., la Manic, foreign service. 
Hall, Roscoe W. (Major), Medical Dept.; two stars and four gold stripes; 

France, England, and Scotland. 
Hetrick, Esther S. (Nurse), Mussel Shoals. Ala., U. S. 
Holman, A. L. (ist Lt.L Med. Corps, United States. 
Knight, Edward S., 44th C. A. C. Killed Sept. 27, 1918, France. 
Knight, Lawrence L., 78th Field Artillery, foreign service 
Lahr, J. Banks, S. A. T. C, United States. 
Leonard, Thomas P. (Sgt.), 394th Engineers, France. 
Liddick, Charles W., four stars on service ribbon ; foreign service. 
Liddick, H. J., 155th Depot Brigade, Camp Lee, Va. 
Miller, Earl H., 23d Engineers, France. 

Newman, George D. (Drill Sgt.), 112th Infantry, Camp Hancock, Ga. 
Newman, W. V., 869th Transportation; three service stripes; France. 
Powell, D. S., 314th Infantry, France. 

Rhoades, Simon L., Wagoner, 304th Engineer's Train, France. 
Rounsley, S. Nelson, Base Hospital 34, France. 



59§ 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Roush, John W., 301st Infantry, foreign service, France. 

Km we, Raymond A., Aviation, foreign service. 

Shenk, Robert F, mSth Field Artillery, France. 

Stewart, Percy E., Infantry, United States. 

Swartz, Casper W., 314th Infantry, France. 

Taylor, W. Rodney, Med. Department, United States. 

Ulsh, C. Kenneth (2d Ft.), Infantry, United States. 

Ulsh, Edgar A., 11 6th Infantry, France. 

Ulsh, James E., 23d Engineers, France. 

Wagner, Harry E., 306th Field Artillery; on firing line 108 days, with five 

off ; France. 
Yohn, George G., 58th Infantry, United States. 

New Buffalo. 
Bair, Clarence. 
Bixler, Thomas J. 
Bowman, Benjamin T. 
Freet, Charles H. 

Howe, Miles, 112th Infantry, Camp Hancock, Ga. 
Liddick, Noble C, 304th Engineers, France. 

McMorris, Ralph W., Field Hospital No. 29, Camp Logan, Texas. 
Noblet, Thomas L-, 314th Infantry, France. 

Newport. 

Armstrong, H. H. (Ft. Jr. Grade), Ordinance, Navy, United States. 

Beasom, Charles A., 145th Infantry, France and Belgium. 

Bassett, Charles P., Wagoner, 1st Engineers, France and Germany. 

Beatty, Earl, Musician, Y. M. C. A., France. 

Bechtel, Alfred, 304th Remount Sta„ United States. 

Bitner, Charles D., 118th Infantry, France. 

Bosserman, Charles (Sgt.), Med. Corps, United States. 

Bowerson, Wm. M., 155th Depot Brigade, United States. 

Bnrkepile, Roy, 314th Infantry, France. 

Butz, Jesse E., 314th Infantry; wounded in action; France. 

Clay, C. E., 45th Balloon Co.; gassed; France. 

Cooney, Cloyd W., Wagoner, 304th Engineers, France and Germany. 

Davis, John F., 808th Aero Squadron. 

DeLancey, Fairlie M., 103d Signal Battalion ; wounded in action ; France 

Demaree', Frank (S. M., 1st class), U. S. N. Aviation, France. 

Demaree, Harry S. (S. M. 1st class), U. S. N. Aviation, France. 

Demaree, D. Ralph (1st Lt.), Quartermaster's Corps, France and England. 

Doner, Clyde, S. A. T. C, United States. 

Dorwart, Frederick G. (Captain), Aviation Flyer, United States. 

Dorwart, George M. (2d Lt.), 15th Machine Gun Bat; severely wounded; 

France. 
Drake, Charles A. (Captain), 3d Infantry; Victory Service Ribbon, three 

stars ; France and Germany. 
Dudley, Harvey E., Bugler, 155th Depot Brigade, United States. 
Dunn, Samuel M., Ordinance, 1st Battalion, United States. 
Eby, Chas. McH. (Ft. Col. Adj.), 160th Brigade, France. 
Evans, Philip A., 9th Infantry, Germany. 

Fickes, Edgar B., 1st Prov. Guard, Train Battalion. United States. 
Fickes, Stanley G. (Lt.), Fid. Trg. Depot, United States. 
Flickinger, Herbert M., Gunner, Navy, France waters. 
Flickinger, Ralph, 346th Transport, France. 
Fry, George R. (Color Sgt.), C. O. T. S., United States. 
Fulton, David, 41st Balloon Co., United States. 
Fulton, Orville, C. O. T. S., United States. 
Gantt, Paul T., 103d Sanitary Train, France. 
Gunderman, J. Lawrence, Y. M. C. A., France. 
Gutshall, Roy, 103d Engineers; gassed; France. 
Heckendorn, Miles, 147th Engineers, United States. 
Hench, Rodney, S. A. T. C, United States. 



THE WORLD WAR AND PERRY COUNTY 599 

Hersh, James E. 
Hockenberry, Merle. 

Hockenberry, James K. , . , 

Hoke Edward E., Battery Mechanic, United States. 

lckes,' David C. (Sgt.), 14* Grand Div. K. T. C; gassed; France and 

Germany. 
I ones, Clyde C, 153d Depot Brigade, United States. 
Kapp., John 55th Infantry, France. 

Kauffman, Gustave C, 60th Infantry, 1- ranee and Germany. 
Keen, James G. (Sgt.), Base Hospital No. 60, France. 
Kell, Russell, S. A. T. C, United States. 

Kell, Warren E. (Sgt.), 4th Motor Supply Tram, France and Germany. 
Kipp, Miss Bird (Nurse), France. . 

Kuhn, Oscar S. (Sgt.), S. A. T. C. Aviation, United States. 
Lahr, Max G., S. A. T. C, United States 
Leiter, Herman L. (1st CL Sgt.), Hospital Tram 56, France. 
Light. Horace, D. M. E. & E. S., France. 

Manning, Frank (S. M., 1st Class), U. S. N. Aviation, United States. 
Manning, Cloyd (1st CL Sgt.), 1st U. S. Engineers; gassed; France and 

Germany. 
Markel, Leslie, S. A. T. C, United States. 
McCulloch, D. H. (Sr. Lt.), Naval Aviation, United States. 
McNaughton, Charles (Sgt.), 1st Engineers, France and Germany. 
Miller, Herbert, I02d Infantry; wounded and gassed; captured by Huns; 

France. 
Murtiff, Carl, C. W. S., United States. 
Oren, Joe B., 42d Coast Artillery, France. 
Oren, John R., 51st Howitzer Reg., France. 
Oren, Melvin M., Cook, 103d A. T., France and Belgium. 
Page] Lawrence, 37th Artillery, United States. 
Page, Willard, 14th Balloon Co., France and Germany. 
Peterman, Albert, 211th F. S. Bn., United States. 
Reeder C Landis, Marines, United States. 
Reeder, Louis E. (Sgt.), Infantry, unassigned, United States. 
Rice, William, 327th Fire and Guard, United States. 

Rush, Harry M., 9th Infantry, France. 

Sanderson, Samuel P., 54th Infantry, France. 

Shreffler, David E. (Sgt.), Med. Corps, United States. 

Shuman, Frank (Sgt.), Intel. Dep. Amer. Embassy, France. 

Smith, Chester. 

Smith, Floyd H., C. W. S., United States. 

Smith, Rodney T., C. A. C, United States 

Smith Roy B., Fireman, Naval Reserve, England and France. 

Smith! Thomas L. (Band Sgt), 314th Inf., Hg. Co., France. 

Soule, Edwin K., S. A. T. C, United States. 

Soule, William H., unassigned, United States. 

Sunday, J. Layton (Lt.), 32d C. A. C, United States 

Swab, Harry, 336th Bn. Tank, France, Germany, and England. 

Sweg'er, Thomas W., 60th Infantry, France. 

Wagner, Charles, 24th Spruce Squadron, United States. 

Wagner, J. K., 8th Field Artillery, France. 

Wagner, Harry K. 

Wagner, Roy A., 314th Infantry, Co. B., France. 

Wertz, H. Ray (2d. Lt.), 101st Div. Inf. Repl., United States. 

White' Cloyd K., 134th Spruce Squadron, United States. 

White' Earl D., 9th Corps, Headquarters T., France. 

Wilson, Paul A., S. A. T. C, United States. 

Wright, Charles W., 304th Engineers, I- ranee. 

Wright J Fred (Sgt.), 1st Engineers, France and Germany. 

Wright', Miss Mary (R. C. Nurse), Base Hospital No. 36. France. 

Wright, Russell, 3d Balloon Co., France and Germany. 

Zeiders', Harry, 43d Balloon Co., France. 



600 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Oliver Township. 

\cker, Lee W., 112th Field Artillery; gassed; France. 
Campbell, Arthur L. (Sgt.), Medical Department, Ft. McHenry, Md. 
Campbell, Harry. 

Carl, John W., 110th Infantry. Captured July 15, 1918, 4 months; France. 
Clay, Charles E., 45th Infantry, France. 
Claybaugh, Ed., 51st Reg., Bat. E., France. 
Crist. Charles B., 103d Infantry, France. 
Dietz, Aldie A., 145th Infantry, France. 
Dudley, Harvey E., 155th Infantry, Camp Lee, Ya. 
Fealtman, Harvey A., 103d Infantry, France. 
Fisher, Bradford W. 
Fisher, Raymond D. 
Fleisher, Paul E. (Sgt.), Ordinance Dept. Died of disease, Jan. 23, 1919, 

at Hoboken ; France. 
George, David H. 
Henry, Floyd H. 

Hohenshildt, Irvin E., 315th Field Artillery, France. 
Hohenshildt, Ralph A., 304th Infantry. Wounded and gassed; France. 
Jeffries, E. J. 
Jury, Albert J. 

Kennedy, Loy, Camp Lee, Va. 
Marshal, Richard. 

Myers, Chester M., 56th Engineers, France. 
Reamer, John, United States. 
Rush, Harry, 9th Infantry, France. 
Sharp, Paul W. 
Wright, Frederick C. 

Penn Township. 

Achenbach, George W., 35th Engineers. 

Achenbach, Howard (Sgt), Quartermaster's Dept., Camp Meade, Aid. 

Barocini, John, 314th Infantry, Camp Green, N. C. 

Bolden, Loy Arnold (Sgt.), 110th Infantry, France. 

Crist, Charles, 103d Engineers. 

Grabill, Benjamin Boyer, 4th Div. M. S. T. 

Graff, John R., 54th C. A. C, France. 

(Griffith, Joseph, 304th Engineers, France. 

Gross, John M., Med. Dep., 310th Engineers, N. Russia. 

Gross, Lake, Aero Squad, Kelly Field, Texas. 

Haas, J. Earl, 314th Infantry, France. 

Harris, Wm, Coast Artillery, Ft. Totten, N. Y. 

Hetrick, Lloyd L., 314th Infantry, France. 

Hockenberry, Wilbert, 314th Infantry, France. 

Koons, Wm. Elbert, 29th Infantry, Canal Zone. 

Leonard, George, Replacement. Died Oct. 14, 1918; Camp Oglethorpe. 

Lightner, Robert E., 39th Infantry, France. 

Maguire, W. R., 6th U. S. Engineers, France. 

Maxwell, Calvin J., Coast Artillery Corps, France. 

Maxwell, Clarence F., Field Artillery, France. 

Maxwell, W. C, Field Artillery, France. 

May, William Ferris, 304th Ammunition Train, France. 

McCann, Blake, 4th Infantry, France. 

McCann, John, Remount Dept., 4th Infantry. Camp Meade, Md. 

Messimer, Walter L., Medical Dept., Camp Custer, Mich. 

Owen, Abram S., Aero Squadron, San Antonio, Texas. 

Pressler, Edward G. 

Pressler, Robert D., 304th Ammunition Train, France. 

Pressler, Wm. E., M. G. Corps, France. 

Raub, Oscar M., Camp Meade, Md. 

Snyder, Cloyd Englehart (2d Lt), 5th U. S. Infantry, Canal Zone. 

Snyder, Eldon Wert, 2d Reg. M. M. S. C, France. 

Toland, Charles F., France. 



THE WORLD WAR AND PERRY COUNTY 601 

Troutman, Norman R., 35th Engineers, France. 
Wahl, Clarence, Cook, 314th [nfantry, France. 

Weaver, Charles F., Hoboken, N. J. 

Rye Township. 

Bailey, David, Navy. 

Bell, Hugh A., S. A. T. C, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Bomgardner, Joseph, Asst. Postmaster, Angel Island, Lai. 
Broomhead, Earl, 5th Co. Cavalry, Ft. Bliss. Texas. 
Heishley Newton C, Utility Detachment, Camp Eustis, \ a. 
Hill, George W., 15th Co., 4th Bat, 155th D. B., France. 
Knaub, John A., 44th Co., France. . 

Menges, Paul, 149th Co., 12th Reg. H. A., St. Croix, Virgin Island 
Miller, Harvey, Bat. C, 6th Reg. C. & C, France. 
Myers Dr C. W. E. (1st Lt.), Medical Corps, France. 
Rodge'rs, John (Sgt), N. G. Governor's Troops, France. 
Snyder, John, Camp Greenleaf, Ga. 
White, Charles A., Auto Mechanic, Pittsburgh, Pa. 
White, Walter (Sgt.), Co. H., 314th Infantry, France. 
SavillE Township. 

Balmer, Earl, United States. 

Barns, J. Arthur, Quartermaster-at-Large, Army of Occupation. 

Bender, John, Co. C, 314th Infantry, France. 

Bender, William, France. 

Bixler, Frank R., 314th Infantry, Camp Meade, Md. 

Brandt, Robert, Yoeman, U. S. Navy, U. S. S. Thetis. 

Campbell, Joseph C, Horseshoer, 314th Infantry, France. 

Clouser, Silas C . tt . 

Fry, Sherman, D., 155th Depot Brigade, United States. 

Tacobs, W'illiam, United States. 

Kiner, Frank S., United States. 

Kline, Roy M., 1st Aero Regiment, France. 

Moyer, Charles, 156th Depot Brigade, United States. 

Moyer Edward. 

Moyer, George. . 

Moyer, James O., 28th Division. Shot through the right foot; France. 

Moyer, Oscar, 28th Division, France. 

Orris, Lee, 153d Depot Brigade, United States. 

Paden, Clarence E., Marine Service, United States. 

Patterson, D. Ross, 110th Regiment, France. 

Patterson, Harry, 108th Field Artillery, Nat. G. Governors Troops, Mex. 

Border and France. 
Raffensberger, Charles I., United States. 
Reisinger, Charles W., 161st Infantry, France. 
Reisinger, Jos. J., United States. 

Reisinger, Ralph, Hdq. Co., 41st Infantry, United States. 
Smith,' J. Hartman, S. A. T. C, Co. F., Pittsburgh, Pa. 
Smith, Paul R. (Sgt.), 28th Co. C. O. T. S., United States. 
Smith, Walter A., Co. H, noth Infantry. Killed in action, Any. 21, ioiS; 

France. . 

Snyder, Walker, 1st Pros. Co., 08th Division, United States. 
Titzel, Frank, killed in action ; France. 
Utley, Ralph, Mechanic, Hdq. 304th Engineers, France. 
Wax, Tolbert. 
Wilson, Charles W., Co. H., 327th Infantry, France. 

Spring Township. 
Baker, Charles. 

Baker, Edward L. 55th Engineers, France. 
Bender, Cvrus S., Wagoner, 314th Infantry. France. 
Billman, Rev. A. M. (1st Lt., Chap.), Tank Corps, (.'ami) Dix, N. J. 
Bistline, Alvin P., Infantry, France. 
- Clelan, Samuel, Transportation Corps. 



602 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Cooper. Joseph (Sgt.), Ambulance Driver. 
Dunkelberger, G. C, Hospital Train 68, France and Germany. 
Fleisher, Raymond, 116th Supply Train, France. 
Foose, Charles E., Infantry, on the sea Nov. u, 1918. 
Foose, Harry D., Bugler, France and Germany. 
Garlin, Charles E., Camp Lee, Va. 
Iling, Benner (Sgt.), France. 
Jacobs, Charles ]•'... 14th Infantry, Camp Grant, 111. 
Jacobs, Frank, Camp Lee, Va. 
Jacobs, Wm. F., Co. M., 6th Bn., United States. 
Kennedy, Arthur L, 321st Field Artillery, France. 
Kennedy, Earl, Infantry, France. 

Kretzing, Walter Guy, 1st Platoon, 30th Co., Ft. Thomas, Ky. 
Logan, Daniel W. 

Mayer, Edward S-, 13th Eng. Corps, Virginia. 
Nary, Thomas J., 313th Infantry, France. 
Reapsome, Ralph G., 39th Infantry, France. 
Schey, Lawrence E., 601 st Engineers, France. 
Sheaffer, Ray, gassed ; France. 
Smith, Charles E., Infantry, 41st Division, France. 

Stambaugh, M. E. (Sgt.), Teacher Reconstruction School, Ft. Sheridan, 111. 
Sundy, Ralph G., Machine Gun, France and Germany. 
Weldon, Walter C, 314th Infantry, France. 
Wentzel, George A., Med. Corps, Camp Lee, Va. 

Tobovke Township. 
Adams, Wilmot J., Ordinance Supply Division, Camp Hancock, Ga. 
Anderson, Thomas, 3d Co., I. R. C, France and Germany. 
Beaston, Roy, Field Hospital No. 14. 
Burkett, Curts, 363d Infantry, France. 

Gutshall, Harry, ioist Engineers. Died of disease; France. 
Henry, Ralph, 1st Div., Field Artillery, Bat. D., France and Germany. 
Hockenberry, Bruce. 
Hockeuberrv, Roy. 
Kessler, Clarence, United States. 
Kessler, Roy, Oversea. 

Mumper, W'ilmer, Mechanic, Bat. E., 74th Artillery, C. A. C, France. 
Stephens, Dean, Co. D., 407th Tel. Bn. S. C, France. 

Tuscaeora Township. 

Aughe, V. L., 60th Infantry, France. 

Black, Jonathan R. (Sgt.), 1st Field Signal Bat., Germany. 

Black, Andrew S., 318th Field Artillery, Germany. 

Burkepile, Calvin. 

Burkepile, Harry. 

Dimm, Wm. R., Co. Mechanic, United States. 

Fosselman, Sherman L., Motor Transport Corps, United States. 

Kretzing, Ard. 

Kretzing, Jacob A., Engineers, France. 

Jones, j. Russell, Expert Rifleman, U. S. Marines, France. 

McNaughton, Ralph, 325th Infantry, France. 

Mitchell, Lewis M., 155th Depot Brigade, United States. 

Powell. Clarence R., Ammunition Train, France. 

Reynolds, Lee, killed. 

Tyrone Township. 

Beard, Mabel S. (Nurse), Base Hospital 107, France. 
Beard, Ralph B. (2d. Lt.), Aviation, Camp Dick, Texas. 
Bernheisel, Newton E., Engineers, Oversea. 
Bernheisel, William, Supply Train, Oversea. 
Bistline, Miles, Marine Corps, United States. 
Briner, Dewev, Aerial Squadron, England. 
Crawford, Luther E., 5th Reg., T. A. R. D., France. 
Emlet, Chester (Sgt), Motor Transport Train, Oversea. 



THE World WAR AND PERRY COUNTY 603 

Emlet, Earl, Motor Transport Train, United Stairs. 

Himes, G. Robert (Chaplain I, ( >versea. 

Ickes, Kepner R., Tamp Lee, Va. 

Kline, Lewis, Med. Corps, ( )versea. 

Lightner, Forest M., Camp Dix. 

Lightner, Herman, Quartermaster, Camp Meade, Md. 

Lightner, Morris \\m.. Med. Dept., Ft. McHenry. 

Lightner, Nov I., 320th Field Signal Bat., California. 

Lightner, Robt. E., Infantry, France. 

Noll, John Harold (Sgt.), 79th Division. Wounded in leg; France. 

Rower, Frank, United States. 

Reeder, Anderson B., Supply Train, Oversea. 

Rice, Carl. 

Ritter, George (Sgt.), Shell shock, Oversea. 

Sherman, J as. W., Med. Corps, Camp Dix. 

Stum, James C... Infantry, Oversea. 

Stum, Win. R., Infantry, Oversea. 

\\ viler, Samuel, M. Gun, Philippine Islands. 

Watts Township. 

Arnev, Harry Z., S. A. T. C, Carlisle, Pa. 

Dorman, Russell, Patrol S. S. Blakely, Navy. 

Dorman, John. 

Guilder, Jacob. 

Hammaker, Nelson, 39th Infantry, France. 

Hoehn, John R., 17th Field Artillery, France. 

Huggins, William M., Infantry, France. 

Humphrey, Herbert, Engineers, France. 

Humphrey, Samuel, Engineers, France. 

Knlp, Ray (Sgt..), oth Division, Camp Sheridan. 

Liddick, Sheridan, 321st Field Artillery. 

Louden, Benson, 314th Infantry. Killed in action ; France. 

Louden, George, 314th Infantry. 

Lowe, Albert Jacob, P. O. W. E. Co. 71, France. 

Lowe, John Drothy, 8th Field Artillery, France. 

Lowe, Julius Columbus, Co. C, 5th Bn., Ft. B. Harrison. 

Lowe, Norman Enos, Co. C, 314th Infantry, Camp Meade, Md. 

Lowe, Roy D., Camp Meade, Md. 

Miller, Alfred Byron, S. A. T. C, State College. Pa. 

Smith, Charles Robert, Med. Corps, New York City. 

Steele, Ralph Charles, 20th Engineer-., Camp Forest, Ga. 

Thompson, Robert At., 2nd CI. Seaman, Navy, Hampton Roads, Va. 

Whitney, Fred, 103d Infantry, Camp Hancock, Ga. 

Wheatfield Tow xs 11 ii'. 

Bornman, Daniel, Camp Meade, Md. 

Charles, John Paul, Military Police, France. 

Durham, John, Oversea. 

Durham, Lloyd, France. 

Gilbert, John, France. 

Huss, Otto D., 6th Div.. Motor Supply Train, France. 

Lepperd, Robert Earl, S. A.T.C., Lewisburg, Pa. 

Losh, George, Med. Dep., Camp Meade, Md. 

Losh, Isaac, Cook, Quartermaster's Corps, Cam]) Meade. Md. 

McPherson, Benjamin Davis, 10th Engineers, France. 

Peters, C. \\ 7 ., France. 

Potter, Dexter, Teamster, 30th Infantry, France. 

Rodemaker, William Elbridge, Camp Lee. Va. 

Shearer, James Franklin, 310th M. Gun Bn., France. 

Wallace, Andrew Loy, Iioth Infantry, France. 

Weldon, Samuel, 2d CI. Engineer, Navy, North Sea. 

Zeigler, George Russell, 304th Engineers. Died of disease; France. 

Zeigler, James Smiley, 304th Engineers, France. 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 

PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN. AND PROMINENT 

DESCENDANTS ABROAD. 

CONSIDERING its comparatively small size and population, 
the territory which comprises Perry County is remarkable 
as the birthplace of many noted and illustrious men, or their 
forbears, since that wintry day, February 3, 1755, when the land 
office for the settlement of these lands was opened at Lancaster, 
in the Province of Pennsylvania. Of the period since then, it was 
a part of Cumberland for sixty-six years and a separate county for 
over one hundred, during both of which periods there have sprung 
from the pioneers and their descendants men and women whose 
names have been written high in the annals of the state and nation. 
Almost in the very beginning among those early warrantees of 
lands appeared the Blaines, one of whom, Ephraim Blaine, be- 
came Commissary General of the Continental Army, the right- 
hand man and associate of General Washington. His wonderful 
organizing ability did much to advance the cause of freedom. Of 
a later generation came James G. Blaine, whose name will stand 
with those of Clay and Webster, as among the most illustrious 
American statesmen. 

Only a few decades from the pioneers came one whose name is 
honored wherever law and justice are known, not only in his own 
country, but abroad. Chief Justice of his own state for many 
years when it was in the making, when settlements were still being 
made on the original public lands and when the great public works 
were being built, John Bannister Gibson stands in the forefront of 
American jurists. Henry Calvin Thatcher, a native Perry Coun- 
tian of a later generation, became the first Chief Justice of that 
mighty empire of the West, Colorado, and his two brothers, 
Mahlon D. and John D. Thatcher, became great powers in the 
financial world, amassing fortunes running into the millions. 
Daniel Gaunt, another native, became Chief Justice of the State 
of Nebraska. Twice in our own great Commonwealth of Penn- 
sylvania have Perry County natives been occupants of the guber- 
natorial chair, as well as in the States of California and Minnesota, 
and the names of the Bigler brothers, Miller and Beaver, are a 
part of the annals of their native and adopted states. While the 
elder Bigler was the governor of Pennsylvania, his brother was 
occupying the governor's chair in far away California, the only 
time in America when brothers have been governors at the 

(104 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 605 

same time. *Warren G. Harding, the President of the United 
States at this time, is a descendant of pioneers who dwelt on Perry 
County soil, through the Stephens family lineage. Having men 
tioned the names Blaine and Beaver in the preceding sentences 
recalls that on two other occasions Perry County almost had the 
honor of seeing a native or a descendant of a native' occupy the 
Presidential chair of the United Slates. The turning of but one 
thousand votes in the State of New York, in 1884, would have 
placed James G. Blaine there, and at the National Republican Con- 
vention of 1880, when James A. Garfield was nominated, thus 
breaking the Grant-Blaine deadlock, the nomination for the Vice- 
Presidency was tendered to James A. Beaver, who declined, stating 
that he had consented to run for Governor of Pennsylvania. 1 lad 
he accepted that nomination he would have been installed as Presi- 
dent when the assassin's bullet had put an end to the career of the 
great and good Garfield. 

While far the greater part of the actual work was being done 
on this volume the occupant of the second highest office in the land, 
the Vice-Presidency of the United States, was the son of a native 
Perry Countian, the mother of Thomas R. Marshall having been 
born at Ickesburg; and when the Southern Confederacy was 
formed the second officer of that government, Alexander II. 
Stephens, was likewise the son of a Perry Countian, his father 
having been born at Duncannon. Of these men and scores of oth- 
ers the following pages will go briefly into detail. 

Twice have natives of Perry County been found upon the rolls 
of the greatest legislative body in the world — the United States 
Senate, William Bigler during the Buchanan administration, and 
Chester I. Long during the administration of Theodore Roose- 
velt, the first representing his own great State of Pennsylvania, 
and the latter, that red blooded, virile commonwealth of the West, 
Kansas. Both men made enviable records. The name of Alex- 
ander K. McClnre, a Perry Countian, will ever stand in the very 
first rank of editors and newspapermen of this great country, 
along with those of Horace Greely, Charles A. Dana and Henry 



*In the Evarts-Peck History of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, 
the statement is made that the Rohert Polleck, who warranted lands in 
what is now Jackson Township in 1755, was the grandfather of President 
Polk. Evidently somebody palmed off some spurious information upon 
the late J. R. Flickinger, who wrote the chapter on Jackson Township, hi 
all of Prof. Flickinger's writings this is the only statement, as near as we 
know, which is not borne out by facts. He says: "Robert Polleck was 
the grandfather of President Polk, which is, in fact, the same name, as 
will become evident Pi any one pronouncing both names so as to sound 
every letter." President Polk's grandfather was Kzekiel Polk, a member 
of Congress from North Carolina, and his father was Samuel K. Polk. 
Perry County lias enough prominent men without laying a claim to a single 
jone not a native or descendant. 



606 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Watterson. He was the close friend and confidant of the immortal 
Lincoln in those trying days of the Sectional War. 

A native Perry County girl, born Marie Stewart, but known in 
the theatrical world as "Marie Doro," has attained a national repu- 
tation as an actress both upon the speaking stage and in the silent 
drama. Another. Dr. Elizabeth Reifsnyder, spent much of her 
life in China, where she is largely responsible for the building of 
a great hospital and where she was in charge — between the battle 
lines— even during the Chinese rebellion. 

Notwithstanding that Perry County, and Pennsylvania gener- 
ally, have sent to the great West and elsewhere many of their na- 
tives to help upbuild other communities, yet Pennsylvania is one 
of the states that keeps at home a very large proportion of its 
energetic men and women. According to "Who's Who," of 1,878 
men and women born in Pennsylvania, 1,608 have made their home 
state their place of residence. As a comparison: of those born in 
the neighboring State of Ohio, about fifty per cent are no longer 
residents. 

Philosophers tell us that the trinity controlling the future is 
heredity, training and environment. Since such is the fact great 
credit seems due the past generations, even from the time of the 
pioneer, for their manhood and womanhood, the home and family 
life which they lived where that training was bent in the right direc- 
tion, and the environment which they chose and helped make 
among the hills and valleys which now form the county of Perry. 

Perry County has ever been noted, not only for the number of 
illustrious men who have gone forth to larger fields, but for the 
number of worthy and successful professional men and educators, 
who have claimed it as their home; and to issue this book without 
paying especial attention to that reputation and those who have 
helped make it would be to make it defective. A noted theologian 
has advanced a reason for this reputation relating to the profes- 
sions. According to his method of reasoning the fact that the 
soil is not so fertile as in some places makes the price of farm land 
less and enables more people to own their farms than in several 
near-by counties, thus fixing them to the soil instead of becoming 
a moving or roving tenantry, which gave them a better chance to 
become educated. A famous educator offered a reason along the 
same line when he said, "The people of your county did not keep 
their children home to 'strip tobacco' but sent them to school." 
The writer does not pretend to know the reason, but does know 
that unlike a number of near-by comities Perry has had no nor- 
mal schools and colleges within its borders to which the rising gen- 
eration could fit' sent at little expense, but from the product of 
these "poor" farms has educated a greater proportion of its youth 
than has been done in many other counties. Of one thing we are 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 607 

Mire, and that is that practically all of these men and women who 
have gone forth and brought success upon their homeland have 
had good and very many of them Godly mothers, whose impress 
for good and right living has been wrought into their very fiber. 

In a letter lying before me. from the pen t>\ a noted theologian, is 
this outstanding sentence: "I think it would he difficult to find 
anywhere else such interest and attractiveness in home life." 
Those words were written by a man whose duties bring him into 
the homes of hundreds each year, and often in widely separated 
parts of the country. Himself a Perry Countian, horn and bred 
in one of these homes, he attributes all his success to a Godly 
mother. During the past decade- the press ofttimes teemed of "the 
Fatherland," referring to a land across the sea. The writer al- 
ways likes to think of America as "the Motherland,'" and of Perry 
County as the home of the best of mothers — your mother and mine. 
To them, who went down to the very brink of eternity for us, 
who spent many weary and wakeful hours during the stilly night, 
who nursed us through the ills of childhood and mayhap later 
years, in whose hearts we are ever their boy or their girl — to them, 
lies much of the credit for the success attained by the men and 
women, sketches of wdiose lives occupy many of the following 
pages. Many of them were what would he termed old-fashioned 
mothers, not women of the period, perchance enameled and painted, 
whose bejeweled hands never felt the clasp of baby fingers ; but 
dear, old-fashioned, sweet-voiced, loving mothers whose dear 
hands were often worn with toil in the rearing of their little chil- 
dren. I like that word old-fashioned, and especially as applied to 
mothers, for it is the old-fashioned mother of even to-day that 
makes the American home the foundation of the Republic. With 
few exceptions the sketches which follow, of the professional 
men, are of those who have gone abroad, as the field for advance- 
ment at home is necessarily limited by the small area and popu- 
lation. 

One may estimate justly and try to record a perspective of the 
life and character of a person and yet fail to convey it to the reader 
as it appears to himself. Traits which to some of us seem most 
significant to others appear trifling and almost negligible. With 
any little vices which any of the characters may have possessed 
this book is unconcerned. The cynic will no doubt be able to dig 
from the depths of a perverted nature or from unfounded fact 
and rumor something to appease his or her appetite and allay 
within a curious desire to pull from a pedestal those whose great- 
ness is acknowledged or whose success is marked. To those we 
can only quote the biblical injunction, "Let he who is without sin 
cast the first stone," and recall that even the ('.real Master in choos- 
ing his disciples did not have an entire twelve without fault. 



608 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

In the sketches of these men membership in lodges is rarely 
mentioned, as no special distinction attaches thereto, save in so far 
as advancement to office of unusual note is concerned, neither is 
church membership dwelt upon, as that is but the duty of every 
one, but where men have done unusual things or great work along 
religions lines it is recorded, as it should be. 

Some persons of note will be missed, unintentionally, probably 
from having no knowledge of them whatsoever* or from failure 
to receive replies to> letters, many hundreds of which were written, 
to points all over the Union. No attempt has been made to be 
conclusive in the biographical articles in the book, as the size of 
the volume has barred any such attempt, but the mere statement 
that certain men were born within the borders of Perry County or 
its territory would only be a chronological table of uncertain value. 
Accordingly the author has often read many volumes and from 
the mass of material has tried, in each biographical sketch, to por- 
tray the character, the most marked characteristics, and briefly, the 
story of the life of its subject. 

Doubtless many readers will think that some very important 
characters have been overlooked in the preparation of these 
sketches, and possibly some will feel that a few names have been 
inserted which have small claim to distinction. While all have a 
right to their opinions, yet the author feels that each name here has 
in some way or another brought credit upon his native county and 
a careful perusal and consideration of the data, we believe, will 
convince the reader also of that fact. 

Of the Perry Countians who remained at home these pages tell 
the story, not in any one place, but throughout the book. Take a 
given family, and in the history of a certain township you will 
find where the pioneer located his land, mayhap where one of his 
people had "an argument" with the Indians. Later his descendants 
may be found building a mill or in other matter of import. The 
grandson, perchance, was one of those enthusiasts who helped se- 
cure countyhood. In another generation the family may have at- 
tained county office, and among the names of the noted and suc- 
cessful Perry Countians who went abroad will doubtless be found 
those of still later generations. The story of those "to the manor 
born," who remained in the county, is already written in the 
coluity press. They are known to have been a red-blooded, virile 
people, else there would have been no occasion for this work, tell- 
ing of their history and of the biographies of their descendants 
and kin. In the People's Advocate and Press" of New Bloomlield 
(1902) Rev. J. Dill Calhoun, a Perry Countian, writing from Illi- 
nois, said: "I have always maintained and do hereby affirm that 
'( )ld Perry' has ever had within its borders a superior class of men 
in every legitimate vocation of life, and several visits to the haunts 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



609 



of my childhood days have only served to confirm me in that 
belief." 

Warren G. Harding, President of the United States. 

That there should occupy the great office of President of the 
United Slate's, at the time of the publication of this hook, a de- 




WARREN G. HARD] NO. 
President of the United States. A Descendant of the Pioneers. 

scendant of the pioneer families of the territory which is now 
Perry County is most remarkable, and yet it is a fact. *The line of 
descent is from Sophia Stevens, great-grandmother of President 



*Verified by letters from President Harding and his sister, Miss Abigail 
S. Harding. 
* 39 



610 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Harding, who was born in Pennsylvania in March, 1802, and was 
united in marriage to Joshua Crawford, of Baltimore, in [821. 
They located in Washington County, Pennsylvania. Joshua Craw- 
ford's daughter, Mary Ann, was united in marriage to Charles 
Alexander Harding, the father of Dr. George T. Harding, father 
of the President. Sophia Stevens' lineage is traced to the family 
of Capt. Alexander Stevens, who was the grandfather of Alex- 
ander H. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederacy, and who 
resided near Duncannon, where he married Catherine Baskins. 

The President on the father's side is a descendant of the noted 
Harding family of the Wyoming Valley, in Pennsylvania, where 
some members of the clan were among those massacred by the In- 
dians, and others were patriots in the Revolution. He was born 
near Blooming Grove, Ohio. His family's start was rather humble 
and he was the first-born of eight children. At fourteen he ma- 
triculated at the Ohio Central College, at Iberia, no longer in ex- 
istence, but had to stop a number of times to earn money to con- 
tinue his studies. He drove team, helped grade a roadbed, painted 
buildings, and did other odd jobs. At college he was editor of 
the student publication, through which he was brought into con- 
tact with the printing business, at which his odd moments were 
employed. . In 1884 Dr. Harding located at Marion, and some time 
later Warren G. Harding became the editor and publisher of the 
Marion Star, then a struggling paper. He placed it on a firm foot- 
ing and it is to-day known as one of the substantial small city 
dailies of that great state. The President is still the principal 
owner, and can handle any position on the paper. After it was on 
firm footing he organized a stock company, and he and his em- 
ployees own it. Entering politics be twice represented the Thir- 
teenth District in the Ohio State Senate. From 1904 to 1906 he 
was lieutenant governor, and in 1910 was the Republican nominee 
for governor, but was defeated. In 1914 he was elected to the 
United States Senate by 100,000 majority, over 73,000 above the 
rest of the ticket. When the National Republican Convention met 
at Chicago in 191 9 he stood fourth in the balloting for the Presi- 
dential nomination. A prolonged deadlock of the first three can- 
didates made him the logical nominee and at the succeeding elec- 
tion, with Calvin Coolidge for Vice-President, he carried the entire 
country, save the "Solid South," from which he, however, cap- 
tured Tennessee. Before becoming President he made three trips 
to Europe to study their systems of government. On entering the 
political arena he was associated with such men as McKinley, 
Foraker, Sherman, Taft, and Roosevelt. His strong point is mir- 
rored in the single familiar expression, "Back to normalcy." Of 
the McKinley type he believes in the things which have been tried 
and proven, rather than the various "isms" oft clamored for by 



PERm O XJNTY'S NOTED MEN 611 

the populace. Early in [922 he called a conference of the nations 
to meet at Washington to consider the reduction of armament and 
if, in the years to come, thai shall have borne fruit it will possibly 
be the outstanding feature of bis administration. 

The efforts of Mr. 1 [arding while a member of the United States 
Senate to safeguard national sovereignty and independence were 
largely instrumental in placing him in the President's chair, as there 
are many millions who still believe that the Monroe Doctrine, later 
so nobly upheld by President Cleveland, is a vital, living force, 
and that it should ever remain mi. He early advocated prepared- 
ness and sponsored the bill for preparedness which had the en- 
dorsement of Col. Roosevelt, former President of the United 
States. Mis knowledge of economics and finance is generally con- 
ceded to be greater than that o\ any of his predecessors. 

Thomas Rh.ky Marshall, Vice-President of the U. S. 

During the greater part of the period in which this book was 
written and compiled, or until March 4, of last year, the occupant 
of the second highest office in the land, the Vice-Presidency of the 
United States, was Thomas Riley Marshall, whose mother, * Martha 
E. Patterson, was born at Ickesburg, Perry County, March 5, 1829, 
being the daughter of Thomas and Susanna (Linn) Patterson, who 
subsequently moved to Richland County, Ohio, in 1832, where both 
soon died. Susanna Liim was the daughter of John Linn, who 
died on the old Linn farm, near Saville, in 1837, and the grand- 
daughter of Rev. John Linn, pioneer pastor who passed away in 
1820, the very year of the county's erection. On the Patterson 
side bis mother was a descendant of Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, 
a signer of the Declaration of Independence. On his father's side 
the Vice-President is a scion of the Virginia family of Marshalls, 
being a grandnephew of the celebrated Chief Justice Marshall. 
The Linn lineage is numerous in Perry County, and is one of the 
substantial strains descended from the pioneers. 

There are certain things about Mr. Marshall's election to and 
occupancy of the Vice-Presidency which stand out. He shares with 
John Adams and Daniel Tompkins the distinction of being elected 
on the ticket of the same party, with the same head, to succeed 
himself. Washington and Adams were twice elected, as were 
James Monroe and Daniel Tompkins, and not again did that con- 
dition occur until the case of Wilson and Marshall. When Presi- 
dent Wilson was incapacitated from performing the duties of the 
Presidency, and there appeared no constitutional provision cover- 
ing" such a condition, a less tactful man in the Vice-Presidency 



♦Verified by a letter from Vice-President Marshall, in possession of the 
author, and by the records at the Perry County recorder's office. 



612 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

might have assumed temporary authority, but not so with Thomas 
R. Marshall. 

He was born March 14, 1854, in North Manchester, Wabash 
County, Indiana. His father's extensive medical practice gave the 
family a competence, and as a lad Thomas R. was not compelled 




THOMAS R. MARSHALL, 

Kx-Vice President of the LTnited States, Whose Mother Was Born at 
Ickesburg, Perry County. 

to labor as has been the case with so many men who became suc- 
cessful. He was graduated from Wabash College at Crawfords- 
ville, achieving a reputation for scholarship which still stands first at 
that institution. Through excellence in his studies, by which one 
becomes eligible to the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity, he was elected to 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 613 

membership. That fraternity, by the way. was founded by Chief 
Justice Marshall. Mr. Marshall took up the study of law at Fori 
Wayne, and on his twenty-first birthday was admitted to the bar. 

He located at Columbia City. Indiana, and in a short time was 
known all over northern Indiana. In a few years he was known 
over the entire state, as one of it > most able attorneys. Then came 
his entry into matrimony. While acting as a special judge in the 
circuit court at Angola, Indiana, he met Miss Lois Kinsey, who 
was assisting her father, the court clerk, and later she became Mrs. 
Marshall. 

In 1908 the Democrats of Indiana wire in a quandary a- to 
whom to nominate for the governorship. Some person suggested 
that they name some prominent lawyer. He had not been a can- 
didate, vet "Tom" Marshall was the one man to whom all turned, 
and he was nominated. He took the stump and with him went 
Mrs. Marshall, who was of great assistance to him. As governor 
of Indiana Mr. Marshall showed himself to be opposed to the cen- 
tralization of government. He is a Democrat of the old school. 
When he was elected governor he carried the state by 15,000 ma- 
jority, while the Democratic candidate for President lost it by 
10,000. Indiana thought so much of him that he was their first 
choice for President at the Baltimore convention, which accorded 
him second place on the ticket. His election then, and nomination 
and reelection four years later are matters of history, with which 
all are familiar. 

Throughout both terms of his service Vice-President Marshall 
was a prudent, self-determined, open-minded man, with a lofty 
purpose which commanded the respect and admiration of the Sen- 
ate, of all branches of the Federal government, and of the nation. 
On his retirement Senator Lodge and Senator Underwood, repre- 
senting two different political faiths, paid him a most remarkable 
tribute. Mr. Marshall filled the Vice-Presidency with an unusual 
dignity at a most trying time. 

Alexander H. Stephens, Vice-President of the Confederate 

States. 

That the second highest officer of the Confederate States of 
America, the section which seceded from the Union in 1S61, was 
a descendant of a family from Perry County, that staunch and 
loyal district which stood with Lincoln throughout the war, seems 
strange indeed, yet it is true, Alexander H. Stephens on the pater- 
nal side being a descendant of the Baskins family, one of the pio- 
neer families of the county, and his own father having been born 
near Duncannon. And furthermore, Mr. Stephens was not igno- 
rant of the fact of his Northern ancestry, hut on one occasion came 
North to visit his relatives near Newport, traveling by packet boat, 



614 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA 

via the canal, and stopping with James Black, at Newport, whose 
acquaintance he had made while in Congress. 

An anecdote of this trip appears in the Life of Alexander H. 
Stephens, by Johnston, and shows that James Stephens, like his 
brother Andrew, was a man of high principle. Tt follows: 




ALEXANDER H. STEPHENS, 
Vice President of the Southern Confederacy During its Existence, 
Whose Father was Born at Duncannon. 

"On his journey to New York he turned aside to visit his old uncle, 
James Stephens, who lived in Perry County, Pennsylvania, near the mouth 
of the Juniata. The family, who had heard nothing of his coming, were 
at once surprised and gratified at seeing him. The uncle and some of the 
boys were out at work on the farm, but soon came in, and then an older 
brother's family were sent for. The aunt and the girls at once set about 
getting up a good country dinner in honor of the occasion. When all were 
seated at the table, the old uncle at one end and the aunt at the other, 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 615 

Uncle James asked, 'Well, Alexander, what business are you pursuing?' 
He replied, 'I am a lawyer.' Instantly the- whole table was silent. The 
old gentleman threw down his knife and fork and looked at his nephew 
with a sort of horrified amazement, as if he had said he was a highway- 
man or a pirate. 'What's the matter, Uncle James?' 'Did you say you 
were a lawyer?' 'Yes.' 'A lawyer?' 'What of that?' With an explosion 
of complete despair he asked, 'Alexander, don't you have to tell lies?' 
His nephew, greatly amused, replied, 'No, sir; the business of a lawyer 
is neither to tell lies nor to defend lies, but to protect and maintain right, 
truth, and justice; to defend the weak against the strong ; to expose fraud, 
perjuries, lies, and wrongs of all sorts. The business of a lawyer is the 
highest and noblest of any on earth connected with the duties of life.' 
This seemed to calm the old gentleman's fears." 

The story of the meeting of the winsome Catherine Baskins 
and Alexander Stephens, the elder, and the grandfather of the 
Vice-President, reads like fiction. Jle came to Pennsylvania in 
1746. He was a soldier under Braddock, had settled near James 
Baskins, in 1766, and, while crossing the Baskins' ferry at the 
month of the Juniata, got a glimpse of the ferryman's fair daughter 
and became infatuated. When military duty no longer claimed his 
attention he came hack and again resided near the Baskins' ferry. 
He wooed and won the fair maiden and tradition says "not with 
the consent of her father, who refused to sanction the marriage 
and who disinherited her for that reason." And here is where 
tradition is at least partly wrong. The will of James Baskins, of 
Rye Township, dated January 30, 1788, recorded at the Carlisle 
Courthouse in Book E, page 117, and proven February 11, 17SS, 
gives "five pounds" to each of his daughters, Elizabeth McCay, 
Catherine Stephens, Sarah Dougherty, and Jane Jones. The resi- 
due of his estate he willed to his son, Mitchell Baskins. His exec- 
utors were Frederick and David Watts and Mitchell Baskins. The 
inventory, included ferrying flat, canoe, etc. The will shows that 
Catherine was treated in the same identical way as were her sis- 
ters, notwithstanding that all biographical works state otherwise. 
The reason for the nominal bequests to the daughters was prob- 
ably due to the fact that they were all married and well cared for. 
Furthermore, James Baskins was not a wealthy man in the gen- 
eral acceptation of that term. Nevertheless, the young people were 
wed and located about Ave miles up the river. 

In the meantime the Revolution came on apace and Stephens be- 
came a captain in the Continental Army, serving throughout the 
war. When the war was over he came back and with his wife set- 
tled in the vicinity of Duncannon, where in 1782., Andrew Baskins 
Stephens, the father of Alexander H. Stephens, was born. The 
Stephens family moved to Georgia in 1794, when Andrew was 
twelve years old ; another son, James Stephens, going along, but 
later returning to Perry County and settling in Juniata Township, 
where he owned three hundred acres of land in 1820, the year of 



616 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Perry County's organization. There was a considerable migration 
to Georgia about this time by Scotch-Irish Presbyterians from 
Cumberland County, owing to the State of Georgia adopting a land 
policy which offered free homes to settlers. 

Andrew Stephens married Margaret Grier, of Wilkes County, 
Georgia, July 12, 1806, and from this union of Puritan and Cava- 
lier, was born Alexander H. Stephens, later Vice-President of the 
Confederate States, statesman, Congressman, and Governor of 
Georgia. Andrew Baskins Stephens, whether or not timid about 
getting parental sanction for the marriage, on May 17, of that 
year, made his request to her father for her hand, in writing, a 
single sentence stating, "The use of this written communication 
does not wholly originate in pusilanimity or in other sources that 
may be deemed timid, but in the intention to afford you requisite 
intelligence ; and thereby to furnish you matter sufficient for abso- 
lute conclusion." In a further sealed enclosure, only to be opened 
in case his suit was looked upon favorably, he goes into details as 
to his birthplace, family, prospects, etc., a part of which follows 
and inseparably connects his parentage with Perry County: 

"I was born in the State of Pennsylvania, in Cumberland County (in the 
part which is now Perry), in the year 1782, of poor parentage; by father's 
side particularly on account of my grandmother being a widow. Whether 
necessity, or the idea of promotion, or the tyranny of a domineering step- 
father, induced my father at an early age to become a resident among the 
northern Shawnee Indians, I cannot tell, but he passed a considerable part 
of his youth with that copper-faced tribe; insomuch that his fortunes 
and accomplishments were by no means accepted by my mother's family. 
However, by an unwearied diligence he surmounted many inconveniences 
and became rather respected in the American Revolution. His manner of 
life since my remembrance has been regular and not uneconomical. He is 
now on the borders of eighty and possessed of more sprightliness than 
many of fifty. My mother was the eldest daughter of James Baskins, who 
in his life, kept a ferry above Harris's on the Susquehanna River. Her 
life was exemplary, and the Christian manner of her death a joy to every 
dutiful child that survived her. She had ten children, two of whom died 
at an early age; the others are widely scattered. My older sister and my- 
self (the oldest and the youngest) with our father are the only remains 
of a once flourishing family. One sister, within three miles of us, is the 
only other known relative I have in the state. I never heard of felony 
being committed by any of my relations, but a considerable degree of dis- 
sipation. And as to achievements, I always leave them to be spoken of 
by better judges than myself." 

Mr. Grier gave his consent, with the added rejoinder, that "the 
sentiments of her mother are such that she has no objection to 
offer, but that she is unfriendly to long courtships." 

Andrew Stephens had a strong desire to again visit his Northern 

relatives, and did so in 181 3, writing a letter to his sister from 

— -"Penton, Penna.," under date of April 28th. In it among other 

things he says: "I am now under old Cousin Hugh Stephens' roof. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 617 

* * * The Monday just two weeks after I left home I slept in 
Pennsylvania. * * * Brother (James Stephens) has a pretty 
promising family and a wife inferior to none. Indeed, Polly, 1 
can and do call her sister. * * * I left brother's yesterday morn- 
ing; on my way here I saw Aunt Baskins, Uncle Mitchell's widow, 
and' family, who are living about two miles from grandfather's old 
ferry. Aunt was very glad to see me and appeared to live com- 
fortably well. I love her mightily. She told me that uncle had 
entirely quit the use of spirits several years bef< >re his death. * 
Saw Cousin Hezekiah Martin." The letter is of much length, and 
of a personal nature. 

Andrew Baskins Stephens, like his father, Capt. Alexander 
Stephens, was a learned man and a school teacher. The author has 
had the privilege of reading many of their personal and family let- 
ters and they show not only the earmarks of intelligence, hut 
throughout are marked for their moral and even religious teach- 
ings. From a letter dated Wilkes County, Georgia, May 4, 1823, 
from Andrew B. Stephens, to his brother, James Stephens, in 
Perry County, the following paragraph is taken: 

"When we hear of your children we want to hear that they are prom- 
ising; we want and wish them to be so. We want and wish them to be 
patterns of obedience particularly to their mother, industrious and candid, 
ever scorning a mean or ungenerous act ; striving as much as in them lieth 
to be peaceable, friendly and obliging, never fretting and finding faults of 
others to the neglect of their own, but by the faults of others correct their 
own ; by so doing and living in obedience to the commands and precepts 
of their parents and senior superiors they will become honorable to them- 
selves, useful to society, and a pleasing prospect to their friends and rela- 
tions in every corner of the world." 

The following is from Howard Carroll's "Twelve Americans" : 
"His grandfather, Alexander Stephens, was one of the Jacobites, who 
fled from England to America after the disastrous sequel to the ill-starred 
attempt of 'the Forty-Five.' Filled with a spirit of adventure, young and 
strong, he at first made his home with the Shawnee Indians in Pennsyl- 
vania.' He took part in the French and Indian War, serving under Wash- 
ington, and was present at Braddock's defeat. Subsequently in his wan- 
derings he came to the ferry at the junction of the Juniata and Susque- 
hanna Rivers, and there fell in love with the daughter of the ferry pro- 
prietor, a rich man named Boskins (Baskins). The maid looked favorably 
upon the young adventurer's suit ; but the rich father, as rich fathers will, 
objected. Still the love-making went on, and in the end the young people, 
braving the father's displeasure, were married. The latter, true to his 
threat, disinherited her. Some time after this, the war for Independence 
having been declared, Stephens took service with the patriots. He was a 
good soldier and at the close of hostilities returned with the rank of cap- 
tain. Unfortunately his estate was not in keeping with his rank, and to 
better his fortune he moved from Pennsylvania to Georgia." 

That Alexander H. Stephens, the grandson, whose father was a 
native of Perry County territory, was a gifted man, a man of let- 
ters, a statesman and an historic personage, is verified by the fact 



6i8 HISTORY O^ P^RRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

that in the Library of the City of New York the author of this 
book found access to no less than forty-two distinct volumes de- 
voted to or written by him. He was born in Wilkes County, 
Georgia ( in the part that is now Taliaferro County), on February 
II, 1812. His mother died when he was a mere child and his fa- 
ther married again, the noted Linton Step hens being a child of 
this second marriage. He was interested in securing an education 
through the Presbyterian Church, which looked upon him favor- 
ably for the ministry, and provided means. He taught school for 
a time and then read law and was admitted to the bar of his na- 
tive county. He was offered a large salary to locate elsewhere, but 
preferred to practice among his own people for a few hundred 
dollars a year. He entered Franklin College (now the State Uni- 
versity) in 1828, at the age of sixteen. He graduated with the 
highest honors in 1832, as did his brother, Judge Linton Stephens, 
at a later period. He was admitted to the bar in 1834. In 1836 
he was elected to the lower branch of the Georgia Legislature, and 
was later promoted to the State Senate. He was elected to the 
United States Congress as a Whig in 1843, and served from the 
.Twenty-Ninth to the Thirty-Fifth Congresses, inclusive, and from 
the Forty-Third to the Forty-Seventh Congresses, inclusive, retir- 
ing voluntarily in 1859. When the Sectional War was over he was 
elected to the United States Senate by the State of Georgia in 1866, 
hut was not seated, as all of the disaffected section had not yet 
been restored to the Union. 

1 luman nature is interspersed with contradictions, which lend 
charm to life, and this man, Alexander H. Stephens — his physical 
appearance, his character and his career — is a study in that line. 
While he was almost an invalid all of his busy life, yet, like Theo- 
dore Roosevelt, who was a delicate lad, he neither accepted that 
condition of things or submitted to it. We quote from Gamaliel 
Bradford's "Confederate Portraits": "Such a wretched frame for 
such a fierce vitality might easily have made another Leopardi, 
veiling all the light of heaven in black pessimism, cursing man and 
nature and God with cold irony for the vile mistake of his creation. 
Stephens fights his ills, makes head against them, never lets him- 
self be really prostrated by physical torture or mental agony." He 
once wrote, in a fit of despondence, "I have in my life been one of 
the most miserable beings that walked the earth," and yet he rose 
to eminence and to fame. 

No man was more bitterly opposed to secession and to war than 
he was. History records few finer things than Stephens' manly 
stand against the tide of secession in his state, and certainly no 
Southerner made a harder or more nearly successful fight to pre- 
vent the withdrawal of his state from the Union. When he deliv- 
ered his famous anti-secession speech his friend, Robert Toombs, 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTE] .N 619 

although opposed to it, heartily applauded. When criticized for 
the action, he replied, "I always try to behave myself at a funeral." 
On one occasion he remarked, "I believe the slate will go for 
secession, but I have a repugnance to the idea." Yet when Georgia 
did secede it was either necessary for him to go along with the tide 
or leave his home and state, an outcast from among his people. 
Mis view was that Georgia was his home and his state, and his 
allegiance was to Georgia. If Georgia remained in the Union then 
his allegiance was to the Union through his citizenship in Georgia, 
but when Georgia seceded then his citizenship likewise automatically 
removed him from the Union. Like Lee, Stephens went with his 
state; like Lee. he had opposed secession to the last, and like l.ee. 
he became one of the really big men of the Confederacy. In fact, 
there were but three men considered at all for the Presidency oi 
the seceded states, and Alexander H. Stephens was one. lie was 
not chosen to that office but was made Vice-President of them on 
February 9, 1861, and championed the cause of the Confederacy. 
and vet he persistently opposed the conduct of that government 
from the beginning to the end. He opposed Davis on the impor- 
tant matters of finance and cotton and was opposed to conscription 
and martial law. He closed some rather severe remarks about 
President Davis thus: 'it is certainly not my object to detract 
from Mr. Davis, but the truth is that as a statesman he was not 
colossal." After the government was organized at Montgomery 
it was reported that Davis said it was "now a question of brains," 
on which Stephens commented, "I thought the remark a ver\ good 
one." 

While in Congress he advocated the annexation of Texas but 
opposed that of Mexico. He ardently supported the compromise 
measures of 1850 and advocated the passage of the Kansas- 
Nebraska bill. He was Vice-President of the Confederacy until 
it fell. He was the South's representative to the conference with 
Lincoln and Seward at Hampton Roads on February 3, [865, to 
consider terms of peace. A little incident of the Hampton Roads 
Conference shows the bigness of Mr. Lincoln. When the confer- 
ence was over that had resulted in nothing. Lincoln and Stephens 
renewed a personal friendship that had begun in Congress before 
die war. After discussing many things, and just as they, were 
parting Mr. Lincoln said, "Well, Stephens, is there anything of a 
personal nature I can do for you?" Mr. Stephens said. "Mr. Lin- 
coln, I have a nephew who is a prisoner at Johnson's Island and 
we have heard nothing from him in a long time, and if you can 
do anything for him I shall appreciate it." Mr. Lincoln immedi- 
ately was interested, wanted to know his name, etc., and took the 
information down in a note book which he carried, telling Mr. 
Stephens he would do what he could. 



620 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

On February 5. 1865, Lieut. John A. Stephens, a Confederate 
prisoner at Johnson's Island, was ordered to report to headquar- 
ters. There he was told to pack up what he had and be ready at 
once to go to Washington, that orders had come that morning for 
him to be sent to the President of the United States. Young- 
Stephens was dumbfounded, for he could not imagine why he 
should be ordered to Washington, unless it was to be tried, hung 
or something of an awful nature. But bidding his friends good- 
bye, he reported for the trip. It was a bitter cold day and he was 
driven across Lake Erie in a sleigh drawn by two mules. Reach- 
ing Sandusky he took the train and made his way to Washington. 
Upon reaching the LInion capital he made his way at once to the 
White House to see the President. He sent in his name on a slip 
of paper, and after waiting some time was finally ushered into an 
inner office into the presence of Abraham Lincoln. 

Mr. Lincoln was lying at full length upon an office table talking 
to Mr. Seward. Secretary of State, when Lieut. Stephens went in. 
He immediately got up and took bodi of Stephens' hands, giving 
him a very cordial welcome, and introducing him to Mr. Seward. 
He told him that he had seen his uncle at Hampton Roads and that 
he was well and that Mr. Stephens had asked him to send him to 
him and that he was going to do so. He told him to have the free- 
dom of Washington as long as he wanted it and that when he g< it 
ready to go South to come to him and that he would give him his 
passes through the Union lines. 

Young Stephens stayed in Washington several days and then re- 
] lolled to Mr. Lincoln to get his papers and to say good-bye. Mr. 
Lincoln turned to his desk and penned the following letter: 

Executive Mansion, Washington, D. C. 
February 10, 1865. 
Hon. Alexander H. Stephens, 
Crawfordville, Ga. 

My Dear Sir: According to our agreement your nephew, Lieut. Stephens, 
goes to you bearing this note. Please in return to select and send to me 
that officer of the same rank imprisoned at Richmond whose physical con- 
dition most urgently requires his release. Respectfully, 

A. Lincoln. 

Young Stephens was passed through the Union lines, joined the 
Confederate Army once more and, after the surrender, made his 
way to Georgia. When the letter from Mr. Lincoln was delivered 
to Mr. Stephens, Air. Lincoln had been dead for some time. 

Before the secession Mr. Stephens argued for the abolition of 
liis own seat in Congress. He told the South that their agitators 
had done more than anything else to bring on the war. He wrote: 
"If they (the secession leaders) without cause destroy the present 
government, the best government in the world, what hope would 
I have that they would not bring untold hardships upon the people 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 62 1 

in their efforts to give us one of their own modeling." At the same 
time he was an ardent advocate of slavery, believing that slavery 
presented the most satisfactory solution of the difficult relations 
between whites and blacks, and that it was the duty of the superior 
race to protect and care for the inferior. Of all the eulogies of 
Stephens that of Abraham Lincoln is reproduced here as the most 
impressive. He wrote: "I just take up my pen to say that Mr. 
Stephens, of Georgia, a little, slim, pale-faced, consumptive man, 
has just concluded the very best speech of an hour's length I have 
ever heard. My old withered dry eyes are full of tears yet." 
Again we quote from Bradford's "Confederate Portraits": "He 
was probably one of the most logical, clear-headed, determined de- 
fenders of slavery and of the thorough subordination of black to 
white, yet few men have been more sensitively humane, more ten- 
derly sympathetic with suffering in either white or black. The 
negroes loved him, and on one occasion after the war three thou- 
sand freedmen gathered on his lawn and serenaded him with pas- 
sionate admiration and devotion." The eulogy of a slave would 
well serve for an epitaph for Stephens. It was: "Mars' Alex is 
kind to folks that nobody else will be kind to; he is kinder to 
dogs than mos' folks is to folks." Immediately after the war he 
was imprisoned as a secessionist in Fort Warren, at Boston, for 
six months, and from his diary we glean : "How strange it seems 
to me that I should thus suffer, I who did everything in my power 
to prevent (the war). * * * On the fourth of September, 1848, 
I was near losing my life for resenting the charge of being a 
traitor to the South, and now I am here, a prisoner under charge, 
I suppose, of being a traitor to the Union. In all, I have done 
nothing but what I thought was right." 

There is a letter in existence in which Stephens discusses the 
possibilities, if the Confederate Government should fall upon his 
shoulders, in the event of the death of Davis. In it the clear ap- 
preciation of the abstract end to be attained is no finer than the 
full recognition of the immense difficulties and what he terms his 
own unfitness to encounter them. 

Alexander Stephens never married, yet he loved children. He 
had two love affairs. The first he passed owing to poverty and ill- 
health. In the second instance he was already in Congress and 
well-to-do. The lady was not unwilling, but he took the lonesome 
way, claiming that a woman's due is a husband to lean upon in- 
stead of one whom she must nurse. He helped educate many 
young men. Cheerfulness, kindliness and sympathy won for him 
hosts of friends, as they will for any who practice them. In col- 
lege, though poor, he was generally beloved. Of his official life 
in Washington it was the same. John Quincy Adams is said to 
have greeted him with verses more notable for feeling than for 



622 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

genius. Members of all parties treated him with respect. When 
voluntarily retiring from the United States Congress in 1859 — 
although the smouldering embers of disunion were almost being 
fanned to a flame — he received the unusual honor of a dinner ten- 
dered by a list of members of both houses of Congress, without 
party distinction, headed by the Speaker of the House and the 
Vice-President. 

( )f his father he wrote : "Never was human anguish greater than 
that which I felt upon the death of my father. It seemed impos- 
sible to me that I could live without him; and the whole world for 
me was filled with the blackness of despair. * * * Whenever I 
was about to do something that I had never done before, the first 
thought that occurred to me was, what would my father think of 
this? * * * The principles and precepts he taught me have been 
my guiding star through life." And that father imbibed those 
principles early in life, while a resident of the vicinity of Dun- 
cannon. In the published works of Stephens one is impressed with 
the qualities of gentleness and courtesy. He disagrees with many. 
He condemns none. Even of Davis, whose policy he thought abso- 
lutely wrong, he has no unkind word. He says, "I doubt not that 
all — the President, the Cabinet and Congress — did the best they 
could from their own conviction of what was best to be done at 
the time." How many of us are willing to give like credit in our 
day? One of Lincoln's last efforts to avert the great struggle was 
through correspondence with Stephens, and of the prominent men 
on both sides that tolerant spirit was most shown by Lincoln, Lee 
and Stephens, in the order named. Stephens wrote on one occa- 
sion : "It may be that if the course which I thought would or could 
then save it (the Confederate Government), or would or could 
have saved it at any time, had been adopted, it would have come as 
far short of success as the one which was pursued ; and it may be, 
that the one which was taken on that occasion, as well as on all the 
other occasions on which I did not agree, was the very best that 
could have been taken." 

When he had thoroughly investigated a subject he was not easily 
swerved. During his celebrated speech in Congress in answer to 
Congressman Campbell, of Ohio, the latter interjected, "You are 
wrong in that." Quick as a flash Stephens retorted, "I am never 
wrong upon a matter I have given as close attention to as I have 
given to this." On an occasion Judge Cone, a powerful man, called 
Stephens a traitor. Stephens characterized it as a lie and threat- 
ened to slap Cone's face. They later met and Cone demanded a 
withdrawal. Stephens refused and struck. Whereupon Cone 
drew a knife, slashed him a number of times, got him down and 
shouted, "Retract or 1*11 cut your throat." "Never," said Stephens, 
"cut if you like." He caught the descending knife blade in his bare 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 623 

hand and had it horribly mutilated, the hospital attendants finding 
eighteen knife thrusts in his body and arms. The man, in the face 
of death, would not say he was wrong when he believed he was 
right. 

It is said of Stephens that he devoted a portion of every day to 
a communion with God in prayer. In old age, in sickness, and in 
prison he summed the matter in a few words, thus: "That the 
Lord is a stronghold in the day of trouble I know. But for his 
sustaining grace, T should have been crushed in body and soul long 
ere this." And yet, he once made this most singular tirade against 
the ministry: "If 1 am ever to be tried for anything, may heaven 
deliver me from a jury of preachers! * * * Their most striking 
defect is a want of that charity which they, above all men, should 
not only preach hut practice." That type of theologian happily has 
almost gone. 

( Quitting his part in secession, he has left a creditable record as 
a statesman, an orator and an author. Until 1855 ne generally 
acted with the Whigs, although not in accord with them. From 
1871 to 1873 he was editor of the Atlanta Sun. He was the author 
of a number of books, the most notable being "A Constitutional 
View of the War Between the States," in two volumes. He here 
gives probably the ablest statement that has ever been given of the 
South's doctrine of State Rights. 

Even in his later years Stephens was allowed no respite from 
public service. In 1S73 he was elected to fill an unexpired term 
in Congress as the representative of his old district — this after an 
intervening period of thirty years from his first entry into that 
body. He was reelected each term until 1882, when he was elected 
Governor of Georgia by a large majority. He died in the gover- 
nor's mansion, March 4, 1883. while in the midst of his term. 

When old Dr. Massey, a friend of Stephens', heard of the death 
of President Lincoln he was a passenger on the train going to- 
wards Crawfordsville, where he got off and at once went to the 
home of Alexander H. Stephens and told him the news. Accord- 
ing to Dr. Massey, Stephens hurst into tears and said, "That is the 
greatest blow the South has had since Lee's surrender." Dr. 
Massey added that it took him eight years to see it that way. 

In 1912 an old will was found among the papers of Alexander 
II. Stephens. While the name of the signer is torn off in the be- 
ginning of the document, and the first name of the signature it- 
self cannot be made out, the will is evidently that of Alexander 
Stephens I, the Jacobite who came to America about 1746. All 
of his children are mentioned in the will except Nehemiah Steph- 
ens, and it is probable that he is the one referred to when "my 
dutiful son - " i< mentioned, the latter part of the line being 

so faded and torn that nothing else can be made out. The will is 



624 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

principally of interest in that the tomb of Alexander Stephens I, 
records that he died March 15, 1813, while the will is dated No- 
vember 29, 1813, later than his recorded death. The year of his 
death was no doubt 18 14, as, when his son Andrew Stephens vis- 
ited what is now Perry County in 1813, in a letter dated "Penton, 
Pennsylvania, April 28," to his sister, Mary Jones, he sends a 
message to his father, Alexander Stephens, In the letter he also 
speaks of leaving hime but two weeks before. The children to 
whom bequests are given are named in the following order : Sarah 
Coulter, James Stephens, Mary Jones, Catharine Hudgins (paper 
torn at next name, probably Nehemiah, as stated above), and An- 
drew B. He names Andrew B. Stephens and Mary Jones as 
executors. The will makes small bequests save for "an undivided 
tract of land I am entitled unto, being a bounty of 2,000 acres, and 
two claims, one for (paper torn here) from the Indians, and the 
other on his Britannic Majesty. 

Andrew B. Stephens, father of Alexander H. Stephens, later 
left a widower, married Matilda Somerville Lindsay. The chil- 
dren of his first marriage were Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Grier, 
and Mary; and those of the second marriage, Andrew and Ben- 
jamin, who died in childhood; Linton H., John Lindsay, and 
Catharine Baskins. On May 7, 1826, pneumonia caused the death 
of Andrew Baskins Stephens, and just one week later the same 
disease was fatal to his wife. 

Alexander H. Stephens was not the only one of Andrew B. 
Stephens' progeny who attained greatness. Judge Linton Steph- 
ens, his half brother, was one of the most brilliant judges that ever 
sat on the Supreme Court of Georgia, and was lieutenant colonel 
of the Fifteenth Georgia Regiment. Some authorities think his 
ability as great as that of Alexander H. John Lindsay Stephens, 
another half brother, who died young, was one of the leading law- 
yer of the state, and one of Judge Alexander W. Stephens' 
grandsons is now a judge of the Court of Appeals of Georgia, 
while another, Dr. Robert Grier Stephens, of Atlanta, is one of 
the leading physicians of that city. He is married to Lucy Evans, 
a daughter of General Clement A. Evans, of Atlanta. A grand- 
daughter (niece of Alexander H. Stephens), Mary Emma Holden, 
is the wife of Judge Horace M. Holden, who presided over the 
Northern Circuit of Georgia for seven years and was on the Su- 
preme bench for four years, when he resigned and moved to 
Athens, so that he might be near his children. He is one of the 
most prominent lawyers of the state. Mrs. Holden is much inter- 
ested in educational and philanthropic work and is a moving factor 
in having a classical school located at Crawfordsville, where rest 
the remains of Alexander H. Stephens, at "Liberty Hall," his old 
home, which was purchased by the Stephens Monumental Assq- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 625 

ciation, who also erected a monument there to his memory, un- 
veiled by Mrs. Holder) in 1893, just a week prior to her marriage 
to Mr. Holden, then a young lawyer of Crawfordsville, who was 
master of ceremonies. A third object of the Stephens Monumental 
Association was the erection of this school. The remains of Judge 
Linton Stephens, who died in 1S72, were also removed to this 
historical location in 1914. 

While Alexander H. Stephens was confined in Fort Warren, a 
political prisoner, after the war, his brother, later Judge Linton 
Stephens, visited him and met Miss Mary Salter, of Boston, whom 
he shortly married. She was of the Catholic faith, and her brother 
married her stepdaughter, Rebecca Stephens, and Father John 
Salter, president of the Jesuit College of Macon, Georgia, is their 
son. 

When the call to arms came in the great World War, a number 
of the descendants of that old Jacobite, Alexander Stephens I, 
fought with the allies in France, one being a son of Mrs. Holden. 
During that same trying period Willis E. Ruffner (a descendant 
of James, who returned to Perry County), of Greensburg, Penn- 
sylvania, was vice-consul in Italy. There are many descendants 
of James Baskins and a considerable number of those of Alexander 
Stephens I, residing in Perry and surrounding counties. In the 
letter of Andrew B. Stephens, from which quotation is made, he 
mentions "old Cousin Hugh Stephens," which shows that Alex- 
ander I, had at least one brother. 

While at college Alexander Stephens' roommate was Dr. Craw- 
ford W. Long, who later became the noted discoverer of anaes- 
thesia. The State of Georgia has designated that Stephens and 
Long shall represent that commonwealth in the Hall of Fame at 
Washington, and thus the sons of. two sons of old "Mother Cum- 
berland," one from south of the Kittatinny, and one from the sec- 
tion which became Perry, to the north, are accorded a great honor. 

The Blaine Family. 

The family from which sprang James G. Blaine, the statesman, 
was one of the pioneer families of the territory comprising Perry 
County. Several members of the family were officers in the Revo- 
lutionary War, and one, Ephraim Blaine, financed the military 
operations of the colonies. Ephraim Blaine was a boy in what 
was then Toboyne Township, but in that part of the township 
which later became Jackson. Before the war had progressed very 
far he was a general. His brother, William Blaine, who owned the 
Solomon Bower farm, was a captain in Colonel Frederick Watts' 
battalion, having charge of the Fourth Company. Another brother, 
James Blaine, was the first lieutenant. 
40 



626 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The great-great-grandfather of James Gillispie Blaine, the great 
statesman, Secretary of State, and once nominated for the Presi- 
dency of the United States, was the pioneer of that name who 
located in Toboyne Township, then an outpost of civilization. 




JAMES G. BLAINE, 
The greatest American Statesman of the last half century. As there never 
was a photograph of General Ephriam Blaine, included in this chapter, 
none can be printed. The former was a descendant of the Pioneers and 
the latter himself warranted lands in what is now Perry County, near Blain. 

His name was James Blaine, and that of his wife, Isabella. He 
took up a large tract of land and evidently ranked as a very 
wealthy man. There were at least four Blaines — James, Ephraim, 
Alexander, and William — who were early settlers and warranted 
lands. Of these men the first named was the father, and the other 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 62/ 

three, sons, who on attaining their majority, also located claims 
among these rich and fertile acres. All that portion of the Borough 

Blam-the town dropping the final V'-once belonged to the 
hrsl James Blame, mentioned above. Also both of the former 
Samuel Woods farms, the Stokes' mill property, and pan of the 
hddingsol James Woods. As late as March 24, 1777, a'deed from 
James Blame and Isabella, his wife, residents of Toboyne Town- 
shp conveys to William ^ Blaine, one of their sons, four hundred 
aCreS '* J " hl ».vnc. As James Blaine was one of the substantial 
men of the province, also having- a property at Philadelphia tra- 
f ltlon alone would tell us thai he would be at Philadelphk- then 

As the lands which now comprise Perry County were at that 
•nneaparlot Cumberland, the will of James Blaine is found 

a"ttat a the l C 7 r t USe ^ Ca / Hsre ' Snd that Wil1 establish - he 
act that the elder Blaine resided in Toboyne Township (now 

Jackson) m 1792, and that he in all probability died there After 
e death of his first wife, Isabella, he had married Elizabeth Scad- 
den (Carskaden), the daughter of a neighbor in Toboyne, and the 
'»• dated August n, 1792, narnes as the executors / f a ^ 

my beloved son, Ephraim, and my beloved wife, Elizabeth "In 
the very beginning of the will h e states his residence as "of To- 
boyne Township." It was proven May 19, 1794, shortIy afkT hjs 
death. An extract from the will contains the provision 

and that the plantation owned by me let out to rentt, ' 

the rents and profits arising from ame to , , Y * ^ ecutors > 

children to raise and educatf then,", if I iLflZ^oiZ, ^ » d 

1 give and bequeath to my beloved wife FH^lwk t»i • 

her natural life," etc. ' estate, during 

A plantation was willed "to my beloved son, fames Seadden 
Kame, with the provtsion that he pay certain sums to h,s sister 
Margaret Blame. To Alexander Blaine, Eleanor Lyons Ws 
McMurray Mary Davison and Isabella Mitchell be wilied five 
Sg) (B ; "^ P - 33 °' R ™«" " f Wills, Courthouse! 

Evidently these were grown to manl ,1 .,,,,1 womanhood and 

were well aken care of lhrough raarri ..„„, Qth T| ™ 

torn of wdhng five shillings to married daughters a, that perTod 

«™ ( ° h »e been somewhat general, the property going The 

•sons and ofttunes the larger portion to the first-born f 



son. 



628 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

About 1745 James Blaine and Isabella, bis wife, took their little 
son Ephraim and journeyed from Londonderry, Ireland, to Amer- 
ica, tarrying in Lancaster County, near Donegal, "on their way to 
the western world," which for them proved to be Toboyne Town- 
ship. They stopped in Carlisle long enough to become well known 
and then took up a tract of land in Toboyne Township, then on the 
frontiers and in what is now a part of Perry County, and described 
as "on the south side of the blue Juniata." They assumed a leading 
part in the affairs of the province as long as it continued a prov- 
ince, an active interest in the state when it became a state, and in 
the nation when the nation was born. 

Successful in every way, happy in his home, the father of nine 
children who survived him, bis first recorded grief was the death 
of his wife, Isabella. He subsequently married Elizabeth, daughter 
of George Carskaden, of Toboyne Township. Of the nine chil- 
dren, the little Irishman, the oldest, was sent to Rev. Dr. Allison's 
school in Philadelphia. There is a logical reason for sending 
young Blaine tbere, inasmuch as Dr. Allison himself was from 
Ireland (Donegal) and had a farm in Toboyne Township, adjoin- 
ing the Blaine home. 

On graduating at Dr. Allison's school in Philadelphia, Ephraim 
Blaine, his son, became a commissary sergeant with the proprietary 
government. Then, when the Indian treaty of 1765 was signed 
he did as many of our World War heroes did so recently, married 
"the girl he left behind," Rebecca Galbraith, descended of a staunch 
stock and a resident of Carlisle, whom he probably learned to 
know wbile residing tbere as a boy while on their way to take up 
lands in the province. The lure of this beautiful girl is responsible 
for bis subsequent location there, no doubt, where he later became 
sheriff (1772). Of course men from what is now Perry County 
were also officials of Cumberland at that time, it being an integral 
part thereof. His father was one of his sureties, and as the Execu- 
tive Council, composed of five good men and true, attested to the 
recorder of Cumberland County that they did approve of Robert 
Callender and James Blaine as sufficient sureties, it follows that 
tbey were substantial men. 

This man Callender was a very wealthy man, an Indian trader, 
and in a single encounter, while convoying a train of eighty-one 
pack-horse loads of goods, sixty-three were destroyed, the value 
of which was three thousand pounds. In vain he protested that 
they were not for the hostile Indians, but were for the Illinois, to 
be stored at Fort Pitt. He was charged with intending "to steal up 
the goods" before tbe trade was legally opened. He stood on good 
footing with young Blaine and his father, as the three combined 
to be '"held and firmly bound unto our sovereign Lord, George, the 
Third, by tbe grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 629 

Kin<.- Defender of the Faith," &c, in the sum of two thousand 
& lawful money of Pennsylvania to be paid to our sovemg^ 
1 the King, his heirs and successors, to winch payment well 
J r . S 1^ made we bind ourselves, our heirs, executors and 
^nTstrators and every one of them '^ ^fj^fj^ 
by these presents, sealed with our seals and dated he fourteen* 
day of October, in the eleventh year of his majesty s reign, be 
fore lohu Agnew, Esq., one of his majesty's justices of the peace 
or the county of Cumberland aforesaid." A pound of Pennsyl- 
vania currency at that time was worth two and two-thirds dollars. 
Prior to being made sheriff Ephraim Blaine was also an Indian 
!,.;:,,,- tor a few year. When a posse rescued Frederick Mump 
from the Carlisle jail, as noted in our Indian chapters, Mr. Blame 
was one who rallied to the aid of the sheriff. 

When the war with the mother country broke out he was com- 
missioned a lieutenant, later promoted to Colonel and by a reso- 
lution of the Continental Congress was made chief of the com 
ssary department. He was then about thirty-five years of age. 
I was he the Toboyne Township boy, who organized the farmers 
and the millers and kept Valley Forge from starving while the 
Tories in the great city were dancing and engaged m merry- 
making In fact, many of the farmers were sending their wheat 
to' Philadelphia to the dancing Tories instead of to the starving 
soldiers at Valley Forge. Practically everybody knows of the 
starving Continental Army at Valley Forge, but everybody does 
not know that hogsheads of shoes, stockings and clothing lay at 
different points awaiting teams and money to pay teamsters. 1 he 
dearth of money is best realized when it is known that the colo- 
nies bad voted eight million dollars for a year's war expenses and 
at the end of five months had actually only furnished twenty thou- 
sand dollars. r ^ . 

But Ephraim Blaine, this boy who had come out of Toboyne 
Township, now a part of Perry County, already a man of affairs, 
having money of his own, his people having money and having a 
wide "acquaintance among the well-to-do, raised the money pri- 
vately to keep the war going, and at one time-in January, 17S0— 
the Supreme Executive Council drew a warrant m his favor for 
one million dollars to reimburse him in part for advances and 
means which he had provided. 

That the Continental Congress evidently appreciated what he 
did and was doing is evidenced by an act of 1780 granting him 
"a salary at the rate of $40,000 by the year until the further order 
of Congress, also six rations a day and forage for four horses, 
for he was then a general, having been promoted to that position 
April 6 1777 Later he spent his winters in Philadelphia, where 
his friend, George Washington, first President of the United 



630 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

States, resided, it being then the social centre of the new country, 
as the sessions of the Congress were held there. 

Duels were yet in vogue in those days, and in the duel between 
John Duncan and James Lamberton in 1793, Ephraim Blaine was 
chosen as a second, and when the two met on the field of honor 
Duncan was killed. He was a brother of Judge Duncan, and years 
after Lamberton's grandson, Robert A. Lamberton, became presi- 
dent of Lehigh University. 

Rebecca Galbraith, the wife of Ephraim Blaine, died in 1795. 
They had two sons, James and Robert, they being of the third 
generation of Blaines in America. James married Margaret Lyon, 
his cousin, whose father, Samuel Lyon, had taken up two hundred 
and seventy-three acres of land in Tuscarora. (This Lyon family 
should not be confused with that of the late Judge Lyons, of the 
Perry-Juniata judicial district.) James was sent abroad twice 
when a young man, being under voting age. It is recorded that 
John Bannister Gibson, the illustrious Chief Justice of the Su- 
preme Court of Pennsylvania (of whom more elsewhere in this 
book), after Blaine's death, wrote of him: "James Blaine, at the 
time of his return from Europe, was considered to be among the 
most accomplished and finest looking gentlemen in Philadelphia, 
then the centre of fashion, elegance and learning on this conti- 
nent." His reputation as a model gentleman was honestly sus- 
tained throughout life. 

Ephraim Blaine died in 1804, hut seven years previous he had 
married Sarah Elizabeth Postlethwaite Duncan, widow of his 
friend, who was killed in the duel previously mentioned, and who 
gave birth to a son who was also named Ephraim. His two sons 
by his first wife each had a son also named Ephraim, but the line 
of descent of James G. Blaine is from Ephraim Lyon (his moth- 
er's maiden name), the son of James, he being of the fourth gen- 
eration in America. At one time there were four Ephraim Blaines 
at Washington College, all related. 

Ephraim L. Blaine went to Washington College and studied law 
with David Watts, late judge, whose son later was United States 
minister to Austria. The father, James Blaine, had in the mean- 
time settled at Sewickley, and there his son Ephraim L. met and 
paid court to Maria Gillespie, whom he married. They moved to 
Brownsville, to a house which his father had previously erected, 
and there, in the first stone house west of the Monongahela River, 
James Gillespie Blaine was horn. 

He graduated at Washington College in 1847, and was called to 
Maine to edit the first Whig newspaper, and made Maine his per- 
manent home, lie was elected to the Maine Legislature and was 
a delegate to the second National Republican Convention, which 
nominated Lincoln. He was elected to Congress in 1862 and 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTF.D MEN 631 

served over twenty years, being speaker part of the time. He 
entered the sixth National Republican Convention at Cincinnati 
in 1876, with 2X5 votes for President of the United States, the 
second highest being Oliver P. Morton with [25, but Rutherford 
B. Hayes won on the seventh ballot with 384 votes. Hayes en- 
tered the balloting with 61 votes, while $jti were necessary for a 
choice. Hayes became President. 

At the seventh National Convention at Chicago, in 1880, James 
G. Blaine entered with 284, while U. S. Grant had 304. James A. 
Garfield broke the Grant-Blaine deadlock in the thirty-sixth ballot 
with 399 votes. Garfield had no votes on the first ballot, and only 
two on the second. Necessary to a choice, 378 Garfield was 
elected. 

At the eighth National Convention at Chicago, in T884, Mr. 
Blaine entered with 334^/2 votes, Chester A. Arthur being second 
with 278. Blaine was nominated on the fourth ballot with 541 
votes. Necessary to a choice, 410. He was defeated at the gen- 
eral elections by Grover Cleveland, through the disaffection of 
Senator Roscoe Conkling, of New York, thus losing that state by 
a very small majority. 

At the ninth National Convention at Chicago, in 1888, he polled 
almost a half-hundred votes for a half-dozen ballots, although not 
a candidate. Benjamin Harrison was nominated and elected. 

At the tenth National Convention, in 1892, he received 182 votes, 
Benjamin Harrison being nominated, but was defeated by Grover 
Cleveland at the polls. 

No other man in American history carried a following so long 
or was voted for in so many national conventions. He was bal- 
loted for at five national conventions. He was twice Secretary of 
State (under Presidents Jas. A. Garfield and Benjamin Harrison), 
and was the greatest statesman since the days of Clay and Webster. 

James G. Blaine, like William J. Bryan of our day, was a noted 
orator, which statement recalls a paragraph from the works of 
that famous F'erry Conntian, Col. A. K. McClnre, in which he 
says: "It is a notable fact in political history that no preeminent 
political orator ever succeeded to the Presidency." 

Concisely stated, the Blaine generations in America which sprang 
from the original settler in what is now Perry County, are : 

1. James Blaine, who patented land in Toboyne Township. 

2. Ephraim Blaine, who was also from Toboyne Township, and 
became Commissary General in the Revolution. 

3. James Blaine. 

4. Ephraim Lyon Blaine, an attorney. 

5. James Gillespie Blaine, nominated for the Presidency, Con- 
gressman, Secretary of State, statesman. 



632 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

As part of the Borough of Blain (the final "e" being dropped) 
was located on lands originally warranted by the Blaines, the town 
was called Blain. Under the chapters devoted to Jackson and To- 
boyne Townships are facts in reference to those early land loca- 
tions. 

The Stokes' mill property, at Blain, was originally the Blaine 
mill, and in the year of the county's erection, in 1820, on April 20, 
it passed from James S. Blaine to David Moreland. It was built 
by James Blaine, the head of the Blaine clan, and helped supply 
food to the Continental Army. 

James Blaine, the ancestor of this famous family, was one of 
the men who warranted lands on February 3, 1755, the very first 
day of the allotment of lands which now comprise Perry County. 
He located 100 acres that day, its location adjoining John Car- 
rothers. It lies south of Laurel Run and north of the spur of 
which Pilot Hill! is the terminus, in Tyrone Township, not far 
from Landisburg. There is no evidence that he ever resided there. 
By referring to the chapters on Jackson Township and Toboyne 
Township more will be learned of their early holdings, as it was 
there that they resided. 



The Blaine line of descent, as stated in your letter, is correct. — John 
Ewing Blaine. — From a letter to the author. Mr. Blaine is the author of 
the genealogy of "The Blaine Family." 

Note. — Many letters of Ephraim Blaine are to be found filed in the 
Congressional Library at Washington, D. C. 

Chester I. Long, United States Senator. 

Perry County territory has been the birthplace of two men who 
have become members of the United States Senate, part of the 
greatest lawmaking body of the world. The first was William 
Bigler, former governor of Pennsylvania, who represented his na- 
tive state from 1855 to 1861, and Chester I. Long, who represented 
the great agricultural state of Kansas from 1903 to 1909. Senator 
Long is a scion of a noted family of that name living east of the 
Juniata. The branch of the family to which Senator Long belongs 
is traced to Isaac Long, who came to America early in 1700 and 
purchased one thousand acres of land from John, Thomas and 
Richard Penn, at a point about six miles north of Lancaster, in 
Manheim Township, Lancaster County, probably called after 
Mannheim, the principal city of Baden, from whence he came. 
His ancestor fled from England during the religious persecution 
under Queen Mary about the middle of the Sixteenth Century, 
and located near Baden. He had evidently lived in Switzerland 
for a time, as it is from that country that records show his emigra- 
tion. The lands have long since been subdivided, but the Jacob R. 
Landis farm is a part of the area. Isaac Long had six sons, Isaac, 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 633 

Benjamin, Joseph, John, David, and Christian, [t is from one of 
these sons that the Perry Comity branch of the family sprang, hut 
lack of early records now available makes it uncertain whieh one 




CHESTER I. IONG. 
Ex-United States Senator from Kansas. Born in Greenwood Township, Perry County. 

was the father of David Long, who migrated to what is now 
Perry County, in 1814, and who died in 1859. He was a United 
Brethren preacher, and with him came his son, Christian Long, 



634 1 1 1 STORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

and his grandson, Abraham G. Long, then two years old, who be- 
came the father of Senator Long. 

It was at the home of Isaac Long, the son of Isaac, the emi- 
grant, that the United Brethren Church was organized, but, ac- 
cording to a letter from A. W. Drury, who in 1883 traveled Lan- 
caster County, making a close study of its early history while writ- 
ing the Life of Otterbein, the founder of that faith, "Isaac Long 
had two daughters, one of whom was married to Henry Landis." 
If Isaac Long had sons, I am sure I would have had a note 
to that effect." Accordingly the line of descent must have been 
from a brother of Isaac, and probably from Christian, as David, 
who came to Perry County and became the head of the clan there, 
had named his son Christian (probably after the grandfather, a 
custom of the period). When David Long removed to Perry 
County, he settled on the old Spahr farm, in Greenwood Township. 
He was successful, and gave a farm to each of his sons. His wife 
was Catherine Hershey, of Lancaster County, who preceded him 
in death. 

The oldest son of Abraham G. Long, and brother of the future 
senator, was Ephraim C. Long, born in Greenwood Township, 
June 28, 1837. He died in Liverpool, August 17, 1887. He had 
studied law in the office of Benjamin Mclntire, at New Bloom- 
field, and was admitted to the bar in January, 1862, and was 
elected district attorney that fall. Lie was a member of the i62d 
Regiment (Seventeenth Cavalry) during the Civil War. He 
started in the practice of the law with great success, but lost his 
health during service with the Union army and was not able to 
continue practice thereafter. 

Senator Chester I. Long was born in Greenwood Township, on 
the farm of his father, on October 12, i860, being the son of Abra- 
ham G. and Mary Cauffman Long, who migrated to Daviess 
County, Missouri, in 1865. He got his early education in the 
common schools and taught in the country schools. In 1879 lie 
entered the Paola (Kansas) Normal School, from which he gradu- 
ated. 

As early as 1880 he made a reputation as an effective speaker 
for the Republicans in the national campaign. In 1883 he went to 
Topeka, Kansas, where he read law, being admitted to the bar in 
1885, in the fall of that year locating at Medicine Lodge, Kansas. 
In the fall of 1889 he was elected to the State Senate of Kan- 
sas and immediately took rank as a leader, which was largely re- 
sponsible for his campaign for Congress in 1892, against Jerry 
Simpson, one of the able men who was carried into power on the 
tide of Populism, and referred to later as "Sockless Simpson." 
In that contest Mr. Simpson won. In 1894 the two men were 
again opponents, and Mr. Long won. In 1896 the conditions were 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 635 

reversed and Mr. Simpson again was elected, only to have Mr. 
Long, in 1898, again wrest the office from him. Mr. Long was 
his own successor in 1 900 and 1902, thus having served in the 
Fifty-Fourth, Fifty-Sixth and Fifty-Seventh Congresses. Both 
men were residents of Medicine Lodge at the time, and no other 
congressional fight in the Union attracted more attention. In 1903 
Mr. Long resigned as a member of Congress, after lie was elected 
to the United States Senate, serving until 1909. When elected to 
that office, January 27, 1903, Senator Long was but forty-two 
years of age. 

At the time of the historic legislative war in Kansas, in 1893, 
Mr. Long was one of the attorneys for the Republican House of 
Representatives, and in that connection prepared a brief from 
which extensive ([notations were made by Chief Justice Horton, 
of the Supreme Court, in making his decision in the case. While 
a congressman his speech on the Porto Rico tariff bill made for 
him a national reputation. He proved also an effective and un- 
compromising advocate of reciprocity with Cuba. 

Shortly after the election of Senator Long to the United States 
Senate, a native Perry Countian wrote to Governor W. J. Bailey, 
of Kansas, for information in reference to him. From the reply 
of Governor Bailey, the following is taken : 

"Chester I. Long was educated in Paola, Kansas, and came into political 
prominence after having moved west by running against Jerry Simpson 
for Congress. In his campaigns against Simpson, he evinced a clear head, 
a high character, and an ability to take care of himself. 

"In Congress he soon became recognized as a growing and a prominent 
member. Matters growing out of the Spanish-American War raising na- 
tional and international questions, new and momentous, brought Long to 
the front as a student of untiring zeal, a politician of practical skill, and 
a statesman of comprehensive grasp. There is no doubt that the Presi- 
dent counted him one of his trusted advisers and appreciated his hearty 
efforts to carry forward the purposes so near to the heart of the executive. 
He is now elevated to a place in the Senate where he will be a new mem- 
ber in title only, being already thoroughly familiar with the questions, the 
men and the forms with which he will have to deal. In Kansas Senator 
Long ranks as a clean, dignified gentleman o*f high ability, who has earned 
his promotion by the splendid work he has done for his country, his party, 
and his state. The state knows him and is proud of him." 

Senator Long was married while a member of Congress, to Miss 
Anna Bache, with whom he attended school at Paola. They lived 
together for almost twenty-five years, until her death in [919. 
Their married life was unusually happy. They had two daughters, 
Agnes and Margaret, both of whom have been graduated from the 
University of Chicago. 

After the expiration of his term in the Senate, Senator Long 

moved to Wichita, where he has since resided and practiced law. 

. He has a large and lucrative practice in the state and Federal 



636 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

courts, being a member of the firm of Long, Houston, Cowan & 
Depew. He is a member of the General Council of the American 
Bar Association and one of the Board of Editors of its Journal. 
He is also president of the Kansas State Bar Association, chair- 
man of the Commission to Revise the General Statutes of Kansas, 
and a member of the American Society of International Law. 

The story of the migration of David Long is told in the sketch 
elsewhere pertaining to Theodore K. Long, founder of the Carson 
Long Institute, as he was the ancestor of both. 

Governor William Bigllr. 

It is no small thing for a barefoot Perry County boy to become 
Governor of Pennsylvania, yet William Bigler, the twelfth man to 
fill that important position, was born in the famous old *Gibson 
mansion, in what is now Spring Township, Perry County, on 
f December 31, 18 13. His father, Jacob Bigler, was the miller at 
Gibson's mill, and his mother's maiden name was |Susan Dock, a 
sister of Judge Dock, of Dauphin County. They were of German 
descent and were educated in both tongues, not an unusual thing in 
those days. 

When he was yet a boy, his parents in the hope of bettering their 
fortune, moved to Mercer County, purchasing a large tract of 
woodland. The title proved defective and they found themselves 
left with only a small farm. The matter of providing even the 



*At the memorial session of the Pennsylvania State Senate, March 11, 
1881, Charles H. Smiley, then State Senator from Perry County, in his 
eulogy, mentioned the birthplace of the Bigler brothers. Chief Justice Gib- 
son, General George Gibson, Commissary General of the United States, 
and Congressman Bernheisel, who adopted the Mormon faith and became 
the representative of that people in Congress, as having taken place in 
the same room, in the old Gibson mansion, at Gibson's Mill. This has been 
widely quoted, yet it had an earlier publication, as it appeared on page 259 
of Wright's History in 1873. Landisburg citizens have claimed that the 
Biglers, or at least Governor John Bigler, was born in that town. The 
facts are these : Jacob Bigler, the father, rented the Rice mill, near Lan- 
disburg, in 1795, and did not rent the Gibson mill until 1809, from which 
the deduction is made that John Bigler, the Governor of California, whose 
birth occurred in 1805, was born at Landisburg, where Jacob Bigler re- 
sided until renting the Gibson mill. That William Bigler, born in 1813, 
was not born at Landisburg, but at the Gibson mill, is also no doubt the 
truth, as his father rented the Gibson mill in 1809, after the death of Ann 
West Gibson, the mother of the Chief Justice, at which time her other 
son, Francis, located in Carlisle, where he remained for many years, later 
returning to the old home. In an autobiography of the late Judge Dock 
he states that in 1813 he visited his sister Susan, married to Jacob Bigler, 
at their home on Sherman's Creek. The late William M. Henderson, during 
his life, made the statement in writing that one was born at Landisburg 
and one at Gibson's mill, as his parents had moved near the Gibson mill 
as early as 1803 or 1804, and the families were friends. 

fDate sometimes given as January 1, 1814. 

JSusan Dock Bigler, the widowed mother, lived to see her two sons be- 
come famous, and when she died, March 16, 1854, they were both in office, 
as governors of widely separated commonwealths. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



637 



necessities for a large family from land barely rescued ran the 

U health and passed away, leaving a widow and children to wrestle 
with the vicissitudes of life in a newly settled community. 




WILLIAM BIGLER, 

Twdfth Governor of Pennsylvania. Born at "Westover" Mill, Perry 

County. 

The children received only such an education as the common 
schools of tha, day in the rural districts afforded Wdhan, bepn 
I,..,,-,,:,,., the printing trade, and from 1830 to 1833 he was em 
i ' "on the Cenfrc Democrat, published at Bellefonte by his 
brother John. At the end of that period, influenced by friends, 
alno ' who", was Andrew G. Curt,,,, later to become the great 



638 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

"war governor" of Pennsylvania, he went to Clearfield and began, 
not without misgivings, however, the publication of the Clear field 
Democrat, a political paper. It is said of him that he "had no 
money, but possessed about everything else requisite to the publi- 
cation of a paper." Aided by friends he secured a second-hand 
press and some old type, and as he later said, "started an eight- 
by-ten Jackson paper to counteract the influence of a seven-by- 
nine Whig paper." He did all the work, both editorial and me- 
chanical. He was very courteous and was a veritable backwoods- 
man — a crack shot and a good hunter, political accomplishments of 
that period. 

In [836 lie married a daughter of Alexander B. Reed, of Clear- 
field, sold his paper and went into partnership with Mr. Reed in 
the mercantile line. J lis industry soon placed him as a leader in 
that line and in the lumber business, which he also conducted. 
From 1845 t° 1850 he was the leading lumber producer in Penn- 
sylvania, and at that time lumbering was probably the leading in- 
dustry in the state. 

In 1841 he was nominated for state senator from the district 
comprised of the counties of Armstrong, Indiana, Cambria and 
Clearfield, and elected by three thousand majority. Though op- 
posed by a regularly nominated candidate of the Whigs he polled 
every vote in Clearfield County, save one — an unheard-of result 
in politics. Sessions of the State Senate at that time were devoted 
to matters of unusual importance. The United States Bank and 
the Bank of Pennsylvania, with the funds of the state on deposit, 
had failed and had prevented payment of the interest on the public 
debt, then an enormous sum. Inevitable discontent and murmur- 
ings of repudiation of the public debt followed and Senator Bigler 
was the active leader of those who stood by the integrity of the 
commonwealth. His principal address upon the resumption of 
specie payments created such a favorable impression that Senator 
John Strohm, of Lancaster, said: "Young man, that speech will 
make you Governor of Pennsylvania, if you behave yourself well 
hereafter." 

In 1843 ne was elected speaker of the senate, the presiding offi- 
cer being known by that title until the adoption of the Constitution 
ot i^yi,, and was reelected, having been returned to the senate 
in 1844. During his second term in the senate the question of 
railroad communication between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh was 
the absorbing topic in legislative halls. Capitalists from Philadel- 
phia applied for a charter to construct a road between the two 
cities wholly in Pennsylvania territory. Pittsburgh, however, con- 
tended that a direct route across the Allegbenies was impractical 
and insisted on -ranting the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company 
the right to extend their right of way through western counties of 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 639 

the stair to their city, claiming that for all time the only railroad 
communication between eastern and western Pennsylvania would 
be through the states of Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia. 
Senator Bigler's district was divided, but he pleaded for the road 
through the state. He did not believe the route to be impractical and 
had great faith in promised improvements in motive power, in which 
he has long- since been justified. The matter was settled by a propo- 
sition which be himself advanced, that if a bona fide subscription 
of three million dollars was not made and paid towards the con- 
struction of the Pennsylvania Central Railroad on or before the 
first of the ensuing June then the act granting the right of way to 
the Baltimore & Ohio Company should become effective, but other- 
wise be null and void. 

In 1848 bis name was placed in nomination for governor, but 
be was defeated for the nomination by Morris Longstreth, then 
a canal commissioner, who was defeated by William F. Johnston 
at the polls. In 1849 he was appointed a revenue commissioner, 
whose duty it was to adjust the tax rate of different sections of 
the state. In 1851 be was given the Democratic nomination by 
acclamation and defeated Governor Johnston for reelection at the 
polls. Not only were great questions of state then involved, but 
the Fugitive Slave Law and the question of slavery in the terri- 
tories were leading topics. He was then but thirty-eight years old 
and was, until the election of Governor Pattison in 1883, the 
youngest governor of Pennsylvania ever elected. A curious co- 
incidence was that his brother John was chosen Governor of Cali- 
fornia at the same time. His biography appears in the next few 
pages. 

Governor Bigler's administration was characterized by the old- 
time virtues, insisting on rigid economy and strict accountability 
in the use of public monies. He took a decided stand against the 
pernicious practice of putting good and bad legislation in the same 
bill for the purpose of getting the bad measures enacted into law, 
and it was through bis insistence that a bill was passed forbidding 
the passage of an act which did not fully state in its title the sub- 
ject matter and which contained more than one subject. This was 
afterwards incorporated into the Constitution of 1874, as Section 3 
of Article 3. 

He was in March, 1854, again unanimously nominated, but a 
new party, the Native Americans, in conjunction with the Whigs, 
del rated him, electing James Pollock. In January, 1855, he was 
elected president of the Philadelphia & Erie Railroad Company, 
and later the same year was elected United States Senator from 
Pennsylvania, serving for six years. He was there while the war 
clouds of secession and rebellion gathered and burst in all their 
fury, spreading ruin throughout the land. In February, 1861, 



640 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

upon the senate floor he said, "as for secession, I am utterly against 
it. I deny the right and abhor the consequences." When Abra- 
ham Lincoln was elected President of the United States, Senator 
Bigler was untiring in his zeal to help adjust national difficulties, 
acting with Mr. Crittenden in efforts to secure a compromise. He 
held that the Southern states had no reasonable plea for resorting 
to violence until all peaceful means for adjustment had been ex- 
hausted. He was a member of the Committee of Thirteen to which 
were referred the famous compromise propositions and advocated 
their submission to a vote of the people of the several states, which 
was rejected, but which, it is contended by many, would have 
crushed secession. 

He was a member of the National Democratic Convention at 
Charleston in i860, and was against the nomination of Douglas. 
In 1864 he was temporary chairman of the National Convention 
which nominated George B. McClellan, whom he favored. He 
was a candidate for Congress in 1864, but was defeated. 

In 1875 his name was placed in nomination for the governor- 
ship again, and for ten ballots he led all the candidates. His 
name was withdrawn and Cyrus L. Pershing, of Schuylkill, was 
nominated, but was defeated by John F. Hartranft at the polls. 
In 1876 he manifested much interest in the Presidential election, 
and when the result was seen to hinge on the disputed votes of 
certain Southern states, he, with Ex-Governor Andrew G. Curtin 
and Samuel J. Randall, for years a Pennsylvania Congressman, 
were sent to New Orleans to see that the canvass was fair. He 
was financial agent of the Centennial of 1876, the first national 
exhibition of any import. 

Governor Bigler died at Clearfield, August 9, 1880. He was the 
father of five sons. His career was marked by honesty and ability. 
lie was one of the statesmen of his day, and whether in official 
position or following the pursuits of private life his actions were 
distinguished for their honesty and good intent. When secession 
threatened, amid strife, contention and hesitation, his allegiance 
was unfaltering and he could realize no other destiny than that 
which has resulted, showing the firm foundation and stability of 
• >ur government — an undivided Union. 

His characteristics were marked: Of sturdy character, not bril- 
liant perhaps, but honest, intelligent and faithful to every trust. 
On June 5, 1858, when he was a United States Senator, a writer 
in Harper's Weekly said: "He is less seen and more felt than any 
gentleman on the administration side of the senate." His messages 
and public papers were always expressed in excellent English and 
his arguments were logical and convincing. A colleague said of 
him: "I lis greatest glory was not his ability, his statesmanship, 
nor the high and honorable positions which he held. They are 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN (.41 

worthy of high honor, it is true; but they fade before the brighter, 
stronger claims of his generous, sympathetic, unselfish nature, 
manifested in a long life of kindness to his fellow man." 

It was the lot of Governor Bigler to figure in three distinct eras 
of Pennsylvania history: In the period of our canal system, when 
the revulsion of 1841 had impaired the public credit, with the 
project uncompleted further impairing it ; later, when the rail- 
roads were threading their way and seeking to use the national 
highways, and still later when the railroads were built and were 
attempting to control legislation. 

For many years he was a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church, 
and after retiring from active life he said in an address that he had 
"a higher and nobler enjoyment in discharging his religious duties 
than he ever experienced amidst the honors of official life." At 
the eulogistic services held by the Pennsylvania Legislature, after 
his death, a speaker said: "If I were a teacher and some ambi- 
tious pupil whose ideas were looking forth to future fame in the 
service of the republic, were to ask me, 'What governor's life 
should I study to prepare me for the contest?' I would answer. 
'William Bigler's, for none fought the battle of life more suc- 
cessfully.' " 

That great editor, Col. A. K. McClure, a personal acquaintance, 
in "Old-Time Notes of Pennsylvania," said of William Bigler: 

"William Bigler became governor in January, 1852, when the conditions 
of trade and industry were greatly improved, giving him unusual oppor- 
tunity to make a successful administration, and no governor in the history 
of the state could have more intelligently directed the government to the 
best interests of the people. 

"He was born not far from the little community of Shermansdale, now 
Perry County, close to the home of my boyhood. It was a very primitive 
and sparsely settled section, but the eyes of the people always brightened 
when they spoke of the distinguished public men it had furnished to the 
country in Chief Justice John Bannister Gibson, Governor William Bigler, 
of Pennsylvania, and Governor John Bigler, of California, all of whom 
were in office at one time. 

"William Bigler was elected Governor of Pennsylvania in 1851, and on 
the same ticket with him was John Bannister Gibson, then Chief Justice of 
the state, who was continued on the elective supreme court, and just one 
month before the election of Bigler and Gibson in Pennsylvania, John 
Bigler was elected Governor of California. John Bigler became foreign 
minister after serving two terms as governor, and William Bigler became 
United States Senator. It was certainly a remarkable development of the 
greatness achieved by these barefooted boys of Sherman's Valley. 

"Pennsylvania has had governors of stronger intellectual force than 
Bigler, but I never knew a public man who had better command of all his 
faculties or could apply them to more profitable uses. He was a man of 
very clear conception and unusually sound judgment, with a severe con- 
scientiousness that made him heroic in defense of the right. He was a 
man of unusually fine presence, of a most amiable and genial disposition, 
and delightful in companionship, but no influence or interest could swerve 
him from his convictions of duty in official trust. 
41 



642 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

"He was a careful student, an intelligent observer of men and events, 
and thoroughly mastered every question that confronted him in the dis- 
charge of his political duties. He was not an aggressive man in the gen- 
eral acceptation of the term, but his conservatism never restrained him in 
aiding legitimate progress, and no cleaner man ever filled the executive 
chair of Pennsylvania. 

"He was a thorough forester, loved the woods, and soon learned to put 
something approaching a fair value upon the vast amount of fine lumber 
in that region. In a few years he became one of the largest lumber mer- 
chants of the West Branch, and 1 well remember the admiration he 
aroused among his political friends, when he was a member of the senate 
and a prospective candidate for governor, by making the entire journey 
from Clearfield to Harrisburg on one of his own rafts. He was well 
equipped for the practical duties of the gubernatorial chair. He was a 
thoroughly good judge of men and as thoroughly familiar with every 
public question relating to the interests of the state. 

"Governor Bigler did more than any other one man in his day to save 
Pennsylvania from the scourge of an inflated wildcat currency. Pennsyl- 
vania "had entirely recovered from the terrible financial depression of 1841 
when repudiation was narrowly escaped. Commerce, industry and trade 
were generally quickened, and the discovery of gold in California, al- 
though then in its infancy, seemed to be furnishing an amount of the 
precious metal that must diffuse wealth into every channel of business 
enterprise. The few millions of gold that California produced in 1851 
were regarded as tenfold more important than all the twentyfold of gold 
and silver now produced in the West. The feeling was very general that 
a tide of prosperity was approaching, and a deluge of applications for 
bank charters came upon the legislature during Bigler's first year. 

"The legislators were fully in sympathy with the prospective tide of 
wealth that was dazzling the people, and they passed bank charters by the 
score, and all without any individual liability or security for depositors 
beyond the capital stock. In a single message Governor Bigler vetoed 
eleven bank charters, and during the session he sent to the senate or 
house thirty messages vetoing bank bills. He was thoroughly familiar 
with the industrial interests of the state and knew how easily the people 
would be tempted from the ordinary channels of industry by hope of 
suddenly acquired wealth, without pausing to consider that the floodtide 
of irresponsible banks, practically without limit as to the issue of cur- 
rency, would produce a most unhealthy inflation that could end only in 
terrible disaster. 

"He was the first governor who made an appeal to the legislature to halt 
what was known as log-rolling or omnibus legislation, by which a bank 
charter could be made an amendment to the bill for the removal of a 
local schoolhouse, and insisted that he should have the right to consider 
every different feature of legislation upon its own merits. He proposed 
also in the same message two amendments, which have since been adopted 
in our Constitution, relating to legislation, requiring each bill to contain 
but a single subject, and to be passed by a majority vote of each house 
mi a call of ayes and nays. 

"Bigler had served three terms in the senate, elected each time practi- 
cally without a contest, and although he peremptorily declined at the end 
of his second term, and sent delegates from his county in favor of an- 
other candidate, the delegates from the other counties of the district gave 
a unanimous vote for him and he was compelled to continue legislative 
service. The prominent position he occupied in the senate had thoroughly 
familiarized him with all matters relating to state government, and, next 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 643 

to Governor Johnston, I doubt whether any man ever filled the position 
who was more thoroughly equipped for shaping legislation and adminis- 
tering the state government. His administration commanded not only the 
respect, but the hearty approval of his party, and even his political oppo- 
nents, however earnestly they may have differed with him, held in high 
esteem his ability and integrity, and when he was nominated for reelection 
in 1854 by the unanimous vote of the convention, given with the heartiest 
enthusiasm, there did not seem to be a cloud on the Democratic horizon 
even as large as a man's hand to threaten him with the tempest that swept 
him out of office by nearly 40,000 majority. 

"The repeal of the Missouri Compromise by a Democratic Congress 
aroused the anti-slavery sentiment that largely pervaded the Democratic 
ranks in every section of the state and brought out the first distinct mur- 
murs of revolt, and the sudden organization of the American or 'Know 
Nothing' party, with the Whig party practically on the verge of its death 
throes, found a wide field with loose aggregations of both Whigs and 
Democrats, and these elements were adroitly combined against Bigler in 
favors of James Pollock, who succeeded him. 

"It was a most humiliating defeat, and at the time seemed to bring hope- 
less destruction to his political career, but his defeat for governor made 
him United States Senator and one of the great national leaders of his 
party during the Buchanan administration. Bigler's career in the senate 
showed that he was equal to the mastery of the gravest national problems, 
and his sound judgment and conservative aims gave him great power to 
aid in the election of James Buchanan, his favorite candidate for the 
Presidency. His personal devotion to Buchanan made him resolve all 
doubts in favor of supporting the President in his battle with Douglas, 
and that led to his support of the sadly mistaken policy of the adminis- 
tration in the Kansas-Nebraska disputes, although Senator Bigler always 
sought to temper the desperate policy of his associate leaders. He visited 
Kansas personally, and in perfect good faith appealed to the Free State 
men to come to the front, as they seemed to have the majority, but they 
had been overwhelmed by the hordes from Missouri, and they refused to 
accept his advice. 

"Taking his career as a whole in the senate, it was eminently creditable, 
and after his retirement he continued to exhibit the liveliest interest in all 
public affairs. He was one of the leading men in the direction of the 
Centennial Exposition, and labored most earnestly and unselfishly to pro- 
mote its success. Although he never made public utterance on the sub- 
ject, nothing would have gratified him so much as to have been recalled 
to the gubernatorial chair of the state. In 1875, when the Democratic 
convention was in session in Erie, and had what seemed to be an almost 
hopeless wrestle with a number of candidates, he was hopeful and anxious 
that he might be accepted as a compromise between disputing factions. 
He was in my editorial office waiting for dispatches from the Erie con- 
vention, and when I handed him the dispatch announcing the nomination 
of Judge Pershing, he accepted it gracefully, and I doubt whether any 
other saw the expression of disappointment that he did not conceal from 
me when he felt that his last opportunity had failed." 

The Senate of Pennsylvania, on April 27, 1881, held a memorial 
session, at which a number of eulogies were delivered in honor of 
Governor Bigler, long a member of that body, and whose death 
had but recently occurred. Lieutenant Governor Stone presided, 
and among those who spoke was Senator Charles H. Smiley, then 



644 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

representing the district which included Perry, the native home 
of the deceased governor, and whose birthplace was within a very 
few miles of his. 

Governor John Bici.kr. ok California. 

In no other instance in the annals of American history have 
brothers served as governors of different states at the same time, 
yet the talented Bigler family of Perry County was not content 
with furnishing its own state with one of its very best governors, 
but gave to that empire of the Pacific slope, California, its third 
governor, and the very first one to be elected by the people — John 
Bigler. When California became a state on September 9, 1850, 
Peter H. Burnett was governor, and thus became the first governor 
of the new state. Later he resigned and his unexpired term was 
filled by the lieutenant governor, John McDougal, who was the 
second governor. Thus John Bigler, the lad born on Perry County 
soil, became, as stated, the first governor to be elected by fran- 
chise in the new state. 

John Bigler was born at Pandisburg, where his father then 
milled, January 8, 1805, and when still in his boyhood his parents 
moved to Mercer County, Pennsylvania, hoping to better their 
financial condition, purchasing a large tract of timber land-. 
Through a defective title they shortly found themselves bereft of 
all save a small farm, and it required the entire time and much 
hard labor by the elder Bigler to make ends meet. This constant 
toil was more than he could stand at that period of his life, and 
his death followed. He left a widow and children to battle with 
the pioneer conditions of a newly settled country. Jacob Bigler, 
the father of John, had later been a miller at Gibson's mill, in 
Perry County, and his mother was Susan Dock, a sister of Judge 
Dock, of Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. 

The death of the father curtailed the education which the par- 
ents had planned for the children, so John Bigler learned the print- 
ing trade and became the editor of the Centre Democrat, published 
at Belief onte, before 1830. and when less than twenty-five years 
old. He continued its publication for some years and in the mean- 
time studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1840. It was dur- 
ing this period, from 1830 to i^S3' that ms brother William, who 
was to become governor of his native state, learned the printing 
trade with him. 

In J 849, having in the meantime married, and became the father 
of a daughter, he took his family overland to California, and set- 
tled at Sacramento. At first he turned his attention to anything 
to gain a livelihood, doing odd jobs, unloading steamships, cutting 
wood and even as an auctioneer. . He was quick-witted, good- 
natured, fond of company, fluent of speech, but rough and ready 



PERK'S COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 645 

in attire — just the type of man to dovetail with the then pioneer 
life there. He was energetic and it was lint natural thai politics 
appealed to him. 

At the first election, under the Constitution of 1849, he became 




JOHN BIGLER, 

Third governor of California. Born at Landisburg. John Bigler never had a photo- 
graph taken, and his cut has never before appeared in any book. This cut was 
made from an oil painting from life which hangs in the Governor's Room, in the 
California State Capitol, photographed especially for this book. 

the Democratic candidate for the state assembly from the Sacra- 
mento district. The returns showed him to have been beaten, but 
he contested the election and a special committee on contested elec- 
tions seated him. On January 10, 1850, he was elected speaker 



646 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

protempore of the house by a vote of seventeen to two, and on 
February 17, but a short while thereafter, when the speaker re- 
signed, he was elected to the position. At the autumn election of 
1850 he was returned to the legislature, and at the succeeding ses- 
sion was almost unanimously elected as speaker, which shows that 
he was not only an excellent presiding officer, well versed in par- 
liamentary rules, but also a popular man. It was in the course of 
his service as speaker that he joined forces with David C. Brode- 
rick, then a political power in California, each being of great value 
to the other. It was largely owing to this combination that he 
was nominated for governor of California, shortly after the ses- 
sions of the legislature closed. 

At the fall election he was elected to the highest office in the 
state, and on January 8, 1852, in the presence of the two houses 
of the legislature, he was sworn into office as governor of the 
"Golden State," the thirty-first one to attain statehood and a veri- 
table empire whose shores are washed by the Pacific Ocean for a 
distance as great as the states on the Atlantic slope from Massa- 
chusetts to Georgia. 

In his inaugural address, among many other things, he said that 
no state could prosper so long as its counsellors were governed by 
schemes of speculation and private aggrandizement, and no com- 
munity could flourish under the influence of a wild, vacillating and 
unsettled policy. California had been, perhaps, more unfortunate 
in this respect than any of the other states of the Union. It should 
be his purpose, so far as the executive arm could reach the evil, 
to apply the remedy. It was better, he continued, to adhere to the 
principles and systems exemplified in the practice of the other 
states, which had been sustained by time and were tested by ex- 
perience, than to follow after ideal and imaginary good. In these 
modern days of idealism and various other isms that homely state- 
ment shines forth like prophecy. It might well be adopted by 
many of our modern statesmen. He said the highways which had 
been successfully trodden in other states might be safely and pru- 
dently pursued by California. So long as American precedents 
were adopted and adhered to there would be no need to blush on 
account of the adoption of laws elsewhere successful. He was a 
believer in the wisdom of the aphorism "that the fewer and plainer 
the laws by which a people are governed, the better." There was 
much truth in the remark "that danger to popular government is 
to be apprehended from being governed too much." Few laws, 
well directed, would effect more good than numberless statutes, 
restraining, fettering and interfering with private enterprise. The 
greatest liberty consistent with good government was the true prin- 
cipal of republicanism and would contribute most to the develop- 
ment of the resources and energies of a people, he said. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MIX 647 

The capitol had been located at Vallejo, but that community 
had failed to fulfill its part of the conditions, and as John Bigler 
was a resident of Sacramento, it was largely through his influence 
thai the capitol was permanently located there, as he represented 
that district in the assembly from the first, and while governor 
had a powerful influence. 

Shortly prior to his term as governor — in 1848 — the first China- 
men came to California, welcomed at first, hnf soon found to he 
a menace as the ever increasing number of them was becoming a 
problem to the state, as it later became to the nation, resulting in 
the eventual passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act. As early as 
1849 tne Y were already barred from some mining camps. After 
much attention given to legislation by the two houses Governor 
Bigler gave impetus to the anti-Chinese movement by transmitting 
a special message to the legislature calling attention to the imme- 
diate necessity of exclusive legislation to check immigration. The 
message contained much sound logic and, while legislation failed 
to pass then, it has long since shown its practicability. 

At that time there was much overland traffic to the mining lands 
of California, and a commission had been appointed and had 
opened relief posts which the legislature had provided for by the 
appropriation of a sum not to exceed $25,000. The sum was ex- 
ceeded by the commission and became a matter of scandal, there 
being, as usual, two sides to the story. The one side claimed three 
thousand persons had been relieved, and the other contended it 
smacked more of political jobbery than of benevolence. The mat- 
ter finally resulted in a duel. There was considerable fault found 
with Bigler's stand on this matter. Edward Gilbert, one of Cali- 
fornia's first congressmen and editor of an Alta news] taper, made 
some caustic comment which aroused the ire of James W. Denver, 
a state senator whom Bigler had appointed at the head of the 
commission, and his personal friend and business associate. Den- 
ver replied in a bitter communication which reflected on Gilbert's 
character. Gilbert immediately challenged Denver to a duel. Den- 
ver accepted and named the rifle as the weapon, as he was an ex- 
pert rifleman. The duel, which was the first one between men of 
prominence in the state, took place in Oak Grove, near Sacra- 
mento, on August 2, 1852. Placed forty paces apart both missed 
at the first shot, whether intentionally or not will never be known. 
At the second shot the congressman (Gilbert) fell, being shot 
through the body. While Gilbert was a popular man no prosecu- 
tion was made against his slayer, but on the other hand Governor 
Bigler appointed him as secretary of state six months later when a 
vacancy occurred by resignation. This act seems not to have been 
unpopular, either. 



648 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

At the I )emocratic State Convention of 1853 his political partner, 
David C. Broderick, was in complete control, and Governor Bigler 
was renominated and, at the fall election, was reelected. Until the 
present century he was the only governor to be reelected, which 
>hows that his administration of the affairs of the state must have 
been very satisfactory to the electorate. 

In another respect than that of both becoming governors did 
the actions of these two brothers parallel. When William Bigler 
was a state senator of Pennsylvania it was he that stood for put- 
ting through the legislation for the building of the Pennsylvania 
Central railway over the Allegheny Mountains, which many 
claimed to be impractical, but over which line the Pennsylvania 
Railroad with four tracks of steel now connect New York City 
and Pittsburgh. When he was a member of the General Assembly 
of California in 1850, which was its initial session, on March 11, 
John Bigler introduced a joint resolution instructing the United 
States senators and requesting the representatives in Congress to 
urge the importance of authorizing as soon as practicable, the con- 
struction of a national railroad from the Pacific Ocean to the Mis- 
sissippi River. Later, when he was governor, in a message to the 
legislature he proposed the establishment of military and post roads 
across the plains, to connect California with the Atlantic states. 
It was brought up, but as California had no jurisdiction without 
its own bounds, the national government was appealed to by reso- 
lution to build three military and post roads across the continent. 
The result was that the national government took up the matter 
and in a short time the Atlantic and the Pacific were connected 
by military and post roads, which eventually grew to the great 
transcontinental railway lines of our time. 

It was during his administration that the great and famous San 
Quenten prison was established in California, which to this day is 
a noted place of confinement for evildoers in state as well as ordi- 
nal)- civil affairs and transactions. While a member of the assem- 
bly he was one of the men who helped establish a free school sys- 
tem, primarily patterned after the one from his native state. 

In 1855 Governor Bigler was again renominated, but was de- 
feated by John Neely Johnson, the nominee of the ascendant 
"Know Nothing" party. This was a party formed to combat for- 
eign immigration and was a secret alliance. It got its name 
through that secret method, as any one who belonged to it, when 
] tressed for information invariably said that he knew nothing. 
With the ascendancy of the "Know Nothings" Governor Bigler's 
political partner, David C. Broderick, lost his prestige for a time. 

Through the efforts of his brother, United States Senator Wil- 
liam Bigler, the former Pennsylvania governor, he was appointed 
United Stales Minister to Chili by President James Buchanan, in 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 640 

1857, and served until the advent of Abraham Lincoln, in [861. 
He returned to California and was nominated for Congress, but 
was defeated. In 1867 President Johnson appointed him a com- 
missioner on the hoard to pass upon the construction of the Central 
Pacific Railroad. In 1868 he established the State Capital Re- 
porter at Sacramento, where he died in November 29, 1871, leaving 
a wife and daughter. He and his wife and daughter are buried al 
Sacramento, where the State of California has erected a monument 
to his memory. 

Physically Governor Bigler was comparatively short and in- 
clined to he corpulent, lie was good-natured, jolly, and what is 
known in modern parlance as "a good mixer," which no doubt 
accounts in a very large way for his political success for many 
years. 

Governor Stkimikx Miij.kk, of Minnesota. 

Perry County also has the distinction of having furnished the 
third governor of Minnesota, the thirty-second state to lie admitted 
into the Union, which attained statehood in 1858. The lands pat- 
ented by George West, in Carroll Township, Perry County, on J 
March 12, 1793, passed to Melchoir Miller, grandfather of_Gox- N 
ernor Miller, who emigrated from Germany in 1785. *FIis son 
David, who became Governor Miller's father, inherited his share 
of the estate, two other heirs being his sister, Mrs. Henry Lackey, 
and his brother, Daniel, who had a son, John T. Miller, who was 
elected sheriff of Perry County in 1865. Accordingly many per- 
sons who were born in Perry County, or who can trace their 
lineage there, are kin to Governor Miller. 

Stephen Miller was born on his father's farm, now the G. W. 
Keller farm, in Carroll Township, Perry County, January 7, 1816, 
where he grew to young manhood. His mother was fRosanna 
(Darkess) Miller (sometimes called Rosa). Some histories name 
his mother as Barbara Miller, designated "a widow," teaching 
school at Daniel Cowen's, fourteen miles west of Marysville, in 
Rye Township, which is not correct. Lie attended the local schools 
and was an expert penman. 

He early devoted his attention to the milling business, and in 
1837 — the year he became of age — he engaged in the shipping and 

*The will of Melchoir Miller, dated January 5, 1824, was probated at 
Landisburg, then the county seat, March 31, 1824. It names his children 
as Elizabeth,. Rosanna, David, Anne, Susanna, and Daniel. It also desig- 
nates Rosanna Miller as his wife. Rosanna was also the name of David's 
wife, who became the governor's mother. 

fMrs. Elizabeth Miller, residing with her daughter, Mrs. Chas. Etter, 
208 Pine Street, Harrisburg, and who is in her ninety-third year, spent 
much time with the governor's mother, whom she knew as "Aunt Rosa," 
being a niece by marriage, which substantiates the fact that that was her 
given name. 



650 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

commission business at Harrisburg. Here be was successful and 
became a man of considerable importance and political standing. 
In 1849 be was elected prothonotary of Dauphin County, and in 
1852 be was reelected. An ardent Whig, from 1853 to 1855 he 
was the editor of the Pennsylvania Telegram, a journal published 




GEN. STEPHEN MILLER. 

Third Governor of Minnesota, Born in Carroll Township, Perry 
County. 

at Harrisburg devoted to the principles of that party, and not to 
be confused with a later paper known as the Harrisburg Telegram, 
whose standard of morality is not to be mentioned in the same 
breath. 

Governor Polleck appointed him flour inspector at Philadel- 
phia, in 1855. Prior to this time be had become greatly interested 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 65 1 

in the temperance cause, and procuring a large canvas tent, he vis- 
ited many parts of Pennsylvania as a lecturer, meeting with great 
success. His health becoming impaired, he thought a change of 
climate would be beneficial, and moved to Minnesota, settling at 
St. Could, where he entered business. It was soon perceived that 
the town had gained more than a merchant ; that it had a man of 
alert mind, positive convictions and wisdom, and whose aid in the 
directing of public affairs would be invaluable. His evidencing 
an interest in politics had an almost immediate effect, and in i860 
he was sent as a delegate to the National Republican Convention 
which nominated Lincoln for the Presidency. He was also placed 
at the head of the Republican electoral ticket of the state that year. 
He was prominently brought before the people of his chosen state 
by holding joint discussions or debates with General Christopher 
C. Andrews, a Douglas elector, in the principal towns and cities. 
Then the pent-up slavery agitation of almost a century came to a 
crisis and Governor Ramsey, with whom he had early formed a 
friendship while yet in Pennsylvania, was instrumental in having 
him made Lieutenant Colonel of the First Minnesota Infantry, 
his commission being dated April 29, 1861. This friendship was 
not alone responsible for this assignment, for Stephen Miller had 
shown more activity in raising recruits than any man in Minne- 
sota, and undoubtedly had great personal merits. 

Of his meritorious military record let us give the words of 
"Minnesota in Three Centuries," edited by a historical commis- 
sion of that state, which says : 

"Colonel Miller's military career is resplendent with chivalrous actions 
and acts of bravery. He commanded the right wing of his regiment at 
the first Battle of Bull Run. He was in personal command of the regiment 
during many battles of the Army of the Potomac of Eastern Virginia. 
He was engaged with the enemy at Yorktown, West Point, in the two 
Battles of Fair Oaks, at Peach Orchard, Savage Station, White Oak 
Swamp, Nelson's Farm and Malvern Hill. He was on the rear guard on 
the retreat to Harrison's Landing and held in reserve at the Battle of 
South Mountain. On August 24, 1862, he was commissioned Colonel of 
the Seventh Minnesota Infantry, and was transferred to that regiment 
just before the Battle of Antietam. On account of an accidental fall from 
his horse, the result of which was serious, he was obliged to rest awhile 
at home before taking command of his new regiment. Therefore he was 
not in personal command during the two Indian campaigns in which his 
regiment took part. He, however, assumed command at Camp Release. 
He was subsequently the commander at Camp Lincoln, near Mankato, and 
had charge of the three hundred Sioux Indians, also was entrusted in De- 
cember, 1862, with the execution of the thirty-eight that paid the penalty 
for their crimes." 

Colonel Miller received his appointment as a Brigadier General 
of Volunteers, October 26, 1863, but resigned that position to as- 
sume the office of governor. 



6 S 2 HIST* IRY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

At the Republican State Convention held in 1863, General Mil- 
ler still a Colonel at that time — was nominated for the office of 

governor, and at the fall election was elected, receiving 19,628 
votes to 12,739 CSLSt £or nis opponent, Henry T. Welles, the Demo- 
cratic candidate. He was inaugurated on January 11, 1864, and 
served one term, which expired January 18, 1866, not being a can- 
didate to succeed himself. In his inaugural address he expressed 
profound gratitude to the Deity; dwelt upon the improvement of 
the schools and university; showed a thorough knowledge of the 
matter of railroads, in his judgment there being nothing more 
certain than the construction of a northern line of railroad to the 
Pacific Ocean — a fact long since realized; commended the citizens 
on the improved condition of Indian affairs, and complimented 
them on the glorious record they were making in helping keep in- 
violate the Union. 

In 1871 he removed from St. Cloud to Worthington, where he 
was connected with the St. Paul & Sioux City Railroad Company, 
as general superintendent of their large land interests in southern 
Minnesota. In 1872 he was elected and represented his district, 
the six southwestern comities, in the state legislature. 

Again let us quote from the pages of "Minnesota in Three Cen- 
turies": "Governor Miller was a rough and ready speaker, with 
remarkable wit, originality of style, and a somewhat brusque man- 
ner on the rostrum. No man's private character stood higher in 
all respects, with amiable domestic affections and strongly reli- 
gious convictions. He was a man of moderate means, never a 
money-maker, and his last days were somewhat clouded by com- 
parative poverty, but his rugged honesty and manly principles were 
never questioned." He died at Worthington, Minnesota, August 
18, 1 881. 

In 1839 Stephen I). Miller had been united in marriage to Miss 
Margaret Funk, of Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, becoming the 
father of four children. Of these Wesley F. Miller, a lieutenant 
in the Union Army, fell at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, while 
bravely fighting; Stephen C, a second son, was a captain in the 
commissary department, and Robert D. resided in Pennsylvania. 
A daughter died in infancy. 

The execution of the thirty-eight Indians responsible for an up- 
rising, of which Governor Miller, then a Colonel, was in charge, 
was probably the greatest number of human beings ever executed 
at one time in the United States. The scaffold from which they 
were all hanged at the same moment was erected in the open and 
was surrounded at some distance by a column of infantry, at a 
further distance by another column of infantry, and at a still 
greater distance by a column of cavalry. Outside of this cordon 
of military protection was the populace, prairie schooners, "dead" 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 653 

wagons, etc. — a scene never to be Eorgotten. A military commis- 
sion had convicted 303, but President Lincoln commuted the death 
sentences of 264, and one proved an alibi. 

Governor Miller was a man of considerable literary ability and 
was the author of a number of poems, many of which were oi a 
serious or meditative nature. In [864 there appeared from the 
press of a Chicago publisher, a volume entitled "The Poets and 
Poetry of Minnesota," by Mrs. J. W. Arnold. She dedicated the 
volume "to the Honorable Stephen Miller. Governor of Minnesota. 
the Soldier, the Patriot, the True Friend." Speaking of his poeti- 
cal works the author said: "His verses are remarkable for the 
beauty and truth with which they express the reflections of the 
general mind, and emotions of the heart. Their tone is grave and 
high, but not gloomy nor morbid. The edges of the cloud of life 
are turned to gold by faith and hope. Making him, therefore, 
the Chaucer of our 'goodly eompanie,' he must lead the van of 
'The Poets and Poetry of Minnesota.' " Accordingly; nine poems 
from the pen of Governor Miller, with a sketch of his life, occupy 
the first few pages of the volume. From them we have selected 
the following poem for the history of his native county: 

SOW IN TEARS AND REAP WITH JOY. 

Thine is the lot, 'mid stormy scenes, 

To sow the seed in tears, 
And watch — with disappointment, oft — 

For fruit in following years. 
Perchance it by the wayside falls, 

Where friendless birds devour ; 
Or blooms upon the stony ground. 

To wither in an hour ; 
Or thorns may choke the tender blade, 

And prospects pass away ; 
And toil, the hope of months and years. 

May perish in a day. 

But, written in the book of God, 

Behold the great command : 
"At morn and eve dispense the seed, 

Nor once withhold thy hand." 
When bird, and storm, and thorn shall die, 

And stones and earth decay, 
"Some shall bring forth a hundredfold" 

( )n that great gleaning day. 
Then scatter seed, and deeds, and tears 

Where'er thy feet may roam, 
So shall thou shout, with angel bands, 

A blessed harvest home. - 

The remains of Melchoir Miller, the ancestor, rest in the church- 
yard at Snyder's Church, in Wheatfield Township. The gover- 
nor's mother Rosanna .Miller, lived to be well up in years, and re- 



654 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

sided in Duncannon for a long time prior to her death, in the 
house located where Abraham Spence long had a jewelry store, 
now owned by Thomas Hunter. She is still remembered by some 
of the older people there, who recall the visits of her noted son. 

Governor James A. Beaver. 

Thirty-three miles west of Harrisburg, the State Capital of 
Pennsylvania, is Millerstown Borough, Perry County, plainly in 
sight of passengers from the opposite side of the Juniata River, 
as they travel via the Pennsylvania Railroad — that great trans- 
continental artery of traffic which crosses half the continent. It 
was there that James A. Beaver, later to be Brigadier General of 
the United States Army and the twentieth governor of Pennsyl- 
vania, was born, the James G. Brandt property, very recently pur- 
chased by Lewis G. Ulsh, now occupying the site of his birthplace. 

He came of staunch stock, of the Huguenots of France, but of 
the German strain of that frontier province of Elsass (Alsace) — 
on the paternal side, and of the famous Addams family, which 
gave to the Union a commander of one of the two Pennsylvania 
brigades rendezvoused at York during the Revolution (Colonel 
John Addams), and a member of the Nineteenth and Twentieth 
Congresses of the United States (William Addams). 

George Beaver, the progenitor of the Beaver clan in America, 
about 1740, for a faith condemned in France at that time, left 
Elsass (Alsace) shortly after that province was torn from Ger- 
many by France, to be restored by conquest in 1871, and again to 
be returned to France at the conclusion of the great World W f ar 
in 19 18. He settled in Chester County and became a farmer. Of 
the second generation his son George fought in the Revolution, 
and later settled in Franklin County, marrying a Miss Keifer, 
where his son, Peter Beaver, grandfather of the governor, was 
born. Peter Beaver was of the third generation and established 
himself as a tanner in Lebanon County, later becoming a mer- 
chant. He was also a local Methodist minister and preached over 
Berks, Lebanon and Dauphin Counties, being ordained at Elkton, 
Maryland, in 1809, by Bishop Asbury. He married a Miss Gil- 
bert, of the substantial family of that name, many of whose de- 
scendants now live near Millersburg, Dauphin County. He died 
August 25, 1849, ni Pfoutz Valley. 

The father of the governor, Jacob Beaver, was born in Lebanon 
County, in 1805 (of the fourth generation in America), was one 
of six brothers, all of more or less importance ; two of them, 
George Beaver and Jesse Beaver, were representatives in the State 
Legislature. Thomas Beaver, another brother, was a pioneer 
wholesale merchant in Philadelphia, and later became an iron mas- 
ter at Danville, Pa. It was the grandfather, Peter Beaver, who 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



655 



emigrated to Perry County, when the governor's father, Jacob 
Beaver, was but a few years old, and where he later went into 
business at Millerstown with his brother, cited above. To their 
general line of merchandising they added the grain business. That 
great pioneer highway, the Pennsylvania Canal, was being built 




GEN. JAMES ADDAMS BEAVER, 
Twentieth Governor of Pennsylvania. Born at Millerstown, Perry County. 

about this time, and Millerstown was a great mart of trade in canal 
days. 

Jacob Beaver's marriage to Miss Ann Eliza Addams, April 9, 
1833, added to the strain of the Keifers and the Gilberts, of the 
preceding two generations, had much to do, one is inclined to be- 
lieve, with the sterling character, bravery and stability of the future 



656 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

governor. Her father, Abraham Addams, a merchant, had come 
from Berks County to what is now Perry County, in 181 1, and 
purchased a tract of land, upon part of which Millerstown is now 
located. The stone farmhouse on this farm was built by him in 
1817, and in it the mother of the future governor was born, Janu- 
ary 30, 1 812. 

One of a family of two sons and two daughters, James A. 
Beaver was the third child and the first son, having been born on 
October 21, 1837, just three years before his father died, August 
17, 1840, leaving four small children and their young mother, who 
was a good woman, of noble character and great intelligence, and 
who, March 4, 1844, was united in marriage to Rev. S. H. Mc- 
Donald, a Presbyterian clergyman. During the first seven or 
eight years James A. Beaver knew no authority but that of this 
noble and godly woman. In April, 1846; the family removed to 
Belleville, Mifflin County. Most of the year of 1849 young 
Beaver was back in Millerstown, where he attended school. He 
was a gentlemanly, high-principled boy, peaceably inclined, yet a 
boy who would stand no affront. His grandfather died at the 
close of that year and he returned to the Presbyterian manse at 
Belleville. This again brought him into daily contact with the 
counsel and encouragement of his mother and under the influence 
of an exemplary Christian stepfather. For a period of over three 
years he studied under their guidance. 

In 1852 he entered the Pine Grove Mills Academy. His progress 
was so rapid that before he was seventeen he was able to enter the 
junior class of Jefferson College (consolidated with Washington 
in 1869) at Canonsburg, Pa., where he graduated in 1856, before 
he was nineteen years old. The Class of '56, by the way, had ex- 
actly fifty-six graduates, of whom twenty-four entered the min- 
istry, seventeen studied law, three medicine, and seven became 
teachers. A fellow classmate. Rev. Dr. James A. Reed, in a his- 
torical sketch of the class once wrote: "James A. Beaver, better 
known in his college days as 'Jim Beaver,' was a little bit of an 
enthusiastic fellow, full of fun and pun and pluck and frolic, who 
never did anything bad and always looked glad. James has been 
growing bigger and bigger ever since he was born." 

Leaving college he settled at Bellefonte and entered the law 
offices of H. N. McAllister, who died while a member of the con- 
vention which framed the present Constitution of Pennsylvania. 
He was admitted to the bar when barely of voting age. Recog- 
nizing his ability his preceptor took him into partnership. 

While preparing himself for the bar young Beaver had joined 
the Bellefonte Fencibles, whose captain was Andrew G. Curtin, 
soon to become Pennsylvania's great war governor. The reader 
will note that the two governors of Pennsylvania born in Perry 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 657 

County Bigler, the Democrat, and Beaver, the Republican — were 
both closely associated with Andrew G. Curtin, the three men be- 
ing elected to the highest office in the commonwealth, their admin- 
istrations and intervening ones covering a period of thirty-nine 
years. Beaver took such an interest in this military company that 
he was made a second lieutenant, a vacancy occurring. 

The slavery agitation was at its height, and murmurings of 
secession were wafted across the Mason and Dixon line. Young 
Beaver's friend, the captain of the fencibles, had been swept into 
the governor's chair on the very question of an inseparable Union. 
From him the young second lieutenant had a promise that if troops 
were needed to save the Union this should he the first company 
called from Pennsylvania. A week before Governor Curtin look 
the chair Beaver wrote to his mother a significant letter : 

"BellEFONTE, January 11, 1861. 

"My Dear Mother: The fencibles decided a day or two since to attend 
the inauguration of Governor Curtin on the 15th. So my hopes of staying 
at home and escaping the crowds, long marches and tiresome standups are 
pretty much blasted. You will see in your Press of this week, under 
'Extraordinary War Preparations,' that we may have a longer march than 
to Harrisburg. Governor Curtin assures me that if a requisition is made 
upon this state ours will be the first company called out. Necessity for 
soldiers, however, is growing less and less, so that our chances for active 
service or a life of inglorious ease at Washington are not very flattering. 

"Since writing the above I have been to the telegraph office. A dispatch 
from Washington says that hostilities have actually begun. The South 
Carolinians fired upon the 'Star of the West,' which contained supplies 
for Major Anderson. If this is true, which God forbid, war has actually 
commenced. Where will be the end? The nation must be preserved. 
And who can mistake his duty in this emergency? I have prayed for 
direction, guidance and clear revelations of duty, and I cannot now doubt 
where the path of duty lies. If required, I will march in it, trusting God 
for the result. There are few men situated as I am. No person dependent 
upon me, and a business which I will leave in able hands. If we have a 
nationality, it must be continued, supported, upheld. If we are ordered to 
Washington or elsewhere, I will see you before we go. God bless you, 
my mother. Your son, 

"James A. Beaver." 

The firing on Fori Sumter was of no immediate benefit to the 
South, while in the North it had the immediate effect of arousing- 
loyalty. President Abraham Lincoln issued his call for 75,000 
volunteers to defend the nation, and the ink was hardly dry on the 
call before the fencibles were on the way, with Reaver now a 
first lieutenant. In the prevailing excitement of leaving he found 
time to write to his mother this calm, characteristic letter: 

"BEIXEEONTE, Pa., April 1;. 1861. 
" 1/y Own Dear Mother: Oh, how I long to see you, if for but one brief 
moment! This boon denied me I must trusl to a lame medium the 
pressions of my feelings. You have doubtless anticipated the action I 
-have taken in the present alarming condition of our national affairs and 
42 



658 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

I hope I know my mother too well to suppose that she would counsel any 
other course than the one which I have taken. I can almost imagine that 
I hear you saying, 'My son, do your duty,' and I hope that no other feeling 
than that of duty urges me on. If I know my own heart, duty— my duty 
first and above all to God, my duty to humanity, my duty to my country 
and my duty to posterity — all point in one and the same direction. Need I 
say that that direction points to the defense of our nation in this hour of 
her peril? We march to-morrow for Harrisburg; remain there until or- 
dered into actual service, thence to whatever part may be assigned us. I 
have little fear of any hostilities between the different sections of our 
country for the present. Should the worst we fear come upon us, how- 
ever, and in the providence of God my life be yielded up in the service, I 
feel and know that the sacrifice would be small when compared with the 
sacrifices, trials, and anxieties which you have made and undergone for 
me ; and my mother, can I better repay them than by going straight for- 
ward in the path of duty? In reviewing my life, oh, how much is there 
that I would blot from memory's pages— how much for which I would 
atone at any cost! It may perhaps be as well than I am not able to see 
you now. It will spare us both some pain, but rob me of much pleasure. 

"Affectionately your son, 

"James A. Beaver." 

His mother's response to this letter commended his prompt ac- 
tion and cheered him with her blessing. The fencibles proceeded 
to Harrisbnrg and were quartered at Camp Curtin. On April 21 
the second regiment of Pennsylvania volunteers was organized 
and the fencibles became Company H. On the evening of the 
same day this regiment was despatched by rail for Washington. 
Arriving at Cockeysville, Maryland, the next morning, the Con- 
federates, as the rebellious South termed themselves, had de- 
stroyed the railroad bridge, barring further passage, and necessi- 
tating the protection of railroad property by force. It was Sun- 
day, and after a busy day. Lieutenant Beaver wrote to his mother: 
"The whole country round about is in commotion and the authori- 
ties seem determined to prevent the passage of more troops 
through Baltimore. This has been anything but a quiet, pleasant, 
Christian Sabbath, which like other blessings, is never fully appre- 
ciated until we are deprived of it. I hope that I am prepared to 
meet calmly anything which Providence may have in store for me." 

After an encampment of forty-eight hours the regiment was 
ordered back to York and a military training camp established, 
known in that day as a camp of instruction. Observing all re- 
straint gone with the call to arms, Beaver wrote his sister: "Of 
one thing I am more than ever convinced, that the army is terribly 
demoralizing to those who place confidence in their own strength 
Oh! how many will stumble and fall in this trying ordeal?" 
While in camp at York a special order came detaching him from 
his company and making him adjutant of the seventh regiment. 
The men of the company were opposed to the change, and, wanting 
to remain with them, he hurried to Harrisburg "to endeavor to be 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 659 

excused from having the promotion thrust upon him," as he put it. 
This request was granted and he went with his company to Cham- 
bersburg, where they remained from June 1st to June 16th, after 
which they encamped at Funkstown, near Hagerstown. In a letter 
from that place to his mother he made this prediction: "The only 
real result of this rebellion will be to establish this government 
upon a foundation which cannot be moved by the too violent up- 
rising of factions and designing demagogues, and in view of it, 
I doubt not that this movement on the part of the South will dem- 
onstrate itself to be the most important and fortunate in its results 
which could possibly have happened. The government will have 
proved itself self-sustaining." 

The call having only been for three-months' men, the time soon 
sped, and on July 26th the regiment was sent by rail to Harrisburg 
and mustered out. Lieutenant Beaver was barely out of the serv- 
ice before he was preparing to go back. With two other men he 
raised another regiment — the Forty-Fifth — from Centre, Lancas- 
ter, Mifflin, Tioga, and Wayne Counties, and on October 18th it 
was mustered in and Lieutenant Beaver became Lieutenant Colonel 
Beaver. Of the succeeding movements of this regiment much 
qould be written, but the object of this chapter is to give a pen 
picture of James A. Beaver, the boy, the man, the officer, and the 
governor. 

In December, 1861, we find him in command at Bay Point, 
South Carolina, an island on the one side of which were great 
quantities of cluster oysters, covered only during high tide, and 
consequently poisonous. A soldier ate some, against orders, and 
was found dead in his bunk on a Sunday morning. Under a 
palmetto tree a grave was prepared and at sunset the first military 
funeral of a member of the regiment occurred. As the soldiers 
surrounded the grave, the surf rolling on the beach, and the wind 
sighing through the palmettoes gave the occasion an added solem- 
nity. The coffin was lowered and the officer in immediate com- 
mand was about to call on the sergeant to offer prayer when the 
stern yet musical voice of Colonel Beaver said, "Let us pray!" 
A fellow officer further described the scene : "We stood awed and 
enraptured as we listened to his prayer. Never before cr since 
has it been my privilege to listen to such a prayer. Colonel Beaver 
had been a strict disciplinarian and was liked by his command, as 
officers generally were in the volunteer service. But that evening 
he captured every heart present. The boys made up their minds 
that he was a good man, and they have never had reason to change 
the opinion formed at the grave of our comrade, under the pal- 
mettoes of South Carolina." 

The fortunes of war brought back to Virginia Lieut. Colonel 
Beaver and his men. Here he had eight companies guarding rail- 



660 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

roads, a duty which he rather despised, as he longed for active, 
even hazardous service, which without his knowledge was already 
on its way. President Lincoln had called for 600,000 volunteers 
for the period of the war, and, as ever, Pennsylvania was leading 
in the response. Beaver was promoted to colonel and given 
charge of a regiment composed almost entirely of Centre Coun- 
tians, men from his adopted home, at the request of both the men 
and officers. On September 6, 1862, he took command at Harris- 
burg, and badly as he wanted to see his mother, the necessities of 
war forbade. In three days he had his regiment — the One Hun- 
dred and Forty-Eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers — organized, 
equipped, and on the march. 

Lee's army was in Maryland threatening Pennsylvania, his cav- 
alry endeavoring to cut the lines of railway communication. The 
new regiment was assigned the duty of guarding a twelve-mile 
section of the Northern Central Railroad. Onward came the 
scourge of war to the North, and with Lee's army in Maryland and 
die Union forces approaching, Antietam was soon to see that 
bloody battle in which 200,000 men engaged and 30,000 were 
killed upon the field. Colonel Beaver's regiment was still guarding 
this great artery of communication southward and within sound 
of the guns when the Battle of Antietam was fought. There, in 
a desperate charge for the famous stone bridge, Hartranft's regi- 
ment suffered severely, and among the brave young officers to die 
was another lad born in Perry County, Colonel Beaver's only 
brother, Lieut. J. Gilbert Beaver, who was killed instantly at the 
head of his company. Colonel Beaver remained with the 148th 
along the Northern Central until December 10, 1862, training the 
new regiment so thoroughly during the first three months of its 
service that veteran officers in passing mistook it for a camp of 
regulars. The regiment was then ordered to the front, but before 
it could join the Army of the Potomac the disastrous Battle of 
Fredericksburg had been fought. Lee had driven Burnside back- 
across the Rappahannock, making the reorganization of the army 
almost a necessity. It was at this time that Colonel Beaver arrived 
at the front with his regiment and reported for duty to General 
Winfield Scott Hancock. He was not yet twenty-four years of 
age. With the pale, beardless face of a boy he resembled a student 
more than a warrior, yet his soldierly bearing and instincts made 
an instant impression as he said, "General, while I would not pre- 
sume so much as to suggest the disposition that is to be made ol 
my regiment, I should be glad if it could be placed in a brigade 
of your division where the men can see a daily exemplification of 
the good results of the soldierly discipline I have endeavored to 
teach." 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 661 

The great soldier replied: "Colonel, I regret to say that we have 

no such brigades. J only wish we had." But it was not long he- 
fore he observed that his wish was realized so far at least as the 
regiment of the young officer was concerned. 

Before the army was again ready to do battle General Joe 
I looker, then in command, said of him, "It will not be long before 
he will he a Major General." Three times he refused command of 
a brigade, and when he finally did accept, it was the brigade in 
which was incorporated his own regiment. At the approach of 
spring, a few days before the army moved, he wrote to his mother: 

"I do not despair of my country's future. God is indeed trying us with 
tire, but it is the fire which purifies, and if the nation comes out of the 
crucible refined, purified, sanctified, what are thousands of lives and mil- 
lions of treasure compared with the new birth. Oh, mother, if my life 
can atone for any national evil; if 1 were satisfied that the result of this 
struggle is to be union, purity, liberty, how gladly I would resign life! 
What is life that it should weigh in the balance against such vast stupen- 
dous results? What is death that we should shudder, when behind it 
there arises such an effulgence of brightness and glory? I have no fear 
for the result in God's own good time and in his own right way — I am 
therefore resigned. It seems like doubting God to hesitate for an instant. 
1 never doubt. I have therefore no anxious thoughts as to the future. 
Whatever that future is will be right; God does not go backward. For- 
ward is the watchword of the creation of the universe — of nations as well 
as of armies. What a privilege to live when progress, civilization and 
universal liberty are making such colossal strides ; when ignorance, super- 
stition, slavery and wrong shrink back to their native darkness before the 
rising day." 

As these words were being written General Hooker was pre- 
paring to cross the Rappahannock, and in a few days Colonel 
Beaver's regiment crossed the river and soon moved forward into 
the tangled thicket of Chancellorsville. The wood protected a 
needed fording of the river. Colonel Beaver led his regiment into 
'he woods only to find them occupied by the enemy. The fight 
had barely opened when an enfilading fire caught the regiment 
from the Confederate advance and Colonel Beaver fell, a great 
hole torn in his uniform; a gutta-percha pencil, however, had 
turned the course of the bullet and it had gone only through the 
fleshy parts of his abdomen. From the hospital he was taken home 
to Belief onte, but in July he was back at Harrisburg to report for 
duty, his wound still open. 

President Lincoln had called for 120,000 emergency men to de- 
fend Pennsylvania and drive out Lee's army. Beaver, on report- 
ing at Harrisburg at this time to rejoin his regiment, was refused 
sanction to do so by the surgeons, lie was then given command 
of Camp Curtin, of which he said: "It was a position of much 
vexatious toil. The force was immense and untamed. I never 
saw anything equal to it." 



662 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Sharing the wider fortunes of the army throughout that dis- 
astrous campaign the regiment was thrice called to decisive service 
when the fate of the entire army was at stake. It had been shelled 
all day while defending the apex of Hooker's position during the 
cannonade which concealed the swift march of Stonewall Jackson 
around the Federal position. Suddenly it was called out of its 
entrenchments, where it was expecting an attack from the front 
to stem in the open field the advance of Jackson's men who had 
gained the rear of the Federal army and were threatening its com- 
munications with the river. 

At a crucial stage of the subsequent fighting General Hooker, 
himself, called on Colonel Beaver and his regiment to hold an 
essential position. "There is your work, Colonel; occupy that 
wood," said Hooker, pointing up a slope that lay outside the Union 
lines. "Wait for nothing," he added, "Everything depends on 
holding those woods." Colonel Beaver distinguished himself on 
every occasion, but particularly at the Battle of the Po, May ioth, 
and Spottsylvania, May 12th, for which he was assigned to the com- 
mand of the Third Brigade, but asked to be allowed to decline this 
advancement. Asked why, rather sternly, and when he would ac- 
cept promotion, he replied, "When the losses of the war leave me 
the ranking officer of the brigade in which my regiment is serving." 

To penetrate the Confederacy as far as the James River had 
cost thousands of lives and millions of money, but finally, by the 
middle of June, 1864, General Ulysses S. Grant had successfully 
pushed his way fifty-five miles across the peninsula, in the face of 
the enemy. Grant's audacious and successful move from Cold 
Harbor across the James was so bold and unexpected that Lee did 
not oppose it. Prior to these events Grant had been feeling the 
Confederate lines. General Smith had swung his troops toward 
Richmond, around Petersburg, but had failed to follow the ad- 
vantage gained, the Confederates meanwhile strengthening their 
positions. Learning of this about noon of June 16th, General 
Grant decided to retrieve, if possible, the lost advantage by a gen- 
eral assault on the enemy's lines. General W. M. Mintzer, who 
was the Lieut. Colonel of the Forty-Third Pennsylvania, one of 
the regiments of the brigade which Colonel Beaver then com- 
manded, gave this graphic account of his part in the assault : 

"It was about four o'clock, I think, when we gathered about General 
Beaver and heard from him that we were to charge the redoubts in front 
of us at six o'clock. He explained the plan of attack and its perils. He 
designated the officers who were to succeed to the command if he fell. 
There was an open plain between our position and the earthworks of the 
enemy, which was swept by their guns, and over this cleared field we 
were to charge for several hundred yards. Not long after we had re- 
ceived our instructions General Beaver began forming the brigade behind 
our works. Knapsacks were piled up and everything left that would em- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 663 

harrass the men in the dash upon the enemy. After the line was formed 
we had remained in suspense but a short time, when General Beaver moved 
down to near the center of the brigade and ordered the advance He was 
first over our works, and I shall never forget him as he looked that beau- 
tiful June afternoon, when he turned toward us, removed his sword from 
its scabbard, and shouted for the charge in clear, ringing tones. He was 
the picture of a soldier and he had the confidence of the command as few 
men had. The men followed him with a shout, and over the plain l they 
swept, under his lead, amidst a perfect shower of shot and shell. When 
we were well on toward the Confederate works and the charge was at 
its height, with every prospect of victory, I saw Y*^ T t^Ww 
General Beavers feet, bury itself in the ground, and explode. t threw 
him into the air, I and all of us then supposed, dead. He was quickly 
picked up by some of the men and carried to the rear with a severe 
wound in his side. Deprived of his inspiring leadership, despite the efforts 
of the officers, the brigade fell into confusion and retired. There was no 
one to succeed him in whose judgment and bravery the men and officers 
had the confidence necessary to rally a force to face a seemingly forlorn 
hope. But for his removal the fort would have been taken. 

During the interim between the two wounds here spoken of, he 
had also been wounded by a spent ball, which a note book stopped. 
After this, his third wound, he was soon back, impatient to rejoin 
his command, but General Hancock refused to permit it and fur- 
louo-hed him again. Before his second furlough had expired he 
was again back to take command of his brigade in the desperate 
engagement which cost him the loss of a leg and almost his life. 
It was at the Battle of Ream's Station, where General Hancock 
with two divisions of his corps, against which the Confederates 
sent more than three times his number, was tearing up the Weldon 
Railroad. It was an important line of communication from Peters- 
burg to Wilmington, North Carolina, with connections to the South 
Atlantic coast— an essential feeder to the enemy's position. When 
Colonel Beaver reported for duty the battle was imminent. Gen- 
eral Hancock welcomed him eagerly, pointed out the position of 
his brigade, and instructed him to go over and take command. 
He had just done so and was reviewing his front and watching the 
Confederate advance, when he suddenly dropped, and his right 
leg lay at right angle from him, as he fell. Almost at the same 
instant the small force of cavalry in front was driven back by over- 
whelming numbers, and he was almost trampled to death. Lying 
there he waved his cap to attract attention, and the horsemen see- 
ing, not only did not injure him, but hastily bore him to the rear. 
He' had not been back in battle thirty minutes until he lost his leg. 
It was many days before he was able to return home to Belief onte, 
and then, on November 10, 1864, came his appointment by Presi- 
dent Lincoln as a Brigadier General of Volunteers, by brevet, "for 
highly meritorious and distinguished conduct throughout the cam- 
paign, particularly for valuable services at Cold Harbor, while 
commanding a brigade." 



664 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

This description of General Beaver's military record is given 
principally to show the type of men born in Perry County, who 
went forth in '6l and later to serve their country— for there were 
hundreds and hundreds of brave men— and to give the reader a 
knowledge of his character, his manhood, his love for his mother, 
and all those good traits which eventually landed him in the gov- 
ernor's chair— the second Perry Countian to attain that coveted 
position, Governor William Bigler, as before stated, having been 

the other. 

During his absence the law firm of McAllister & Beaver had 
continued to prosper, and the senior partner eagerly awaited Gen- 
eral Beaver's return. All the energy he had displayed as a soldier 
he now threw into the law, and as he was a man of character, 
great mentality and the highest integrity he was in every respect 
successful. He stood for right in his community and labored for 
the upbuilding of his adopted town and county. He was no can- 
didate for the nomination, but was drafted by the^ party of his 
choice — the Republicans — as the nominee for the State Legisla- 
ture. He declined, but at the earnest solicitation of Governor 
Curtin, he acquiesced, but was defeated at the general election, 
Centre County being then strongly Democratic. 

In December, 1865, he married Miss Mary McAllister, a daugh- 
ter of his law partner and former preceptor, a refined and edu- 
cated woman of character, who survives him and resides at Belle- 
font e. 

During subsequent Presidential campaigns General Beaver was 
called into other states, where his eloquence and logic were invalu- 
able. He continually refused to be a candidate for Congress. He 
filled so many positions of honor and trust, at various times, that 
it would take pages to name them all. Pie was the logical choice 
of his congressional district for delegate to the Republican Na- 
tional Convention of 1880. When the county convention met the 
sentiment for James G. Blaine was as five to one, and a committee 
was sent to him to ascertain his views. "I am for General Grant. 
If I am chosen I will not go back on my old commander, as long 
as he is a candidate before the convention." The reply was car- 
ried back to the convention, but he was endorsed nevertheless and 
the delegates to the state convention were instructed to have him 
made the delegate. At the same time those authorized to speak 
for Beaver reiterated the fact that he would support Grant, but 
yet the convention named him. He was chosen chairman of the 
Pennsylvania delegation at Chicago, and by his fairness held the 
respect of both the contending forces. After the deadlock and 
the subsequent nomination of James A. Garfield he was made the 
choice of the Pennsylvania delegation for the Vice-Presidency. 
The delegations of Ohio, Tennessee and some other states sup- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 665 

ported him, but the nomination went to Chester Allen Arthur, 
Beaver declining, with the statement that his friends in Pennsyl- 
vania wanted him to run for governor and he would accede to 
their wishes. And thus the second scion of Perry County missed 
the Presidency (James G. Blaine being the other). 

When the Republican State Convention met in Harrisburg, in 
1882, General Beaver was its choice for governor, hut an Inde- 
pendent and Greenback ticket appearing in the field, split the Re- 
publican vote, and he was defeated by Robert E. Pattison at the 
general elections. This independent movement was not directed 
against Beaver, but against the Camerons, then in the saddle in 
Pennsylvania politics. It was led by John Stewart, later a judge 
of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and deflected enough votes 
to cause Beaver's defeat. In 1886 he was again nominated and 
was elected over his opponent, Chauncey F. Black, by a plurality 
of 42,000 votes. He was inaugurated January 18, 1887. His ad- 
ministration had no great outstanding features, but was noted for 
the character of the measures, which largely bore on the betterment 
of life. Among them were approval of high license legislation and 
laws curbing the liquor traffic, the encouragement of industrial 
education, refusal to employ military force for the execution of 
civil process, save as a last resort ; reduction of state debt by three 
million, better road legislation, and laws for the protection of men, 
women and children in manufacturing establishments. 

It was during his term that the great Johnstown flood occurred, 
and he, with the backing of prominent citizens and banks, imme- 
diately borrowed $400,000 for the immediate relief of the suf- 
ferers. He was chairman of the Flood Commission, which re- 
ceived and dispensed over $6,000,000. 

Although declining service in the United States Army he con- 
tinued his interest in the Pennsylvania National Guard, and in 
1872 Governor Geary, in its reorganization, appointed him Briga- 
dier General, a position he held until he himself was elected gover- 
nor. He was in command during the big strike and riots of 1877. 
While governor he appeared at the head of the National Guard 
during the Constitutional Convention Celebration of 1887. He 
was Chief Marshal of President Benjamin Harrison's inaugural 
parade of 1889, and during the same year led the National Guard 
at the Centennial Celebration of Washington's inauguration as 
first President of the United States, in New York. Although he 
had lost a leg he was a good horseman. At the first real reunion 
of the Union and Confederate Armies at Gettysburg, in 1888, he 
delivered the address of welcome to his old enemy-at-arms. 

During 1895 the Pennsylvania Legislature passed an act creating 
the Superior Court, and General Beaver was one of the seven 
judges appointed. At the succeeding election in November he 



666 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

was elected to a ten-year term in the office, and in 1905 was re- 
elected, holding the office at the time of his death. 

In 1 87 1 he was made a trustee of Washington and Jefferson 
College, and for many years he was president of the Alumni As- 
sociation. In 1873 he became a trustee of the Pennsylvania State 
College, on which board he served for forty-one years. Even be- 
fore 1873 he was much interested in State College, but as Hugh N. 
McAllister, his law partner and father-in-law, to whom was largely 
due the credit for its inception, was already on the board it was 
not deemed advisable that both be trustees. In 1874 General 
Beaver was elected president of the board, and by reelections held 
the position until he became ex-officio member by being elected 
governor. He was for thirty years president of the board, and as 
such was intimately related to the progress of the college and to 
.the life of the students until his death. 

He was a consistent churchman of the Presbyterian faith, and 
at the centenary meeting of the General Assembly he presided as 
vice-moderator, the first layman to hold that position, which he 
also held again on a later occasion. He was deeply interested in 
all phases of the work of the Young Men's Christian Association 
and was a frequent speaker at the state and national conventions. 
He helped to organize the State Committee for Pennsylvania in 
1869, and was a member of that committee without interruption, 
for the rest tf his life. 

Governor Beaver died January 31, 1914, at his home in Belle- 
fonte, mourned by county, state, and nation. He was the father 
of five children: Nelson, dying in early life; James, aged three, 
soon after the inauguration of his father as Governor of Penn- 
sylvania, and Hugh, prominent in Y. M. C. A. work, in young 
manhood, in 1898. Two sons, Gilbert, of New York, and Thomas, 
recently elected to the legislature from Bellefonte, survive. Mrs. 
James A. Beaver also survives, as does the governor's half sisters, 
*Mrs. Anna McDonald Eckels, of Millerstown, and Miss Catha- 
rine McDonald, of Lewisburg. 

Chief Justice John Bannister Gibson. 

Perry County soil has been the birthplace and the early home of 
three different men who have became the chief justices of three 
different states of the Union. Chief Justice John Bannister Gib- 
son, of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, was one of the great- 
est to serve in that high office, and many authorities place him 



Note. — While compiling this work the author interviewed Mr. D. M. 
Rickabaugh, a schoolmate of General Beaver's, residing at Millerstown, 
who was eighty-seven years of age last July (1920), and an intimate, life- 
long friend. Mr. Rickabaugh has since passed away. 

*Mrs. Eckels died in 1921. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



667 



first. His ancestry on his father's side were from Ireland, and 
emigrated to this country late in the Eighteenth Century, settling 
at Lancaster, where George Gibson I, built the first public hos- 
telry, keeping tavern for a time. The earliest record of the family 
shows that in the year 1730 Governor Hamilton was instructed by 
the proprietors of the province — the Penns — to lay out the city of 
Lancaster "at or near the tavern of George Gibson," who was the 




CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN BANNISTER GIBSON, 

One of the Greatest of Pennsylvania Jurists, who was Born in 
Perry County Territory. 

grandfather of the chief justice. This tavern bore the sign of the 
"Hickory Tree," being located by the roadside, at the point wher<S 
grew a large hickory tree. There the son, George Gibson II, was 
born. 

The son later located at Silver Springs, Cumberland County, 
where he purchased a mill. After a time he married Ann West, 
a daughter of Francis West, who at the time of the outbreaking of 
the American Revolution was judge of the Cumberland County 
courts. George Gibson II, removed to what is now Perry Count) 
and settled on lands of his father-in-law. He was the father of 
four children, of whom the eldest, Francis was born before coming 



668 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

north of the mountain, and his greatest distinction was service as 
register and recorder of Cumberland County for a term. The 
second son, George, became Commissary General of the United 
States Army, his biography appearing elsewhere in this book. A 
third son, William Chesney, became a miller, later going to sea. 
The fourth son, John Bannister Gibson, born November 8, 1780, 
is the subject of this sketch. A daughter died in infancy. The 
father, George Gibson II, removed to Sherman's Valley, in 1773, 
the year following his marriage. At the close of Lord- Dunmore*s 
war, in 1774, he returned to his home at Westover Mills (the Gib- 
son mill), but at the call to arms of the Continental Army he has- 
tened to Pittsburgh and recruited a company of one hundred men 
for service, the first company organized for that army west of the 
Alleghenies. No fifer could be found, and Captain Gibson became 
his own fifer. Composed of the roughest of frontiersmen, never 
subjected to discipline, they foraged regardless of orders or of 
trouble, and so became jocularly known as "Gibson's Lambs." 
Needing powder badly, Gibson was detailed to go to New Orleans 
and negotiate with the Spanish government for a supply. He 
traversed the wilderness then existing between Pittsburgh and 
New Orleans and in due time arrived with a supply loaded upon 
flats. Offered a monetary reward or promotion for his success, 
he chose the latter, and was made a colonel, serving as such 
throughout the Revolution. To Colonel Gibson, when Cornwallis 
surrendered his army at Yorktown, General Washington gave 
command of the surrendered troops, save the. commissioned offi- 
cers, to be sent to York, Pennsylvania, as prisoners of war. The 
statement that he never returned to the county's territory to reside 
is erroneous, as he did so in 1782, at the conclusion of the treaty 
of peace, and lived largely the life of a country gentleman until 
early in 1791, when Congress voted two thousand men — two regi- 
ments, from Virginia and Pennsylvania — to assist General Arthur 
St. Clair in an expedition against the Indians, renegades and Brit- 
ish at Detroit, from where they harassed the residents of the Ohio 
Valley. George Gibson was appointed lieutenant colonel and field 
commander of the Pennsylvania regiment. This was the first con- 
siderable military undertaking of the new nation. Early on the 
morning of November 4, 1791, the troops were surrounded by 
the redskins, on the banks of the Wabash, and, early in the en- 
gagement, Colonel Gibson fell, wounded in the head. Bandaging 
it he again entered the fight, thus being a conspicuous target. He 
was again wounded, and for the third time, in the wrist, which 
disabled him. He was carried to a stockade, thirty miles back, 
and there, a few days later, he died ; and there his body rests. The 
township, in Mercer County, Ohio, in which the battle was fought, 
is named Gibson, in his honor. At no other place, save the Custer 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 669 

massacre at the Little Big I lorn, were American troops handled so 
severely. Of 1,400 men actually engaged, 593 privates were killed 
and 2^2 privates and thirty-one officers wounded. As a young 
man Colonel Gibson had engaged in the trade with the West In- 
dies, and also as a trader, trafficking with the Indians at Fort I'itt. 
At the opening of the Revolution Francis West, of the Cumber- 
land side of the mountain, his father-in-law, was a sympathizer 
of the mother country, and an extremely bitter feeling existed be- 
tween them, Colonel Gibson being an ardent Federalist. 

Unfortunately the mother, Ann West Gibson, did not live to 
see her son's elevation to high position. She died in 1809, and her 
son Francis leased the mill to Jacob Bigler (father of the two 
governors), and removed to Carlisle, where he remained for main- 
years, later returning there, where he died March 18, 1856, aged 
82 years. 

When the county was created in 1820, George Gibson's heirs 
were assessed with 450 acres of land, a sawmill and a gristmill. 
Francis West, the maternal grandfather of Chief Justice Gibson, 
was the owner of five slaves which he disposed of in his will at 
the time of his death in 1784. As stated, he was judge of the 
Cumberland County courts, and is said to have been a brilliant 
man. His daughter Ann, who became the mother of the future 
jurist, was also a brilliant woman, and during the first ten years 
of her married life, besides rearing her family of little children, 
found time to build the old Westover mill, named after the family 
estate in England, now and long since known as the Gibson mill. 

John Bannister Gibson's boyhood home, which occupied a site 
near the mill, was located in the wooded section of present Spring 
Township, near the Carroll Township line, almost on the banks 
of Sherman's Creek, with the towering peak of Mt. Pisgah imme- 
diately facing it, and below a mighty boulder jutting to the very 
edge of the waters of the creek, and known to this day as Gibson's 
Rock. Amid this wild and picturesque section he first beheld the 
light of day and heard the clatter of the mill and the swish of the 
waters. 

John Bannister Gibson was born November 1, 1780. He was 
named after the celebrated Virginia soldier and statesman, *John 
Banister, a member of the Continental Congress, a signer of the 
Articles of Confederation, and an officer in the Virginia line dur- 
ing the Revolution — a friend of Colonel Gibson. His boyhood 
was similar to that of the boys of the period, save that he was 
early sent to Dickinson College. Absence of his father in the 
Continental Army placed entire responsibility upon his mother, 

Mn his early life Justice Gibson did not use his full name, and in later 
years spelled the Banister thus, Bannister, although the man after whom 
he was named spelled his name with a single "n." 



670 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Ann West Gibson, an educated and talented woman, to whom he 
was indebted for much of his early education. With the deter- 
mination that her sons should not degenerate she built a school- 
house near the homestead and there, herself, became the teacher. 
His preparatory education was received at the preparatory school 
attached to Dickinson College, where he later graduated. The 
exact date of his graduation is in doubt. He began to attend col- 
lege in 1795 or 1796. In the Union Philosophical Society of the 
college his name first appears in 1797, but in later published rec- 
ords of the students of the college his name appears in the Class 
of 1798. Biographical sketches generally place the date of his 
graduation as 1800. He was classed as an irregular student, his 
terms not being consecutive. His graduation occurred during the 
presidency of Charles Nesbit, D.D. He read law with that bril- 
liant jurist, Thomas Duncan, later an associate justice on the su- 
preme bench. He was admitted to the Carlisle bar in 1803 and 
located at Carlisle, but soon left to locate in Beaver County. From 
there he went to Hagerstown, but by 1805 was back in Carlisle, 
resuming his practice there. In 1810 he was elected by the (then) 
Republican party as a representative to the General Assembly of 
Pennsylvania, being reelected the following year. Judges were 
then appointive and the governor of Pennsylvania, Simon Snyder, 
was married to a cousin of Mr. Gibson, which accounts for his 
first step up the ladder, probably, but his rise was one of attain- 
ment altogether. His appointment was made in 1813, as judge of 
the Eleventh Judicial District, in the northern part of the state. 

When Gibson was a student at college he drew the attention of 
Judge Hugh H. Brackenridge, who noticed the "country boy" and 
invited him to use his fine library. Through his long life he often 
mentioned this act, which created a lifetime friendship. A strange 
coincidence is that Judge Brackenridge, Mr. Gibson and his pre- 
ceptor, Thomas Duncan, all came to be justices of the Supreme 
Court of the state. All did not sit together, however, as Gibson's 
appointment came immediately after the death of Brackenridge. 
At the time of being made a justice of the Supreme Court John 
Bannister Gibson was a common pleas judge of the newly created 
Eleventh District. He was appointed June 27, 1816, the day fol- 
lowing the death of Judge Brackenridge, by Governor Snyder. 
Appointments were during good behavior, which practically meant 
for life. During the fall of 1812 Mr. Gibson had been united in 
marriage to Sarah Galbraith, a daughter of a retired Revolutionary 
officer. On his appointment to the supreme bench, they moved to 
Carlisle, where they continued to reside, although the sessions of 
court called him afar. 

( M Gibson's mother it is said that she was a devout member of 
the Church of England (Episcopal), and attended the services of 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 671 

St. John's Church at Carlisle, fifteen miles distant, across the Kitta- 
tinny Mountain, either afoot or horseback. The justice later, when 
at home at Carlisle, was a faithful attendant of this church. On 
an occasion she invited the bishop of her church to come over and 
baptize her boys. When he arrived they were gunning, and he 
retired before their return, as it grew late. During the night a 
slight snow fell, and the boys were off hunting before his reverence 
arose, and he never did get to see them. 

From the pen of the late Benjamin F. Junkin, himself an author- 
ity of note on legal matters, we quote: 

"Thus, as he started in 1816, his opinions for over thirty-six years, to 
1853, when he died, are models of perspicuity, sententiousness and accurate 
diction. He had ceased to be chief justice in 1851, and the last opinion 
delivered by him was filed January 6, 1853, in the case of Beatty vs. Wray, 
reported in 7th Harris, page 517, determining 'that a surviving partner is 
not entitled to compensation for winding up the partnership business,' and 
after that his voice was heard no more. In his last opinion he said, 'At 
the formation of a partnership, its dissolution by death is rarely contem- 
plated. It is an unwelcome subject, for no man who enters on a specula- 
tion can bear to think he may not live to finish it,' and whoever will read 
that last opinion and shut his eyes to the date of its delivery, will not be 
able to distinguish his clear and vigorous language, citations of authori- 
ties and surprising grasp of the questions involved from one of his famous 
efforts of twenty years before. 

"There was that about Gibson's opinions which cannot be described. 
While he entered learnedly into the question, with amplifications, his lan- 
guage was so terse, his words so few, the structure of his sentences so 
harmonious, so replete with elegance of diction, that the conclusion was 
reached, the point decided, and the judgment convinced ere the charm was 
broken. He described a negotiable note in four words, 'a carrier without 
luggage.' 

"If we of Perry are proud of his achievements and wonderful powers, 
other places have not withheld their admiration. As a jurist he had a 
world-wide renown, wherever his language is spoken. It was difficult to 
tell when he read and how he obtained his legal learning, but we have 
seen him consulting books in the State Library very often." 

While many of our readers will remember Judge Junkin, yet he 
was already a member of the bar while Judge Gibson was on the 
supreme bench and was a personal acquaintance, thus showing how 
closely we follow the period of the celebrated jurist. 

While James X. McLanahan was in the United States Congress 
as the representative of the district of which Perry was a part, 
he was abroad and sat in the court of Westminster, where the 
twelve judges of England were hearing a case. A lawyer was 
reading an opinion to the court without stating whose it was, when 
the chief justice remarked, "That is an opinion by Chief Justice 
Gibson, of Pennsylvania." The lawyer admitted it was, when the 
chief justice replied, "His opinions have great weight with this 
court." The congressman related the story to Chief Justice Gib- 
son, in the presence of Judge Junkin, on an occasion, to which he 



6;_> HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

replied, a tear stealing clown his cheek, "A prophet is not without 
honor, save in his own country." 

It was Chief Justice John Bannister Gibson that rendered tin- 
important decision which settled for all time that the powers of 
the legislature are not judicial, hut constructive. In the case of 
De Chastellux vs. Fairchild (15 Pa. 18), decided in 1850. The 
legislature attempted to order a new trial in an adjudicated case. 
Justice Gibson said : 

"If anything is self-evident in the structure of our government, it is, 
that the legislature has no power to order a new trial, or to direct the 
court to order it, either before or after judgment. * * * The power of 
the legislature is not judicial. * * * It is limited to the making of laws; 
not to the exposition or execution of them." 

In appearance Chief Justice Gibson was a powerful, broad-shoul- 
dered, tall man (over six feet). His face was handsome, intellec- 
tual and benevolent, with a florid complexion, and the oil painting 
of him which hangs in the Supreme Court room was pronounced by 
no less an authority than Judge Junkin as being "not recognizable, 
having, in fact, more the look and expression of the driver of a 
broad-wheeled wagon in the days when a six-horse team drew 
eighty hundred with a wheel locked, over the pike from Philadel- 
phia to Pittsburgh." He was slow in gait, unheedful of surround- 
ings, careless of personal appearance, and attracted attention. He 
was a connoisseur in music and painting, and was an adept on the 
violin. When Ole Bull played in Philadelphia, Gibson and another 
supreme judge attended, the other not being skilled along musical 
lines. While the audience was being held spellbound by the mar- 
velous performance of the prodigy, the other judge turned to Gib- 
son and remarked, "Let us go home; that fool will never get done 
tuning his fuddle." Gibson replied, "Why, you uncultivated 
heathen ! That's the most enchanting music I ever heard." 

Until 1826 the Supreme Court consisted of but three judges; 
during that year it was increased to five. In 1827, upon the death 
of Chief Justice Tilghman, Gibson was appointed chief justice, 
and so remained until 1851, when the new Constitution's provisions 
required that the five men elected to that august body should 
"draw cuts," the one drawing the shortest term (three years) to 
be chief justice, and the one drawing the longest term (six years) 
to be his successor. Through that law the state was deprived of 
his wonderful ability in that important position, but had he lived 
he would have again became chief justice in 1854. as he drew the 
long term of six years. When the amended Constitution was 
adopted, in 1838, he immediately resigned as chief justice. Al- 
though party excitement ran high, Governor Ritner, a Whig, 
ignored it, and reappointed him. In 1851, of the five justices he 
was the only one to be renominated. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 673 

Chief Justice Gibson discharged his duties until the illness which 
culminated in his death, on May 3, 1853. He sat in the Supreme 
Court with twenty-six different justices, none of whom, it is said, 
owed their position to him, save Judge Duncan, whose appointment 
he advocated. He was for twenty-four years chief justice and for 
thirteen years an associate justice. From 1824 to 1828 he was 
president of the Board of Trustees of Dickinson College. In the 
year following' his elevation to the chief justiceship, the friends of 
General Andrew Jackson placed his name at the head of the Penn- 
sylvania electoral ticket, with the result that the ticket received in 
the state an almost unprecedented majority. 

Judge Gibson was a lover of the theater, and he and Judge Rog- 
ers, an associate justice, placed a marble slab upon the grave of 
the celebrated actor, Joseph Jefferson, who died in Harrisburg in 
1832, and whose body rests in a Harrisburg cemetery, the epitaph 
being written by Judge Gibson. He also wrote the inscription for 
the monument of his preceptor, Judge Duncan, at Carlisle, and 
drew the design as well as wrote the inscription for that of Dr. 
Charles Nesbit, D.D., whose attachment for the American cause 
made him an exile from his native land. 

A^ a boy he showed considerable skill as an artist, and two 
paintings by him still exist, having been presented by his nephew, 
Frank W. Gibson, to the Allegheny County law library at Pitts- 
burgh. One represents Pulaski on horseback, and the other is 
his own likeness, painted on a poplar board. The latter was painted 
under unusual circumstances. While a law student at Carlisle he 
visited his mother at the parental home at Westover Mills, along 
Sherman's Creek, with the intention of going deer hunting. Dur- 
ing his entire holiday it rained, and, kept within doors, he painted 
the picture for amusement. 

Chief Justice Gibson was elected Grand Master of the Grand 
Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, on December 
27, 1823, being possibly the only man born within the limits of 
what is now Perry County to fill that high office. 

Interested largely in geology he wrote several contributions along 
that line, which showed him to be an authority upon that subject. 
While acting in the capacity of judge in the Eleventh District and 
residing in Luzerne County, his method of relaxation was studying 
the coal formations and visiting the old Indian fortifications. The 
statement sometimes made that Mrs. Gibson claimed that the first 
anthracite coal fires were built in her home, is doubtless without 
foundation, as Judge Gibson was appointed as judge there in 181 3, 
while coal had been discovered in the Wyoming Valley in 1787, 
a quarter of a century previous. 

Justice Black said of him : "Abroad he has for very many years 
been thought the great glory of his native state." In addressing 
43 



674 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the students of the University of Pennsylvania, in 1904, Governor 
Samuel Pennypacker, himself a learned judge, said: "Be earnest 
and thorough. If your field he the law, follow the example and 
study the work of Gibson and Sharwood." To no other man is 
America indebted so much as to Gibson for his interpretation of 
the English common law and its adaptation to our needs for his 
upbuilding of our system of equity and for his interpretation of 
the Constitution. In the formative period of Pennsylvania law 
he refused to slavishly follow outgrown conditions, when justice 
and right pointed otherwise. At the time of his death he had been 
longer^ in office than any contemporary judge in the world. His 
opinions were an unbroken chain of logic. For vigor, clearness 
and precision of thought they had no equals. At the May term of 
the Middle District, in 1853, in memorializing his decease, Chief 
Justice Black, among other things, paid this fine compliment to 
justice Gibson: 

"He was inflexibly honest. The judicial ermine was as unspotted when 
he laid it aside for the habiliments of the grave, as it was when he first 
assumed it. I do not mean to award him merely that commonplace integ- 
rity which it is no honor to have, but simply a disgrace to want. He was 
not only incorruptible, but scrupulously, delicately, conscientiously free 
from all wilful wrong, either in thought, word or deed." 

Ex-Governor Samuel Pennypacker, whose fame, both as a jurist 
and historian, far excels that of his ability as governor, in his book, 
"Pennsylvania, the Keystone," says of Chief Justice Gibson : 

"What Tohn Marshall was to the law of the United States, John Ban- 
nister Gibson, born in Perry County in 1780, was to the law of Pennsyl- 
vania. During the formative period, when principles were being estab- 
lished, he was the chief justice, and his was the directing mind, and among 
lawyers he ranks higher than such famous men as Story. He established 
the doctrine, now universal in America, that on the sale of goods the keep- 
ing of possession by the man who sells is a fraud as against creditors. He 
had been a member of the General Assembly, had written some verse, 
dabbled in art, and was regarded as an adept on the violin." 

On an occasion Chief Justice Gibson and Daniel Webster at- 
tended a banquet in Boston. Mr. Webster left first and inadvert- 
ently took Mr. Gibson's hat. Unaware of that fact Judge Gibson 
put on Mr. Webster's hat and never discovered it until the next 
day, as it was a perfect fit. Each of these men had exceedingly 
large heads, about twenty-four inches in circumference, but Judge 
Gibson's was slightly the larger. 

There existed a warm friendship between the supreme justice 
and his brothers, Francis and George, and throughout their long 
lives they lived in perfect accord. George, long Commissary Gen- 
eral of the United States Army, annually took the month of Octo- 
ber as his vacation, and much of it the brothers whiled away to- 
gether. General Gibson was a personal friend of General Jackson, 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 675 

later I 'resident, who was a -real admirer of the chief justice, and 
.hi several occasions wanted to make him a supreme justice oi the 
United States, but was overruled by political combinations. Had 
another vacancy occurred in that august body during the Jackson 
administration there is little doubt that it would have gone to 
Gibson. 

The chief justice was the father of eight children, as follows: 
Anne Sarah; John Bannister, and Francis West, who died in child- 
hood ; Margaretta, married to Col. Charles McClure, who repre- 
sented the Cumberland district in the United States Congress and 
was secretary of the commonwealth during the term of Governor 
Porter; Anna Barbara, married to W. Milnor Roberts, once chief 
engineer of the state public works, whose name was associated with 
such projects as the Portage Road, the Harrisburg and Lancaster 
Railroad, and the Cumberland Valley Railroad; John Bannister II, 
a lieutenant in the First Artillery, U. S. A., at the breaking out of 
the Mexican War, brevetted for bravery ; George, colonel of the 
Fifth Infantry, U. S. A.; and Sallie, married in 1851 to Capt. R. 
11. Anderson, of the Second Dragoons, U. S. A., a Southerner, 
and the last one of the thirty-three officers from South Carolina 
to resign from the United States Army in 1861, prior to the war 
between the States. 

In these days of inflated salaries, it may be of interest to note 
that the highest salary ever paid the chief justice of Pennsylvania 
was two thousand dollars per annum. When the old historic State 
Capitol, the one replaced by the present building, was erected, 
lustice Gibson was one of the building commission appointed to 
oversee its construction. 

Col. A. K. McClure, native Perry Countian, noted editor and 
author, in his book, "Lincoln and Men of War Times," says : 

"Chief Justice Gibson is one of the most notable characters of Penn- 
sylvania, and no one character is so carefully and so kindly studied by the 
legal profession of the state as is that of the great jurist. He stands in 
the annals of the commonwealth head and shoulders above his fellow great 
jurists, and his decisions are not only quoted in his state and country by 
judicial tribunals, but they have been quoted and commended in the courts 
of England. I did not know our great chief justice personally until within 
five years of his death, as he was chief justice of Pennsylvania a year be- 
fore I was born. His name was a household word in the community of 
my boyhood, as his place of birth was only a very few miles from my own 
home. His name was referred to with a pride that is natural in a primi- 
tive rural community when one of their own number has reached the high- 
est distinction in the state, and among my early recollections I recall the 
chief justice's brother, Frank Gibson, as the man who played the fiddle 
for nearly or quite all the dances, corn huskings and butter boilings of the 
neighborhood. The chief justice, like his brother, was passionately fond 
of the violin, and even until the latest years of his life he would retire to 
his room alone and enjoy his own music on his favorite instrument. 



676 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



"His magnificently chiseled face ever arrested the attention of even the 
most casual observer. I had few opportunities in my brief acquaintance 
with him of seeing him alone, but I sought every opportunity to do so 
because he was one of the most delightful conversationalists, and being 
from the same community that had given him birth he loved to talk about 
his own people and his neighbors for whom he cherished the liveliest 
affection. The only attempt he ever made at poetry was when late in life 
he visited the dilapidated home of his birth after an absence of many years. 
It is not a great poem, but it shows the simple tastes of the great jurist, 
and the heartstrings of love which went out to his old home surroundings. 
It might be said of Gibson's poem as Horace Greely said in reviewing the 
poems of John Quincy Adams, that they show 'what middling things a 
great man may do." I quote the first and last of the six stanzas: 

" 'The home of my youth stands in silence and sadness, 
None that tasted its simple enjoyments are there; 
No longer its walls ring with glee and with gladness, 
No train of blythe melody breaks on the ear. 

"'But time ne'er retraces the footsteps he measures; 
In fancy alone with the past we can dwell ; 
Then take my last blessing, lov'd scene of young pleasures. 
Dear home of my childhood — forever farewell." 

Where; Gibson Sleeps. 
In the graveyard at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, over the Gibson plot, 
is a stone on which appear inscriptions from the pen of that dis- 
tinguished Pennsylvanian, Jeremiah S. Black, himself a jurist of 
note. On the face appears : 



John Bannister Gibson, LL-D., 
For many years Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, 
Born Nov. 8, 1780, 
Died May 2, 1853, 
Also his wife, Sarah W. Gibson, 
Born Jan. 25, 1791, 
Died Jan. 25, 1861. 



The inscription on the right : 



In the various Knowledge 

Which forms the perfect Scholar, 

He had no superior. 

[ndependent, Upright and Able, 

He had all the highest qualities 

of a great Judge. 

In the difficult Science of Jurisprudence, 

He mastered every Department, 

Discussed almost every question and 

Touched no subject which he did not adorn. 

He won in early manhood 

And retained to the close of a long life 

The affection of his brethren on the Bench, 

The respect of the Bar 

And the confidence of the people. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 677 

Daniel Gantt, Chief Justice oe Nebraska. 
With our own illustrious Chief Justice Gibson and Colorado's 

noted and first Chief Justice Thatcher, Chief Justice Daniel Gantt, 
of the great State of Nebraska, completes that trio of Perry Coun- 
tians who have risen to places on the supreme bench. Daniel 




DANIEL GANTT, 

Chief Justice of Nebraska. One of three noted sons who became 

Chief Justices. Mr. Gantt was born in Perry County, taught the 

first free school in the State, practiced law at New Bloomfield and 

was a pioneer Temperance worker in Perry County. 

Gantt was the son of Joseph and Mary (Lobaugh) Gantt, and 
was born near the old Stone Presbyterian Church, on Middle 
Ridge, three miles west of Newport, on June 28, 1814. The name 
Gantt was originally spelled Gaunt, the ancestry in America being 
traced to Peter Gaunt, a native of Lincolnshire, England, who set- 



r»;S HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

tied at Sandwich, Massachusetts, about 1630. Daniel Gantt was of 
the sixth generation in America, the line of descent having been as 
follows: first generation, Peter; second, Hanninah, who removed 
to Shrewsbury, New Jersey, and was wed to Dorothy Butler ; 
third. Hanninah, Jr. ; fourth, Joseph ; fifth, Joseph, Jr. ( who came 
from New Jersey and settled on Middle Ridge) ; sixth, Daniel. 

Chief Justice Gantt was educated 'in the schools of the period, 
not yet the time of free public schools, having attended the log 
cabin school located on his father's farm. He arrived at school 
age in the very year in which the county was organized. He 
studied surveying in 1832-33 at New Bloomfield. He studied law 
at New Bloomfield, in the office of Joseph Casey, who had been 
admitted to the bar in 1 839, and at the August court of 1843 he 
was admitted to the Perry County bar. During his practice at 
New Bloomfield Mitchell Stever read law with him and was ad- 
mitted to the bar in 1844. He located at Omaha, Nebraska, in 
1857, am l a t once gained distinction in his chosen profession*. In 
1862 President Lincoln appointed him U. S. district attorney, and 
he held that office until his election to the Nebraska Legislature, 
two years later. Lie removed to Nebraska City in 1868, and in 
1872 was elected judge of the First Judicial District, for the term 
beginning January 16, 1873. Under the provisions of the Consti- 
tution then in force he sat also as an associate justice of the Su- 
preme Court. On the expiration of his term, in 1875, he was 
elected to the supreme bench, and three years later became chief 
justice. He died May 29, 1878. 

He was twice married, first, in 1843, to Agnes T. Fulton ( some- 
times stated Nancy T.), kin to Robert Fulton, the famous inventor 
of the steamboat, by whom he had three sons and four daughters. 
In 1858 he was married to Harriet Cooper. Chief Justice Gantt 
was an uncle of Daniel Gantt, of Newport, and by marriage, of 
II. R. Patterson, retired passenger conductor of Harrisburg, for- 
merly of Perry County, who visited him while he was on the su- 
preme bench. While a young man, reading law, to meet expenses 
he taught a subscription school in Buffalo Township, and recorded 
in his diary, in the possession of his heirs, near Lincoln, Nebraska, 
are the tacts showing that when the free school act was passed, 
the first school in Pennsylvania to be opened in accordance with 
that act was the one he taught, described as "at Col. Thompson's," 
which opened September 10, 1834. This location was in that part 
ol Buffalo Township which has since become Watts. According to 
further entry in the diary Buffalo Township was the first district 
in the state to adopt the free school law. 

Citizens of the community interested in its passage were in 
Harrisburg, and upon learning of its passage, rode home during 



1'KUIO COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 679 

the night bearing the news. The following morning Mr. Gantt 

declared his school a free school. 

While an attorney at New Bloomfield Justice Gantt took greal 
interest in the community and civic life. His name is found as 
chairman of the premium committee of the first agricultural fair 
at that place, in 1852. Several years later he was its secretary. 
1 [e was one of the men who purchased the grounds and laid out 
the present New Bloomfield cemetery in 1854. When a public 
meeting was held in 1856 declaring for "Free Kansas and no 
Popery" he was on the committee on resolutions. He was an 
important factor in the lyceum there in 1842-43, and for years 
thereafter. In 1844 he was the secretary. One of his educational 
addresses was so highly thought of that a committee publicly re- 
quested its reproduction in the county press, which was complied 
with As long as he remained in the county his name was promi- 
nently connected with both the agricultural fair and the lyceums, as 
well as with all educational projects. When a society called the Sons 
of Temperance organized a branch in New Bloomfield in 1840, 
Mr Gantt became its president. He was much interested in poli- 
tics and in 1850 was a senatorial conferee to the Republican con- 
ference. The success of Justice Gantt is all the more marked when 
it is remembered that when a lad of ten he cut his left knee so 
badly that he was confined to the house for six months and 
emerged with a crippled limb which he carried through life. Jus- 
tice Gantt died at Nebraska City, May 29, 1878. 

'Immediately upon the opening of the July term of the Supreme 
Court of Nebraska, in 1878, after the death of Chief Justice Gantt, 
official notice was taken of his death, and something of the man 
may be learned from the opinion of the learned members of the 
court. Justice Marquett, opening the ceremonies, spoke of him as 
'•The man who for near a quarter of a century has been with us as 
lawyer and judge, and who had not failed to attain the highest 
judicial honors of our state, commanding the greatest confidence 
of the community, and the affections of a large circle of friends, 
by a blameless and honorable life." 

Upon presenting the resolutions of the State Bar Association, 
from among Justice Marquett's further remarks, are the following 
extracts : 

"On the twenty-ninth day of May, 1878, Chief Justice Daniel Gantt died. 
He had lived in our midst for over twenty years, and during all that time, 
by a blameless life, he made many friends— but few enemies. A few days 
before his death I heard him say, in answer to the inquiry of another 
whether he did not think a recent decision of his would not in certain 
quarters elicit opposition: 'I care not for that, for I think I founded my 
decision upon correct principles.' To my mind tins was the highest exhi- 
bition of manhood. Tins alone places him on a higher plane, which tew 



68o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

men ever reach, in an atmosphere purer than men usually breathe. The 
'old man' would rather be right than popular. 

"But Daniel Gantt's eulogy is not to be pronounced by me. His best 
eulogy is found in the records of this court, and in his decisions, many of 
which are master productions. His was not the mind to find justice in an 
isolated case where justice appeared, but which was in reality a whitened 
sepulcher, and when once established as a precedent would lead to a long 
course of injustice. His mind dived deep and sought for golden lodes of 
truth far-reaching, opening up long pathways in which the future jurist 
might walk and find justice. He was my friend for twenty years without 
shade of differing." 

George H. Roberts, Attorney General of Nebraska, as a part of 
his remarks, included this tribute to Justice Gantt, in reference to 
treatment of the younger members of the bar : 

"Others have known the late chief justice longer, and more intimately 
than I, but no one appreciated more fully his kindness, his innate nobility 
of soul, his gentleness, his charity, his worth. To the younger members 
of the bar he was at once an elder brother, counselor, and friend. Here 
a word of caution, or reproof, so gently given that it left no sting behind ; 
and again words of encouragement and cheer — so dear and highly prized 
by those struggling in the rear ranks for place and recognition at the 
front. The pure bright gold of his heart and mind will abide forever, 
written with a pen of steel upon the foundations of the jurisprudence of 
a great young commonwealth." 

Of his professional characteristics, Attorney E. Wakely said : 
"He was a conspicuously upright citizen, and a just, conscientious 
man. In his profession, without claim to brilliancy of genius, or elo- 
quence of advocacy, and over modest in the estimate of his own powers, 
he had learning, industry, patience, solidity of judgment, and never- 
questioned integrity. These are aids which litigants learn to value and 
rely on, when sometimes, more captivating qualities have charmed the 
court, but lost the cause. On the bench he had never failing courtesy, 
equanimity, fairness, and love of justice, without ever an alloy or par- 
tiality, resentment or asperity. The opinions he has left here testify 
to his clearness of judgment, his research, his apprehension of legal 
principles, and his aptitude in applying them to the "facts of the cause." 

Chief Justice Maxwell, the successor of Chief Justice Gantt. in 
the course of his remarks said : 

"In October, 1872, Judge Gantt and myself were elected Judges of 
this court. As the Judges at that time were also judges of the District 
Courts, nearly the entire business before the Supreme Court consisted 
of cases decided by local judges, a considerable number being up for 
review from Judge Gantt's district. He at no time manifested the 
slightest anxiety about the conclusions to be reached by the court in a 
case appealed from his decision. During the time that he acted as one 
of the Judges of the District Court his labors were constant and unre- 
mitting, and frequently burdensome. Throughout his career as Judge 
he seemed to be actuated by one motive, namely, to ascertain what the 
law was upon any question presented, and having arrived at a conclusion 
in that regard, he fearlessly declared it. His success as a lawyer and 
Judge was largely due — as it must be in all cases of real success in the 
legal profession — to a thorough mastery of legal principles, untiring in- 
dustry, and unswerving integrity." 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 68 1 

Chief Justice Henry Calvin Thatcher. 

There stands in the State Capitol at Denver, Colorado, a bust 
of Henry Calvin Thatcher — the first chief justice of that noted 
Commonwealth — a Perry Countian by birth, and one of the three 
native sons of the County to attain that distinction in three widely 




HENRY CALVIN THATCHER, 

First Chief Justice of Colorado. The third native son to become 
a Chief Justice. Our of three brothers to become famous. 

separated states of the Union. Justice Thatcher is of a noted 
family — one of the most noted which has ever gone out from 
Perry County- His two brothers, Mahlon D. and John A. That- 
cher, became, in a business way, the most successful men from 
among those born in Perry County, as well as the most noted 
in that imperial commonwealth west of the Mississippi. 



682 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Chief Justice Henry Calvin Thatcher was the third son of 
Henry and Lydia Ann' (Albert) Thatcher, and was born in New 
Buffalo, Perry County, April 21, 1842. After receiving the edu- 
cation afforded by the schools of the period, through the desire 
of his parents to see their children educated, he was enabled to 
attend Franklin & Marshall College at Lancaster, from which 
institution he graduated in 1864, taking the honors of his class. 
Choosing the law for his career he began reading law at Altoona, 
Pennsylvania, and at the same time he edited the educational col- 
umns of the Hollidaysburg Standard. In the spring of 1866 he 
was graduated from the Law Department of Albany University, 
of New York, and in the fall of the same year he went to Color- 
rado, located at Pueblo, and began the practice of law. There 
were no railroads then west of the Mississippi and the future 
justice made the pilgrimage by ox-team across the plains. It was 
a long and tedious journey. 

His first public service was in 1869, when President Grant ap- 
pointed him United States Attorney for the State of Colorado. 
After serving in that capacity for a little over a year he resigned. 
When Colorado gained statehood he was made a member of the 
Constitutional Convention from his district, upon a non-partisan 
ticket, with scarcely a dissenting vote. In 1876 he received the Re- 
publican nomination for the Supreme Court, and was elected to that 
high office. In drawing lots for terms, Judge Thatcher drew the 
short term of three years, and by the law's provision thus became 
the chief justice. He proved himself the peer of the most able 
members who have ever sat in the court of last resort, his decisions 
being marked by a masterful grasp of the most intricate problems 
presented for solution. In large measure he left the impress of 
his individuality and ability upon the history of the state, especially 
in connection with the framing and execution of the laws. 

With his retirement from office he resumed the practice of 
law in Pueblo, becoming senior partner in the firm of Thatcher & 
( iast. That relation was maintained to the time of his death, which 
occurred in San Francisco, California, whither he had gone for the 
benefit of his health. Save for the three years when he was chief 
justice, he was in active practice in his adopted state from the time 
of his location there until his death, on March _>o, 1884. 

From a three volume History of Colorado, by *Wilbur Fiske 
Stone, himself an attorney of Pueblo and one of its first set- 
tlers, and who only recently passed away, we gain a pen picture 
l,c life and characters of Chief Justice Thatcher. Speaking 
of him. Chief Justice Beck, of the Colorado Supreme Court, 



*Judge Stone is credited with being a versatile writer, perfectly reliable, 
and better posted on men and affairs in Colorado than any other. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 683 

said, among other things: "* * * I lis was a busy life, and he 
accomplished much in the period allotted to him here. Endowed 
by nature with a comprehensive mind, which had been well cul- 
tured and disciplined by his mental exercise, gifted with a good 
judgment and a strong practical sense, he had risen to a lead- 
ing position at the bar, and the force of his character and attain- 
ments has left an impress upon the fundamental law and upon 
the jurisprudence of the state. He gave valuable assistance in 
framing the one and in shaping the other, as the records of 
the constitutional convention and the opinions of the Supreme 
Court bear conclusive testimony. * * *" Judge Elbert thus 
portrayed him in part: "It was my good fortune to know 
Judge Thatcher intimately and well. For three years we came 
and went together in the discharge of our judicial duties. Purity 
in public life and purity in political methods found in him a 
zealous advocate. lie was a most excellent judge. * * * His in- 
vestigations were most thorough, and no fact connected with the 
case he was considering escaped his attention. Judge Thatcher 
never wrote a slovenly opinion. He knew distinctly and clearly 
the conclusions he had reached and the process of reasoning by 
which he had reached them, and his statement and his argument 
was always clear, accurate and logical. His mind was analytical 
and he treated the intricate mazes of a difficult legal question 
with a steady step and clear eye that made him a valuable member 
of any court. Above all he was pure and incorruptible, presenting 
a judicial character the purity of which was as the snow, and the 
integrity of which was as the granite. * * * Of the value of such 
a life there is no measure. * * * " 

At a memorial meeting held by the members of the bar Judge 
T. T. Player, said in part : "* * * His epitaph might fairly be 
written in the one word 'excellent.' He was an excellent lawyer, an 
excellent citizen, and, above all, an excellent man. Judge Thatcher 
was essentially a modest and somewhat reserved man, and it is 
more true of him than of anyone else whom I ever knew, that his 
good qualities grew upon you day by day. * * * " Attorney E. 
J. Maxwell's tribute in part : " * * * It was not because of his 
greatness as a lawyer, not by reason of his having been chief 
justice of the State, not because of personal popularity, it was 
the grandeur of his character alone which had impressed itself on 
litis community — character alone, which, notwithstanding the slurs 
of the cynical and the skeptic, the world admires and venerates 
for itself alone." Of him Mr. Richmond, another member of the 
bar, said: " * * * He was recognized from the first as an able 
lawyer and an upright man, and among his professional brethren 
as one thoroughly conversant with the ethics of his profession. 
It always seemed to me that he recognized the fact that no man 



684 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

could be truly a great lawyer who was not in every sense of the 
word a good man. He did not seek to shine with meteoric splen- 
dor, but hoped to achieve renown in the profession by studious 
habits and sterling integrity, believing that integrity and honor, 
with assiduity, would bring him fame in his profession and finan- 
cial independence. He would not swerve from truth or fairness 
in any particular, and from the first to the day of his death he- 
was able to stand the severest scrutiny of the public." 

It was altogether natural that, when Henry Calvin Thatcher 
had completed his law course at the Albany Law Sehool and lo- 
cated at Pueblo, he should become the attorney and counselor of his 
brothers in their growing and diversified interests, and so continue 
until his death eighteen years later. In this new relation the 
utmost harmony prevailed, each treating the other with the highest 
courtesy, consideration and kindness in all their business relations, 
thus adding strength and stability to their business growth. 

In 1869 Judge Thatcher was married, his first wife being Miss 
Ella Snyder. One son, William Nevin, was born to them, Decem- 
ber 3, 1870, but died in Chester, England, June 14, 1891, and there 
rest his remains. He had graduated and gone abroad with a party 
of college friends, when attacked with appendicitis. Two daughters 
passed away in infancy, and the mother in 1878. In 1879 Mr. 
Thatcher was again married, the bride being Sallie B. Ashcom, of 
Everett, Pennsylvania. Their only child, Coolidge, died in infancy. 

*TTie Noted Thatcher Family. 

Various Perry County families notably the Blaine, Bigler, and 
Stephens' families, have had more than one noted descendant, 
but the Thatcher family not only had one, but three brothers of 
the same family who attained a preeminent place in their adopted 
State, as well as in that great section lying west of the Mississippi. 
Surely to the parents should go much of the credit for the foun- 
dation upon which these men builded. Their father, Henry 
Thatcher, was born in New Jersey, June 19, 1807, his father hav- 
ing come from the New England States, of Revolutionary stock. 

*Mr. Wm. T. Albert, a cousin of the noted brothers, and less than six 
months the junior of the celebrated chief justice, has been associated with 
the Thatcher interests many years and has known them all his life. He 
and one other performed all the bank duties for several years. The force 
now comprises thirty-five men. Now in his eightieth year he is still daily 
at his post in the First National Bank of Pueblo. He was also personally 
acquainted with Judge Wilbur Fiske Stone, author of a History of Colo- 
rado, in three volumes, from whom we quote, and as late as August, 1920, 
shortly before the death of Judge Stone, had an interview of several hours 
at his office in Denver. Mr. Albert has kindly read the sketches of these 
noted brothers which appear in this book, and pronounces them to be cor- 
rect. That of Chief Justice Thatcher appears with the sketches of the 
other chief justices, Gibson and Gantt, immediately preceding this page. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 685 

When «i young man he came to Perry County, where he was a 
blacksmith upon the Pennsylvania Canal. He attended school 
and later became a teacher during his younger manhood. On the 
maternal side they arc descended from William Albert, whose 
birthplace was in Switzerland and who came to America and 
settled in Northamptontown (now Allentown) during the period 
between 1720 and 1735. He had three sons, two of whom, Abra- 
ham and William, were Revolutionery soldiers. John Albert, the 
only son of Abraham, located in Adams County and married 
Charlotte Catharine Hykcs, a daughter of George Hykes (of 
Swiss descent), locating later in Perry, where was born Lydia 
Ann, the mother of these noted boys. She was the eleventh child 
of a family of thirteen children, eight daughters and five sons, 
and was born March 8, 1814. 

Before locating in Perry county John Albert had resided in 
Adams County until soon after 1800. He then located upon a farm 
near Alinda, where he not only carried on farming, but during the 
winters manufactured "grandfather's clocks." having learned clock- 
making in Allentown. He was a justice of the peace and a highly 
respected citizen. Throughout Perry, Cumberland and Adams 
Counties, especially in some of the older homes, are to be found 
these highly prized grandfathers' clocks. During recent years, 
when offered for sale, they have often brought fancy prices. That 
many of them were made in Perry County may be news to many, 
but is a fact. John Albert was an expert clock-maker in his day, 
and his clocks indicated seconds, minutes, hours, date of the month 
and phase of the moon. His death occurred in 1834, the result 
of accidently inhaling poison fumes from molten brass, while 
about to cast wheels for clocks. He was aged 61 years and left 
a wife, four sons and eight daughters. 

When Henry Thatcher taught school in Tyrone township three 
terms were at the school near the Benjamin Smith farm near 
Alinda. He boarded at Smith's and there he first met Lydia Ann 
Albert, his future wife, she being a sister of Mrs. Smith, first 
born of John Albert. On September 24, 1835, she was joined in 
wedlock to Henry Thatcher, the young school teacher. They im- 
mediately went to New Buffalo, then a thriving shipping point on 
the new Pennsylvania Canal, and entered the mercantile business. 
They were successful from the beginning and continued business 
there until 1847, when the rapid strides of the town of Newport 
caused them to change locations. The change also brought them 
closer to their people, who largely traded at Newport. In 1857 
they again changed locations, moving to Martin sburg, Blair 
County, Pennsylvania. They were the parents of six children, 
John Albert, Elvina (died at the age of fifteen), Mahlon D., Henry 
Calvin, Sarah Catharine (Mrs. Frank G. Bloom, living at Trini- 



686 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

dad, Colorado), and Mary Caroline (Mrs. Marshall IT. Everhart, 
living at Martinsburg, Pennsylvania). 

Mr. Thatcher was a good business man, and the aged people of 
Perry County still speak of Thatcher's store at Newport. Thai he 
had ability in selecting his help is verified by the fact that one of 
his early clerks was Rev. T. P. Bucher, who became the second 
county superintendent of schools of Perry County, largely through 
the good reputation he had attained as Mr. Thatcher's clerk. (See 
"The County Superintendency.") The parents of this noted family 
were very strict with their children along moral and religious lines 
and they were baptized in the faith of the German Reformed 
Church. Their mother and her sisters, in fact, the whole family, 
are traditionally noted for their kindness, even temperament and 
motherly ideals. 

The plains, when the Thatcher sons first located in Colorado, 
were dangerous. Frank G. Bloom, vice-president of the First 
National Bank of Trinidad, Colorado, and associated with and in 
charge of the Thatcher cattle and land interests in southern Colo- 
rado and northern New Mexico, was employed by Henry Thatcher 
at his store in Martinsburg in 1861. For almost a year prior to 
1865 he was in correspondence with M. D. Thatcher about locating 
in Colorado in the fall of that year. The Indians were then on 
the warpath, and during that fall they burned every stage station, 
save three, for a distance of 450 miles along the Platte River. 
Their mode of attack was to fire the haystacks connected with the 
stations, and when the stage employees would rush out they would 
be shot. Mr. Bloom left the following spring and saw lying by 
the trail the oxt earns, with their yokes yet upon their frames, but 
the wooden parts of the wagons all burned. Flour was emptied 
over the prairies so that the redskins could take the sacks for shirts. 
On his way west his outfit was held up at Fort Kearney, Nebraska, 
until fifty wagons came up. There they elected a captain who had 
charge of the train until the arrival at Denver. The outfit was 
loaded with green apples, the wagons first being faced with chaff 
and burlap, and the apples packed in bran. At Denver the apples 
sold for twenty-eight cents per pound. Mr. Bloom landed in Den- 
ver April 15, 1866. During the following October he was sent by 
the Thatcher Brothers to Four-Mile Creek, near Canon City, to 
start a store. He was there ten months and sold $20,000 worth 
of goods without any help. In 1867 he located at Trinidad, and 
in 1869 returned to Pennsylvania and was united in marriage to 
Miss Sarah Catharine, a daughter of Henry Thatcher, the Mar- 
tinsburg merchant. On their arrival at Kansas City the trains 
only ran by daylight on account of the danger of Indian attacks. 
There were then no sleepers. On the train with Mr. Bloom and 
his bride, were General Custer and his wife. A curtain of blan- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 687 

kets was rigged up and stretched across the car at nights, the ladies 
occupying the one apartment and the men the other, as they re- 
mained in the cars from Sheridan, Kansas, to Pueblo and -Trini- 
dad. In that same year Mr. Bloom became associated with the 
Thatchers in a business way. 

Throughout all their dealings the Thatcher Brothers were never 
interested in shady dealings nor in grafting. It is said of them 
that during their long business career they never foreclosed a mort- 
gage. What was the basis for the marvelous success attained by 
these three brothers, in their several spheres of activity and influ- 
ence? An illustration may help answer. When John A. Thatcher, 
after crossing the plains, arrived in Denver, in 1862, and failed to 
secure immediate employment, he became uneasy and restless. 
When his new-found friend from Pennsylvania suggested that he 
remain at the store, that his partner would be down from the tan- 
nery, about thirty miles away, and might be able to give him work 
for awhile, at the tannery, he replied, "You bet your life I will not 
go away." He there showed his desire not to be idle, and his will- 
ingness to do anything honorable his hands found to do. The 
habits of his youth, formed in his father's store in Perry County, 
thus seemed the bulwark of his life at that critical time. 

When M. D. Thatcher, after leaving Perry County, resided with 
his parents at Martinsburg, he was in full communion with his 
church and took an active part in Sunday school work, being libra- 
rian and treasurer of the latter. He systematized the methods and 
being a fine penman kept everything connected with the library in 
perfect order, carefully, neatly and accurately, up to the time of 
his going West. He showed that nothing was too small to do and 
that what was worth doing was worth doing well. His compan- 
ions remember that when a school boy he would promptly and 
voluntarily return from school to his father's store and clear the 
counter of the miscellaneous mixture of dry goods usually found 
at the close of a busy day with customers. Pie there laid the foun- 
dation for his future career, doing all business throughout his busy 
life with the same careful accuracy and dispatch as was the habit 
of his youth. 

When the last of these two brothers, associated so closely all 
their lives, had passed away, Alva Adams, their friend and former 
governor of Colorado, wrote thus to his friend, C. S. Morey : 

"Although two and one-half years lay between the deaths of John A. 
Thatcher and Alahlon D. Thatcher, our tribute of appreciation and regret 
cannot be paid the one without including the other. The varied talents of 
the two men supplemented each other. Their business career was an ex- 
ample of the power of personal and financial confidence and harmony. 
Neither selfishness, envy, nor ambition ever broke the current of a com- 
mon kinship. David and Jonathan were not finer friends than these two 
brothers. They were the joint architects of a great career. They built up 



688 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

a business fabric of surpassing splendor and influence. Under the guid- 
ance of their strong hand and brain, the firm, 'Thatcher Brothers' became 
a citadel of commercial and financial stability — it is one of the institutions 
of the nation. Thatcher — integrity, stability, have been synonymous terms 
in our business world. This reputation should be prized as a richer her- 
itage than their estate of gold. 'Empire Builder' is one of the stock phrases 
in Western obituary and history — John A. Thatcher and M. D. Thatcher 
were state and empire builders in the truest sense. For half a century, 
Thatcher Brothers have been without a rival in business leadership and 
success. This distinction came from faith in Colorado and Pueblo coupled 
with a financial genius of a high order. 

"As young men, the Thatcher Brothers had a splendid dream of the ulti- 
mate destiny of this new land, and they lived to see that dream come true. 
They had vision — courage and confidence. Chance had little part in their 
success — hard work, good sense and probity were their masters of achieve- 
ment. They never read the ribbon of a stock ticker. Scheming and specu- 
lation were not in their business methods. They followed only legitimate 
channels of finance. They dealt in millions and every dollar was clean. For 
fifty years, these men walked the streets of Pueblo — their conduct and 
business open to every citizen — no stain ever touched their name or their 
business character. In their banking career, thousands became their debtor; 
not one of the thousands can say that he was ever oppressed by Thatcher 
Brothers. They never turned from misfortunes of the worthy. To aid 
honest men, they often went beyond the limitations of legitimate banking. 
Not a few business men owe their solvency to the liberality and tolerance 
of this ideal banking firm. Though absorbed with great interests, they 
were not exclusive. To all the door of their office as well as the door of 
their home was open. To gossip and harshness they were strangers. They 
were careful of themselves as they were of their business. No criticism — 
no bitterness ever fell from their lips. With all their power, they were 
modest and unassuming. In their home life, they were gentle, kindly and 
considerate. 

"In the marts of commerce, their word was a bond from New York to 
the Pacific Coast. Their fortune was not hoarded, but has been invested 
in scores of great enterprises which have developed the West and helped 
to make Colorado a happy and prosperous home for a million people. 

"All in all, Thatcher Brothers were ideal bankers — ideal husbands and 
fathers, and valued citizens. 

"Not in the history of the Commerce Club has it been called upon to 
mourn the death of two members who have been so potential in the af- 
fairs of Pueblo and Colorado." 

John A. Thatcher, Pioneer, Merchant, and Banker. 

The oldest member of the famous Thatcher family, John A. 
Thatcher, was born in New Buffalo, Perry County, Pennsylvania, 
on August 25, 1836, the son of Henry and Lydia Ann (Albert) 
Thatcher. The other children were Elvina, Mahlon D., Mrs. Frank 
G. Bloom, now of Trinidad. Colorado; Mrs. M. H. Everhart, 
now of Martinsburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania; Henry Calvin, 
who was the first chief justice of Colorado, and Dora. John A. 
attended school in New Buffalo until 1847, when his father, who 
was a merchant, moved to Newport, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, 
as a better business location and, later, April 1, 1855, moved to 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



689 



Martinsburg, Pennsylvania. He then attended the Newport 
schools and the Tuscarora Academy; later, also, attending Prof. 
Wilson's Airy View Academy. All three of the brothers took an 
academic course, and all could have had a college course, as well, 
'hut the two elder ones chose not to take the latter. 




JOHN A. THATCHER, 

Pioneer Merchant and Banker. One of three brothers to attain 
fame in the Great West. 

In the spring of 1854, at Newport, his father arranged for John 
A. Thatcher to learn the tanning trade with William Brown. Mr. 
Brown, at the end of the first year, sold out or discontinued his 
business, and John A. Thatcher spent another year, from March, 
1855, to March, 1856, at Falls' tannery, at Blain, Perry County. 
In the fall and winter of 1856-57, he taught school in Schuylkill 
44 



6yo HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

County, and in 1857, went to Holt County, Missouri, where he 
clerked for five years, becoming more familiar with the details of 
mercantile life. 

Oregon, the county seat of Holt County, and Forest City, on the 
Missouri River, were flourishing places, during the opening up 
and settlement of Kansas, and did a big business. The outbreak- 
ing of the Sectional War brought troublesome times, on the bor- 
der, and Holt County became subject to raids from organized 
hands of thieves and desperadoes who infested the Missouri River 
territory. In 1 862 conditions became so bad that Mr. Thatcher 
decided to make a change, and follow the advice of some friends 
who had preceded him. He and another acquaintance bought a 
team, and loading the wagon with merchandise, set out across the 
plains for Colorado. Starting from Nebraska City, Nebraska, 
they arrived at Denver, September 15, 1862, where he remained 
until December. At this time, James H. Voorhees, who had a 
partner with him in business in Denver, proposed to John A. 
Thatcher, that he would furnish a load of goods, share the profits 
with him, if he would take them to Pueblo and open a store there. 
As he was anxious to be at work the proposal was accepted. 

They loaded a wagon with an assortment of goods, reaching 
Pueblo (120 miles distant) in eight days. The driver, a French- 
man, was kept on the road to and from Denver all winter. In the 
spring, Mr. Voorhees wrote John A. Thatcher to bring back to 
Denver the remainder of goods on hand. At this point, the Den- 
ver partnership was dissolved ; and later, Mr. Voorhees asked Mr. 
Thatcher to join him in business in Denver. After considering 
the matter a short time, he decided to join him, with the under- 
standing that he could withdraw at any time, by taking his share 
of goods. In a mouth or two he withdrew, taking his share of 
goods which he took with an ox team to Pueblo, August 14, 1863. 
About this time he received savings which he had loaned (when 
clerking in Missouri) to an uncle named Snyder, who lived across 
the river, in Doniphan County, Kansas. This was the beginning 
of his own business, and the establishing of the first general store 
at Pueblo, located at Second Street and Santa Fe Avenue. His 
first counter consisted of two barrels with several boards or planks 
laid from one to the other. Later, the store was moved farther 
north on the corner of Fourth Street and Santa Fe Avenue, into a 
two-story adobe building. During the spring and summer of 1864 
he kept writing to his brother, Mahlon D., who had joined his 
father in business, on Jan. 1, 1864, for a period of five years, to 
come West. By September of that year, Mahlon D. Thatcher 
decided to withdraw from his father's business and terminate the 
partnership, in Martinsburg, December 31st. The father released 
the son, and receiving $2,900 for his interest in the business, 



PERRY C< lUNTY'S NOTED MKN 



(xj\ 



Mahlon D. Thatcher went to Philadelphia, New York, and Boston, 
to purchase goods for the store at Pueblo, and from that time on, 
the brothers were inseparable. 

On April 17, 1866, John A. Thatcher was united in marriage 
with .Miss Margaret A. 1 lenry, second daughter of Judge John W. 
Henry, elected circuit judge in 1872, district judge in Pueblo 
County, in 1876, and who was on the bench until 1882. They had 
five children: Lenore, John Henry, Lillian (Mrs. Forest Ruther- 
ford, of New York City), Albert R.. and Raymond Calvin. Of 
these, Lenore and Albert R. are deceased. Mrs. Thatcher died 
early in 1922. 

Pueblo, oft termed the "Pittsburgh of the West," and the 
Arkansas Valley, bear the marks of the genius of these men, fur- 
nishing the capital to start factories and foundries and to develop 
agriculture and stock raising. The Thatcher Brothers' store be- 
came a convenient and safe place to deposit money — the only safe 
in Pueblo — for stock and mining men. As these conditions grew 
and developed and. doubtless, as a result of these develop- 
ments, they then conceived the thought of going into the bank- 
ing business. A building was planned and erected in the fall of 
1870, and finished by February 1. 1871. on the southwest corner 
of Santa Fe Avenue and 
Fourth Street, which housed 
the first business of the 
firm of "Thatcher Brothers, 
Bankers." Very soon after 
this, when matters could be 
arranged with the govern- 
ment at Washington, which 
required M. D. to make 
several trips East, Thatcher 
Brothers, Bankers, became 
The First National Bank 
of Pueblo, starting with a 
capital of $50,000, which 
was increased to $100,000 
in [874. The original char- 
ter was renewed after 
twenty years, in 1891, and a 
its third twenty-year period. This bank is to this day one of the 
strongest hanks in the country, and is still owned by the Thatcher 
interests and managed by them. 

In addition to The First National Bank of Pueblo, Colorado, 
they also have interests in The First National Bank of Denver, 
The International Trust Company of Denver, and in other banks 
and trust companies in Otero and Bent Counties, in Trinidad, and 




!■■::: if liifii'ip 




T 1 1 1', 



THATCHER BUILDING AT PUEBLO, 

COLORADO. 



d again in 1911, and the hank is now in 



692 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

other points in southern Colorado. They were also incorporators 
of the Grand Opera House Block, in Pueblo, Colorado, and owned 
great herds of cattle and vast acreages in southern Colorado and 
northern New Mexico. 

John A. Thatcher did not care for politics, belonged to no clubs 
or lodges, and yet was a most companionable man. He was a mem- 
ber of the Pioneers Association of Southern Colorado, of the Sons 
of Colorado, and of the Pennsylvania Society of Colorado, having 
been honorary president of the latter at the time of his death. He 
gave liberally to all projects. He was shrewd, able, frugal, and 
thrifty, the corner stone upon which the Thatcher millions have 
been built. He was a home and family man, and built a home 
named "Rosemount," which, with the grounds occupies a city 
block, and is one of the most beautiful residences in the city. To 
the author's personal knowledge, John A. Thatcher was generous 
with friends of his youth, who had not been as successful as he, 
and funds from his hands reached places where they were badly 
needed. 

Following a trip to Nevada and California, in June, 1913, he 
was taken ill, and on August 14th, exactly fifty years after the 
date of his arrival in Pueblo, passed away. Had he lived a few 
months longer, he would have seen the completion and occupancy 
of the new bank building, which is one of the finest in the state. 

"The Thatcher Family," on the preceding pages, contains much 
in reference to John A. Thatcher. 

Mahlon D. Thatcher, Financier and Banker. 

That there should be bred in Perry County, men who have 
amassed millions, may seem strange to some, especially those who 
oft use derisive terms in speaking of the county, but, nevertheless, 
it is true; and, when Mahlon D. Thatcher, leading financier of 
the State of Colorado, closed his eyes at his home in Pueblo, Colo- 
rado, on Washington's birthday, in 1916, there passed from the 
nation one of the most remarkable financiers of all time, having 
attained wealth reaching into millions. He was a power in the 
financial world, not only in his state, hut of the nation. A younger 
brother, Henry Calvin Thatcher, became the first chief justice of 
the State of Colorado, and, in the State Capitol at Denver, stands 
a bust of this noted jurist. 

Of Mahlon D. Thatcher, Hall's "History of Colorado" has this 
to say : 

"His influence among the capitalized forces and productive interests of 
the commonwealth is coextensive with the great financial triumphs he has 
achieved. Intimate personal acquaintance with these brothers ripens into 
deep admiration of the qualities that have produced the results we have 
briefly enumerated. They have had no part in politics, except to exercise 
the duties of good citizenship; have not aspired to, nor held office. Busi- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



693 



ness, and business alone, has occupied their thoughts and governed their 
acts in the broad field of human endeavor, wherein he who is keenest to 
foresee and seize upon the unceasing round of opportunities gathers the 
cream of the harvest. They have sown nothing to the winds, therefore, 
have reaped no whirlwinds." 

Mahlon D. Thatcher was born in New Buffalo, Perry County, 
on December 6, 1839, being a son of Henry and Lydia Ann (Al- 




MAHLON D. THATCHER, 

Noted Financer and Banker. Another of the three brothers to attain 

fame. Mr. Thatcher is said to have been able to finance greater 

projects than any other from the Mississippi River to the Pacific 

Coast. 

bert) Thatcher, the father having been an early merchant there. 
They later moved to Newport (1847), and still later to Martins- 
burg, Pennsylvania (1855), continuing in the mercantile business. 
There Mahlon D. attended school and, later, Tuscarora Academy, 



6q4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

then joined his frit her in the store, and later was admitted into the 

firm. 

In 1865, Mahlon D. Thatcher went to Pneblo and joined his 
brother, John A., in the mercantile business, conducting it under 
the name of "Thatcher Brothers, Merchants." Their store, then 
on the east side of Santa Fe Avenue, at Fourth, was successful 
from the start, and soon became the headquarters for the cattle- 
men and mining men who stopped there, as they dealt in every- 
thing. The Thatcher Brothers' safe became their bank, being 
freely used, and it is told that often many thousands of dollars 
were left with them following a deal in cattle or a prospector's 
success. This accommodation on their part became so extensive 
that they saw the advisability of starting a bank, as "Thatcher 
Brothers, Bankers." 

In 1 87 1, John A. and Mahlon D. Thatcher moved the banking 
business into a new brick building built for that purpose, opening 
with a capital of $50,000.00. Mahlon D. Thatcher, the younger 
of the brothers, later, the same year, went to Washington, D. C, 
and obtained the charter for the First National Bank of Pueblo, 
with a capital of $50,000.00. From that time he became the con- 
trolling force of that institution. Such was their entry into the 
banking world. When Mahlon D. Thatcher died, in 191 6, he was 
president of the First National Bank of Pueblo, and chairman of 
the board of directors of the First National Bank of Denver, 
president of the International Trust Company of Denver; of 
the First National Bank of' Trinidad, Colorado, and of the Min- 
nequa Bank of Pueblo. He was vice-president of the Pueblo 
Savings Bank, of the Central California Electric Corporation, 
and of the Standard Fire Brick Company. He was treasurer of 
the Great Western Sugar Company, a director in the American 
Smelting and Refining Company, the Cement Securities Company, 
and the Nevada-California Electric Corporation. He also, held 
large interests in the First National Bank of Florence ; the First 
National Bank of Silverton ; the Bent County Bank of Las Ani- 
mas ; the American National Bank of Alamosa; the Miners' and 
Merchants' Bank of Ouray, and the Montrose National Bank. He 
was secretary-treasurer of the Pueblo Union Depot and Railway 
Company, and one of its organizers. He was actively interested in 
thirty-seven banks at the time of his death. His fortune has been 
variously estimated at from five to ten millions of dollars. 

It is said that all the concerns in which Mr. Thatcher was inter- 
ested were clean and above-board, and that the men under whose 
charge they forged to the front were carefully selected by him. 
Ili> rise in the financial world was never spectacular, but of a 
steady growth, year by year. From the time of his locating in 
Pueblo, until his death, he never had a rival for the enviable posi- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 695 

tion which he held in the financial world, so highly was he es- 
teemed in the community. It was largely through the influence of 

Mr. Thatcher, supported by Pueblo people, that the Atchison, 
Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway Company built its lines into Pueblo. 
He, also, influenced the building of the first smelting plant in 
Pueblo, called the "Pueblo Smelter," and the Boston syndicate ot 
stockholders asked his counsel and he became treasurer for them. 
When illness foretold his passing, his son, M. D. Thatcher, trained 
in the methods of his father, stepped into his place in the various 
organizations in which he was interested, performing his duties 
so like the father that they moved along in their characteristic 
manner. 

Mahlon D. Thatcher was united in marriage, August 1, 1876, to 
Miss Luna A. Jordan, who survives him, residing in Pueblo. A 
son and three daughters also survive him. The son, Mahlon D., 
|r., is spoken of above ; the daughters are Mrs. Robert C. Wheeler, 
and Mrs. William Waller, Jr., both of Chicago, and Mrs. Robert 
L. Huntzinger, of New York ; there are also still living two sis- 
ters, Mrs. M. C. Kverhart, of Martinsbnrg, Pennsylvania, and Mrs. 
F. J. Bloom, of Trinidad, Colorado. 

Mr. Thatcher had many charities to which he was deeply at- 
tached, and, when he died, both rich and poor in Pueblo felt that 
a very dear and helpful one had gone. During his life, Mahlon D. 
Thatcher had the reputation of being able to raise more money 
for any legitimate enterprise than any man between Chicago and 
San Francisco. The Thatchers did business, and the younger gen- 
eration still do, with clients in every state in the Union. Through- 
out all their dealings the Thatcher Brothers were never interested 
in shady dealings nor in grafting. It is said of them that, during 
their long business career, they never foreclosed a mortgage. As 
times of great crises come in the lives of every individual, so they 
came also to these men of sterling worth and integrity, at various 
times and under trying conditions, during the fifty years of their 
activity in Pueblo. Two of these may be mentioned in this con- 
nection which stand out more prominently than all the others ; the 
first occurring in the winter of 1878-79. Beautiful and mild 
weather prevailed during the fall months of 1878, until December ; 
soon after the first of that month, a gentle rain set in ; the atmos- 
phere soon grew colder, the rain turning to snow, which continued 
falling, without cessation, for about three days and nights, until 
from three to four feet of snow covered the eastern slopes and 
plains of the whole of the Rocky Mountain region, New Mexico, 
on the south, Wyoming on the north, as well as the.whole of Colo- 
rado. After the snow ceased falling, it grew intensely cold, the 
sun shining brightly, but perfectly clear. There occurred but one 
slight thaw for a day or so; the weather remaining cold until 



6g6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

after the middle of February, 1879, entailing exceedingly heavy 
losses to all cattle and sheep men in the Western country ; in fact, 
most men engaged in the stock business at that time lost about all 
they had. The winter referred to was especially severe all over the 
United States. 

The second disaster which proved to be nation-wide was the 
financial panic of 1893, which brought very disturbed conditions 
throughout the whole United States, but especially severe in the 
middle and Western states. Many banks failed and never opened 
again. These conditions followed the demonitization of silver by 
the Congress of the United States. Colorado having previously 
attained the distinction of being one of the best producing precious 
metal mining states in the Union, received the worst blow it has 
had in its existence as a state, and to this date, has never recovered 
its former prestige in this respect, but has fallen very far below 
its previous activity and production. On July 5, 1893, most people 
became excited about the safety of the banks, and "runs" were 
made simultaneously on all the banks, eight in the city. Three or 
four were closed by noon on that day. The morning of the 6th, 
the "runs" continued on the banks which were brave enough to 
open, the Pueblo National, Pueblo Savings Bank, and the Western 
National, with the aid of the First National, until about noon, 
when it suddenly subsided and business resumed its wonted aspect. 
These two critical periods in the career of the Thatcher Brothers, 
only proved, beyond a doubt, the solidity of their financial building 
and' made no difference in their attitude to associates and fellow 
citizens ; they outwardly manifesting the same equanimity of tem- 
perament as characterized their success in other years ; never a 
word of complaint or rehearsal of losses, and it is doubtful if any 
one outside themselves ever knew what they were. 

Once Mr. Thatcher was urged to accept the mayoralty of the 
city, being elected, but he resigned before one year of his term ex- 
pired. To-day, with M. D. Thatcher, Jr., as president ; Mr. A. S. 
Booth, as vice-president, and Raymond C. Thatcher, as chairman 
of the board of directors, the First National Bank of Pueblo, or- 
ganized by the fathers, half a century ago, is moving along with the 
undiminished confidence enjoyed by the elder Thatchers. 

George J. Dunbaugh, a prominent Chicago manufacturer, 
among other things, writes of him : 

"Have known M. D. Thatcher since 1870. Every one knew him as a 
man of sterling worth. His probity in every way was unquestioned. If 
he had confidence in a man he would go very much further than any capi- 
talist I have ever known in furnishing him with financial backing. He was 
never autocratic in any way. He was most democratic in his manners, 
the door of his office being open to all, and he would see every one. He 
was always pleasant and genial and the most pleasant man I ever knew. 
He was a man of clear thought and a remarkably good judge of human 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 697 

nature. He recognized the frailties of man and made allowance for them. 
He once told me that he feared gambling more than any other vice; he 
said a drinking man cannot long conceal his failing, but a gambler may 
lose everything in a single night, and he could not have any confidence in 
a man who gambled. 

"Mr. Thatcher was essentially a home loving man. He had a most 
beautiful home, and his family and his home meant more to him than 
anything in the world. No one who has met him in his home life could 
fail to realize this, and it was in his home that one appreciated his splen- 
did character and his high ideals. 

"He was a great power in the financial world, being known throughout 
the United States as one of the great financiers. He was always con- 
sulted in matters of finance, especially in the great West, where nothing 
of moment was ever done without consulting him. During the World 
War, when it was thought that the United States might become embroiled, 
he was one of the great financiers of our land who were assembled to plan 
the financial end." 

The statement that he was one of the great financiers called on 
to plan the finances in case America became involved in the war 
is correct and is a matter of government record. 

When well established in business and the opportune time had 
come, M. D. Thatcher, about 1880, built his first permanent 
home in Pueblo, on the crest of the ridge jutting down from the 
north toward the center of the city; this ridge (evidently the west 
limit of the Fountain Valley), overlooking the latter from Green- 
wood Street, also sloping southward and from Sixteenth Street 
overlooking the beautiful Arkansas Valley and River. The block 
of ground and home are called "Hill Crest," and it is still one of 
the most substantial and beautiful homes in the state, surrounded 
with grounds which are artistically laid out, with walks and drive- 
ways, planted with rare trees, plants and flowers from other climes. 
This home is still occupied by Mrs. Thatcher, to whom, also, was 
left an equally beautiful summer home at Harbor Point, on Lake 
Michigan, where she spends the summer months, as she and her 
husband formerly did. Mrs. Thatcher, by the way, is not idle, 
but much interested in welfare and charitable work, according to 
official reports along those lines. During the past year she was 
engaged in helping raise the funds to purchase a $40,000 home for 
the Young Women's Christian Association. 

Through Paul Appenzellar, a noted New York banker who was 
born in one of Perry's neighboring counties, we have been able to 
secure some personal impressions of M. D. Thatcher. From his 
letter the following is taken : 

"In Measure for Measure" the Duke, in bestowing some special honor 
on one of his deputies, addresses him thus: 

"There is a kind of character in thy life, 
That to the observer doth thy history 
Fully unfold." 



698 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

To me, who knew Mahlon D. Thatcher only during the last twelve years 
of his life, there is a peculiar fitness in the application of this quotation. 
His unruffled, dispassionate temperament; his deep instinct for order, 
simplicity, accuracy; his passion for fairness and honesty told well the 
story of his life. 

My association with Mr. Thatcher began through the business relation- 
ship of broker and customer. He came to my office to pay for some bonds 
which had been purchased for his account by one of the banks in New 
York where his account was handled. The business finished, he asked me 
if I was not from Pennsylvania, suspecting this from my inflection, and 
his reserve disappeared when he learned that my old home and birthplace 
was in a county adjoining the Perry County of which later he was to tell 
me so many stories. From the beginning our friendship grew until we 
formed the habit of spending a week-end together on each of his visits. 
Except for visits in the winter months we (my wife, Mr. Thatcher and I) 
would spend the Saturday-Sunday period in visits by automobile to some 
of the near-by resorts. The mention of these trips serves to recall one 
of his peculiarities — his unwillingness to accept any favor, or to permit 
himself to be placed in a position where he might feel under some obli- 
gation. He would go on none of these trips as my guest. He would go 
only if I agreed that we should share the expenses. This was final, and 
not open for argument. I asked him one day how he should feel if I 
should come to Pueblo and insist on sharing the expenses of the week-end 
trip which I well knew he would immediately plan for my pleasure. This 
was indeed a searching question, but his only reply was a smiling, "Let me 
do as I like to do in this matter even though you say it's absurd." 

"Not apt for speech, nor quickly stirred 
Unless when heart to heart replied ; 
A bearing equally remov'd 

From vain display or sullen pride." 

Mr. Thatcher's taciturnity undoubtedly led many who knew him casually 
to consider him as cold. He loved a fact but cared little for an opinion. 
He asked few questions when considering a proposition placed before 
him for his consideration as an investment. 

If any attempt was made to hasten his decision, the answer was an 
immediate "No," and the subject was not reopened. His business judg- 
ment was so highly regarded in my own office that I used often to tell 
him that I had a proposition I wished to "try on the dog," meaning that 
I and my partners wished to see if on the data as presented to him by me, 
his approval of the venture could be won. If it was or was not, our own 
opinion was influenced decidedly for or against the proposition. 

His pride in the remarkable record of the First National Bank of Pueblo, 
was certainly the only "vanity" I ever knew him to display. Its daily 
statement came to him when on his Eastern trips, and he would often 
hand me one of these reports. My almost invariable comment would be, 
"You have too much cash, why don't you buy a million more commercial 
paper?" The facts were that he did carry a far larger percentage of his 
deposits in cash and in reserve banks than any other bank in the whole 
United States, as far as I could determine. I doubt if he would have fol- 
lowed, or approved, such a policy in any other of the many banks in which 
he had a substantial stock interest; but the First National Bank of 
Pueblo wasn't to be judged as other banks — it had traditions which to 
him were sacred, and there were no minority stockholders pushing a man- 
agement for larger earnings and larger dividends. 

His visits to New York City usually were made at the time of the 
quarterly meetings of the board of directors of the American Smelting & 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 699 

Refining Co., of which board he was a member. On these visits he would 
invest large .sums in bonds and commercial paper for the account of the 
various banks in which he was interested and likewise for his personal 
account. 

Those to whom M. D. Thatcher gave his friendship were, at least in 
the East, a highly favored few. With them he was a cordial companion, 
and to them his unexpected death brought a realization of a great loss. 

General Frederick Watts. 

About 1760 Frederick Watts came to America with his family 
and settled upon a tract of 331 acres, now in Wheatneld Township, 
Perry County, which he warranted June 4, 1762. He was a 
Welshman, and was born June I, 17 19. and about 1749 took in 
wedlock Jane Murray, a niece of David Murray, who was Marquis 
of Tullibardine, a partisan of Charles Edward, the pretender, who 
after the Battle of Culloden fled to France. 

The oncoming Revolution in America found him a patriot of 
the most advanced type, and as the Perry County territory was 
then a part of Cumberland, he was chosen as one of the eight men 
sent to Philadelphia, in June, .1776, to a convention, which was the 
first of a series of conferences which resulted in the Declaration of 
Independence. He was interested in the organization of the 
county's battalion and was made lieutenant colonel of the First 
Battalion, representing the same at the military convention held 
July 4, 1776, at Lancaster. 

At the surrender of Fort Washington, November 16, 1776, he 
was in command of the "Flying Camp" of the First Battalion, and 
was captured, but soon after exchanged. April 1, 1778, he was 
commissioned as a justice of the peace of Cumberland County. In 
1779 he was chosen as one of its representatives in the General 
Assembly. Following this he was appointed a sublieutenant of 
Cumberland County, April 18, 1780; brigadier general of Penn- 
sylvania Militia, May 27, 1782; served as a member of the Su- 
preme Executive Council of the Colony from October 20, 1787, 
until its abolition by the Constitution of 1790, which was the real 
governing body of the colonies (hiring that trying period, being at 
the same time a member of the Board of Property. 

Seven children blessed the Watts family, and on account of 
some of them becoming connected with the county's life and attain- 
ing more or less prominence, even in later generations, they are 
here mentioned. They were Margery, Catharine, Margaret, Eliza- 
beth, Mary, Sarah, and David. Of these Elizabeth married Thomas 
Hulings, a son of Marcus Hidings, the pioneer, and became the 
mother of David W. Hulings, for a long time a prominent attor- 
ney of Lewistown, Pennsylvania, and Rebecca Hulings Duncan, 
whose husband was Robt. C. Duncan, a son of Supreme Court 
Justice Thomas Duncan. Mrs. Duncan was the grandmother of 



7 oo HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

P. F. Duncan, cashier of the Duncannon National Bank. Mar- 
garet was wed to George Smiley, of Shermansdale, thus bringing 
together the strains of two famous families. David Watts, the 
youngest and the only boy, studied law at Carlisle, married Juliana, 
a daughter of General Robert Miller, and became one of the lead- 
ing attorneys of the state. He was interested in the early furnace 
industry of Perry County with William Power. His son, Judge 
Frederick Watts, of Carlisle, was of the third generation to attain 
prominence. 

General George Gibson. 

George Gibson, who, by the way, was a brother of Chief Justice 
John Bannister Gibson, whose biography appears in the preceding 
pages, was born in Spring Township, at Westover, the name given 
the tract of land where the Gibson mill stands, when it was war- 
ranted, after the ancestral home in England. In his early life he 
traveled over a large part of the world, and when the War of 1812 
broke out he was appointed a lieutenant and served throughout the 
war against the country from whence his ancestry had migrated. 
He was also an officer in the field during the Seminole War in 
Florida, serving with Andrew Jackson, who was his personal 
friend thereafter. Andrew Jackson, during his Presidential term, 
appointed him as Commissary General of the United States Army, 
his commission being dated April 18, 1818, and he served with 
credit and distinction. His remains lie buried in the Congressional 
Cemetery at Washington, D. C, where he died September 21, 1861, 
while still serving in the capacity of Commissary General. His 
rank at that time was Brevet Major General of the U. S. A. 

Colonel Alexander K. McCeure. 

Perry County, in its first decade, was the birthplace of a lad who 
became one of the greatest editors in the United States, being classed 
with men of the caliber of Charles A. Dana and Henry Watterson. 
With Medill, McCullogh and McLean he was of the group of 
Celt-American editors. Alexander Kelly McClure was born in 
Madison Township on January 9, 1828. He was the son Alexander 
and Isabella (Anderson) McClure, and was born on the farm war- 
ranted by James Wilson, whose wife was killed there by the Indians 
in 1756, while passing from their home to Fort Robinson, for pro- 
tection. Its location is but a small distance from the old Indian 
trail to the West, and close to Centre Church. Here, amid these 
historic surroundings, he spent his boyhood in the manner of the 
period, helping with the farm labor and attending a few months 
of school in the winters. It is recorded that he and his brother 
attended alternate weeks, one being needed at home. 

During 1843, when fifteen years of age, he was apprenticed to 
James Marshall, then a New Bloomfield tanner, to learn the trade. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



701 



which he finished in 1846. While learning the tanning trade he 
became acquainted with Associate Judge John A. Baker, who was 
the editor and publisher of the Perry Freeman, and spent his eve- 
nings in that office reading exchanges, learning to set type, hearing 
politics discussed and, like Lincoln, reading all that was available. 




COLONEX A. K. McCLURE, 

Colonel McClure was a friend of Lincoln's and was long a familiar 
figure in Pennsylvania politics. He wrote the famous edict on Se- 
cession for Governor Curtin's inaugural. 

There he learned more, probably, than he would have learned had 
he continued attending district school. Jndge Baker was a Whig, 
and a remarkable man in his day. Before finishing his trade young 
McClure had already contributed articles for the Freeman. Dur- 
ing the summer of 1846 he traveled through Pennsylvania, New 
York and New England. 



j02 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

I lardly had he finished his trade when the Whigs of Juniata 
County were interested in having a paper started for them at Mif- 
flintown. Reluctantly, upon the advice of Judge Baker, he bought 
a hand press and some type with a loan of about five hundred dol- 
lars which he secured from his father, and in the fall of 1846 
started the Sentinel in that town, a paper which exists to this day. 
He was then only eighteen years of age. He mastered the me- 
chanical end, and before a year had gone by he did all the work 
on the paper, with the help of a single apprentice. Young Mc- 
Clure had inherited a liking for politics, especially from his moth- 
er's family, and it had been nurtured in the atmosphere surround- 
ing Judge Baker and the Perry Freeman office. Before he was of 
age he was a congressional conferee as a supporter of Andrew G. 
Curtin, who later became the great war governor of Pennsylvania. 
Curtin was defeated, but the friendship between him and McClure 
lasted through all the changes of politics in state and nation. 
Simon Cameron was a leader of a Democratic faction known as 
state improvement men, and about this time young McClure began 
fighting him. 

During the campaign of 1848, when Governor William F. John- 
son was the Whig nominee, McClure supported him editorially, the 
strength of his editorials attracting attention over the state. He 
also appeared on the stump, and when the new governor was in- 
augurated one of his first acts was to appoint McClure an aid on 
his staff, with the rank and title of Colonel. His commission was 
dated on the very day he became of voting age. Through Curtin, 
in 1850, he was appointed deputy United States Marshal of Juniata 
County, to take the census. As soon as he completed that task he 
sold the Sentinel for twelve hundred dollars, which, with the 
money he received as deputy marshal he invested in a half interest 
in the Chambersburg Repository. In 1853 the Whigs, then in a 
hopeless minority, nominated him for auditor general of Pennsyl- 
vania by acclamation, for which he was defeated. He was then 
but twenty-five years of age. 

In 1855, at the formation of the Republican party, the Ckam- 
bersburg Repository was the foremost paper in Pennsylvania to 
support it and to hammer the slavery traffic. McClure was one of 
the men who met at Pittsburgh to form the party in the state. 
He was opposed to the Know Nothing party of that day, and 
when the Whigs of Franklin County and the Know Nothings 
formed a coalition he sold his interest in the paper at once. In 
the meantime he had been reading law with William McClelland 
and was shortly admitted to the bar, becoming his preceptor's law 
partner. Governor Pollock appointed him superintendent of pub- 
lic printing, the first man to fill that position, being commissioned 
February 7, 1855. He resigned in a short time and was appointed 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 703 

superintendent of the Erie & Northeastern Railroad Company, and 
brought order out of chaos in the Erie riot trouble. 

He was a delegate from Pennsylvania to the convention which 
gave birth to the Republican party, which nominated John C. Free- 
1110111 for President in 1856. In [857 he was nominated by the 
Franklin County Republicans for member of the General Assem- 
bly and elected by a large majority. In 1858 he was reelected by 
a still greater majority. In 1859 he was nominated for the State 
Senate, and was elected after a hard- fought contest. In i860, 
when the fate of the nation was in the balance, he was state chair- 
man of the Republican party and saw Pennsylvania cast its vote 
for Abraham Lincoln. When the senate organized he was the 
most noted figure upon the floor, and when Fort Sumter was fired 
on by the Confederates he urged an immediate war policy and 
preparations for a long and bloody conflict. He was chairman of 
the Committee of Military Affairs, introduced war measures of 
great importance, and in consequence was closely associated with 
both Governor Curtin and President Lincoln. During the early 
part of the war and many times later the President saw Mr. Mc- 
Clure almost daily, so closely were they associated in the saving of 
the Union. 

Upon the expiration of his term in the senate, in 1862, McClure 
was appointed assistant Adjutant General of the United States 
Army, and had charge of the draft in Pennsylvania, his appoint- 
ment coming through unusual circumstances. Working night and 
day at Harrisburg McClure saw recruits to the number of a thou- 
sand a day come to Harrisburg, only to fret there in idleness 
against the "red tape" which held them instead of sending forth a 
regiment a day. The military commanders sent out only two com- 
panies each day, leaving the mass to be fed by army contractor-. 
McClure wrote to President Lincoln, "You must send a mustering 
officer to Harrisburg who will do as I say ; I cannot stay there 
longer under existing conditions." Lincoln sent for Adjutant 
General Thomas and asked the highest rank of military officer at 
Harrisburg. Thomas informed him "Captain, sir." The Presi- 
dent retorted, "Bring me a commission for an as>istant Adjutant 
General of the United States, with the rank of Major." And so 
the Perry County lad — now a man of affairs — was mustered in, 
and from then on a regiment a day of boys. in blue left Harrisburg 
for the front and the preservation of the Union. 

When the state's quota was filled he resigned and returned to his 
law offices at Chamhersburg. His inclination was towards jour- 
nalism, however, and in 1862 he purchased the Chdmbersbitrg Re- 
pository, in which he formerly owned a half interest, and returned 
to his favorite profession. In 1864 he was a delegate-at-large to 
the Republican State Convention, and at the following election 



704 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

was again elected to the General Assembly. When the Confeder- 
ates invaded Chambersburg in July, 1864, all his property was de- 
stroyed. In 1868 he was not only a delegate, but at' the head of 
the Pennsylvania delegation, to the Republican convention which 
nominated General U. S. Grant for the Presidency. He had cam- 
paigned in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Penn- 
sylvania. After the election he decided to abandon politics and 
moved to Philadelphia to practice law. 

In 1872 he aligned himself with the Greenback party and was 
state chairman of the Liberal Republican committee. He was 
again elected to the State Senate, this time from a Philadelphia 
district and on an Independent ticket. He was excluded from his 
seat by false returns, but contested the matter with his usual en- 
ergy and success, obtaining his seat March 27th. 

He was nominated for mayor of Philadelphia in 1874, but was 
defeated. He was chairman of the Pennsylvania delegation to the 
Cincinnati convention, which nominated Horace Greely for Presi- 
dent. 

In 1875, in conjunction with Frank McLaughlin, a noted printer 
and publisher, his brother John, and Philip Collins, a company was 
formed and began publishing the Philadelphia Times, at first an 
independent newspaper, but later Democratic in politics. McClure's 
interest was taken care of in the beginning by Governor Curtin, 
Charles A. Dana, Andrew H. Dill, and Colonel Scott. In 1892 
the paper was burned out. It was in operation for twenty-six 
years, all of which time McClure was at its head, editorially, when 
it was sold to and combined with the Public Ledger. During that 
time it paid its owners in cash dividends their entire capital five 
times over, and the sale of the property was at an additional pre- 
mium of $275 per share. In 1896 fellow newspaper workers ar- 
ranged a banquet to celebrate Col. McClure's fiftieth anniversary 
in the newspaper business, and gathered about the festal board 
were the leaders of the nation. 

Col. McClure was a man of fine physique and was over six feet 
tall. He was of Scotch-Irish ancestry, had a kindly face and al- 
ways led a busy life, working hard in any capacity. He was a 
noted speaker and never lacked an audience. He was first married 
to Matilda S. Grey, February 10, 1852. They had one child, Wil- 
liam Anderson McClure, who died in 191 1. He was married a sec- 
ond time, and his widow, Mrs. Cora (Gratz) McClure, still lives 
at 1828 Spruce Street, Philadelphia. Colonel McClure died June 
6, 11)09. 

No citizen of the republic has had as close an acquaintance with 
so many men who have filled the Presidency of the United States 
as had Col. McClure. He knew personally Presidents Fillmore, 
Pierce, Buchanan, Lincoln, Johnson, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Ar- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 705 

thur Cleveland, Harrison, McKinley, and Roosevelt— half the 
nnm'ber who had filled that important office from the foundation 
of the government until his death. 
Luther Melanctiion Bernhetsee, Prominent Contractor. 

It seems that some Terry Countian was to make his mark in 
every line of endeavor, but that one had become one of the fore- 




LUTHER M. BERNHEISEL 
Prominent Contractor. 



most contractors of the great Middle West, in fact, of the entire 
country, is unknown to many. That man was Luther Melancthon 
Bernheisel and his work still stands from the Atlantic coast to 



45 



706 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

west of the Mississippi, a monument to the dreams of his boyhood 
in his Perry County home. 

Luther Melancthon Bernheisel, at the time of his death was 
president of the Bernheisel Construction Company of Chicago. 
He was born on April 30, 1845, the son of Solomon and Hannah 
(Dunkelberger) Bernheisel, at Green Park, Tyrone Township. 
Either as an employee or as contractor Mr. Bernheisel was iden- 
tified with many of the great steel structural installations through- 
out the country. One of his earliest pieces of construction was 
the supervision of the building of the Third Avenue elevated rail- 
way in New York City. Another was the supervision of the con- 
struction of the bridge across the Hudson at Poughkeepsie, New 
York. Many of the steel "skyscrapers" in Chicago were erected 
under his supervision, and many of the great steel railway bridges 
that span the rivers of the Middle West were also erected under 
his supervision, or through the Bernheisel Construction Company. 
He was the organizer and became the president of the Bernheisel 
Construction Company. 

Mr. Bernheisel was a man of means, accumulated by his own 
industry and ability. He took a keen interest in social and civil 
life, and for over a dozen years was identified with the Board of 
Education of Evanston, Illinois. He died May 22, 1920, leaving 
the following children : Mrs. Fanny Bernheisel Quilling, of Meno- 
monie, Wisconsin; Mrs. Helen Bernheisel Hier, of Denver, Colo- 
rado, and L. M. Bernheisel, of Chicago, Illinois. He is also sur- 
vived by Mrs. Bernheisel. 

Elihu C. Irvin, Noted President of Insurance Companies. 

Of the Perry County teachers who have gone forth to larger 
fields in the business world, Elihu C. Irvin, president of the Fire 
Association of Philadelphia, ranks among the very first. He was 
born at Petersburg (now Duncannon), on May 22, 1839. His 
education was gotten at the local schools and at the New Bloom- 
field Academy, where he was prepared for college, graduating in 
1859. Just as he was about to enter college, business reverses of 
his father necessitated his becoming a wage-earner, and he began 
by teaching school, being teacher of the Duncannon High School 
for several terms. During the War between the States he had 
charge of the Duncannon nail works. In 1870 he removed to Har- 
risburg, where he represented the Germania Insurance Company 
for five years, his territory being Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 
In 1875 he became associated with the Phcenix of Hartford, locat- 
ing in Philadelphia, with a territory from Lake Erie to the Gulf of 
Mexico, remaining with them almost ten years. In this work he 
had become most proficient and was already recognized as an ex- 
pert in fire insurance. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 707 

In [884 Mr. lrvin was appointed first vice-president of the Fire 
Association of Philadelphia, as manager of the agency business of 
the entire United States, and seven years later, in 1891, was made 
president of that large insurance company, with assets of $16,- 
000,000, and doing a business of over $9,000,000 annually. The 




ELIHU C. IRVIN, 
Noted Insurance President. Born at Duncannon. 

dividends paid to the stockholders have been as high as forty per 
cent. In 1899 Mr. Irvin was honored by being selected as presi- 
dent of the National Board of Underwriters of the United States, 
serving in that capacity for a number of terms. In 1919 he organ- 
ized the Victory Insurance Company and became its president, and 



7 o8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

in 1 92 1 he took over the Reliance Insurance Company and became 
its president, and is now president of the three companies. In 
addition to his duties as president of the Fire Association, Mr. 
Irvin is a director of the First National Bank, of the Chamber of 
Commerce, and of the Union League. 

The Fire Association, of which he is president, occupies its own 
seven-story marble building, located at Fourth and Walnut Streets, 
in the very heart of the city. On the first floor of that building is 
a bronze tablet, placed there by the association, which is one of 
the finest tributes to Mr. Irvin's ability as an executive, and bears 
this inscription : 

This building 

Erected during the Presidency 

of 

Elihu C. Irvin 

is a tribute to 

His Ability and Untiring Devotion 

to the Interests of the 

Fire Association of Philadelphia. 

1817 1912 

Seated in his private office in 1919, when interviewed by the 
author of this book, Mr. Irvin said: "I have always wanted to 
return to Perry County — to Duncannon, where I was born, with 
its grand mountains and its charming river — to reside in retire- 
ment, but I am too busy," and he spoke the truth ; for in that very 
year he had organized the Victory Insurance Company, asking for 
subscriptions to the amount of $1,000,000, and the stock had been 
oversubscribed by $700,000. Having taken over the Reliance In- 
surance Company, the plan is for the three associations to be run 
jointly. Mr. Irvin has gained his high position through vision and 
the motto, "Let well enough alone." His benefactions for young 
men and along religious lines have been manifold. He is of the 
Presbyterian faith. Through constant industry he has seen his 
company go from modest offices to more pretentious ones, and 
finally into the magnificent building now occupied by them, and its 
capital doubled. He is now (1922) over four score years of age, 
but retains the vigor of his fiftieth year. 

"Marie Doro," Dramatic Star. 

A Perry Countian by birth, but known throughout the nation, 
"Marie Doro" stands in the front rank of her profession as a dra- 
matic star, both on the speaking and silent stage. She has appeared 
upon the stage not only in the leading cities of America but of the 
continent as well and had the great distinction of appearing "by 
royal command," the first American actress to be so honored. Her 
life story is one of succeeding successes, the climax to ambition 
and ability. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



709 



"Marie Doro" was born Marie Katharine Stewart, in Duncan- 
non, Perry County, May 25, 1882. She is the only daughter of 
Richard H. and Virginia B. (Weaver) Stewart, both natives of the 
county, her father having been a practicing lawyer and district 




"MARIE DORO," THE NOTED ACTRESS. 
Born at Duncannon, Perry County. 

attorney of the county from 1885 to 1888. The family, in il 
moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where Marie received her pre- 
liminary education, afterwards pursuing her studies in New York. 
She entered upon her professional career in 1901. Since there 



710 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

were then already known in the theatrical world two Mary Stew- 
arts and one Marie Stewart, in order to avoid confusion in names, 
she adopted as her professional or stage name, Marie Doro, as 
being plain, short, easy to remember, and not likely to be confused 
with another. 

She made her first appearance on the stage with Criterion Stock 
Company in St. Paul, Minnesota, June 9, 1901, as Katharine, in 
"Aristocracy," and with that company she assumed important 
roles. In 1901-02, under the management of David Belasco, she 
appeared on tour in "Naughty Anthony." December 29, 1902, 
she appeared as Rosalba Peppercorn, in "The Billionaire," with 
Jerome Sykes, at Daly's theater. New York, and then on tour. In 
the summer of 1903 she appeared in "A Runaway Girl" and "The 
Circus Girl," with Duff Opera Company, in San Francisco. On 
November 2, 1903. she began her season at the Herald Square 
theater, New York, as Nancy Lowly, in "The Girl from Kay's," 
under management of the late Charles Frohman. 

She entered dramatic work January 4, 1904, at the Empire thea- 
ter, New York, appearing as Lady Millicent, in "Little Mary," and 
subsequently played as Lady Catharine Losenby, with William 
Gillette, in "The Admirable Crichton." on tour. On October 24, 
1904, she began her engagement as Dora, in "Granny," with the 
late Mrs. G. H. Gilbert, and at the Savoy theater, New York, Janu- 
ary 31, 1905, appeared in the title role of "Friquet." 

Her first appearance on the London, England, stage, was at the 
Comedy theater, May 3, 1905, as Lucy Sheridan, in "The Dicta- 
tor," with William Collier. She was seen next at the Duke of 
York's theater, London, September 13, 1905, in the title role of 
"Clarice," with William Gillette, and on October 17, 1905, she 
began playing the part of Alice Faulkner, in "Sherlock Holmes." 
On November 8, 1905, she played as Caroline Mitford, in "Secret 
Service." Returning to the United States, she reenacted the role 
of "Clarice," with William Gillette, at Garrick theater, New York, 
October 16, 1906. On October 7, 1907, in Boston, Massachusetts, 
she was promoted to the rank of "star," when she appeared as 
Carlotta, in "The Morals of Marcus," appearing in the Criterion 
theater, New York, November 18, 1907, in the same part. In 
Boston, September, 1908, she played Benjamin Monnier, in "The 
Richest Girl," appearing at the Criterion theater, New York, 
March 1, 1909, in the same part. On August 9, 1909, she appeared 
at the Lyceum theater, New YY>rk, as Carlotta, in "The Morals of 
Marcus." She played Adelina, in "The Climax," in Jersey City, 
January 5, i<)\o, and appeared in the same role at the Comedy 
theater, London, England, February 26, 1910. On October 26, 
1910, she played Emeline Twimbly, in "Electricity," at Lyceum 
theater, New York. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 711 

During the spring of 1911 she went abroad for a period of rest 
and, returning to the United States, began a four weeks' engage- 
ment, February 26, [912, in the title role of "Oliver Twist," in an 
all-star engagement. The engagement was extended, closing May 
4th at the New Amsterdam theater, New York. On May 6, 19 12, 
she appeared at the Lyric theater, New York, in the title role of 
"Patience," in a four-week revival of that opera. She went abroad 
and, on August 27, 191 3, appeared in "The Scarlet Band," at the 
Comedy theater, London. Later she appeared in an extended en- 
gagement in "Diplomacy," at Wyndham's theater, London. 

On February 1, 1914, by royal command, she played in "Diplo- 
macy," in Waterloo chamber, Windsor Castle, before their majes- 
ties, the King and Queen, and an audience of one hundred and 
eighty celebrities, the other principals in the play with Miss Doro 
being Gerald Du Maurier, Lady Tree, Eli Jeffry, and Norman 
Forbes. At the conclusion of the play those named were presented 
to their majesties, and Miss Doro enjoys the unique distinction 
of being the first American actress to play before the King and 
Queen by royal command. The World War becoming imminent 
she hastily sailed for the United States. July 31, 1914. catching 
the German steamer, "Kaiser Wilhelm II," at Cherbourg, France, 
just a day before the declaration of war. 

She began her season as Dora, in "Diplomacy," at the Empire 
theater, New York, in November, 1914, then on tour, appearing 
February 8, 191 5, at Blackstone theater, Chicago, and at the con- 
clusion of that engagement turned her attention to the silent 
drama. Her first picture, "Morals of Marcus," was produced by 
the Famous Players' Company. Then followed "The White 
Pearl," by the Triangle Company ; "The Wood Nymph," and 
others. 

She returned to the speaking stage November 5, 191 7, in the title 
role of "Barbara," at the Plymouth theater. New York, but on 
February 8, 1919, after a few weeks' rest from moving picture 
work, which she had again entered, she sailed for Europe, pursuing 
a new engagement to play in the silent drama. During the greater 
part of her time, since then to July, 1920, her work before the 
camera has been done in Rome, Naples and Sicily, Italy, although 
her first European picture, "Twelve-Ten," was made in London 
and Paris, as was her next picture, "Midnight Gambols." She re- 
turned to America in 192 1 and again assumed roles on the speak- 
ing stage. 

During 1917 Marie Doro was united in marriage to Elliott Dex- 
ter, who is also engaged in moving picture work, and is accord- 
ingly known in private life as Mrs. Marie Doro Dexter. Her 
salary during the past few years has far exceeded that of the Presi- 
dent of the United States. 



;i2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 
Robert Neilson Stephens, Author, Noveeist. 

Perry County has been the home of a number of men who later 
became authors of note. Col. McClure's historical volumes and Dr. 
Super's works along educational and allied lines are widely read. 
Another whose fame was country-wide was Robert Neilson 
Stephens. He was descended from Alexander Stephens, the 
Jacobite who settled near the Juniata's mouth, and who was also 
the ancestor of Alexander H. Stephens, the Vice-President of the 
Confederacy. The head of the clan had two sons, James and An- 
drew, born near Duncannon, both of whom accompanied him to 
Georgia, where he settled, that state having passed a free land law 
in 1795 to induce settlement. James came back North and set- 
tled on the south side of Hominy Ridge, having married Elizabeth 
Garrett, of near Milford. He had several sons, one being named 
Robert. Prof. James A. Stephens was a son of Robert, and. in 
turn became the father of Robert Neilson Stephens, the noted 
author, whose mother was Rebecca (Neilson) Stephens. 

He was born July 22, 1867, in New Bloomfield, his father hav- 
ing been principal of the Bloomfield Academy on several occa- 
sions. With his family he was later taken to Huntingdon, where 
he graduated from the High School. His father's death, in 1876. 
put the little family in straightened financial circumstances, and he 
was only enabled to even finish school through his mother becoming 
a teacher, after his father's death. He then worked for $3.50 a 
week in the stationery store connected with the J. C. Blair manu- 
factory. He was a delicate youth and books were his steadfast 
companions. Yet he chafed in the bookstore. He learned stenog- 
raphy and through W. B. Wilson, an old friend of his father, John 
Scott, solicitor general of the Pennsylvania Railroad, gave him a 
position in the Philadelphia offices of the Pennsylvania Railroad 
Company. As soon as he was settled there he sent for his mother 
and brother. 

The Philadelphia Press was then a virtual cradle of authors, and 
in a short time he secured a position on that paper, and was as- 
signed to write theatrical notices. In a year he had advanced to 
the post of dramatic editor. In 1889 he married Maud Helf enstein, 
of Chicago. In 1893 he became general agent for a firm of the- 
atrical agents, part of his duty being to write plays for popular 
priced houses. He is said to have been the creator of the pictur- 
esque "Steve Brodie." His first melodrama was entitled "On the 
Bowery." He wrote "An Enemy to the King," which was his 
first ambitious production, 1895-96. With the noted E. H. South- 
ern playing it he accompanied his wife the first night, but reluc- 
tantly, and remained without the theater. The call for his appear- 
ance was led by DeWolf Hopper and Richard Harding Davis. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 713 

Some time later Mr. Southern appeared in Boston in the same 
play, and L. C. Page, the Boston publisher, was in the audience. 
He recognized in it the elements which constitute a semi-historical 
romance, and forseeing the extensive demand for that type of 
fiction, sought Mr. Stephens and proposed that he should make a 
book of the play. Inside of twenty-four hours the contract was 
signed. It was published in 1897, and he then abandoned "hack 
work." 

His health began to decline with his entry to fame and fortune, 
for this book had started him on the way to both. He was once 
met by a friend who remarked. that he appeared to be in ill health. 
His reply was, "I would rather be ill and well-to-do, as I am, than 
poor and in good health, as I was for many years. I have had my 
sorrows, but hardly a sorrow that was not aggravated, if not 
caused by poverty, or that very moderate wealth would not have 
ameliorated or prevented. The difference between pecuniary ease 
and poverty is oftentimes simply as the difference between heaven 
and hell." 

Two other plays which gave him fame were "The Continental 
Dragoon," in 1898, and "The Ragged Regiment." With 1898 his 
other books began appearing. They were : "The Road to Paris," 
"A Gentleman Player," "Capt. Ravenshaw," "Clementina's High- 
wayman," "The Bright Face of Danger," "Tales From Bohemia," 
"The Mystery of Murray Davenport," and "Philip Winwood," 
the latter appearing in England, the United States and Canada 
simultaneously. There is something about Robert Neilson Stephens 
as a writer that makes one think of that other noted Scot, Robert 
Louis Stevenson, in his Samoan home — a certain resemblance, the 
same delicacy, and the same suggestion of indomitable intellectual- 
ity. His publisher, L. C. Page, said of him: "He is unsurpassed 
among the novelists of the day for mastery of bygone periods." 

He is also quoted by his publisher as saying: "When a man 
makes any kind of a success, however small, he finds that his old 
friends resolve themselves into three classes. The first class turn 
sullen, and show their envy in many mean ways. The second class 
wax more friendly than ever, and come showering their attentions. 
The third class show a reasonable pleasure at your success, and re- 
main just as they were before. God bless the last kind ! God 
mend the second ! and God pity the first !" He died in 1906. 

Carlton Llwis Bretz, Prominent Railroad Man. 

From among the Pennsylvania Railroad employes of Perry 
County one reached virtually the top in railroading. That man 
was Carlton Lewis Bretz, who was born in Newport, March 28, 
1847. When a young fellow in his teens force of circumstances 
led him into the railroad business, but that was his proper sphere. 



7i4 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Prior to that time he had run away from home to join the Union 
forces which helped overwhelm Lee's Confederate hosts at Gettys- 




CARLTON LEWIS BRETZ, 

Railroad President. Born at Newport, Perry County. 

burg. The ending of the war found him— then but sixteen years 
old — a veteran with an honorable discharge. 

After the war he became a telegraph operator for the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad at Newport, continuing until 1870, when he was 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED AHA 715 

made trainmaster of the Lewistown Division. Two years later he 
was transferred to the Bedford Division as trainmaster, where he 
remained until [888. The West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh 
Railroad was then under construction, and Mr. Bretz's thorough 
knowledge of railroading came to the attention of Senator Henry 
Gassaway Davis and associates, who were building it, and they 
offered him the position of general manager, which he held from 
1888 to 1906. when the Gould interests got possession of that line. 
To him was then tendered the general managership of the West- 
ern Maryland, but it necessitated his removal to Baltimore, and as 
he was bound to Cumberland, Maryland, by home and financial 
interests, he declined. It is said of Mr. Bretz that from two 
streaks of rust insecurely spiked to derelict ties he saw and helped 
develop a railroad so perfectly equipped that it commanded a pur- 
chase price of approximately eighteen millions of dollars. 

In a short time after his retirement as general manager, the Con- 
solidated Coal Company tendered him the position of general 
manager of the Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad, which he 
filled until his death, September 30, 1910. This road had its be- 
ginning in 1844, with the construction of the Mt. Savage and Cum- 
berland Railroad. It is essentially a coal road. Mr. Bretz also came 
into control of the Cumberland and Westernport Electric Railway, 
running from Cumberland through the Georges Creek mining re- 
gion to Westernport, about 1908, and brought it to a high state of 
efficiency. He was president of this company at the time of his 
death. 

He was a member of the Republican party, and was strongly 
urged, on several occasions, to be a candidate for Congress, and 
on one occasion refused the proffered State Controllership of 
Maryland. He was one of the most prominent citizens of western 
Maryland. He always stood high in the estimation of his men 
and never had a strike. Two labor organizations bear his name, 
the one after his wife being the Mrs. C. L. Bretz Auxiliary to the 
Railroad Trainmen, and the other the C. L. Bretz Division, Broth- 
erhood of Railroad Trainmen. He was survived by his wife, who 
was Miss Matilda H. Hartley, daughter of the late William Hart- 
ley, of Bedford, a retired capitalist who amassed a fortune and 
acquired widespread prominence in the oil industry of western 
Pennsylvania. 

He represented Senator Henry Gassaway Davis' W r est Virginia 
Central at a meeting of the Railway Congress of the World in 
London, England, in 1895, and was among those entertained by 
Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle. In 1900 he represented the 
same road at another session of the World's Congress, at Paris, 
and was entertained at Versailles, and in 1900 when it met at 
Washington, D. C. 



7 i6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr. Bretz, in railroad circles and in the home of his adoption, 
Cumberland — in fact, in all western Maryland — was known as a 
builder in every line as well as a thorough railroad man. He was 
quiet and unassuming, of a pleasing disposition, and his name will 
ever stand, in railroad annals, as an example of the self-made man. 
Of the hundreds of Perry Countians who have "made good" in 
the railroad world the name of Carlton Lewis Bretz stands at 
the top. 

Elizabeth Reifsnyder, M.D. 

Until recently, Dr. Elizabeth Reifsnyder was the only woman 
physician native to Perry County, but a very notable one, and one 
whose name was known afar. Furthermore, she graduated in 
medicine at that earlier period when it was an unusual thing for a 
woman to enter that profession, and her life work has placed her 
in the very first rank, not only of Perry County women, but of 
womanhood everywhere. Elizabeth Reifsnyder was born in Liver- 
pool, January 17, 1858, the daughter of John and Nancy Musselman 
Reifsnyder. Her early life was that of the average girl in a coun- 
try town, but she improved her time in the Liverpool schools, and 
entered the Millersville State Normal School, where she gradu- 
ated. She then entered the Woman's Medical College at Phila- 
delphia, where she graduated in 1881, when but twenty-three years 
of age. She served as an interne for one year, and left for China 
in 1883, where most of her life was spent, and where she opened 
the first hospital in China. It was opened under the auspices of 
the Women's Union Mission of America, and was interdenomina- 
tional. It was known as the Margaret Williamson Hospital. The 
work was begun in a temporary building, and the hospital built 
from plans drawn by Dr. Reifsnyder herself. She built up the 
organization as well, and it is principally to her that the great- 
est hospital in the Far East is to be credited. She interested 
not only friends in America, but the more wealthy Chinese who 
were her patients, and through their contributions was enabled to 
see that none were turned away. She was also a noted surgeon. 
Among her patients was Mrs. Wu Ting Fang, wife of the famed 
Chinese Ambassador to the United States. When the twenty-fifth 
anniversary was celebrated, press dispatches told that 800,000 had 
already been treated there, and that during the preceding year there 
had been treated 820 persons, with 56,700 others as office patients. 

Dr. Reifsnyder left China about 1914 to come home for a visit, 
but owing to her health was never able to return. She left there a 
large sum of money which she had received for services, and with 
these funds the organization has erected a maternity building, the 
first one in China, and named it in her honor, the Elizabeth Reif- 
snyder Hospital. It will be marked by a bronze tablet telling of 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



717 



her inspiration and blessing to the Chinese people. When she came 
home she left the institution self-supporting. During the Chinese 
Rebellion, the Elizabeth Williamson Hospital was within the range 
of battle, in fact between the two contending battle lines. When 
the writer interviewed her in her home in Liverpool, in 1919, she 




ELIZABETH REIFSNYDER, M.D., 

Noted physician. The first hospital in China was established 

with Dr. Reifsnyder, born at Liverpool, in charge. A maternity 

hospital there has been named in her honor. 

told of the bullets entering the hospital, one of which she pre- 
sented to him as a memento. As she sat at her desk during the 
battle a bullet entered just above her head, puncturing a motto, 
on which were the words, "Trust Ye in the Lord Forever." From 
what the author knows of Dr. Reifsnyder the words on that motto 
may be said to have been the foundation for her work, for she 



;i8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

was not only a practical woman, but a devout one. She died Feb- 
ruary 3, 1922. Over one million people had received treatment at 
the dispensary prior to her return to America. Her sister, Mrs. 
E. C. Dunkerly, was also in China for several years. 




MINA KERR, Ph.D., 

Miss Kerr Was the First Perry County Woman to Attain this Coveted 
Degree. She was born in Saville Township. 

.\li.\A Kkrk, Ph.D., Dean of Whfaton College. 

Among women educators of the United States, the name of 
Mina Kerr stands out prominently. She was born at Saville, Sa- 
ville Township, .September 25. 1878, being a daughter of that noted 
early educator and county superintendent of schools, Lewis 
Barnett Kerr. Her mother was Elizabeth (Wagner) Kerr. She 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 719 

attended the public schools and prepared for college under the in- 
struction of her father and brothers, taking the final year at the 
Wellesley- Walton Preparatory School in Philadelphia. She gradu- 
ated from Smith College with the degree of B.A and Phi Beta 
Kappa honors in 1900, and received the Ph.D. degree from the 
University of Pennsylvania in 1909. the first Perry County woman 
to attain that honor. She was instructor and professor of Eng- 
lish at Hood College. Maryland, from 1900 to 1906, and professor 
of English at Cornell College, Mt. Vernon, Iowa, 1909-10. She 
then became dean of Milwaukee-Downer College, at Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, where she remained until 1921, when she was appointed 
dean of Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts. 

Mina Kerr is the author of "The Influence of Ben Johnson on 
English Comedy," and also of many articles in educational and 
religious magazines. She has twice visited Europe, has traveled 
in Alaska, many parts of Canada, the Hawaiian Islands and 
throughout the United States, to further her education. She is a 
well-known and able speaker along religious, educational and 
Americanization lines. During November, 192 1, when a banquet 
was held in Boston in honor of Judith Winsor Smith, the surviv- 
ing member of the group of early suffragists, including Susan B. 
Anthony, Julia Ward Howe, Lucy Stone and Elizabeth Cady 
Stanton, Mina Kerr was the principal speaker of the occasion. 
From 1918 to 1920 she was president of the Milwaukee Branch of 
the American Association of University Women, during which 
time a College Women's Club House was established by this asso- 
ciation. During 1920-22 she was president of the National Asso- 
ciation of Deans of Women, a department of the National Educa- 
tional Association. Wheaton College, of which she is now dean, is 
a college for women just outside of Boston, chartered as a college 
in 1912, and already numbering over three hundred students. She 
is a member of various boards and committees of Boston Branch 
of the American Association of University Women, and of vari- 
ous bodies devoted to community and civic betterment. Every 
summer of her life so far, save three years when she was traveling 
abroad, she has returned to Perry County, for, although she has 
traveled afar, she still finds it "one of the most beautiful places on 
earth." 

David Loy Tressler, College President. 

Throughout the United States there are many small colleges, the 
value of whose usefulness as a whole is greater by far than those 
of the great universities. One of these — Carthage College — is 
located in the beautiful town of Carthage, Illinois, and the first 
president of that institution, Rev. David Loy Tressler, Ph.D., was 
a Perry Countian, In the sketches in this book devoted to the 



720 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Loysville Academy, the Loysville Soldiers' Orphan School and the 
Tressler Orphan Home, the name of Rev. Tressler appears, having 
been principal of the first two and the name of his family being 
bestowed upon the Tressler Home. Of this man, the first Perry 
Countian to become a college president, Perry County is justly 
proud, for he was a man whose record is one of continuous success. 




DAVID L. TRESSLER, Ph.D., 
President of Carthage College. 

David Loy Tressler was a son of Col. John and Elizabeth (Loy) 
Tressler, born February 15, 1839, at Loysville, in a home where 
religious instruction was a part of the daily duties. Educated in 
the local schools, then in their infancy, as the free school law of 
Pennsylvania only became effective a few years prior to his birth, 
he prepared for college at the Loysville Academy, an institution 
founded by his father. In 1857 he was admitted to the sophomore 
class of Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, where he was gradu- 
ated with first honors in i860. The same year he became principal 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



721 



of the Loysville Academy. During the summer of 1862 he organ- 
ized a company which later became part of the 133d Pennsylvania 
Volunteer Infantry, and among those enrolled were most of the 
students of the little institution. He was made its captain, partici- 
pating in the Battles of South Mountain, Antietam, and Fredericks- 
burg, receiving two severe wounds in the latter engagement, but 
being again with his company in the Chanccllorsville engagement. 
He was tendered a colonel's commission, at the expiration of his 
term of service, but declined. In 1864 he was admitted to the bar 
and practiced five years. His preceptor was the late Benj. Mcln- 
tire, of New Bloomfield, to whose daughter, Ada Josephine, he 
was united in marriage in 1865. In 1870 he located in Mendota, 
Illinois, and in the autumn, entered the ministry of the Evangelical 
Lutheran Church at Lena, Illinois. He filled that position until 
1872, when he accepted a professorship in Carthage College, a 
new institution, and a year later was made its first president, and 
subsequently its treasurer, both of which positions he held until 
his death. 

Upon his retirement from military service the boys, whom he 
had instructed at Loysville and whom he had led in the field of 
battle, presented him with an expensive gold watch, as a token of 
esteem. While his period in the law occupied a bare five years, 
yet the press of the day spoke of him as a brilliant young lawyer. 
Made president of Carthage College, his friends showered him 
with congratulations. In replying to a letter from his family, on 
hearing of his promotion, he aptly put some thoughts, from which 
the following are extracts: "Condolence (rather than congratula- 
tions) is more befitting the occasion. * * * Trials, self-denial, 
heartaches and ills that careless observers dream not of, are the 
lot of a college president. * * * It is a mighty work to found a 
college, and half the work devolves upon the president. * * * 
I tremble in the presence of the greatness of the work." In leav- 
ing the legal profession he said to a loved one : "If I wish to be 
rich in this worjd's goods, I will remain in the legal profession — ■ 
if rich in the next world, I will enter the ministry." 

Carthage did not have a Lutheran church, and into the project 
of building a church there he put his entire energy, with the result 
that the Lutheran church then built was the largest and best church 
edifice in the county. To it he was a most liberal contributor, and 
at the time of his death also its beloved pastor. During the closing 
month of 1879 a new bell was placed in the belfry, and its dedi- 
cation culminated when it "rang out the old, rang in the new" year. 
On that occasion Dr. Tressler remarked, "For which of us shall 
this bell first toll a funeral knell ?" probably little thinking that he 
should be that one. 
46 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

I [is death occurred February 20, 1880. He was a martyr to the 
cause in which he was enlisted, as his death will testify. His fatal 
illness began on February 2d. On February 1st (Sunday) he filled 
a preaching appointment twenty miles from the college. The roads 
being too muddy to make the journey by carriage, he went on 
horseback. So fatigued was he, upon his return, that he could not 
dismount without assistance. 

At the obsequies of Rev. Tressler, Rev. Willis G. Craig, D.D., 
a Presbyterian pastor, among other things said : "You have taken 
this region for Christian culture with an honored grave." In the 
funeral procession were Company G, Illinois National Guard, with 
reversed arms; the faculty, the alumni, and the student body of 
Carthage College. 

Dr. Tressler was a man of fine physique, slightly above medium 
height, with square shoulders, erect posture, an open face and a 
commanding presence. With a sunny disposition and a kind word 
he was every man's friend. Endowed with a splendid mind and a 
remarkable memory, with accurate judgment and large sympathy, 
he was a man among men. Successful as a teacher, as an officer 
in the U. S. Army, as an attorney, as a theologian, and as a col- 
lege president, all in a span of but forty-one years, this native 
Perry Countian stands in the very front rank of those who have 
gone forth and writ their names high. 

Dr. and Mrs. Tressler were the parents of five children, two of 
whom, Annie Mclntire and John Arthur, died in early life. Mary 
Loyetta Tressler, born at New Bloomfield, Perry County, mar- 
ried Prof. Cyrus B. Newcomer, of Carthage College. She is much 
interested in the work of Carthage College, having been active in 
responsible positions in the carrying on of the work which her 
father so nobly commenced. She is a member of the school board, 
president of the Alumni Association of Carthage College, member 
of the General Literature Committee of the Women's Missionary 
Society of the United Lutheran Church, as well as being inter- 
ested in organizations of civic betterment. Elizabeth Agnes Tress- 
ler, born at Newport, Perry County, married James Sumner Ma- 
loney, of Rockford, Illinois, where she is much interested in things 
religious and civic affairs. She is president of the Y. W. C. A. 
of the city of Rockford and teacher of a large organized Sunday 
school class in Trinity Lutheran Church. Charles J. Tressler is 
the alumni representative on the board of trustees of Carthage 
College. He is an attorney, and after nineteen years with Swift 
& Company of Chicago — ten of which he was assistant general 
attorney of the firm, united to form the partnership of McCabe 
& Tressler, attorneys, specializing in law along the lines relating 
to food. The firm has offices in Chicago and Washington City. 
Mr. Tressler was married to Miss Bess Ringheim, a Carthage 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



723 



College student. All of Dr. Tressler's children are graduates of 
Carthage College. The death of Mrs. Ada J (Mclntire) Tress- 
ler, the mother, occurred May 2, 1909. 

Carthage College property to-day is valued at $500,000; its en- 
dowment is $550,000; enrollment close to three hundred students. 
It is a member of the Association of American Universities. 




CHARLES W. SUPER, LL.D., 
President of Ohio University. 

Charles William Super, University President, Author, Etc. 

That there should come from the little one-room schoolhouse of 
Perry County a university president and a college president is a 
credit to the educational inspiration of the community and the 
parents. Elsewhere appears an account of Dr. D. L. Tressler, the' 
first president of Carthage College, born at Loysville. The other 
Perry County lad to attain such distinction was Charles William 
Super, born September 12, 1842, the son of Henry and Mary 
(Diener) Super, of Juniata Township, near Newport. While his 



724 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

birth occurred at Pottsville his parents migrated here when he was 
a mere child, and Perry County he has always claimed as his home 
county. Likewise, Perry Countians always refer to Prof. Super 
as one of their boys. Receiving the rudiments of his education 
in the local schools, he attended Prof. John B. Strain's Duane 
Academy in the schoolhouse which stood on the grounds now occu- 
pied by St. Samuel's Church, and a term at the private school 
conducted by Silas Wright at Millerstown. He taught in Oliver 
Township and, during one term at college, he taught a private school 
during the winter of 1865-66, at Hunterstown, near Gettysburg. 
In the fall of 1866 he tried to resuscitate the old academy at Mar- 
kelville, but did not succeed, and during the winter migrated to 
Canfield, Ohio, where he taught, also teaching at Lordstown. 
Later he conducted private schools at Milford and Frederica, 
Delaware, in connection with Rev. E. W. Caylord. Returning to 
Millerstown he became a member of the faculty of Prof. Wright's 
school for a term, and then went to Europe to pursue further 
studies. He had attended Dickinson College, and graduated in 
1866, with the B.A. degree. He studied at Tubingen, Germany, 
in 1869-71, and received his Ph.D. degree from Illinois Wesleyan 
in 1874. In 1883 Syracuse University conferred on him the A.M. 
degree, and in 1894 Dickinson College made him an LL.D. He 
was married to Mary Louise Cewell, of Canfield, Ohio, in 1867. 
She died in 1913. 

Prof. Super was Professor of Modern Languages in Wesleyan 
College at Cincinnati, 1872-78. While there he taught Greek, 
Latin, Hebrew, French, Spanish, Italian, and German at different 
times. During 1878-79 he read law, but preferred the educational 
field, and in 1882-1907 we find him Professor of Greek at the 
Ohio University. During 1883-84 he was the acting president of 
that institution, and from 1884 to 190 1 he was its president. In 
1907 he resigned his position as Dean of the Department of Lit- 
eral Arts in the college and devoted his time to business and lit- 
erary work. From 1887 to 1893 he was joint editor of the Journal 
of Pedagogy. Furthering his research work he visited Europe in 
1882, 1896 and 1903. He is the author of a large number of books, 
including Weil's Order of Words of Ancient Languages, com- 
pared with those of Modern Languages translated from the 
French, 1887; History of the German Language, 1893; Between 
Heathenism and Christianity, 1899; Wisdom and Will in Educa- 
tion, 1907; A Study of a Rural Community, 191 1; German 
Idealism and Prussian Militarism, 1916; Pan-Prussianism, 1918; 
Prohibition and Democracy, 1920. He has also written reviews of 
books in Greek, Latin, German, French, Italian, and Spanish. He 
is a contributor to about twenty educational and philosophical pub- 
lications in the English and German languages. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 725 

The works of Dr. Super are noted for their broadness and thor- 
oughness. Judging them all as excellent, the following opinion of 
Bibliotheca Sacra, in reference to his "Pan-Prussianism" is here 
reprinted : 

"So far as we know, nothing has appeared in print which gives so com- 
plete and unanswerable verdict in condemnation of Prussian principles, 
aims, and activities as is done in Pan-Prussianism. This is more significant 
in that the author is of German descent, studied two years in a German 
university, has traveled much in Germany, and maintained an intimate 
friendship with a large number of German literati during his whole life. 
Up to 1914 Dr. Super was an 'ardent pacifist' and could not believe that 
the spirit that reigned in Wilhelmstrasse was 'capable of the perfidy that 
it soon came to make a part of its settled policy.' But his views rapidly 
changed as he watched 'the gradual deterioration of the German people, 
and the systematic way in which it was being corrupted by professors and 
clergy' (p. 305). The volume is specially valuable as dealing not with 
vague generalities but with specific facts. It also gives a large amount of 
biographical information concerning the leaders of German thought. The 
book deserves the widest attention." 

The Ohio University, of which Dr. Super was long president, is 
the oldest institution of college rank northwest of the Ohio River, 
and was provided for before Ohio became a state. Owing to ad- 
verse legislation in 1843 its income was seriously reduced, and for 
years it "had a hard row to hoe." The well-known Dr. W. H. 
McGuffey was president at this time, but resigned shortly after- 
wards. In 1876 the matter began to be righted, and in 1884 an- 
other forward stride was made. In 1896 the Ohio Legislature 
passed an act placing the institution upon permanent footing finan- 
cially. This law now yields an annual income of $65,000, which 
represents an endowment of about one and a third millions at five 
per cent. During the college year 1919-20 the college had more 
than a thousand students, about twenty buildings, and an income 
of $33°>o°0- During Dr. Super's connection with the University 
the system of state aid to higher education was completely revised, 
and records show much of the credit to be due him for the con- 
summation of this large task, and it was during his presidency that 
the Ohio Legislature made the first appropriation in the history of 
the state for the establishment of a normal department in any in- 
stitution. During the same period the University, the first in Ohio 
to recognize the fact that business has a legitimate place in any 
scheme of higher education, established a department of com- 
merce, which almost all universities now have. In the face of 
much discouragement and much opposition he also established a 
department of music, which has grown so that the services of no 
less than ten teachers are now required for that department alone. 
Drawing and painting was also added to the course of study. 
While Dr. Super was president he was at the same time professor 



726 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

of Greek, assistant in Modern Languages, and ever alert in any 
capacity to advance the institution. 

Dr. Super resides in Athens, Ohio, the seat of the university 
over which he so successfully presided. One of his surviving sons 
spent about five years in Europe after receiving degrees from the 
University in 1895-96, in the study of languages. Part of this 
time he had charge of an exhibit at the Paris Exhibition, in 1900. 
For several years he has been professor of modern languages — 
mainly French and German— in Hamilton College at Clinton, New 
York. He is unmarried and was named Ralph Clewell, after his 
mother's family, which is largely represented in eastern Penn- 
sylvania. 

The first Phi Beta Kappa chapter in Pennsylvania was organ- 
ized at Dickinson College, Carlisle, about 1887, and a few hon- 
orary members — less than a half dozen — elected to membership, 
among that number being Dr. Super, and his brother, Prof. 
Ovando B. Super, both former Perry Countians. 

Jesse Miller, Congressman, Sec'y of the Commonwealth. 

Jesse Miller was another of Perry County's noted men. His 
public life was coincident with that of the early years of the 
county's history, for he was clerk to the first board of county 
commissioners (1820-23), at an annual salary of $50. His birth 
occurred near Landisburg in 1800. and when he assumed his first 
office he was still under voting age. But he was ambitious, and in 
the Perry Forester — Perry County's first newspaper — on June 26, 
1X23. was this announcement: 

"Encouraged by many of you I am induced to offer myself as a candi- 
date for the office of sheriff at the ensuing general election. Should you 
deem me worthy of the office, 1 will perform the duties thereof with fidel- 
ity." (Signed) Jesse Miller. 

He won the election and became sheriff at twenty-three, the 
youngest man who has ever filled that office. His education was 
that furnished by the subscription schools, but he was a widely 
read man, and while serving as sheriff was elected Member of 
Assembly to succeed Jacob Huggins, thus becoming the fourth 
man to represent Perry County in that body (1826-27), when but 
twenty-six vears of age. In the fall of 1829 he was elected State 
Senator, serving from 1830 to 1834. At the fall election of 1834 
he was elected to the United States Congress from the district com- 
prising Cumberland, Perry and Juniata Counties. This was dur- 
ing the Jackson administration, and Congress did not convene 
until December 30, 1835. He resigned October 30, 1836, to be- 
come the first auditor of the United States Treasury, a newly cre- 
ated position. The Van Buren administration had in the meantime 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



7+7 



entered office, and lie assumed that position November iS. 1836, 
serving until 1X42. 

The Pennsylvania public works were then at their zenith, and 
in the fall of 1843 he was elected canal commissioner of the state. 
serving during 1844-45. When Francis K. Shunk became gover- 
nor of Pennsylvania, in January, 1845, Mr. Miller was appointed 
Secretary of the Commonwealth, serving throughout his term. The 
occupant of that office was then also Superintendent of Schools of 
Pennsylvania. He died August 20, 1850, at Harrisburg, where 




JESSE MILLER, 
Congressman and Secretary of the Commonwealth. 

rest his remains. Dr. Egle, the noted historian, describes Jesse 
Miller as "one of the purest and wisest public men who has ever 
helped to make for Pennsylvania an honest history." 

Joseph Bailey, State Treasurer and Congressman. 

Joseph Bailey was born in Chester County, of Quaker parentage, 
on the banks of the Brandywine, March 18, 1810. In 1840 he be- 
came a member of the legislature from his native county. In 1843 
he was elected to the State Senate from the same district. Becom- 
ing interested in Caroline furnace, in Miller Township, in a finan- 



-28 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

cial way, he removed to Perry County. The village which grew 
around the furnace came to be known as Baileysburg, taking his 
name, and to this day the station on the Pennsylvania Railroad at 
that point is known as Bailey. 

During the term of 1851-53 he represented Perry and Cumber- 
land Counties in the State Senate. In 1854, the legislature, which 
then possessed that power, elected him as state treasurer. He then 
took up the study of law, although well advanced in years, and was 
admitted to the bar in i860, being then fifty years old. The same 
year he was elected to Congress. During his term in Congress he 
was a war Democrat and was proud of the fact that he had voted 
for the Constitutional Amendment prohibiting slavery. He was 
elected as a delegate from his senatorial district by the Republi- 
cans to the Constitutional Convention in 1872. He died August 
26, 1885, and his remains rest in the beautiful cemetery at the 
county seat of his adopted county. On his monument is inscribed : 

"As a Member of Congress he voted for the 
Joint Resolution, submitting to the people of the 
United States the amendment to the Constitution 
prohibiting slavery." 

William H. Miller, Member oe Congress. 

William H. Miller was born at Landisburg, February 28, 1829, 
and was a son of Jesse Miller, also a Member of Congress, and 
once Secretary of the Commonwealth. He had an early desire for 
knowledge and a bright intellect. He graduated at Franklin & 
Marshall College and read law with Hermanus Alricks, of Harris- 
burg, being admitted to the bar in 1846. From 1854 to 1863 he 
was prothonotary of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He was 
connected with the Harrisburg Patriot, and in 1862 was elected to 
the Thirty-Eighth Congress of the United States, from the district 
composed of Dauphin, Northumberland, Snyder, Union and Juni- 
ata, serving 1863-65. He died in his forty-second year. His 
widow, Ellen (Ward) Miller, and son, Jesse, survived. He had 
at that time the largest private library in the state, which his widow 
presented to Lafayette College. 

Gen. J. Hale Sypher, Member oe Congress. 

The Sypher family was of Teutonic origin, and came to Amer- 
ica in the early part of the Seventeenth Century, settling near Ches- 
ter. Subsequently the family located in Pfoutz Valley, Perry 
County, where J. Hale Sypher was born July 22, 1837. He at- 
tended the local schools and was educated in Alfred University, 
New York State, in 1859. When the Sectional War came on he 
enlisted as a private in the First Ohio Light Artillery. He fought 
at Philippi and in other West Virginia engagements. He was pro- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 729 

moted through all the grades, becoming colonel of the Eleventh U. 
S. Heavy Artillery in August, 1864. March 13, 1865, he was 
brevetted Major General of Volunteers. He was mustered out 
October 2, 1865. 

During 1866 he practiced law in New Orleans. He also en- 
gaged in the cultivation of cotton and sugar cane. He represented 
Louisiana as a delegate in the National Republican Convention of 
1868, and was elected by the Republicans to the Fortieth Congress 
from New Orleans, taking his seat July 18, 1868. He was re- 
elected to the Forty-First, Forty-Second, and Forty-Third Con- 
gresses, serving from 1868 to 1875, and successfully contesting his 
seat in the Forty-First Congress with another claimant. In Con- 
gress he was a warm supporter of measures to improve the navi- 
gation of the Mississippi River. After the completion of his last 
term he removed to Washington, D. C, where he practiced law. 
He died in Baltimore, May 9, 1905. 

Benjamin K. Focht, Member of Congress, Editor. 

The present congressman from the Eighteenth District, to which 
Perry County belongs, and which is in size the largest district of 
Pennsylvania, is Benjamin K. Focht, a Perry Countian by birth. 
His district is so extensive that it is larger than several of the 
smaller states. While Congressman Focht is a native of Perry, 
his present home is at Lewisburg, Union County, from which he 
has been elected many times. His father was Rev. David H. Focht, 
pastor of the Lutheran churches at New Bloomfield and Newport 
for a number of years prior to the Sectional War, and to whom 
posterity is indebted for that valuable small volume, "The Churches 
Between the Mountains," which is devoted principally to the Lu- 
theran churches. Rev. Focht was an able advocate of the Union 
cause, and when the state was invaded by the Southern army, he 
went to the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain to help form a line of 
resistance. Through unusual exposure there his death followed. 

After the death of the father of Benjamin K. Focht, his mother 
removed with the little family to Lewisburg, where he grew up 
and has since resided. He was born at New Bloomfield, March 
12, 1863, the very year of the invasion. He attended the public 
schools, Bucknell College, State College, and Susquehanna Univer- 
sity at Selinsgrove. In January, 1882, he started the Lewisburg 
Saturday News, which is to this day a paper which has an individu- 
ality distinctly its own. But two men now in business in Lewis- 
burg were then in business there. Mr. Focht has published the 
News continuously since then, and has been longer continuously an 
editor and publisher than any individual from Erie to Harrisburg. 
He served in various local offices, and in 1892, 1894 and 1896 was 
elected to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. In 1900 he was 



7 3 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

elected to the State Senate. He was then elected to Congress and 
has served in the Sixtieth, Sixty-First, Sixty-Second, Sixty- 
Fonrth, Sixty-Fifth, Sixty-Sixth, and Sixty-Seventh Congresses. 
During 1912-14 he was Water Supply Commissioner of Pennsyl- 
vania. 

While in the Pennsylvania Legislature and in Congress he has 
served on important committees, and from chairman of the War 




BENJAMIN K. FOCHT, 

Member of Congress. 

Claims Committee has been made chairman of the Committee of 
the District of Columbia, which is the governing body of the Dis- 
trict. He has on twenty-six occasions been a candidate for office, 
having been successful twenty-four. During the Spanish-American 
War, his brother. Dr. M. L. Focht, was made a major, having en- 
listed as a surgeon. A sister, Margaret, became the wife of the 
late Judge McClure. His brother, Rev. John B. Focht, D.D., is a 
Selinsgrove (Pa.) pastor, and another brother, George M., re- 
sides at Yonkers, New York. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 
Harris [. Bixeer, Member of Congress. 



73i 



Since the commencement of work upon this volume another na- 
tive Perry Countian lias been elected to the Congress of the United 
States. That man is Harris J. Bixler, of Johnsonburg, Pennsyl- 
vania, and he represents the Twenty-Eighth Congressional District, 
composed of the counties of Mercer, Venango, Warren, Elk and 
Forest. Harris J. Bixler was horn September 16, 1X70, at New 
Buffalo, Perry County, the son of Jacob and Sarah (Faulkner) 




HARRIS J. BIXLER, 

Member of Congress. 

Bixler. From his eleventh to his thirteenth year he was hired to 
farmers during the summer, going from that occupation to the 
canal, where, like the noted James A. Garfield, he drove mules on 
the towpath of the old Pennsylvania Canal. During the winter 
months he was diligently employed at school, so that by his seven- 
teenth year he was elected to teach Livingston's school, in the 
neighboring township of Watts. He then taught a term at Blanch- 
ard, Centre County. He also taught a summer term at New Buf- 



73 2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

falo. Following that he attended the Central State Normal School 
at Lock Haven, graduating in 1889. Hearing the call to outdoor 
life he went to the lumber camps of Elk County, where he became 
a bark peeler, at the same time taking a business course by mail. 
His next position was conducting a store and keeping a set of 
books for a lumber firm. His greatest stride forward, until that 
time, was then made, when he became head of the shipping depart- 
ment of the New York and Pennsylvania Company, one of the 
largest paper mills in the world. He became a contractor for the 
same company, employing a large number of men during the past 
two decades. 

There is usually a reason for the elevation of a man, politically, 
especially not a native, and it is not hard to find in the case of 
Harris J. Bixler. Johnsonburg was a fast growing, prosperous 
town, and naturally drew to it men and women of all types. Its 
earlier days were those of many a lumbering town. Mr. Bixler 
stood for a clean moral community, and on that single plank was 
nominated for chief burgess, by the Republicans, and elected, 
the entire better element supporting him. To this day he is named 
as the man who made the town morally clean. He also served on 
the board of education, having been its president. For a period of 
twenty-two years he served in all of the various city offices, begin- 
ning with auditor, and always made good. Naturally, the larger field 
of county offices were the next stepping stones, and he was elected 
sheriff of Elk County, and later county treasurer, in both cases 
almost unanimously. In addition he was also chairman of the 
Board of Reviewers and a member of the State Republican Com- 
mittee. In 1920 he received the Republican nomination of the 
Twenty-Eighth Congressional District, and it was later followed 
by the Democratic nomination. He was elected in November and 
took his seat in 192 1. Mr. Bixler is also identified with a number 
of corporations in his territory and is a director in the Johnson- 
burg National Bank. He was in office as sheriff during the drafts 
for the U. S. Army during the World War, and used the same 
painstaking thoroughness and conscientious scruples that have 
characterized his whole life, and landed him in the lawmaking halls 
of the nation. 

In 1898 he was married to Miss Jennie Pray, of Penfield, Clear- 
field County. Mr. Bixler has erected one of the finest homes in 
Elk County, at Johnsonburg, where he resides. 

John Milton Bernheisel, Delegate: to Congress. 

John Milton Bernheisel was born near Blain, June 23, 1799, the 
son of Samuel and Susan (Bower) Bernheisel. He attended the 
subscription schools of the period, and graduated from the medical 
department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1827. He moved 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 733 

from Pennsylvania to Utah, where he located, and became a mem- 
ber of the Mormon Church. He arose to a commanding position 
among that people, and was elected as Delegate to Congress, for 
Utah was then still a territory. He was elected to the three suc- 
ceeding Congresses, serving from March 4, 185 1, to March 3, 
1859. After one term he was again elected and served as delegate 
in the Thirty-Seventh Congress, March 4, 1861, to March 3, 1863. 
He then returned to private life and to the practice of medicine, 
continuing until his death, September 29, 1881. During his service 
in Congress, according to the files of the Perry Freeman, he vis- 
ited his mother, still living in Perry County. 

Archibald Loudon, Historian. 

To a boy reared in what is now Perry County, Pennsylvanians 
are indebted for the portrayal of much of its early history. That 
boy was Archibald Loudon, a son of James Loudon, and he was 
the author of Loudon's Narratives, copyrighted in 1808 and pub- 
lished in 181 1, and now so rare that copies of it never bring less 
than twenty-five dollars for the two volumes. At one sale in a 
great city they brought almost $500. By referring to our chapter 
on Tuscarora Township it will be seen that different members of 
the Loudon family warranted large tracts of land there. Among 
these was Archibald, who warranted 296 acres, October 16, 1784, 
the others dating almost twenty years earlier, among them being 
that of his father in 1767. He was a boy and not old enough to 
warrant lands when the others did. 

Reared here, then a veritable outpost of civilization, he knew 
whereof he wrote, and in at least one of his descriptions he tells 
of his boyhood and of living in Raccoon Valley, near the foot of 
Tuscarora Mountain, surely proof enough that he was a resident. 
The article is here reproduced : 

"The editor of this work well remembers when he was a boy that shortly 
after what was called the second Indian War, I think in the year 1765, 
then living in Raccoon Valley, near the foot of Tuscarora Mountain. On 
Saturday we had a report that the Indians had begun to murder the white 
people and on Sunday in the forenoon as we children were outside of the 
house we espied three Indians coming across the meadow a few rods from 
us ; we ran into the house and informed our parents, who were consid- 
erably alarmed at their approach; the Indians, however, set their guns 
down outside the house and came in, when they were invited to take seats, 
which they did ; after taking dinner they sat a considerable time. Logan 
could speak tolerable English; the other two spoke nothing while there 
but Indian, or something that we could not understand. 

"They appeared to be making observations on the large wooden chim- 
ney, looking up it and laughing, this we supposed to be from a man on 
the Juniata, not far distant making his escape up the chimney when their 
house was attacked by the Indians. One of my sisters, a child three or 
four years old, having very white curly hair; they took hold of her hair 



734 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

between their fingers and thumb, stretching it up and laughing; this we 
conjectured they were saying would make a nice scalp, or that they had 
seen such ; otherwise they behaved with civility. 

"After some time when they saw we had no hostile intentions, I took a 
Bible and read two or three chapters in the Book of Judges, respecting 
Samson and the Philistines. Logan paid great attention to what I read. 
My father, upon observing this, took occasion to mention to him what a 
great benefit it would be to the Indians to learn to read. 'O,' said Logan, 
'a great many people (meaning the Indians) on the Mohawk River, can 
read the Buch that speaks of God.' 

'After remaining with us about two hours, they took their departure 
and crossed the Tuscarora Mountain to Captain Patterson's, "two miles 
below where Mifflintown now stands. In a few days after, we were in- 
formed it was Captain John Logan, an Indian Chief. He was a remark- 
able tall man, considerably above six feet high, strong and well propor- 
tioned, of a brave, open, manly countenance, as straight as an arrow, and 
to appearance, would not be afraid to meet any man." 

Archibald Loudon's youngest daughter, Margery B., was united 
in marriage to Dr. Isaac Wayne Snowden, a son of Rev. Nathaniel 
Randolph Snowden, a Presbyterian divine, and the father of Colo- 
nel A. Loudon Snowden, for many years superintendent of the 
United States Mint at Philadelphia. Dr. Snowden practiced medi- 
cine at Millerstown from 1830 to 1834. Archibald Loudon had 
located at Carlisle in later life, where he was postmaster for many 
years. Lie was also a book publisher there. 

The Loudon transplanting from Scotland to the forests of Pro- 
vincial Pennsylvania read like legend, but are facts. Matthew and 
James Loudon came from Scotland, about 1760, the son Archibald 
being born to James and wife while at sea. They settled in Sher- 
man's Valley, but were driven out by the Indians and took up 
lands near Hogestown, Cumberland County, where they settled. 
After the Indian troubles subsided James went back to what is 
now Tuscarora Township, Perry County, and lived there and 
reared his family there. James Loudon died September 22, 1783, 
and his remains rest on the old Bull's Hill graveyard, in Tuscarora 
Township, where the oldest stone marks his grave. This old burial 
place is named after the famous Bull family, from whom came 
Capt. Bull, famous in the Second War with Great Britain. 

Archibald Loudon's death occurred August 12, 1840, at Carlisle, 
in his 86th year. A notice of his death in the Perry Freeman of 
August 27th chronicles the fact and says that he was editor of the 
Cumberlamd Register for a time. His life covered the period when 
these lands progressed from savagery to civilization, and he lived 
under the Provincial, Colonial, and United States governments. 
He enlisted as a private in the Fourth Company of Col. Frederick 
Watts' battalion during the Revolution and was made an ensign 
of the Third Company. He was also a soldier in the Whiskey 
Rebellion. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 735 

George Robinson, Pioneer. 
Thomas Robinson and his son Philip were among the first resi- 
dents of the Cumberland Valley, of Scotch-Irish descent. George 
Robinson, Philip's second son, took up land in what is now Perry 
County, mar Centre Church, of which he was one of the original 
members. Fort Robinson, mentioned in Provincial annals, was 
located on his farm. He was a justice of the peace, his commis- 
sion issuing from George III. He was a captain in the Revolution. 
He remained in Sherman's Valley until 1797, when he removed to 
Kentucky, near Georgetown, where several of his sons had pre- 
ceded him. There he resided until his death in 1814, at the age 
of eighty-seven. He was a ruling elder of the Presbyterian Church 
there. A grandson, James F. Robinson, became governor of Ken- 
tucky and remembered him well, describing him thus: "He was six 
feet tall, perfect in build, remarkably athletic and strong, fine large 
head, light hair, beautiful large blue eyes, large and well-developed 
forehead, with a benevolent and intellectual countenance. He was 
remarkable for his love of reading, especially that of the higher 
and more difficult kinds, works on law, ethics, and mental & and 
moral philosophy. His library contains such works as Locke on 
Government, Blackstone's Commentaries, Stewart's Philosophy, 
the Spectator, etc. Among his acquaintances he was distinguished 
for his safe and sound judgment. He was a general counselor a 
kind of oracle to all around, a Christian gentleman in truth whose 
memory was cherished by all who knew him, and was handed 
down as that of one of the worthies of his day." His tombstone 
in Kentucky bears this legend : 

"Of softest manner, unaffected mind, 

Lover of peace and friend of human kind, 
Go. live ! for Heaven's eternal rest is thine, ' 
Go, and exalt this mortal to divine." 
His descendants are widely scattered. As stated, a grandson 
became governor of Kentucky. A great-grandson. Rev. Thomas 
H. Robinson, D.D., was pastor of Market Square Presbyterian 
Church at Harrisburg for thirty years, from 1854 to 1884, when he 
became a member of the faculty of the Western Theological Semi- 
nary at Allegheny City, Pennsylvania. Jonathan Robinson, a son 
of George, who was the advance agent of the Robinson clan from 
Perry County who migrated to Kentucky, was married to ]ane 
Black, and they became the parents of Governor James F. Robin- 
son, of Kentucky, who was governor when the' Southern states 
seceded, and largely through him it refused to join the movement. 
Rev. John Linn. 
Rev. John Linn was one of those early divines whose impress 
has been left upon the life of the county, although, his ministry 



y^e HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

ceased with his death, which occurred in the year of the county's 
formation, 1820. He was born in Adams County in 1749, and 
professed religion when a mere boy. He graduated from Nassau 
Hall in 1773 and studied theology with Dr. Cooper, pastor of Mid- 
dle Spring Church, in Cumberland County. Donegal Presbytery 
licensed him to preach in December, 1776, and about a year later 
he received and accepted a call to the churches of that faith — then 
the only ones — in Sherman's Valley. Here he labored and spent 
the balance of his life, faithfully and efficiently, being seventy-two 
years of age when death came in 1820. 

Soon after settling here he married Mary Gettys, a daughter of 
the founder of Gettysburg. They became the parents of four sons 
and two daughters, one of the sons being Rev. James Linn, D.D., 
also a Presbyterian divine, who long served the church at Belle- 
f onte and others. 

Rev. Mr. Linn was, according to an account by Rev. -Baird, 
about five feet, ten inches in height, portly, symmetrical in form, 
muscular and active in his bodily movements. He had a strong 
constitution and wonderful powers of endurance, an uncommon 
fine specimen of a man, generally so regarded by all. His pas- 
torate of forty-four years is one of the very longest of any min- 
ister who has carried the Word to the territory which comprises 
Perry County. He had a jovial disposition, was cheerful and could 
easily acclimate himself to folks of different character and who 
lived under the various conditions of life. Characteristic of him 
was sobriety of mind rather than versatility, reflection rather than 
imagination. Accustomed to writing out his sermons at full length 
he would deliver them from memory, save on hot summer Sabbath 
mornings he would discourse on some particular story from the 
New Testament. His voice was remarkably clear, his expression 
solemn and impressive. Sermons which he wrote showed him to 
be a correct writer, instructive and methodical. Uncommonly de- 
voted to his flock he did a wonderful amount of pastoral work. 
Christian dignity, even in his own family, tenderness and fidelity 
were marked traits in this first messenger from the Master to cast 
his lot among a new people, in a new country, then in the making. 
Like many other ministers of the period his salary was inadequate 
to support a growing family, and it was augmented by the owner- 
ship of a farm which he not only managed, but in rushed seasons 
helped till and harvest. 

Rev. Linn has the distinction of having one of his blood, a direct 
descendant, occupying the second position in the nation at the time 
this is written (1920). Vice-President Marshall's mother was no 
other than Susannah Linn, a granddaughter. His descendants are 
the Linns, of Chambersburg, Williamsport, Philadelphia, Spring- 
field, Ohio, and many other places. 



PERRY COUNT TS NOTED MEN 



737 



J. R. Flickinger, Principal Central State Normal School. 

[unius Rudy Flickinger, Ph.D., was widely known as one of 
Pennsylvania's leading educators. From his early life his heart was 
in the schoolroom, and, although he tried another line of activity, 
he soon drifted hack to the profession in which he rose to great 
heights. Pie was a grandson of Henry Flickinger, of Ickeshurg, 




JUNIUS R. FLICKINGER, 
Noted Educator. Born in Madison Township. 

being a son of John and Elizabeth (Bixler) Flickinger. He was 
born at Bixler, Madison Township, almost within the shadow of 
Centre Church, October 19, 1854. There he grew to manhood and 
attended the local schools and later the New Bloomfield Academy. 
He graduated from Princeton College (it was not then a univer- 
sity) in 1877, at the age of twenty-two. Immediately he began 
his career as an educator by accepting the principalship of the New 
Bloomfield Academy. Four years later he was elected county 
47 



73 8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

superintendent of schools of Perry County. He refused a reelec- 
tion and began the study of law in the office of the late Ex-Senator 
Charles H. Smiley. The following year, 1886, he was elected to 
the lower house of the Pennsylvania Legislature, serving with dis- 
tinction. On December 18, 1888, he married Caroline Milligan 
Rice, a daughter of William and Caroline (Milligan) Rice, who 
became his associate in business activities and in the work of the 
Presbyterian Church, in which he was much interested. He had 
gone to Colorado for his health during the previous year, and upon 
his marriage located there. 

In 1889 the governor of Colorado appointed him a trustee of 
their proposed first State Normal School at Greely. This enabled 
him to perform a leading part in the organization of Colorado's 
first Teachers' College. In 1890 he was elected to the Legislature 
of Colorado, and served as chairman of the Committee on Appro- 
priations and occasionally as speaker of the house. In 1893, de- 
clining a nomination to the State Senate of Colorado, he returned 
to Pennsylvania, his native state, and, while filling the chair of 
History in the State Normal at Westchester, took a postgraduate 
course in the University of Pennsylvania, and that institution con- 
ferred upon him the degree, Doctor of Science. 

In 1896 he was chosen principal of the State Normal at Edin- 
boro, Pennsylvania, an institution whose prospect of usefulness at 
that time had been practically ruined by prolonged factional quar- 
reling. His success in effecting harmony and restoring confidence, 
soon proved him to be an educator and administrator of unusual 
sagacity and executive ability. Three years later, as a recognition 
of his marked efficiency as an educator he was elected principal of 
the Central State Normal at Lock Haven, Pa. He justified his 
selection, by building up the school and making it one of the most 
noted and prosperous educational institutions in the state. After 
twelve years of faithful and efficient service, during which he se- 
cured for that institution the highest standard of excellence, he 
died quite suddenly from a severe attack of gastritis, February 17, 
1912. He was buried at New Bloomfield. His age was fifty-eight. 

He was a highly esteemed member of the Lock Haven Board of 
Trade. His last public address was at their annual banquet a few 
days previous to his decease, and he commended to their favorable 
consideration the commission form of government for cities. He 
was a member of the American Historical Society, the American 
Academy of Political and Social Science, and the State and Na- 
tional Educational Associations. In 1902 he was elected president 
of the State Educational Association, being one of three native 
Perry Countians to gain such distinction. He was the author of 
a popular textbook on civics and of many papers on historical and 
economic subjects. His performance of every trust was character- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 739 

ized by integrity of character and nobility of purpose. His help- 
fulness to individual students was a vital characteristic of his work. 
He held the degrees of A.B., A.M., (Princeton) and D.Sc. (Buck- 
nell). He taught pedagogy, psychology and history of education 
while principal of the State Normal School. 

The following tribute, part of an article from the Lock Haven 
Build in, at the time of his death, is from the pen of one who nec- 
essarily knew him and knew of his work : 

"Very prominent among his many remarkable traits of character, was 
his love of truth and right. This characteristic linked with his kind sym- 
pathetic helpfulness to all, have made him a man, the superior of whom 
the Central State Normal can never hope to have. 

"Aside from his culture and high intellectual attainments, he possessed 
those rare traits of character which exert an inspiring influence over man- 
kind ; cheering the disconsolate, encouraging the downhearted, and help- 
ing them to feel that life is indeed worth living. He was an attractive 
speaker, a leader of men who had the happy faculty of drawing people to 
him irresistibly, because he was the personification of frankness and good- 
ness and carefully followed the teachings of the meek and lowly Master. 
The world has been made better by his life of service in the cause of edu- 
cation, and while others may rise to take his place, the lofty influence of 
his noble life will continue to be manifested, in the lives of those who 
were associated with him." 

Dr. Flickinger was survived by his wife, who became custodian 
of the public library at Dalton, Massachusetts, a position which she 
still holds ; and an only daughter, Jean, born at Pueblo, Colorado, 
who completed the Normal course at Lock Haven and graduated 
from Vassar, in 1916. She enlisted as a Red Cross worker in 
January, 1919. to work among the homeless refugees along the 
battle line in France, under the auspices of the Friends' Recon- 
struction Bureau, and was assigned to the superintendency of that 
work along the Marne and the Meuse. 



While it has not been within the scope of this book to include 
any genealogy, save that connected directly with prominent na- 
tives, yet a sketch of Henry Flickinger, the ancestor of the many 
Flickinger families follows, as an example of but one of the many 
noted families who have left their marks along the line of good 
citizenship of this and other counties and of this and other states. 
Among such families might be mentioned those whose names ap- 
pear in this work along historical lines and their ancestry, as well 
as other families of prominence. Several works of that character, of 
two and three volumes, comprising the counties of the Juniata Val- 
ley, and in one case also Snyder and Union Counties, are among 
our prized possessions, but there is a place for a real Perry County 
genealogy, in one volume, covering the families of prominence and 
of historical significance within its confines and those which once 
dwelt there. The author of this volume stands ready to aid any 



740 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

person who will attempt to publish such work and who has the 
perseverance to pursue it to completion. Much data can yet be 
secured that in another generation will have passed away. 
Henry Fuckjnger. 

Henry Flickinger, of Ickesburg was the worthy ancestor of the Flick- 
inger families of Perry and Juniata Counties. Henry was the son of 
Peter Flickinger, 1730-1807, the immigrant, who was enrolled at Rotterdam, 
in Holland, as coming from the Palatinate in # Germany and, sailing on the 
Edinburg, James Russell, captain, arrived at Philadelphia, September 14, 
1753. Peter Flickinger, according to the best information available, was a 
farmer and, passing up the valley of the Schuylkill River, tarried awhile 
at Pottstown, but soon afterward located on the frontier in the vicinity of 
Reading, Berks County. Here he married Mollie Derr. Later he moved 
to East Buffalo Township (near Lewisburg), Northumberland, now Union 
County, raised a family of seven or eight children, and died at 77, in 1807. 
His wife died at the home of his son, Henry, at Ickesburg, four years later, 
and was taken for burial to the grave of her husband. 

Henry Flickinger was a native of Berks County, and was born January 
10, 1765. In his youth he made good use of his limited school privileges 
and learned the art of making shoes, that he might have steady employ- 
ment during the winter months. About 1796, meeting Thomas Strock, of 
Perry County, he accompanied him and worked for him three years on the 
Strock farm, a few miles southwest of Ickesburg. In May, 1798, he mar- 
ried Margaret Yohn, a native of Montgomery County, and the next year 
located on a farm near Ickesburg. In 1833 he became a resident of Ickes- 
burg and, assisted by Peter, his oldest son, devoted his entire time to shoe- 
making. Henry died November 10, 1853, in his eighty-ninth year; and 
Margaret, his wife, died at 74, on April 27th of the same year. Both were 
life-long, loyal and faithful members of the Lutheran Church, and were 
buried at Eshcol. 

Henry Flickinger early in life formed the habit of reading useful books, 
and had a well-stored memory. He supplied his home, in that early day 
in which he lived, with a library that included some excellent works on 
history, biography, natural history, a German Bible, and Scott's complete 
commentary on the Bible. In his effort to surround his home and family 
with the best moral and religious influences, he was heartily seconded by 
his noble wife. 

It is interesting to note the remarkable result. They raised a family of 
fourteen children. All of these growing to manhood and womanhood, be- 
came active members and highly esteemed workers in the Lutheran, Re- 
formed, Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches. Such a beautiful record 
of the beneficent influence of moral and religious training in the home, in 
point of numbers and widely extended influence, has not likely been sur- 
passed by many Pennsylvania families. 

Large families and long lives are two other noteworthy characteristics 
of Henry and wife, their children and grandchildren. Their large families 
and great ages indicate an inheritance of physical vigor, that presages a 
lifelong period of usefulness. 

The children of Henry and Margaret Yohn Flickinger married and lo- 
cated as follows : 

1. Peter md. Margaret Ritter, lived in Perry Co. 

2. Mary M. md. William Shreffler, lived at Peoria, 111. 

3. Bandina md. Henry Long, lived in Perry Co. 

4. John md. Elizabeth Bixler, lived in Perry Co. 

5. Nicholas md. Rebecca Rice, lived in Ohio. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 74 T 

6. David md. Rebecca Bousuni, lived in Perry Co. 

7. Elizabeth md. Jacob Reisinger, lived in Perry Co. 

8. Margaret md. Erasmus Yocinn, lived in Huntingdon Co. 

9. Henry md. Elizabeth Reisinger, and later Betsy Paden, lived in 

Perry Co. 

10. Isaac md. Mary Blain, lived in Juniata Co. 

11. Daniel W. md. Julia Ann Savior, lived in Juniata Co. 

12. Lydia Ann md. Jeremiah Fuller, lived in Perry Co. 

13. Joseph md. Nancy Campbell, lived in Perry Co. 

14. George md. Susan Jacobs, lived in Perry Co. 

Public service has been rendered by this family as follows : John Flick- 
inger served three years as a director of the poor of Perry County, super- 
intended the erection of the county almshouse, and was an honored official 
of the Methodist Church. Dr. Junius R., his son, served a term as 
county superintendent, two terms in state legislatures— one in each of two 
different states, and fifteen years as principal of two state teachers' insti- 
tutions. Major Daniel W. Flickinger, enlisting at Ickesburg with three 
other brothers, as a member of the Green Mountain Riflemen, was soon 
promoted and served several years as a major for training the militia of 
Perry County. Later he served three years as a commissioner in Juniata 
County. Rev. Robert E., his son, became a Presbyterian minister and 
author of several historical books. Joseph Flickinger served three years 
as a director of the Perry County Almshouse, and Levi Hiram, his son, 
served three years as auditor, and four years as treasurer of Perry County. 
Prof. H. W. Flickinger, a son of Peter, in recognition of his genius and 
skill as a pen artist and lifelong service as an instructor, has been ac- 
corded the honor of being one of the best and most popular penmen of 
this country. 

Lemuel E. McGinnes, Supt. Steelton Schools. 

The schools of Steelton, Pennsylvania, have for several decades 
stood at the top in educational circles. They were largely made 
so through the planning and supervision of Lemuel E. McGinnes, 
whose life was dedicated to the training and instruction of the 
rising generations. He descended from a line of Scotch-Irish an- 
cestry. James McGinnes, his paternal grandfather, came to Amer- 
ica from the north of Ireland, in 1790, settling in Greenwood 
Township — in the part which is now Buffalo Township. His ma- 
ternal great-great-grandfather was John Ditty, who settled in Ly- 
kens Valley, three miles northeast of Millersburg, in 1770. His 
father was John Cochran McGinnes, a native of Perry County, 
born in 1812. His vocation was that of a teacher. He died in 
1887. His mother was Sarah Ann Ditty, born in 1828, and who 
died in 1910. 

Lemuel E. McGinnes was born in Buck's Valley, Buffalo Town- 
ship, May 15, 1853. His early life was like that of the average 
farmer's son, attending the public schools while they were in ses- 
sion and helping on the farm at other times. He early decided to 
follow the teaching profession, and enrolled at the summer normal 
school of Silas Wright at Millerstown, and from that early tutor 
drew much inspiration. He began teaching in 1872, and taught 



742 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

in his home township for three terms. In 1875 he was selected as 
principal of the Lower Duncannon schools, where his work was 
so successful that in 1878 he was elected principal of the Dun- 
cannon schools, remaining three years. In 1881 he was elected 
principal of the Steelton schools, which position he filled until 1888, 
when he was promoted to the superintendency of the Steelton 
schools. 




LEMUEL E. McGINNES, 
Noted Educator. Born in Buffalo Township. 

He served as president of the Pennsylvania State Educational 
Association in 1906, one of three Perry Countians to attain that 
coveted honor, the other two being Dr. J. R. Flickinger and Chas. 
S. Davis, present superintendent of the Steelton schools. No other 
county in the state outside of the large cities has been so honored. 
At various times he was on the examining board of practically 
every normal school in the state. He was a trustee of the Blooms- 
burg State Normal School from 1914 to the time of his death, in 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 743 

19 1 9. In 1 918 he was appointed on the State Board of Educa- 
tion by Governor Martin G. Brumbaugh, himself a noted educator. 
As an instructor at teachers' institutes, L. E. McGinnes was a 
noted figure, and appeared in more than half of the counties of 
Pennsylvania, and in the states of Delaware and Indiana. 

Mr. McGinnes was backed by all the larger interests of Steelton, 
including the Pennsylvania Steel Works, whose interest in educa- 
tion was marked. On three occasions, to the writer's knowledge, 
he turned down proffered positions elsewhere — the superintend- 
ence of the New Brunswick (N. J.) schools, in 1919; the prin- 
cipalship of the Millersville State Normal School, in 1912. and the 
position of Deputy Supt. of Public Instruction of Pennsylvania, 
in 1918. 

It was the writer's privilege to know Mr. McGinnes since his 
early boyhood, our fathers' farms being within a half-mile of each 
other, and in all that territory of Perry County lying between the 
rivers he was held up as an example to the rising generation, and 
it is still so. Largely through his kindly encouragement at the very 
beginning of the undertaking, has the writing and compiling of 
this book been possible. 

At a meeting of the Pennsylvania Educational Association, in 
Philadelphia, December 31, 1919, a memorial to Mr. McGinnes 
was read by Mr. Chas. S. Davis, a former president of the asso- 
ciation. For thirty-six years Mr. Davis was associated with Mr. 
McGinnes, first as a teacher, and for thirty-one years as high 
school principal, a record of association in school work probably 
unparalleled in the state. Dr. J. P. McCaskey, a long-time friend 
of these two men, says, in the Pennsylvania School Journal: "Mr. 
Chas. S. Davis is elected to succeed Mr. McGinnes. They were 
close personal friends, and the tribute of Mr. Davis to Mr. Mc- 
Ginnes was worthy of the men and the occasion." Mr. Davis said 
in part : 

"Born in Buck's Valley, Perry County, May 15, 1853, educated in the 
rural schools, Juniata Valley Normal School (at Millerstown), and later 
at the University of Pennsylvania, but most largely by studious habits, by 
attentive listening, and by close observation. A diary covering forty years 
contains an outline or brief resume of every important lecture or address 
he ever heard, mention of every prominent person he ever met, and descrip- 
tions of places visited, together with many of his thoughts and ideals and 
inspirations. 

"In the Pennsylvania State Educational Association he served as vice- 
president in 1894, president of the Department of City and Borough Super- 
intendents in 1897, and president of the association in 1906. As a trustee 
of the Bloomsburg State Normal School and as a member of the State 
Board of Education he won a high place because of his grasp of the situa- 
tions and because of his realization of what was needed to improve con- 
ditions and to place the cause of education on a higher plane. His power 
of initiative was one of his strongest characteristics. His attitude was 
essentially constructive." 



744 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

From an editorial in the Harrisburg Telegraph the following 
tribute is taken : 

"The public schools of Pennsylvania lose a great champion in the death 
of Prof. L. E. McGinnes. While his success in conducting the schools of 
Steelton marked him as a superintendent of more than ordinary ability, his 
reputation as an educator was not confined to his home town. As member 
of the State Board of Education he was a great factor in the development 
of the educational system of the state along modern and efficient lines, and 
as president of the Pennsylvania State Educational Association he became 
known the country over as a deep thinker and tireless worker in the great 
work of lifting the public schools of the nation to new and higher planes 
of usefulness. A lover of children, an executive of high type, an able 
teacher, and a staunch believer in the principles of Americanism and the 
future of the country, he was a mighty force for good not only in his 
home community but wherever his powerful personality made itself felt. 
His place will not be easily filled." 

The Harrisburg Patriot's editorial columns contained this tribute 
among other things : 

"Prof. L. E. McGinnes' death is one of those which shock and sadden a 
community. Though a resident of Steelton for many years, he was ac- 
cepted by Harrisburgers as one of their own upstanding men, worthy of 
the honors and esteem that his fellow citizens gave him. 

"For many years the excellence of the Steelton public school system has 
long been acknowledged. It was much ahead of districts of like size. Its 
graduates disclosed an educational finish that did not rub off readily. In 
colleges, where so many of them were inspired to go, these high school 
alumni were ever creditable to the teaching force and the system which 
produced them. For much of this Superintendent McGinnes was respon- 
sible. As educator, churchman, public-spirited citizen, he contributed much 
to his community, a rare product of the life of this part of Pennsylvania 
of which this city is the hub. Perry Countians can be proud of his nativity 
as Harrisburg and Steelton are proud of his residence. His going away 
seemed much too soon." 

The Harrisburg Evening News said editorially : 
"Only a man who deserved it could have had funeral honors as were 
paid Prof. L. E. McGinnes yesterday at his home in Steelton. Prof. Mc- 
Ginnes' personality and achievement had become such a part of Steelton 
that his death seemed to affect the life of the borough and the entire 
community, — a community, too, that extended in this case to Harrisburg 
and beyond. 

"Upon the countenance of those who mourned at the bier yesterday or 
followed the cortege to the cemetery there was written the lines of deep- 
seated grief, personal and communal. It was a real honor paid to a man 
who richly deserved it, who gave so much of his life to community better- 
ment and whose departure will long be regretted." 

Early in his life Mr. McGinnes united with the Presbyterian 
Church at Duncannon and served as the superintendent of the 
Sunday school for several years. In the Steelton Presbyterian 
Church he was a ruling elder from the time of its organization, 
and was the first and only superintendent of the Sunday school in 
the thirty-seven years of its existence prior to his death. He was 
selected as commissioner from the Presbytery of Carlisle to the 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 745 

Synod of Pennsylvania and West Virginia at a meeting held in 
Erie, in October, 1899, and to the Synod of Pennsylvania at the 
meeting at Beaver, in October, 1918. He served as commissioner 
from the Carlisle Presbytery to the meeting of the General As- 
sembly of the Presbyterian Church, at Atlantic City, in 1916. He 
once served as moderator of Carlisle Presbytery. 

Mr. McGinnes was married to Miss Ida Wilson, of Perry 
County, in 1879, and to them one child, Miss Sarah Ellen Mc- 
Ginnes, was born. His wife and Miss McGinnes, who is a mem- 
ber of the faculty of the Steelton High School, survive. 

William Nelson Ehrhart, Educator and Supt. of Schools. 

William Nelson Ehrhart, A.M., Ph.D., was born near Newport, 
Perry County, February 15, 1848, his parents being John and 
Eleonora (Super) Ehrhart, of whose family a son and four daugh- 
ters are living. He secured his elementary education in the neigh- 
boring public school and completed the course of study at the 
Juniata Valley Academy. He was a member of the first graduat- 
ing class of the Bloomsburg State Normal School, later taking the 
Scientific course and graduating from the Millersville State Nor- 
mal School. Upon completing the prescribed four years' course of 
study, Taylor University, at Indianapolis, conferred upon him the 
A.M. and Ph.D. degrees. 

Almost his whole professional life was spent in Schuylkill 
County, where he had endeared himself to the people and was so 
successful that his reputation stands second to none among educa- 
tors in that populous county. His first position there was as prin- 
cipal of the Llewellyn schools for two years, followed by nine 
years as principal of the High School at Tamaqua. His work there 
attracted attention by reason of its marked efficiency, and he was 
elected principal of the High School at Shenandoah in 1884, where 
he raised the school's standard to first-class. Nine years later, in 
1893, he resigned and removed to Pottsville to enter business, but 
his mind was ever turned toward the schoolroom, and in 1895 he 
accepted the principalship of the Mahanoy City High School, and 
a year later was made superintendent of schools of Mahanoy City, 
a position which he filled with credit for eighteen years, or until 
within a year of his death, when illness required that he relinquish 
the position. So highly was he esteemed that to-day there hangs in 
the High School at Mahanoy City a painting of him by a cele- 
brated artist — bearing the inscription, "From the City Teachers. 
Prof. W. N. Ehrhart, 1895-1914." 

Prof. Ehrhart was one of the best mathematicians of eastern 
Pennsylvania. Much of the success of the libraries at both Shen- 
andoah and Mahanoy City is due to his labor. He was a leader 
of the Schuylkill County Educational Association from its incep- 



; 4 6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

tion, belonged to the State and National Educational Associations, 
and to the National Geographical Society. During his superin- 
tendency, he was each year a member of the State Board of Ex- 
aminers at one of the State Normal Schools. 

During the latter part of the War between the States, in March, 
1865, although but seventeen years of age, he enlisted in Company 




WILLIAM NELSON EHRHART, 
Born in Juniata Township. 

G. 149th Penna. Volunteer Infantry, being discharged in June, 
after the ending of the war. He died March 31, 1915, at his home 
in Mahanoy City, in his sixty-eighth year, being survived by his 
widow and a son, Raymond Nelson, a Cornell University graduate. 

E. A. K. Hackett, Noted Editor and College Founder. 

Edward Alexander Kelly Hackett was born at New Bloomfield, 
June 29, 1 85 1. He attended the public schools and supplemented 
them with a higher course of study at the New Bloomfield Acad- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 747 

emy. It has been said that the training of a newspaper office is 
tantamount to a liberal education, and this was a further supple- 
ment, for Edward Hackett learned the printing trade in the office 
of the Perry County Democrat. Upon finishing his trade he was 
employed in the newspaper offices of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and 
other eastern cities. At the age of twenty-three he located at Bluff- 
ton, Indiana, where he purchased a half interest in the Bluffton 
Banner, becoming sole owner in a short time. In 1880, seeking a 
larger field, Mr. Hackett purchased the plant and business of the 
Fort Wayne Sentinel, moving to that place. Here he found adequate 
scope for his genius, and the Fort Wayne Sentinel, under his edi- 
torship, became one of the most prosperous and influential dailies 
in the State of Indiana. Here he also started the American Fanner, 
which for several years was printed in the Sentinel office, and later 
sold to a big publishing company. For a number of years he w r as 
also the owner of the Indianapolis Sentinel, which reached its 
greatest success under his control. During his life he was one of 
the most prominent and influential figures in Indiana journalism. 
He was dominated with an exalted integrity of purpose and high 
ideals which make for enlightened and useful citizenship. 

As a young man Mr. Hackett was wed to Miss Mary A. Mel- 
sheimer, of Bluffton, Indiana, who died in 1898. Of their children 
the first born died in infancy; the second, Martha, is a talented 
physician and surgeon, and has charge of the hospital founded by 
her father at Canton, China; and Helen, the youngest, is the wife 
of John C. Johnson, of Los Angeles, California. Mr. Hackett was 
married a second time, on October 16, 1900, to Miss Susie Emma 
Reed. To this union were born three children, Catherine Reed, 
Edward A. K., Jr., and Wayne. Mr. Hackett died August 28, 1916. 

Some years prior to his death Mr. Hackett established the Hackett 
Medical College at Canton, China, placing his eldest daughter, Dr. 
Martha Hackett, in charge. Mr. Hackett was earnest in the sup- 
port of all moral agencies, including the cause of temperance, and 
was actively identified with the Winona Assembly and Summer 
Schools Association, at Winona Lake, Indiana. He was an earnest 
member of the First Presbyterian Church at Fort Wayne, and su- 
perintendent of the Sunday school for years. He also was one of 
the founders of the Fort Wayne Mission, the Y. M. C. A., and 
the Y. W. C. A., to all of which he gave liberally. Sincere, honest, 
enthusiastic, with strong moral views, Edward A. K. Hackett's 
name will long leave its impress in his adopted state. 

Theodore; K. Long, Founder oe Carson Long Institute. 

That a Perry Countian should come back after having made a 
success elsewhere and assume the task of rebuilding an academy 
which he had attended in boyhood, but which seemed to be drifting. 



; 4 8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

more or less as an educational derelict, is one of those strange facts 
that reads like fiction. Theodore Kepner Long, the son of Abra- 
ham Long, Jr., and Catherine (Kepner) Long, was born in Pfoutz 
Valley, on August 26, 1856. His grandfather was Abraham 
Long, St., the eldest son of David Long. David Long came from 
Lancaster County and settled in Pfoutz Valley, in 18 14. The an- 
cestors of David Long came from near Manheim, Germany, and 




theodore; k. long, 

Founder of Carson Long Institute. Born in Greenwood 
Township. 

settled in Lancaster County before the Revolution. There is some 
uncertainty concerning the nationality of David Long's ancestors. 
Theodore K. Long's immediate ancestors maintained that they 
were of French and English extraction — their forebears, owing to 
religious persecution, having at an early date crossed the English 
Channel and settled on the French side of the Rhine, near Cologne, 
where they remained for generations, and later crossed the Rhine 
to the vicinity of Manheim, whence they came to Lancaster County, 
Pennsylvania. In an early published biography of Abraham Long, 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 749 

Jr., the author states that the Longs are of French origin, while in 
several later publications the authors invariably give the ancestry as 
German. It is altogether probable that all these accounts are recon- 
cilable and correct. During the early religious wars in Europe it 
was not uncommon for families to migrate from one country to 
another. The Longs were devout Protestants and they doubtless 
felt it greatly to their advantage to move from time to time as 
governmental conditions changed from Protestant to Roman Cath- 
olic, or vice versa. When the Longs came to America they were 
Lutherans, and when the United Brethren Church was organized 
later in Lancaster County, they were among its most enthusiastic 
supporters. David Long was educated for the U. B. ministry, and 
though he devoted most of his time to farming, he frequently" offi- 
ciated in the pulpit of the United Brethren Church. When he came 
to Pfoutz Valley (then in Cumberland County) he moved his fam- 
ily, his household goods, farming implements and money chests 
containing the purchase money for his new home in silver dollars, 
all in three Conestoga wagons, each wagon drawn by four horses. 
The caravan moved up along the west bank of the Juniata River 
to a point about two miles above Newport, immediately opposite 
what is known as the Patterson farm, where the river was forded 
and the wagons then followed up along the east bank of the river 
until they came to the Cocolamus Creek. Here they bore off to 
the right and crossed Wildcat Ridge into Pfoutz Valley. At that 
time there were no bridges across the Juniata or the Cocolamus 
and there was no road leading" from Millerstown to Pfoutz Valley. 
Theodore Kepner Long was born on the old farm acquired in 
1814 by David Long, and his early life was much like that of the 
average farm boy. He attended the local schools, the Millerstown 
High School, and the Juniata Valley Normal School (Prof. 
Wright's) at Millerstown. He also attended the New Bloomfield 
Academy and the State Normal School at Millersville, after which 
he specialized at Yale and was graduated from the Law Depart- 
ment in 1878. Pie was admitted to the bars of Dauphin and Perry 
Counties in 1878, but located in Mandan, North Dakota, where he 
edited the Mandan Daily Pioneer in 1882. 111-1883 he- compiled 
Long's Legislative Handbook of Dakota. In 1884 he began the 
practice of law, and in 1885 was made territorial district attorney 
for the district west of the Missouri River, in North Dakota. In 
1849 he settled in Chicago. He was the attorney for the Illinois 
Life Insurance Company at its formation in 1899, and continued 
to act as its general counsel until 1908. He assisted at the organi- 
zation of the Western Trust and Savings Bank in 1903, and was the 
bank's attorney until 1908. He retired from active law practice in 
1908 and later was elected alderman of the Sixth Ward of Chi- 
cago, serving from 1909 to 191 5. 



75 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

As alderman Mr. Long originated measures in the city council 
for the reclamation of the shores of Lake Michigan for a city park 
and bathing beach and general playground purposes, which remain 
a benefaction to the public forever. He was the originator of Chi- 
cago's lighting system which utilizes the electric energy of the 
Sanitary District and Drainage Canal to supply light for the city. 
He also planned the general scheme for the location and develop- 
ment of Chicago's bathing beaches along the lake shore. 

Mr. Long was united in marriage to Miss Kate Carson, at Eau 
Claire, Wisconsin, November 25, 1885. 

During a vacation in 1914 Mr. Long came East, with a view of 
gratifying a lifetime desire of giving some benefaction to his na- 
tive county, and while summering at Millerstown he drove to New 
Bloomfield to look over old-time scenes. His attention was drawn 
to what he terms the "shabby" appearance of the old academy and 
surroundings, and there, in his mind was born the Carson Long In- 
stitute, a change of name which he made in memory of a beloved 
son, drowned in the prime of his young manhood. He bought the 
academy grounds, and what he has since done is best told in the 
chapter in this book entitled "Carson Long Institute, Formerly 
New Bloomfield Academy." 

The reader is referred to the sketch relating to Chester I. Long, 
former United States Senator from Kansas, as David Long was 
their common ancestor. • 

Judge Hugh Hart Cummins. 

Hugh Hart Cummins was born at Liverpool, May 25, 1841, the 
son of Dr. William and Mary (Hart) Cummins. Dr. Cummins, 
the father, a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, had located 
at Liverpool about 1830 for the practice of his profession, remain- 
ing there until his death in 1846. Hugh Hart, after attending the 
public schools, taught before his arrival at voting age. He attended 
York Commercial College, and in 1862 located at Williamsport, 
and entered the law offices of George White, an able attorney, as 
a student. While studying, he supported himself by clerical work 
in the- county offices. He was admitted to the bar in 1864. From 
the very beginning he was noted for his high moral courage. Politi- 
cally he was a Democrat, yet he received the nomination for Judge 
of the Courts of Lycoming County by a coalition of the Republi- 
cans and the independent Democrats in 1878, who believed that 
the judicial election should be non-partisan. He was elected, and 
began his term January 6, 1879, serving the entire term of ten 
years. On leaving the bench, he resumed the practice of law. 
When the great flood of 1889 swept Williamsport, the receding of 
the waters marked Judge Cummins' entry in the work of relief for 
the sufferers. This attracted the attention of Governor Beaver, 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 751 

and he was named one of a commission of nine prominent busi- 
ness and professional men to superintend the distribution of relief 
funds to the suffering Johnstown flood victims. The commission 
chose him chairman, and he at once located at Johnstown to carry 
out the relief work, but fell ill with diabetes and died August 11, 
1889, at the Cresson Springs Hotel, where he had been removed 
during his illness. He is said to have been one of the most able 
judges of the Lycoming County courts. 

According to the best records obtainable Judge Cummins was 
the first Perry Countian to take a business college course. 

Sheridan E. Fry, Judge of the Municipal Court, Chicago. 

In that great metropolis of the West, enterprising and ever 
growing Chicago, another Perry Countian is to be found, a judge 
of the Municipal Court of Chicago. That man is Sheridan E. Fry, 
born at Donnally's Mills, February 25, 1867, his birthplace being 
near the place known as "Peace Union." His father was John M. 
Fry, born June 3, 1840, near New Bloomfield, the son of Abraham 
and Statira (Marshall) Fry, and his mother was Eliza Agnes 
Bucher, who was born in Adams County, but moved with her 
family during her early girlhood to Donnally's Mills, where her 
father followed his trade as a miller. His parents, John M. Fry 
and Eliza Agnes Bucher were married at New Bloomfield, May 
16, 1866, and lived together to celebrate their golden wedding. 
Mrs. Fry died November 20, 1917, at Seward, Winnebago County, 
Illinois, where Mr. Fry still resides, though past eighty. He en- 
listed in the U. S. Army at Newport, September 16, 1862, and was 
mustered out June 16. 1865, having been engaged in thirty-four 
actions, among them Chancellor sville and Gettysburg. After the 
war he taught school in Perry County. In 1881, with his family 
he moved to Winnebago County, Illinois, and it was thus that the 
future Judge Fry became a citizen of Illinois. Their six children 
are Sheridan E., Chicago ; Emory C, Sioux City, Iowa ; George 
H., Mrs. Samuel Cuthbertson, and John A., of Seward, Illinois. 

During his residence in Perry County Judge Fry was an attend- 
ant of the schools of Tuscarora Township, and in Illinois he 
worked upon the farm during the summer and attended the schools 
during the winter. He later attended the Illinois Normal School 
at Dixon, Illinois, and Wheaton College, at Wheaton, Illinois. In 
1895 he graduated from the Northwestern University Law School 
of Chicago, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. He was ad- 
mitted to practice in the courts of Illinois during the same month, 
and later in the United States courts. 

He practiced law for ten years and was then appointed by Judge 
Carter, of Cook County, as his assistant. Judge Carter was later 
elected to the Supreme Court of Illinois, and Judge Fry continued 



752 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

in the same position with his successors. He held that position 
almost four years, resigning in December, 1908, to go on the 
municipal bench, having been elected as a Republican to that posi- 
tion in November, 1908, for a six-year term. He was again elected 
in 1914, and in 1920. 

Judge Fry is a member of many notable associations and clubs, 
among them the Pennsylvania Society of Chicago and the Perry 




SHERIDAN E- FRY, 

Municipal Judge. Born in Tuscarora Town- 
ship. 

County Society of Chicago. He and his family are Presbyterians. 
Judge Fry was united in marriage May 20, 1897, to Miss Carrie 
E. Schell, of Polo, Illinois, they having become acquainted at 
Wheaton College. They have two children, Florence, now (1920) 
a student at the University of Illinois, and Robert, in the high 
school. Judge Fry has never lost interest in his native county, and 
he and his family have made various trips back to the haunts of his 
childhood. He is noted for his thoroughness, and the fact that he 
has been elected for his third term of six years is proof that his 
official acts meet with the views of the electorate of his district. 

David Watts, Prominent Attorney. 

David Watts was the only son of General Frederick and Jane 
(Murray) Watts, and was born October 29, 1764, on the farm 
warranted by his father, June 4, 1762, in what is now Wheatfield 
Township, Perry County. His parents had come to Chester 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 753 

County about 1760, and in warranting the farm which became the 
birthplace of David Watts, they built a cabin and moved there- 
to the very verge of civilization. Owing to the father's absence 
as an officer in the patriot army and later as a member of the 
Executive Council the training of the boy largely devolved upon 
the mother, a gifted and educated woman. He was the first person 
born within the limits of what is now Perry County to graduate 
from a college— Dickinson College, founded in 1783, where he was 
educated and graduated with the first class. 

Entering the law offices of William Lewis, of Philadelphia, he 
read law and was admitted to the bar, beginning practice at Car- 
lisle, where he soon had a large patronage. He joined the troops 
to suppress the "Whiskey Insurrection," four thousand of which 
were reviewed by General Washington at Carlisle (then the county 
seat of Perry County territory), in 1794. His courage and energy 
soon placed him at the head of the Cumberland County bar, the 
acknowledged equal of Thomas Duncan, for years the recognized 
leader of the profession. They were men of extensive and varied 
acquirements in professional and general literature, being distin- 
guished for learning, integrity and manners. He died September 
25, 1819, in the midst of a mature life, his death being hastened 
by exposure while traveling over the legal circuit on horseback, the 
mode of travel of the period. A printed volume of his arguments 
is included in the State Reports of Pennsylvania. 

In September, 1796, he was united in marriage to Julia Anna 
Miller, and was the father of twelve children. The family was 
reared in the faith of the parents, that of the Episcopal Church. 

An anecdote connected with the early courts at Carlisle, in which 
figured Thomas Duncan, later a justice of the Supreme Court, and 
David Watts, the leaders of the bar, follows: 

At court Mr. Duncan was distinguished by quickness, acute dis- 
cernment, accurate knowledge, and every-ready repartee. His 
rival was David Watts, bright, gifted and well read. Mr. Watts 
was a large man, of athletic proportions, while Mr. Duncan was 
of small stature and light weight. During a discussion of a legal 
question in court Mr. Watts, in the heat of the argument, made a 
personal allusion to Mr. Duncan's small stature, and said he "could 
put him in his pocket." "Very well," retorted Mr. Duncan, "then 
you will have more law in your pocket than you have in your 
head." 

Rev. and Mrs. John Rogers Peale, Martyred Missionaries. 

Martyrs to the cause of Christianity, being slain in far-away 
China, the names of John Rogers Peale and Mrs. Peale are held 
in veneration not only by their own county and their own denomi- 
nation — the Presbyterian — but by a far wider zone. They were 
48 



754 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

killed, with five other Americans, by a Chinese mob bent on wreak- 
ing vengeance against foreigners to their country, on October 28, 
1905. Nothing that any of the party had done was responsible, 
and' the mere fact that they happened to be in that particular sec- 
tion of that time is alone responsible for their deaths. John Rogers 
Peale was the youngest son of the late Samuel Alexander and Eliza- 
beth (Mclntire) Peale, and was born in New Bloomfield, Septem- 
ber 17, 1879. He did his college preparatory work at the New 
Bloomfield Academy, where he graduated in June. 1898. Entering 




REV. JOHN R. PEALE MRS. JOHN R. PEAEE 

Martyred Presbyterian Missionaries. Rev. I'eale was born at New BloomluM. 

Lafayette College, he graduated therefrom with the class of 1962. 
He matriculated at the Princeton Theological Seminary, graduat- 
ing in May, 1905. Enthused along the line of mission work, he 
spent the summer of 1904 in North Dakota in that work. In May, 
1905, following his graduation, Carlisle Presbytery ordained him 
as a missionary, and the Presbyterian Church at Moosic, Pennsyl- 
vania, assumed the task of sending him to China as their personal 
missionary. He was united in marirage on June 29th to Miss Re- 
becca Gillespie, of Colora, Maryland, and on August 7th they left 
New Bloomfield, sailing on the 16th from San Francisco, and land- 
ing in China on September 12th. They had just reached their field 
of labor a few days before the time when their lives were crushed 
out by the very people whom they had gone to help. The frenzied 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 755 

mob burned the school building, the hospital, and the residence of 
the minister. The horrible affair happened at Lien Chow, China, 
a city of twenty thousand inhabitants, about two hundred miles in- 
land from Canton. John Rogers Peale was from his early years a 
member of the New Bloomfield Presbyterian Church, and his edu- 
cation and preparation for the mission field lacked nothing. 

On the walls of the New Bloomfield Presbyterian Church, in 
which he was nurtured, there was placed a handsome bronze tablet 
in 1906, on which is the inscription: 

In Loving Memory of 

Rev. and Mrs. John Rogers Peale, 

Who Were Martyred at Lien Chow, China, 

October 28, 1905. 

"I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die 
at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 

Rev. John Kistler and Catharine; McCoy Resteer, Pioneer 

Missionaries. 

Although Rev. Morris Officer had founded the Muhlenberg Mis- 
sion, the first one in Liberia, on the west coast of Africa, Rev. 
John Kistler was the first active missionary in that field, sailing late 
in May, 1863, and serving there until March, 1867, when, broken 
in health, he returned to his native land. He had married Catha- 
rine McCoy, of Duncannon, who succumbed September 20, 1866, 
to the then dreaded African fever, and her remains were laid to 
rest, the first in the mission cemetery in that far-off land. Catha- 
rine McCoy was born in Perm Township, and was nurtured in 
the Duncannon Presbyterian Church. She was the daughter of 
David and Mary McCoy. Rev. Kistler was a Perry Countian, 
the son of John and Salome (Tressler) Kistler, of near Loysville, 
where he was born November 12, 1834. He attended the Loys- 
ville school and the Loysville Academy, and later the old Markel- 
ville Academy, then conducted by his uncle, Rev. George Rea, a 
Presbyterian clergyman. In 1859 he completed the work of both 
the freshman and sophomore years at Gettysburg College. In i860 
he matriculated at the Susquehanna Missionary Institute, now Sus- 
quehanna University, at Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, from which he 
graduated in 1862, as the valedictorian of his class. He was 
licensed to preach and ordained by the Central Pennsylvania Synod, 
which met at Newport in May, 1863, after which he sailed as a 
missionary as stated, the journey consuming seventy-eight days on 
the ocean. On his return from the mission field, he became super- 
intendent of the Soldiers' Orphans' Home at Loysville, in Septem- 
ber, 1867, remaining for two years. In 1869 he became pastor of 
the Water Street Lutheran Church in Huntingdon County, remain- 
ing for eight years. In the meantime he organized the First Eng- 



756 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

lish Lutheran Church of Tyrone, Pennsylvania, the pastorate of 
which, in connection with the Sinking Valley Lutheran Church, 
he also served for six years. During those years he organized the 
Lutheran Church at Bell wood, Pennsylvania. In November, 1877, 
he became pastor of the Upper Strasburg Church in Franklin 
County, which he served for six and a half years while living at 
Orrstown. In 1844 he became pastor of the Lower Frankford 
charge, in Cumberland County, with headquarters at Carlisle, but 
at the end of three years, owing to asthmatic troubles contracted in 
Africa, he relinquished his work in the pulpit and devoted his time 
to the sale and distribution of Bibles. This work brought him 
much to the new and developing town of Riverton, now Lemoyne, 
in lower Cumberland County, and he organized the Lutheran 
Church there in 1895, and became its pastor, building a comfort- 
able brick chapel, but at the expiration of three years again relin- 
quished pastoral work, owing to a return of the same trouble. 
After that he did periodical work for the different conferences and 
synods of his church. 

The writer enjoyed his acquaintance and knew him to be a man 
of strong convictions and unswerving faith, a pioneer in the tem- 
perance cause. He died at Carlisle, where he resided, September 2, 
1910, being survived by his second wife, who was Sarah Swoyer, 
of Newville, and their three children., Mrs. Glenn V. Brown, Freda 
and Charles Reuel ; also Harry L-, a son by the first marriage. 

Emma Margaret Smiley, Missionary. 

Emma Margaret Smiley, daughter of Wilson and Sarah (Hen- 
derson) Smiley, was born at Shermansdale, on November 25, 1861. 
She was educated in the local schools, the McCaskey Select School 
at Shermansdale, and at the New Bloomfield Academy, followed 
by a course at the International University at Lebanon, Ohio, 
where she graduated in the scientific course, getting her B.A. de- 
gree. She was one of Perry County's efficient teachers of a period 
which had an unusual number of good teachers. She taught eleven 
terms. In 1892 an opening to enter the missionary field appeared. 
To prepare for that work, the following year she attended the 
school of the Christian and Mission Alliance in New York City 
(now located at Nyack, New York), under whose auspices she 
entered the missionary field. She sailed September 8, 1894, arriv- 
ing at Bombay, India, six weeks later. She mastered the language 
in about two years and was stationed at Kaira, Guzerat, India. In 
1897 a famine in other provinces of India caused many of the al- 
most starved children to go to Kaira, where Miss Smiley was in 
charge of the mission. Their swollen abdomens, emaciated faces and 
listless demeanor were sad to behold. Originally the orphanage had 
but a few children, but this famine increased the population to 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 757 

over four hundred. During a famine in 1900 Miss Smiley's health 
broke down and she was granted a furlough, but the eve before 
her intended departure for the States she was stricken with cere- 
bral hemorrhage and a few hours later, on June 12th, she passed 
to her reward. Her body was interred in the cemetery at Horn- 
bay, India, where a marker shows her grave. Emma Margaret 
Smiley's life was not in vain, for there is record that many of those 
poor, starved children have become Christian men and women. 

Kkv. John Linn Milugan. 

No other American served as chaplain of such a pretentious 
penal institution as the Western penitentiary at Pittsburgh for such 
a long period — forty years — as did Rev. John Linn Milligan, na- 
tive Perry Countian, named after that famous pioneer divine, Rev. 
John Linn, his ancestor. No other left his impress on such a long 
line of unfortunates as they again faced the world to begin life 
anew, or as they silently passed to eternity from prison cells. 

John Linn Milligan was the first-born of James and Eleanor 
(Linn) Milligan, having been born in Ickesburg, July 31, 1837. 
He was educated in the local schools, the academies at New Bloom- 
field and Tuscarora (Juniata County), Washington College and 
Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating from the college 
in i860 and from the seminary in 1863. In 1861 the famous 
Christian Commission, which did such heroic and excellent work 
during the War between the States, was appointed, and the second 
name on the Commission was that of John Linn Milligan. It was 
an organization formed at the call of the Young Men's Christian 
Association, of New York City, for the purpose of looking after 
the spiritual and temporal welfare of Union soldiers. Thousands 
of ministers and the most active laymen of the North worked 
personally under its direction, on the battlefield, on the march, and 
in camp and hospital. 

Just home from graduation at the seminary, when Lee's army 
came north and when troops were rapidly being raised to meet the 
emergency, he enlisted in Company I of the 36th Regiment Penna. 
Volunteers, and was made captain of his company on July 10, 
1863. Soon after the expiration of this three-month term of 
service, in November, 1863, he was appointed chaplain of the 
140th Pennsylvania Volunteers, with which he remained until the 
war's end, being mustered out May 31, 1865. He came home with 
his faithful saddle horse, "Appomattox." On many a battlefield 
he aided the wounded and dying, while exposed to shot and shell. 
Soon after being mustered out he became pastor of the First Pres- 
byterian Church at Horicon, Wisconsin, where he remained until 
February 3, 1869, when he was appointed chaplain of the Western 
penitentiary of Pennsylvania, located at Allegheny City, now a 



75 8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

part of Pittsburgh. He continued there until June, i^ he 
was made chaplain emeritus, owing to his incapacity to fill the 
duties on account of ill health 

The National Prison Association was organized in 18/O and 
Mr Milhgan was a charter member and the secretary for eighteen 
years In 1908 he was its president. He was a charter member of 
[he Allegheny Prison Society and, after the death of the ate W 1- 
1 Thaw, w'as its president until his death. He was sis times ^ 
representative of the United States government at the Interna 
ZaT Prison Congress, having attended the .sessions at London 
Stockholm, Paris, St. Petersburg, Rome and Budapest. He was 
stated clerk of the Allegheny Presbytery for thirty-seven years 
and upon its consolidation with the Pittsburgh Presbytery in 1906 
was elected its first moderator. The Presbytery presented him a 
Wsome loving cup, bearing the names of all its ministers and 
their churches. His name will ever stand foremost-the most 
Iggres^ve advocate of prison reform in the United States, and a 
l g neer along more humane lines of punishment. Much of his 
lime was spent in inducing those who had led clean lives to take 
an interest in those who had fallen by the way 

He will be remembered as the brother of the late Thomas H 
Milligan, who so long conducted a hardware business at Newport. 
He died a<>-ed 72 years, on July 12, 1909, at the home of Mrs. J. 
H Irwin a sisterf at Newport, from the result of an apoplectic 
stroke, received in his pulpit at the penitentiary on Sunday. Janu- 
ary 17 1909. Mrs. H. O. Orris, another sister, also resides at 
Newport. Among the tributes at his graveside was a wrerfi oi 
aalix leaves, palms and carnations from the prisoners of the West- 
ern 'penitentiary, whom he loved and who loved him-in itself a 
mighty sermon. 

Rev. James Linn, D.D. 
In the Presbyterian Church at Belief onte, Pennsylvania, a grate- 
ful congregation has erected to the memory of a native Perry 
Countian, long their faithful pastor, a tablet bearing this inscnp- 

tion : 

In Memory of 

Rev. James Linn, D.D., 

58 Years Pastor of this Church, 

Born September 4, 1783. 

Died February 23, 1868. 

Faithful— Wise— Meek— Patient 

Pure — Devout. 

Rev lames Linn, son of Rev. John Linn, pioneer pastor of 

Centre Church, in Perry County, and Mary (Gettys) Linn, was 

born September 4, 1783. Of all the many ministers born within 

the limits of what is now Perry County he occupies a distinctive 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 759 

place, for during- the fifty-eight years of his ministry he was the 
pastor of but one charge, the longest pastorate of any. James 
Linn attended the subscription schools of the period, and had the 
advantage of instruction in the home. He entered Dickinson Col- 
lege and graduated in the class of 1805. He then began the study 
of theology with Rev. Williams, of Newville, and on September 
27, 1808, was licensed to preach by the Carlisle Presbytery. In 
later years he spoke of the membership of Carlisle Presbytery as 
"a noble band of venerable men, and men of talents." In the 
spring of 1809 he was sent to Spruce Creek and Sinking Valley as 
a supply for a few times, and then to Belief onte, which had just be- 
come vacant. Lick Run was attached to the Bellefonte appointment. 
He filled in as a supply for but a few Sundays, when the two 
churches gave him a call, each to have half of his services and each 
to pay half his salary. He was released from Lick Run in 1839, 
as the Bellefonte church had grown from a membership of fifty to 
five times that number. When he went there the meetings were 
held in the courthouse, as there was no church, and there he was 
ordained. During the early years of his ministry he taught in the 
Bellefonte Academy, and for many years thereafter was presi- 
dent of its board of trustees. In 1859 the congregation celebrated 
the fiftieth anniversary of his pastorate, and two years later it was 
noticed that his strength was failing, but his people refused to give 
him up, and secured an assistant pastor for him. He passed away 
February 23, 1868. As his strength failed him he dwelt much 
among the earlier scenes in what is now Perry County and longed 
for a drink "from the old spring by his father's church" at Centre. 
He was twice married. One of his children was Judge Samuel 
Linn, born February 20, 1820, and elected president judge of the 
Centre-Clearfield-Clinton District in 1859. Rev. Linn was given 
the D.D. degree by Dickinson. He was a man of strong indi- 
viduality and sound judgment, with a rare vein of humor and a 
cheerful disposition. 

Rev. Thomas Creigh, D.D. 

Elsewhere in this book appears the statement that Dr. John 
Creigh, a practicing physician of Landisburg from 1799 to l & l 9. 
moved from that town to Carlisle to educate his children. Rev. 
Thomas Creigh was one of the children, and was born in Landis- 
burg, September 9, 1808, his mother having been Eleanor (Dun- 
bar) Creigh. The family were of German origin, and the name 
signifies war or warrior. The ancestry had left Germany during 
the reign of James I and settled in Ireland. John Creigh, the first 
of the clan in America, settled in Cumberland County and was one 
of the delegates from Cumberland County to the historic meeting 
in Carpenter's Hall in Philadelphia, from June 18, 1776, to June 



;6o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

25, 1776, which unanimously declared that the Province of Penn- 
sylvania was from thenceforth a free and independent colony. 

Thomas was the seventh child of a family of six sons and four 
daughters, two others being the noted John D. Creigh, of Califor- 
nia, and Dr. Alfred Creigh, of Washington, Pennsylvania. Landis- 
burg at that time having no Presbyterian church the family wor- 
shiped at Centre Church. The first eleven years of his life were 
spent in Landisburg, a quiet, sober-minded youth, with a gentle, 
reserved, serious disposition which adhered to him throughout life. 
He graduated from Dickinson College in 1828. During his college 
course he was greatly perplexed over the matter of personal sal- 
vation, but with its completion joined the Presbyterian Church. 
He had kept a diary, and in it had promised that if God made him 
a child of His grace he would consecrate himself to His service. 
Accordingly, he read under Rev. George Duffield, D.D., and 
spent two years at Princeton Theological Seminary. On April 12, 
183 1, he was licensed to preach. He was unanimously called to 
succeed Rev. David Elliot, another Perry Countian, as pastor of 
the Upper West Conococheague Church at Mercersburg, and was 
installed November 17, 1831, being then in but his twenty-third 
year. This church, then one hundred and six years old, had but 
four regularly ordained ministers during that time. For forty- 
eight and one-half years he was the messenger of God unto that 
people, being their pastor at his death, April 21, 1880. Within four 
months after his installation one hundred and seven persons had 
united with the church on profession of faith. He was a man of 
fine proportions, of the ordinary stature. He was affable, cour- 
teous, dignified and unassuming. His preaching was evangelical, 
orthodox and scriptural ; a man of strong faith, much given to 
prayer and noted for habitual prudence and the purity of his life. 
He is spoken of "as the Apostle John in the good fellowship of 
the Presbytery." 

He was twice married, his first wife having been Miss Anna 
Hunter Jacobs, of Churchtown, Lancaster County, and the second, 
Miss Jane McClelland Grubb, of Mercersburg. Lafayette College 
honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1853. 

David Elliot, D.D., LL.D. 

In the chapters relating to Saville Township and in the narrative 
of Robert Robinson mention is made of an Elliot family, one of 
whose descendants became a divine of note and for long years held 
a professorship in the Theological Seminary at Allegheny City. 
David Elliot was born near what is now Ickesburg, on February 
6, 1787, on what later was the Boden farm. When sixteen years 
old he began attending a classical school in Tuscarora Valley con- 
ducted by Rev. John Coulter. In 1804 he transferred to a classical 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 761 

school at Mifflintown, staying with Rev. Matthew Brown, where 
he finished his Greek and Latin. In 1805 he became a junior in- 
structor in Washington College, through the intercession of Rev. 
Brown, who had resigned his pastorate to become a professor in 
the same institution and who later became its president. In 1806 
he matriculated as a student of Dickinson College and graduated 
in 1808. In 181 1 he was licensed to preach by the Presbytery at 
Carlisle, and in 1812 received a call to the Upper West Conoco- 
cheague Church at Mercersburg, where he remained until 1829. 
He was then called to Washington, Pennsylvania, where he was 
pastor until 1836. Washington College had been for years almost 
dormant, and to Rev. Elliot is due principally its rehabilitation. 
In 1835 the degree of D.D. was conferred on him by Jefferson 
College at Canonsburg, and in 1847 the degree of LL-.D., by Wash- 
ington College. In 1836, at the call of the General Assembly of 
the Presbyterian Church, he accepted a professorship at the West- 
ern Theological Seminary at Allegheny City, where he remained 
for thirty-four years, until 1870. He was then elected a professor 
emeritus, serving until his death in 1874. 

At a most trying time in 1838 he was moderator of the General 
Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. J. I. Brownson, in an 
address on his life, mentions the opinion of Chief Justice John 
Bannister Gibson (another Perry Countian) in connection with 
litigation which reached the Supreme Court. It follows: 

"Never did a Presbyterian moderator occupy the chair in so momentous 
and trying a crisis. Yet there he sat, calm above the tumult, meeting each 
emergency with instant decision, and yet with an accuracy which, in every 
instance, received the sanction of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, as 
expressed in the opinion rendered by one of the ablest judges of this or 
any other state, — the late Chief Justice John Bannister Gibson. 

"That eminent jurist, after a most exhaustive review of the proceedings, 
■ — of which the moderator's decisions were often the most vital, — as well 
as the pleadings, arguments of counsel and the adverse judgments of the 
Court of Nisi Prius, vindicated each of these decisions separately, as well 
as all of them conjointly. 

"It was just after this searching review that the distinguished chief jus- 
tice is reported to have said, in conversation with a gentleman of the bar, 
that Pennsylvania had only missed having the best lawyer in the state, in 
the person of Dr. Elliot, by his becoming a minister of the gospel." 

His father was Thomas Elliot, who at the close of the French 
and Indian War had settled on 400 acres of land in the vicinity 
of Ickesburg, the prior right of which he purchased for $800. 
He was one of five children, three being sons, of a second mar- 
riage. His was a case where the qualities of a religious and 
pious father and mother were transmitted to a son, his mother 
having taught him his prayers, his catechetical lesson, and his secu- 
lar lessons almost as soon as he could talk. When he became six 
he went to such local schools as were available and where the 



j62 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

books in use were Dillworth's spelling book, the Bible, and Cough's 
arithmetic. After graduating in 1808 his pastor, Rev. John Linn, 
became his preceptor in theology for two years. His third and 
last year was with Rev. Joshua Williams, D.D., of Newville. He 
was married May 14, 181 2, to Ann, daughter of Edward West, 
then a resident of Landisburg. 

Not the least of his works was the organization of the Franklin 
County Bible Society in 181 5, which was one of the societies which 
a year later organized the American Bible Society in New York- 
City. 

Dr. Elliot is recognized as having been one of the leading the- 
ologists of the nation. To him, more than to any other, is due the 
credit of the success of the Western Theological Seminary, at Alle- 
gheny City, now a part of Pittsburgh. Almost a thousand men 
went forth, during his incumbency, as ministers of the gospel in 
this and foreign lands. The institution is a monument to his in- 
dustry and devotion. He was its head for thirty-eight years. "He 
went there in his full prime," said Dr. Jacobus, "fifty years old — 
ripe in experience and rich in resources for his generation." 

In his ministry Rev. Elliot went systematically to his work. 
With a faithful preaching of the word he joined regular pastoral 
visitation. Dr. Creigh said of him: "His people were devotedly 
attached to him. He was to them all they desired, both as preacher 
and pastor. As a preacher he was instructive and edifying ; as a 
pastor he was sympathizing and laborious ; as a friend he was 
sociable and reliable, and as a man he was godly and exemplary 
in all his conduct." 

D. F. Garland, D.D., Noted Welfare Worker. 

When Will H. Hays, the recent Postmaster General of the 
United States, entered office under the Harding administration, he 
found conditions such that he immediately decided to organize a 
Welfare Department within the province of his bureau. He 
called, according to the public press, the two most expert men in 
that line in the United States, to his aid, and the first named was 
1). Frank Garland, D.D., a native Perry Countian, and known to 
many of its people. 

Daniel Frank Garland was born July 10, 1864, in Madison 
Township, near Andersonburg, the son of Daniel Minich and 
Elizabeth (Kistler) Garland. Until sixteen he attended school 
near Bixler's Mill each winter, the term being then five months. 
He attended the New Bloomfield Academy during the spring term 
of 1880, and both the winter and spring terms of 1880-81. He 
taught two terms in Perry County. He entered Pennsylvania 
College at Gettysburg, September, 1884, and graduated with sec- 
ond honors, 1888, having been valedictorian of his class. During 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



763 



1888-90 he taught in the Stevens Academy and Preparatory School 
at Gettysburg, at the same time attending the Theological Semi- 
nary, from which he graduated in 1891. Entering the ministry of 
the Lutheran denomination he served as pastor of the Church of 
the Reformation, Baltimore, 1891-96; of Trinity Lutheran Church, 
Taneytown, Maryland, 1896-99, and of the First Lutheran Church, 
Dayton, Ohio, 1899-1914. 

Dr. Garland's work in Dayton attracted the attention of the 
public, especially during the great flood of 1913. Primarily that 




D. F. GARLAND, D.D., 
Noted Welfare Worker. Born in Madison Township. 

flood was the cause of the formation of a Welfare Department in 
the city of Dayton, one of the very first departments of that kind 
in our great cities. It is an integral part of the commission- 
manager form of government resulting from the great flood. It 
is one of five major departments, occuping the same plane as the 
departments of Service, Safety, Finance and Law, and combines 
in its work a greater line of activities than similar departments in 
other cities. Its work encompassed health, recreation, legal aid, 
prison oversight, and the work of the visiting nurses and indirectly 



764 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the associated charities. The health department alone had a staff 
which included thirteen dairy and sanitary inspectors. The legal 
aid department took up the small troubles of householders too poor 
to employ attorneys, and the department of parks had charge of 
520 acres of parks and recreation grounds. When Dr. Garland was 
chosen to fill this position of such great responsibility he was not 
unknown elsewhere, for his services as a minister, of the Lutheran 
Church, as a vigorous writer and forceful and eloquent lecturer 
had long attracted attention. From the first he seems to have 
dedicated his life to others, maintaining high ideals of man's duty 
to man and upholding these with all his physical strength and men- 
tal vigor. He labored in his chosen profession unselfishly and zeal- 
ously, and when he saw a wider field and had a call to teach tem- 
poral truth, in order to bring about a better social condition of life, 
he did not hesitate to accept. 

Study, investigation, travel and personal experience have well 
equipped Dr. Garland for his task. In 1912 he returned from 
Europe, where he had made a study of municipal government and 
welfare, and many of the admirable things observed in other 
municipalities were incorporated into the welfare work at Dayton. 
For many years he has made welfare work a study and has lec- 
tured to large, intelligent and enthusiastic audiences, among his 
subjects being city government, garden cities in Europe, food con- 
servation, the World War, and welfare work in American cities. 
When he resigned his pastorate in 1914, which he had held for 
fifteen years, to accept the new task of welfare supervision, he 
stated the need of that work in these words : "We have reached 
a new era in public welfare. Public welfare work has come to be 
extended beyond the fondest dreams of social workers of a genera- 
tion ago. The ultimate object of this enlarged field of social serv- 
ice is to restore to the people, efficient and effective citizenship." 
In the light of much knowledge and in protest against inequalities 
and iniquities that have brought misery to the helpless, Dr. Garland 
accepted a new conception of government that would concern it- 
self with the special problems of human life, of community effi- 
ciency and community betterment, and with that conception let us 
again quote from a public address by him : "The city of Dayton, 
under the commission-manager plan of government, has laid the 
foundation for and is working toward the realization of this new 
conception of the obligation of the city to all her citizens. Under 
the present plan the Department of Public Welfare includes in the 
scope of its activities the public health, public recreation, public 
parks, correctional and reformatory institutions, outdoor relief, 
legal aid, municipal employment, a municipal lodging house, and a 
study of and research into causes of poverty, delinquency, crime, 
disease, and other social problems. Dayton is limited in reve- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 765 

nues and therefore cannot assume as yet the entire community 
burden. However, the Department of Public Welfare, through a 
cooperative scheme of organization, has brought under one central- 
ized control all public health, nursing and recreation functions of 
the entire city. These agencies are administered from its offices." 

Upon Dr. Garland's retirement from the ministry on December 
31, 1913, he was director of the Dayton Welfare Department from 
January 1, 1914, until December 31, 1920, when he became director 
of the Welfare Department of the National Cash Register Com- 
pany of Dayton. During the first three months he was sent on a 
mission to Europe to study international relations and the working 
of the League of Nations. 

Dr. Garland's reputation as a speaker is country-wide. Our own 
Harrisburg Telegraph said of him, January 5, 1916: "There have 
been many speakers before the Harrisburg Chamber of Commerce, 
including United States Senators, great architects, publicists and 
others, but none of these made a deeper impression upon the repre- 
sentatives of our business community than Dr. D. F. Garland, of 
Dayton, on the subject, 'The New Conception of the City,' etc." 
Elbert Hubbard's noted magazine, July, 1914, said of him: "I do 
not know his denomination and I am not interested in it. The 
man himself is bigger than party, bigger than sect. He is a hu- 
manitarian. His particular work is largely social. He knows the 
people, knows what they are doing, and his heart is full of desire 
to bless and benefit." 

Dr. Garland occupies a position of prominence on many chari- 
table and philanthropic boards, including : Dayton Tuberculosis 
Society, Greater Dayton Association, Federation for Charity and 
Philanthropy, Provident Collateral Loan Company, Community 
Chest Association, Barney Community Centre, Mary Scott Home, 
Feghtly Home for Widows, Associated Charities, and others. He 
was president of the Bureau of Municipal Research, 1912-16, and 
is a member of the Ohio State Commission on Health and Old Age 
Insurance. He is a trustee of the Tuberculosis Hospital of Mont- 
gomery and Preble Counties, and vice-president of the Lutheran 
Home for Aged Women. There is no doubt that Dr. Garland 
stands first in welfare work among those who have gone out from 
his home county and state, and it is to be questioned if he does not 
occupy the same place in the nation. 

S. Standhope Orris, Ph.D., L.H.D. 

S. Standhope Orris, Ph.D., L.H.D., son of Adam and Catherine 
(Shull) Orris, was born February 19, 1832, in Saville Township, 
near Ickesburg. He attended the public schools. He made a pub- 
lic confession of his faith in the Presbyterian Church of Lower 
Tuscarora, Pa., at the age of eighteen. His preparatory studies 



766 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

were pursued in the Tuscarora Academy at Academia, Pa., and he 
graduated with honors from Princeton College in 1862. Entering 
the seminary at Princeton in the fall of the same year, he took the 
full three years' course there, graduating in 1865. He was licensed 
by the Presbytery of Huntingdon, June 20, 1865. For a year after 
his licensure he was tutor of Latin in Princeton College. He was 
ordained by the Presbytery of Huntingdon, May 30, 1866, being 
at the same time installed pastor of the Spruce Creek (Pa.) Church. 
This relation was dissolved June 8, 1869. He spent the following 
year in study in Germany. Returning to this country he assumed 
charge of a mission chapel connected with the Collegiate Reformed 
Church of New York City, which he served for one year. He was 
professor of the Greek Language and Literature in Marietta Col- 
lege, Ohio, from 1873, t0 l< &77> wnen he was called as an associate 
professor to a similar chair at Princeton. In the following year he 
was made professor. Later this chair was named the Ewing Pro- 
fessorship of Greek Language and Literature, and its occupant 
was also called instructor in Greek Philosophy. This chair he 
occupied until 1902, when the state of his health compelled him 
reluctantly to resign. He was made professor emeritus. He re- 
ceived the degree of Ph.D. from Princeton in 1875, and that of 
L.H.D. from Lafayette College in 1889. Dr. Orris was director 
of the American Classical School at Athens, Greece, during the 
academic year 1889-90. He was a lifelong student of Plato, and 
left a manuscript on the Plantonic and Aristotelian Philosophy and 
its bearing on Christianity and the Christian religion, which it is 
expected will be published. While traveling in China in 1903, he 
was stricken with paralysis in the city of Hong Kong. Upon his 
recovery from this stroke he returned to America and took up his 
residence at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. There he suffered from 
a second stroke of paralysis in 1904. He died December 17. 1905, 
at Harrisburg, of paralysis, in the seventy-fourth year of his age. 
He had never married. 

Anna Frcehlich, Noted Teacher. 

At a time when practically all principals of schools were men. 
the Duncannon (Pa.) school board elected Miss Anna Frcehlich 
as principal. That was in 1885, before which time very, very few 
women had ever risen to that distinction, as in those days positions 
of that character were invariably filled by men. Miss Frcehlich 
is a noted teacher even to-day. She is the daughter of Henry and 
Mary (Hecker) Frcehlich, and was born in Duncannon and reared 
in a country home, in Penn Township, a mile west of that town. 
She attended the Mt. Pleasant school and the Millersville State 
Normal School, where she completed the elementary course in 
1882, and the scientific course in 1900. She then taught in the 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



?6 7 



public schools of Millerstown and, as stated, was elected principal 
of the Duncannon High School in [885, being one of a few Perry 
County women who, at that time, held State Normal school diplo- 
mas. Miss Frcehlich was not an applicant for the position, until 
requested to become one by the hoard of directors. 




MISS ANNA FROEHLICH, 
A Noted Woman Educator, Born in Duncannon. 

Following her work in Duncannon Miss Frcehlich taught thirty 
years in the State Normal Schools of Pennsylvania, having been at 
Lock Haven for twenty consecutive years. She was also con- 
nected with Hood College for five years. Miss Frcehlich has al- 
ways been engaged in advanced work, having prepared herself 



768 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

further by summer courses at Columbia University and by a sum- 
mer tour of Europe. She is now connected with the Training De- 
partment of the State Normal School at Millersville. 

In 1818 Miss Frcehlich published "A Long Road Home," being 
fragments of history, genealogy and biography from among the 
families of her girlhood, but which in reality is a tribute to her 
parentage and her old home. It is to be regretted that more Perry 
Countians have not seen fit to issue small volumes along the same 
lines. The volume in possession of the writer is highly prized. 

Ovando Byron Super. 

Ovando Byron Super was born March 2, 1848, near Milford 
(later Juniata, now Wila P. O.), in Juniata Township. He was 
the son of Henry and Mary (Diener) Super. He attended local 
schools and elsewhere, but his preparation for college was mainly 
personal, a rare feat. He entered Dickinson College in 1871 and 
completed the course in two years, standing near the head of his 
class. He received the A.B. degree in 1873, and the A.M. degree 
in 1879 from his alma mater. He was granted the degree of Ph.D. 
by Boston University in 1883. For three years he was professor 
of Modern Languages in Delaware College at Newark, Delaware. 
He studied at Leipzig and Paris during the years 1876-78. He 
was instructor in modern languages in Williamsport Dickinson 
Seminary for two years, and at Denver University from 1880 to 
1884. He was professor of Modern Languages at Dickinson Col- 
lege from 1884 to 1900, and professor of Romance Languages 
from 1900 until his retirement on a Carnegie pension in 1913. He 
edited the Alumni Record of Dickinson College and also about a 
dozen textbooks in German and French. In July, 1880, he mar- 
ried Emma Murray Lefferts, of New York City. He has three 
daughters. He resides at San Diego, California. 

Henry W. Feickinger, Expert Penman. 

Henry W. Flickinger, the most expert penman native of Perry 
County, and one of the most prominent penmen in the United 
States, was born near Ickesburg, Saville Township, August 30, 
1845, the son of Peter and Margaret (Ritter) Flickinger. He at- 
tended the public schools of his vicinity. Then came the Sectional 
War, with its attendant call to duty, and on July 18, 1864, he en- 
listed in Company D, First Battalion, to serve "Too days." He 
became fifer of the company and captain's clerk. He again en- 
listed. March 24, 1865, in Company F, 104th Regiment, Pennsyl- 
vania Volunteers, to serve one year. He was sent to Camp Cad- 
wallader, Philadelphia, and detailed as a clerk in the registering 
office. He was honorably discharged July 20, 1865, the war having 
terminated. After a brief stay at home he matriculated at Eastman 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 769 

Business College, Poughkeepsie, New York, for a course in book- 
keeping and penmanship. J lis ability as a penman was at once 
apparent to the faculty and he was employed by the college, Janu- 
ary 1, 1866, as a part of their staff, teaching practical and orna- 
mental penmanship. He remained there one year, then taught 
two years in Crittenden Commercial College at Philadelphia. In 




Expert penman. Born in Saville Township. 

1870-71 he spent a year in Washington, D. C, assisting the authors 
in revising the Spencerian System of Penmanship. 

Returning to Philadelphia, Prof. Flickinger taught in the Pierce 
Business College. During 1875-76 he was employed by Ivison, 
Blakeman, Taylor & Company of New York City, and assigned to 
Washington, D. C, to assist Mr. Lyman P. Spencer — the noted 
penman — in preparing a large and elaborate collection of pen 
work which was displayed at the Centennial Exhibition at Phila- 
delphia in 1876, as an advertisement of the Spencerian publications. 
The largest exhibit, the Declaration of Independence, was illus- 
49 



770 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

trated by drawings of the founders and others, lettering and script, 
surrounded by an oval border of oak and ivy leaves, executed en- 
tirely with the pen. It was enclosed in a frame about 5x8 feet, 
and was valued at $4,000. It is now the property of the American 
Book Company of New York. Since that time Prof. Flickinger 
has taught in the Pierce School, College of Commerce, Temple 
College, Central High School, Catholic High School, besides being 
the author of various copy books. The Barnes Copy Books and 
One Hundred Writing Lessons are his work. He also wrote a 
series of copy books in French, for a Montreal publisher, and a 
series for the B. D. Berry Company, largely used in the Middle 
West. At a National Convention of the Teachers' Association, 
Prof. Flickinger was presented with a loving cup, and when a 
member of the Union League of Philadelphia entertained noted 
penmen he was the guest of honor. For about ten years he has 
made his home in Glenolden, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Phila- 
delphia. He has written a number of sacred songs, published by 
the late Charles M. Alexander, the noted evangelist. 

Another noted Perry County penman is J. C. Miller, born at 
Sandy Hill, January 15, 1849, the son of Andrew and Judith Ann 
(Ritter) Miller, at present living retired at New Bloomfield. He 
attended the local schools and Lancaster Business College, where 
he graduated. He also took a course at the Iron City Business 
College. He taught in business colleges at Lancaster, Chambers- 
burg, Wilmington, Roanoke, Lynchburg, Elmira and Mansfield. 
Mr. Miller is an expert ornamental penman and alto-relief artist. 
In early life he also taught in the public schools. 

Lelia Dromgold Emig. 

I. ilia Dromgold Emig is the author and compiler of the Hench 
and Dromgold Records, which in reality is a genealogy of the 
original families of Nicholas Ickes, Johannes Hench, Zachariah 
Rice, John Hartman, Thomas Dromgold and kindred families who 
had settled in Chester County prior to the Revolution, in which 
they fought. Through defective titles these pioneers lost their 
lands, and it was thus that Perry County became the haven of those 
goodly men and women whose impress is still felt in the commu- 
nity, and whose descendants have filled positions of note and trust, 
and are to-day a substantial part of the citizenship of Perry County. 

Lelia Dromgold Emig was born near Saville, Saville Township, 
January 21, 1872, the daughter of Walker A. and Martha Ellen 
( Shull) Dromgold. When she was nine years of age her mother 
died. She had attended the public schools here, but two years 
after her mother's death, with a brother, she went to York, Penn- 
sylvania, where her father, of the firm of Hench & Dromgold, was 
engaged in the manufacturing business. There she continued her 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



771 



studies in the public schools and in the Collegiate Institute of York. 
In 1894 she was married to Clayton E. Emig, an attorney-at-law 
of Washington, I). C, and has since resided in the National Capi- 
tal, their home at Dupont Circle being the mecca of a large and 
influential circle of friends. To them were born three daughters: 
Evelyn Martha, Lelia Clayton and Gladys, now Mrs. Wm. P. 
Doincf. 



■M^ '*W 




LELIA DROMGOLD EMIG, 
Genealogist. Born in Saville Township. 

Early in life Mrs. Emig became interested in philanthropic and 
club work and has held many positions of responsibility in the 
various organizations to which she belongs, the Federation of 
Women's Clubs, Women's Christian Temperance Union, Daugh- 
ters of the American Revolution, Young Women's Christian As- 
sociation, Rubinstein and Women's City Club. As a member of 
Calvary Baptist Church she is likewise interested in city mission 
work. 

Mrs. Emig is known as an organizer and is the founder of a 
large chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, named 
in honor of her ancestress, Abigail Hartman Rice, a nurse of Revo- 



7/2 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



lutionary days. She also organized a Society of Children of the 
American Revolution, which was named by Mrs. Wm. Howard 
Taft, while mistress of the White House. This society from its 
membership produced fifty who served in the World War. 

It was through the interest created by the Hench and Dromgold 
Reunions held in Perry County that Mrs. Emig became enthusi- 
astic in genealogical work, and in 1915 she compiled and published 
her work on the Hench, Dromgold and allied families, as stated 
above. Her material for her new work, "The Johannas Hench 
Family," is well under way. Mrs. Emig is a descendant of not 
only all five of the family heads which comprise her former vol- 
ume, and can trace her ancestry to Messrs. Hench, Hartman, Rice, 
Ickes, Loy, Foose, Donnally, Yohn and Shull, all Revolutionary 
patriots. During the World War her daughters all served the gov- 
ernment. Gladys and Lelia were among the first women to enroll 
as Yoemen of the First Class in the Navy, and Evelyn was in the 
office of the Adjutant General. Her husband, Capt. Emig, served 
for seventeen months in the Aviation Department of the Signal 
Corps. 

Inventor and Manufacturers, S. Nevin Hench and 
Waeker A. Dromgold. 

In York, Pennsylvania, there stands a large manufacturing plant, 
that of the Hench-Dromgold Company, which is a monument to 
the ingenuity, energy and industry of two native Perry Countians, 
S. Nevin Hench and Walker A. Dromgold. There farm imple- 
ments are manufactured upon a large scale, and where farm imple- 
ments are used the firm name of Hench & Dromgold is known and 
stands for stability. George W. Hench was the father of S. Nevin 
Hench, whose ancestry had by purchase accumulated holdings of 
about seven hundred acres of land in the vicinity of Ickesburg, in 
Saville Township, Perry County, at the close of the Revolution. 
The cultivation of many of these broad acres devolved upon the 
boys of the family, and S. Nevin, being of an inventive turn of 
mind, began experimenting on implements which would lighten 
their labors. There, in his grandfather's old blacksmith shop, at 
Saville, in 1873, S. Nevin Hench, the boy in his teens, invented 
and made during rainy days, the first pivot-axle riding cultivator. 
The succeeding year he built two machines for neighbors. In 
1S77, he and Walker A. Dromgold formed a partnership and 
manufactured eight machines. In 1878, they had 125 machines 
manufactured under contract at York, and the following year, in 
a modest little factory of their own, they began manufacturing on 
a more extensive scale. That was the real beginning of one of 
York's leading industries. After twelve years' occupation of that 
modest plant, in 1890, they erected a large manufacturing plant in 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



73 



the west end of that city, with over 100,000 feet of floor space and 
covering several acres. Their production made an annual gain and 
they added other implements later, including harrows, corn shellers, 
cider mills, sawmills, engines, etc. Later the firm became the 
Hench & Dromgold Company, with S. Nevin Hench as president 
and Walker A. Dromgold, secretary and treasurer. 

S. Nevin Hench, son of George W. and Frances (Rice) Hench, 
was born June 27, 1854, in Saville Township. His education was 
secured in the country schools, but to his inventive genius was he 
indebted for his success. He was married January 11, 1885, to 
Emma Flinchbaugh. His father's ancestry was Swiss, and his 




S. NEVIN HENCH 

Noted Inventor and Manufacturers 



WALKER A. DROMGOLD 
Both Born in Saville Township. 



mother's French. When his industry and genius had made him 
one of York's foremost citizens, he was found among those who 
were working for civic betterment, good citizenship, temperance, 
public health and allied interests. He was on the school board of 
that city for fifteen years and was its president for five. He was 
president of the Young Men's Christian Association for five years, 
and served continuously as a teacher and officer of the Sunday 
school of Grace Reformed Church and as an elder in that church 
for over twenty years. For years he was a member of the Board 
of Trustees of the Eastern Theological Seminary at Lancaster. 
Mr. Hench contracted a throat affection, from which he died on 
August 20, 1 910. 

Walker A. Dromgold, son of John and Bandinah (Hench) 
Dromgold, was one of eleven children, and was born near Saville, 
Saville Township, March 4, 1850. He received his education in 



774 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the public schools and then followed the carpenter trade for a 
time. He was married April 23, 1871, to Martha Ellen Shull, 
daughter of William and Elizabeth (Rice) Shull, and spent a few 
years farming in Juniata County, later returning to the Dromgold 
homestead, where, in 1881, Mrs. Dromgold died. He had previ- 
ously associated himself in the business partnership with his cousin, 
S. Nevin Hench, and in 1882 moved to York, where they had 
erected a small plant. They were in partnership until the death 
of Mr. Hench, in 1910. Mr. Dromgold yet resides in York, Penn- 
sylvania, and at this time is interested in a project to build twenty 
dams in the Susquehanna River, between Harrisburg and the bay, 
thus making the river navigable and furnishing power to many 
great industries. 

Edgar Newton Lupfer, Prominent Manufacturer. 

Edgar Newton Lupfer, president and general manager of the 
Springfield (Ohio) Metallic Casket Company, was born February 
28, 1856, on the Lupfer farm, adjoining on the west the original 
site of New Bloomfield, and a part of it now covered by half of 
that borough. He is the eldest son of the late William and Han- 
nah M. (Pillow) Lupfer, his mother being from the vicinity of 
Dellville, in Wheatfield Township. Jacob Lupfer came to> Perry 
County in 1778, from Montgomery County, where he had dwelt 
three years, after coming from Wittenberg, Saxony. He was the 
ancestor of the Lupfers and purchased the lands lying next to the 
Barnett tract, which passed from his great-grandson, William Lup- 
fer, to W. A. Sponsler, in 1875. This property was later owned 
by John Adams, and in 1921 came into the possession of Rob- 
ert E. McPherson. There is a legend that this entire tract was 
once purchased from the Indians for a string of beads and a bull 
calf. Unlike so many names, the name Lupfer is spelled just as it 
was signed by Jacob Lupfer on the passenger list of the ship 
"Phoenix," which sailed from Rotterdam and landed at the port 
of Philadelphia, November 22, 1752. On that farm were born 
four generations of Lupfers, — Casper Lupfer, his son David Lup- 
fer, his grandson, William Lupfer, the father of Edgar Newton 
Lupfer, who was also born there. Casper Lupfer was a public- 
spirited citizen and deeded in perpetuity two tracts of land, lying 
side by side, to the rear of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches, 
as a burial ground, and in that belonging to the Reformed Church, 
he sleeps. 

In the spring of 1861, William Lupfer, his wife and family of 
four children, removed from Perry County to Shelby, Ohio, and 
engaged in the dry goods business, a year later engaging in the 
same business in Shiloh, Ohio. In 1870 he sold that business and 
moved back to Perry County, purchasing from the heirs of his 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 775 

father, David Lupfer, who had died that spring, the Lupfer farm. 
In the fall of 1876, the family again removed, to Springfield, Ohio, 
the city in which the son, Edgar Newton Lupfer, has become so 
successful. 

His earlier schooling was augmented by attending the High 
School at Shiloli, Ohio, until fourteen, and the New Bloomficld 
Academy from 1870 to 1873, when he entered the office of the 
New Bloomficld Times, of which Frank Mortimer was then editor, 
to learn the printing trade. Serving his three-year apprenticeship 
he worked but four and a half days as a journeyman printer, but 
is said to have "never regretted his experience in a printing office, 
as it stood him well in hand in after life." On removing to Ohio 
at the termination of his apprenticeship, his father induced him to 
drop the desire to follow his trade and to join him in conducting 
a grocery store. In 1884 he was appointed general agent of the 
Superior Grain Drill Company (now the American Seeding Ma- 
chine Company), of Springfield, having his headquarters at Har- 
risburg, and supervising ninety-two agencies in eastern Pennsyl- 
vania, Delaware and Maryland. He was married in the fall of 
1884 to Elizabeth Ann Baker, and in the spring of 1885 returned 
to Springfield, which he regarded as his home, and purchased an 
interest in a new firm, then started only about a year, to manu- 
facture a new patented metallic casket. In 1886 the company was 
incorporated with Mr. Lupfer as secretary. The president was 
Ross Mitchell, who was born in Landisburg, Perry County, and 
who went with his parents to Springfield when quite a boy. He 
became very wealthy and successful, and was a member of the 
firm of Warder, Mitchell & Co. of Springfield, manufacturers of 
harvesting machinery, which firm later became the Warder, Bush- 
nell & Glessner Co., and then the International Harvester Co. 
Mr. Mitchell became one of the largest landowners in and around 
Springfield, Ohio. He lived to the age of ninety-three years, 
highly respected, a successful son of old Perry County. 

Elected as its secretary at its incorporation, Mr. Lupfer two 
years later, in 1888, was made secretary and general manager, 
which position he held until October 16, 19 17, when he succeeded 
Charles E. Patric as president, being continued as general manager 
as well. During his connection of thirty-five years with the Spring- 
field Metallic Casket Company, Mr. Lupfer has seen it grow from 
a small concern with a small line of goods to a large corporation 
with an extensive variety of funeral supplies, with a demand from 
coast to coast, and even in foreign lands. 

Mrs. Lupfer died March 23, 1916, leaving one son, Robert 
Newton Lupfer, secretary of the El wood Myers Company of 
Springfield. Mr. Lupfer on January 11, 1919, married Miss Min- 
nie L. Bergman, of Madison, Wisconsin. 



y~6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Mr. Lupfer has, by his ambition and foresight in managing, 
brought his company, the Springfield Metallic Casket Company, 
not only to a position of leadership among the powerful corpora- 
tions of Springfield, itself a great manufacturing city, but, as well, 
to be one of the strongest, if not the strongest concern in its line 
in the world. 

Coiv. George; E. Kemp, Postmaster at Philadelphia. 

Benjamin Franklin was the first postmaster of Philadelphia, and 
the twenty-seventh is Colonel George Edward Kemp, almost all 
of his early life a resident of Perry County, and the first one of the' 
entire list of postmasters of that historic city to rise from the 
ranks. He assumed office January I, 1922. As in other phases of 
his life, Colonel Kemp has started at the bottom rung and climbed 
to the top. Entering the employ of the post office department as 
a clerk on July 23, 1890, through a civil service examination he 
was assigned as a stamper, being promoted. to state distributor on 
October 15th following. December 1, 1891, he was made dis- 
tributor of New York and New Jersey mails, and November 27, 
1898, receiver of second-class matter. On September 1, 1905, he 
was appointed superintendent of the West Philadelphia Postal 
Station, where he remained, save while serving his state and coun- 
try in military duty, until his recent elevation to the postmastership 
— one of the big postal jobs of the country. 

George Edward Kemp was born in Philadelphia, March 9, 1866, 
but his mother died before he was six years old, and his father left 
shortly after for New Orleans, no word or trace of him hav- 
ing been had since 1871. He accordingly became a member 
of the family of George and Martha Kemp, his grandpar- 
ents, natives of England, who purchased and moved to what 
was then the Woods farm in Oliver Township, now the Wagner 
farm, near the Newport fair grounds. There he was taken in 
December, 1866, when but nine months old, and Perry County is 
the place to which he always refers as home. Roaming these rural 
hills as a boy he obtained the vigorous constitution which per- 
mitted him to go to the battlefields of France, when most men of 
his age were rejected. From hunting game in the "wilds of Pur- 
gatory" (a name oft applied to a heavily wooded section of Oliver 
Township), he obtained his love for rifle and pistol shooting that 
has made him one of the most noted rifle and pistol shots in Penn- 
sylvania. He obtained his education in Evergreen school, in Oliver 
Township, under the tutorage of Alfred M. Gantt, Joseph M. 
Eshelman, Miss Flora Gantt, Peter Smith, John R. Smith, Irvin 
Smith, and S. E. Burke Kinsloe. There from studying history and 
from listening to stories of the Perry County soldiers who fought 
in the Sectional War, he was inspired to become a soldier, and at 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



777 



the first opportunity enlisted in the National Guard of Pennsyl- 
vania. There, with a record of thirty-six years, he has risen from 
a private to colonel, and is still active. He was a noted speller. 
According to the custom of the times, the best speller forged to the 
head of the class — a long line of standing pupils — and when Kemp 




COL. GEO. E. KEMP, 
Postmaster at Philadelphia. Reared in Oliver Township. 

got there he stayed until the end of the term. He was one of the 
first scholars of the Nativity Episcopal Sunday school at Newport, 
and never missed a Sunday while residing in the county. His 
grandfather sold the farm near Newport, and on August 15, 1882, 
removed to Philadelphia, and with him went the future colonel 
and postmaster. He was always interested in athletic sports in 
Perry County and "the call of the hills" has never left him. He 
keeps in touch with his boyhood home by correspondence, the local 
press and by periodical visits, when he may be found tramping 
through a favorite ravine or bypath of his boyhood. 

On arriving at Philadelphia he attended the public schools a 
short time, but soon left to begin an apprenticeship at sailmaking 



yyg HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

with F. Valderherchen. He became a journeyman, on his twenty- 
first birthday, but, steam having taken the place of sails, he entered 
the postal service as told above. 

Colonel Kemp's military record is one of which any man 
would be proud. He became a private in Company A, Third In- 
fantry, of the Pennsylvania National Guard, August 6, 1886, be- 
ing promoted to corporal, June 22, 1888. On May 20, 1889, he 
was made second lieutenant, and on June 13, 1890, first lieutenant. 
On April 6, 1898, he was promoted to captain, and on July 11, 1903, 
to major. On July 24, 191 5, he was made lieutenant colonel, and 
on July 1, 1916, colonel. On April 1, 1921, he was appointed 
inspector general, with the rank of colonel. 

In the Spanish-American War he served as captain of Co. A., 
Third Penna. Volunteers, enlisting May 10, 1898, and being mus- 
tered out October 22d. When the Mexican border trouble came 
along in 191 6 he was colonel of the Third Penna. Infantry and 
U. S. National Guard from July I, 1916, to October 18th. 

During the World War, he was mustered into the U. S. service 
March 28, 1917, as colonel of the Third Penna. Infantry, being 
assigned to guarding railroads and industries, with headquarters 
at Altoona. On August 5, 1917, he was drafted into the U. S.' 
Army, and assigned to command the 110th U. S. Infantry from 
September 30th to December 30th. From January 3d to April 3d, 
he attended the Brigade and Field Officers' School at Fort Sam 
Houston, Texas. He commanded the Fifty-Fifth Infantry Bri- 
gade April 5th to July 4, 1918, sailing on S. S. Carmania, May 3d, 
in command of troops. He landed at Liverpool, May 17th, and at 
Calais, France, May 18th. From July 5th to July 29th, he was in 
command of the 110th U. S. Infantry, his former command, and 
from August 3d to August 8th, he had command of the U. S. 
troops at Nantes, France. From August 9th to November 30th, 
he was in command of Camp No. 1, Base No. 1, St. Nazaire, 
France, and from December 1, 1918, to July 10, 1919, he was 
administration officer at Embarkation Camp, No. 1, St. Nazaire, 
France. He sailed July 12, 1919, in command of U. S. S. Callao, 
and landed at Norfolk, Virginia, July 24, 1919, being mustered out 
at Camp Dix, New Jersey, August 27, 1919. 

Colonel Kemp was in the Champagne-Marne Defensive, July 
14 to July 18, 1 91 8, and in the Ainse-Marne Offensive, July 18 to 
July 29, 1918. 

By General John J. Pershing, Commander-in-Chief of the U. S. 
Army, a merited citation was awarded April 19, 1919. It follows: 

"Colonel George E. Kemp, Infantry, U. S. Army, for exceptionally 
meritorious and conspicuous services at St. Nazaire, France, American 
Expeditionary Forces. In testimony thereof, and as an expression of ap- 
preciation of these services, I award him this citation." 

John J. Pershing, 
Commander-in-Chief. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 779 

While in London, England, on June I, 1919, Col. Kemp visited 
Si. Matthew Church, Bethel-Green, and found there the marriage 
record of his great-grandparents, William Kemp and Frances Ball, 
married August 20, 1782. He then visited Christ Church, on New- 
gate Street, where many notable persons are buried, including three 
former Queens of England, and there found the marriage record 
of his grandparents, George Kemp and Martha Twig, married 
December 24, 1820, instantly recognizing the signature of the 
grandfather who had reared him. The following day, at the old 
Parish Church, at Sheffield, England, he found the baptismal cer- 
tificate of his grandmother, "Martha, daughter of Joshua and 
Sarah Twig, Cutler, baptized August 1, 1802." 

David Bieeow, First Layman to Become; President of Wit- 
tenberg Coeeege Board. 

David Billow was another native Perry Countian who attained 
honor in his adopted state. He was the first layman to be elected 
as president of the Board of Directors of Wittenberg College at 
Springfield, Ohio. David Billow, a son of John George and Su- 
sannah (Ensminger) Billow, was born October 11, 1828, near 
Dellville, Perry County, where he spent his early life on a farm 
on the banks of Sherman's Creek, which his parents had purchased 
while still wooded and had "cleared." His education was secured 
in the rude log schoolhouse of the period, by trudging several 
miles to school. His principal literature was the Bible, the Lu- 
theran catechism, a Bible concordance and Pilgrim's Progress, but 
through this study he secured a thorough knowledge of the Bible. 
Throughout his life he marked texts upon which he heard dis- 
courses and, with a wonderful memory, was able to repeat the gist 
of the various discourses, with much of it verbatim. 

His health broken through overwork, he and a brother-in-law, 
Wm. Lupfer, engaged in general merchandising at Dellville for 
several years. A number of members of his family had moved to 
Crawford County, Ohio, and he also went to Ohio, locating at 
Shelby, Richland County, where he remained for twenty years. 
He followed the mercantile business there. He was also a loyal 
Unionist and foe of the liquor traffic, when that course was not 
always easy. He was a student in all things of an educational and 
religious nature, and naturally became a leader. For a number of 
years, 1872 to 1876, he was on the Board of Directors of Witten- 
berg College, located at Springfield. During this period he served 
several years as secretary and one year as president of the board, 
the first layman to fill that position. On February 26, 1852, he 
was married to Miss Susan Tressler, a daughter of David and 
Mary Catharine (Bernheisel) Tressler. 



780 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



William F. Calhoun, Speaker, Illinois Assembly. 

( If the Calhoun hoys of Madison Township, who migrated to 
Illinois and became noted and successful men, William F. was the 
one who trod the political or public service path, while his brothers 

gained distinction in the theo- 
. logical field. Their biogra- 
phies appear elsewhere in this 
book. So well did this young 
Perry Countian succeed that 
he not only became a member 
of the General Assembly of 
Illinois for three terms — al- 
ways being nominated by 
acclamation by the Thirtieth 
District — but became speaker 
of the Thirty-fifth General 
Assembly of that state. He 
established a daily newspaper 
which to-day is a power in 
central Illinois, and became 
Commander of the Illinois 
Department of the Grand 
Army of the Republic. 

William F. Calhoun was 
born near Cisna's Run, No- 
vember 21, 1844, being a 
son of John and Catharine 
(Kiner) Calhoun. His fa- 
ther was a carpenter and builder, and he worked upon the farm and 
attended the winter sessions of the local schools, later teaching. 
After the death of his father, in 1858, the family removed to Blain. 
In 1862 he enlisted in the Union Army, being then eighteen, and 
was there until the war's finish, being present at the surrender of 
Lee's army of Northern Virginia. He first belonged to the 133d 
Penna. Volunteer Infantry, in which was incorporated his unit, 
Capt. D. L. Tressler's Company H of Perry County boys, where 
he served for a time as captain's clerk. At the expiration of their 
term of service he reenlisted for three years with the Twentieth 
Penna. Volunteer Cavalry, under command of Gen. Sheridan. In 
October, 1865, he located in La Salle County, Illinois, where he 
studied and practiced dentistry until 1869. He then removed to 
Champaign County and practiced until 1879, when he located in 
Dewitt County, continuing to practice. His first nomination to 
the Illinois Assembly was in 1881. He served three consecutive 
terms, 1 882-1884-1886, being speaker of the Thirty-fifth General 




WILLIAM F. CALHOL7N. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 781 

Assembly. From his first entry into that body he was noted as 
one of the influential figures. During the Thirty-fourth session he 
was a leader in the movement which finally landed General John 
A. Logan in the United States Senate. At the previous term it 
was proposed to erect a monument in Chicago to Col. James A. 
Mulligan, which was largely opposed because he only ranked as a 
colonel. Its defeat seemed certain, when Dr. Calhoun addressed 
the house, stating that he saw that intrepid officer fall when he re- 
ceived a mortal wound on July 24, 1864, in the action at Kerns- 
town, Virginia; that several brave men attempting to keep the 
flag on the line of battle were shot down and that Col. Mulligan 
said to those about to assist him, "Lay me down and save the flag." 
The result was that not a single vote was cast against the bill. 

On the expiration of his third term he removed to Decatur, Illi- 
nois, where he established the Daily Dispatch. Later he bought 
the Decatur Herald and consolidated the papers as the Herald- 
Dispatch. He is not only the owner and publisher, but as the 
editor-in-chief is still at the helm. His plant is one of the finest 
and his paper one of the most influential in central Illinois. Early 
during the administration of President McKinley he was appointed 
postmaster at Decatur and held the office under. the Roosevelt and 
Taft administrations, a total of sixteen years. In May, 1918, he 
was elected as Department Commander of the State of Illinois 
by the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization to which he 
had belonged almost from its inception. He was married in 1868 
to Miss Blanche Dedrick, of Seneca, Illinois, five children being 
born to the family. Mrs. Calhoun died in the fall of 1918. A large 
class of men in the First Methodist Church of Decatur is taught 
by Dr. Calhoun, and his pastor states that he is the best teacher of 
men among his acquaintances. 

James McCartney, Attorney-General oe Illinois. 

James McCartney, son of Irvine and Margaret McCartney, was 
born in Raccoon Valley, in 1842, but with his people left for 
Mercer County, Pennsylvania, when he was eight years old, 
later moving to Illinois. He was admitted to the bar in 1861 
and located at Galva, Henry County, Illinois. He was a member 
of General Henderson's 112th Illinois Volunteers, becoming a cap- 
tain during the war. He had first belonged to the Seventeenth 
Illinois Volunteers. In 1880 the Republicans nominated him for 
attorney-general of the state, and he was elected and served a full 
four-year term, 1881-1885. After that he practiced law in Chi- 
cago, Illinois, until his death in 1913. (One informant says 191 1.) 
He was an able lawyer and his term is said by the late General 
Henderson, under whom he served in the war, to have been marked 
by efficiency and industry. 



782 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

His sister, Miss Lucy McCartney, also a Perry Countian, mar- 
ried Rev. P. A. Cool, D.D., who was later president of Wiley Uni- 
versity at Marshall, Texas, and of the George R. Smith College of 
Sedalia, Missouri. Their son became a prominent pastor in New 
York City, and died in 191 7, while serving an important pastorate 
at Buffalo, New York. 

Assistant State Librarian and Deputy Attorney General. 

Joseph M. McClure was born at Green Park, Tyrone Township, 
Perry County, December 28, 1838, the sixth of ten children of 
James and Rachel Oliver (Patterson) McClure. He attended the 
local schools and then learned the tanning trade. Studying in his 
spare moments he became a teacher in the higher departments of a 
graded school at twenty. The next year he entered Tuscarora 
Academy, in Juniata, County, and in 1S62 entered Yale College, 
where he graduated in 1866. He studied law with Ezra Doty at 
Mifflintown, but completed his studies with the late Justice John 
Stewart and the noted A. K. McClure, at Chambersburg. He was 
admitted to the bar in 1867, began practice in Dauphin County 
in 1868, and was made assistant State Librarian in 1869. In the 
fall of the same year he was appointed Deputy Attorney General 
of Pennsylvania. In 1873 he edited an English and German 
weekly at Doylestown; in 1874 he resumed the practice of law, 
locating at Allentown, and in 1879 changed his location to Brad- 
ford. He was nominated by the Democratic party for president 
judge of the Potter-McKean District in 1892, but failed of election. 
As Deputy Attorney General of the commonwealth he detected 
the defalcations of George O. Evans, agent to collect the war 
claims of the state from the United States, amounting to $300,000. 
Evans fled the state, but returned and was imprisoned and judg- 
ment recorded against him for $185,000. Mr. McClure died Oc- 
tober 20, 1908. 

Douglass Family, Contractors. 

The Douglass family, of Perry County, has had a varied experi- 
ence in the contracting business. The first one to enter the business 
was William A. Douglass, born in Cumberland County in 1826, 
but who made his home in Perry practically all of his life. He 
was identified with the construction of the Pennsylvania Railroad 
at various points before entering the contracting business, includ- 
ing Millerstown, Huntingdon, and the Portage tunnel, being a 
superintendent there at its building. Following that he was super- 
intendent of construction of fortifications with the Engineer Corps 
of the Northern army during the Sectional War, and at its close 
served in the same capacity in the reconstruction of the old Orange 
and Alexandria Railway, now part of the Southern Railway. He 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 783 

was also engaged in a similar capacity at the construction of the 
Hoosac tunnel and in general charge of the building of a seven- 
mile- canal at Keokuk, Iowa, and {he deepening the bed of the Mis- 
sissippi. There he brought to success a project on which his prede 
cessors had failed, and General Wilson, then chief engineer for 
the government, told him that a man of his ability should be work- 
ing for himself instead of others and helped him secure his first 
contract. His contracting experience covered a period of seven- 
teen years, from 1870 to 1887, inclusive. During that time he 
constructed 179 miles of railroad at a cost of approximately $7,- 
000,000. The most important of these contracts was on the New 
York, Ontaria & Western, the New York, West Shore & Buffalo, 
and the Colorado Midland Railways, these three contracts amount- 
ing to over $5,000,000. 

Mr. Douglass died April 3, 1887. He had been married in 185 1 
to Catharine C. Mitchell, a daughter of John Mitchell, of Green- 
wood Township, to whom were horn three sons, John M., Samuel 
F., and W 7 illiam M., the latter two surviving and later succeeding 
their father in the contracting business, operating as Douglass 
Brothers, and having associated with them Dr. James B. Eby, of 
Newport, as a silent partner. Their various contracts with the 
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad and the Tidewater Railways approxi- 
mated around $1,500,000. 

More Noted Professional Men and Women. 

The extent to which these biographies have grown and the ne- 
cessity of keeping within the number of pages for a single volume 
necessitates the use of smaller type for the remainder, but has no 
other significance, as many of those following are no doubt the 
peers of many of those previously named, all having attained suc- 
cess in some particular field. For the same reason only the more 
important or outstanding facts are given, save in rare cases. A 
few pages farther on the list has been placed alphabetically, as it 
will facilitate the finding of names more quickly when reference 
is to be made, the placing of the names here also having no other 
significance. Some of these men have been dead for almost a cen- 
tury, and their records are brief, owing to the lapse of time. Un- 
doubtedly many have been missed, but the foregoing and following 
lists will serve as a basis upon which to build. In fact, until such 
time as a Perry County Historical Society shall be organized, the 
author of this book will gladly receive information as to others. 
or any vital facts as to those here mentioned, which will be filed 
and turned over to such society, if organized. The only request 
in such cases is that a separate sheet of paper be used bearing on 
that subject alone, so that the original may be turned over. 



784 HISTORY OF TERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



A Quartette of Prominent Ministers. 

CALHOUN, REV. JOHN DILL. Among the theologians who have 
gone forth from Perry County the name of Rev. John Dill Calhoun 
stands in the forefront. One of three brothers who became noted — 
the others being Rev. W. Scott 
Calhoun and Dr. Wm. F. Cal- 
houn, once speaker of the Illi- 
nois Assembly — it is interest- 
ing to note their rise. Born 
sons of John and Catharine 
(Kiner) Calhoun, near Cisna's 
Run, Madison Township, they 
all attained success in that 
great State of Illinois. Rev. 
John Dill Calhoun's birth oc- 
curred November 17, 1850. In 
1858 the father died, leaving 
the mother and five children. 
Selling the home place they 
moved to Blain, where they re- 
sided for eight years. The 
eldest, William F., was in the 
Union Army, and the next 
older brother was in the civil 
service of the government, part 
of the time plying the coast in 
a transport. The eight years 
spent at Blain included the en- 
tire period of the Sectional 
War, and the Kittatinny Moun- 
tain, a few miles south, was the 
barrier which held back Lee's army — for again had Perry County become a 
borderland, just as it had been for decades in Indian affairs. There, as a 
boy, he heard the sound of cannonry, from the Gettysburg Battlefield, less 
than forty miles away, as it echoed through the mountains. 

The family removed to Illinois in 1866. The mother married a second 
time, in 1868, her husband being Josiah B. Terpening, owner and proprietor 
of a large stock farm at Geneseo, Illinois. After finishing in the country 
schools John Dill Calhoun attended the Cambridge High School and Farm 
Ridge Seminary. He then taught for several years in Henry County, be- 
ginning 1871. On March 25, 1873, he was united in marriage to Miss Bina 
J. Robinson, also a teacher who had been educated at the State Normal 
School. Having been an active member of the church for several years, 
he joined the Central Illinois Conference in September, 1873. Unlike many 
other denominations the Methodist Episcopal Church had a time limit for 
the service of its pastors, no matter how successful. Notwithstanding this 
the record of Rev. Calhoun is one of which any minister could be proud. 
An official announcement of the Central Illinois Conference in 1919 was 
that he held the highest record for length of term of service. When the 
limitation of the pastoral term was three years, he served four charges the 
full term. Then, when by the action of conference the limit was fixed at 
five years, he served Pekin, a city of 12,000, five years, and Cambridge, the 
county seat of Henry County, where he had been both a school boy and 
teacher, five years. He was then appointed to Knoxville, and while there 
the time limit was removed, and he remained there six years. Following 




REV. TOHN DILL CAUIOUN. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 785 

this he served five years at Wenona, and the succeeding five at Lacon, the 
county seat of Marshall County. He served six years at Washington, 
Illinois, and is now at Metamora, in the first year of his pastorate, 
serving a federated church (Lutheran-Methodist-Presbyterian-Congrega- 
tionalist-Baptist). Three beautiful churches and two fine parsonages have 
been erected as a result of his labors. Evangelistic in his methods, Rev. 
Calhoun has added hundreds to the rolls of several of his churches and 
many to each of them, and his courteous demeanor and kindly disposition 
have had a marked effect upon many nonattendants in these Illinois com- 
munities. He is a clear, logical thinker, and as a public speaker has had 
few equals in his state, being constantly called upon to deliver addresses 
at public functions. In 191 1, with James A. Beaver, a former governor of 
Pennsylvania, he appeared upon the platform and delivered an address at 
the Old Home Week of his boyhood home at Blain, Pennsylvania, a never- 
to-be-forgotten occasion. Both were native Perry Countians and had 
brought credit upon it. 

Several decades ago Rev. Calhoun wrote for the People's Advocate and 
Press of New Bloomfield, a series of articles on Perry Countians in the 
West, which contained much of historical value and to which we are in- 
debted for many suggestions. He has also been called to his native state 
on other occasions. He has been secretary of his conference for more 
than twenty years, and is president of the ministerial association of his 
town, a city with seven churches, the pride of the community. Personally, 
the writer believes that Rev. Calhoun's success in the ministry is largely 
the result of his keeping in touch with the rising generation, which he has 
done in both school and church work, and even in the great every-day- 
world, where he has found time to say a kind word in passing or to write 
a cheering letter to a lonesome soul. 

The Illinois General Assembly, at its sessions of 1920-21, selected Rev. 
Calhoun as one of its chaplains. Unlike many states, Illinois has adopted 
the plan of having a chaplain from each senatorial district, each serving 
for a stated period. Rev. Calhoun was chosen from the Thirtieth District, 
representing five counties of central Illinois. 

While at work on this book, the author had the pleasure of getting per- 
sonally acquainted with Rev. Calhoun, and found that, true to form, the 
succeeding generation are educationally inclined, and while not born Perry 
Countians, a word of them. Six children have been born to the family 
and, like their parents, all were teachers in the public schools. They are 
all married. William S. has taught for ten years in Knox and Henry 
Counties; John Paul is superintendent of schools at Morton, and Glenn H. 
is superintendent of schools at Lexington — they having completed their 
education at Hedding College. Harold Verne, a State Normal graduate, 
is superintendent of schools at Mackinaw. The daughters, Katharine Nellie 
(wife of Dr. L. M\ Magill, of Lexington, 111.), and Florence Grace (wife 
of B. Orin Ball, cashier of the First National Bank of Kewanee, 111.), 
both graduated from St. Mary's Ladies' College, an Episcopal institution 
at Knoxville, Illinois. To his wife Rev. Calhoun is inclined to give much 
credit for his success, she being an efficient and capable religious worker, 
a power in missionary work among his people. 

Rev. Calhoun has a characteristic that is quite common to those born 
among the charming scenery of Perry County, save that with him it 
amounts almost to a passion, and while his life has been largely spent in 
religious work in the State of Illinois— the value of which can never even 
be estimated — his heart has roamed the hills and valleys of his native 
county during all the years and he has made many pilgrimages back to the 
haunts of childhood. 

* 50 



786 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Since the three sons of this Perry County family have achieved distinc- 
tion, a word of the datighters, Margaret Jennie, who married Nathan V. 
Chamberlain at Geneseo, a well-known teacher and business man, died in 
1903. Martha Ella married E. L. Hill, of Geneseo, who taught many 
years in Henry County, Illinois. They now reside in Des Moines, Iowa, 
where Mrs. Hill is president of the Eighth Congressional District in W. C. 
T. U. work. She is also vice-president of the state organization. A 
daughter, Grace, was born of the second marriage, and is now the wife of 
Walter Lambert, proprietor of a leading department store of Geneseo, 
Illinois. 

MEMINGER, REV. J. W., D.D. Rev. James W. Meminger, D.D., was 
born in Saville Township, November 9, 1859, the son of James and Ellen 
(Rice) Meminger. He was educated in the public schools, the New Bloom- 
field Academy, the Tuscarora 
Academy, and Ursinus College, 
where he graduated in 1884, hav- 
ing entered the sophomore class. 
He graduated from the Theologi- 
cal Seminary at Ursinus and from 
the National School of Oratory at 
Philadelphia in 1886, taking both 
courses simultaneously. His first 
charge was Brownback's Church, 
in Chester County. On July 1, 
1887, Dr. Meminger took charge 
of St. Paul's First Reformed 
Church at Lancaster, and under 
his charge the congregation be- 
came the largest of that denomi- 
nation in the United States. He 
remained as pastor until July 1, 
1920, or for a period of thirty- 
three years, a very rare occur- 
rence in any denomination, and 
rarely excelled. He then resigned 
to take charge of the work of 
ministerial relief in the Reformed 
Church in the United States. The 
present objective is to raise a fund 
of $1,200,000, with which to pro- 
vide a pension of $500 a year for 
all ministers reaching the age of 
seventy years. When Dr. Memin- 
ger assumed charge of St. Paul's 
at Lancaster it had 150 members, 
and when he retired the number was considerably over 1,000, the largest 
protestant congregation in that city. Its Sunday school is also the largest 
in Lancaster. A handsome new edifice was erected in 1904 with a seating 
capacity of 2,000, at a cost of $150,000. During the pastorate of Dr. Mem- 
inger twenty of its sons have entered the ministry, largely through his ef- 
forts. He has lectured in many different states and cities. Long before 
resigning St. Paul's he was secretary and treasurer of the General Synod 
Board of Relief. He was one of the committee of twenty-five in the 
United States to "put over" the forward movement in raising $6,000,000 to 
further church work in his denomination. He was also a director of 
Ursinus College and of the Shippen School for Girls, a member of the 




REV. JAMES W. MEMINGER, D.D. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



787 



Board of Visitors of the Central Theological Seminary at Dayton, Ohio; 
president of the Clergymen's Beneficial Association with over 10,000 mem- 
bers, and of the Teachers' Protective Union, with over 13,000 members. 
Dr. Meminger stands in the very front rank of those Perry Countians 
who have attained a deserved fame in theological work. 

HART, REV. B. H. Rev. Barnett H. Hart, son of Levi J. and Mary 

Elizabeth (Cogley) Hart, was not born in Perry County, as often stated, 

but was brought in so early in life that Perry Countians always speak of 

him as a Perry Countian, and 

he considers it "home." He 

was born in Gettysburg in 

the building in which Jennie 

Wade was shot and killed 

during the battle, the date of 

his birth having been October 

25, 1864. His father died in 

1871, leaving his mother with 

six children. From 1872 to 

1878 he was an attendant at 

the Andersonburg Soldiers' 

Orphans' School, and from 

1878 to 1880, at the Tressler 

Soldiers' Orphans' Home at 

Loysville. From then until 

1886 he had private tutoring. 

During this time, in 1880 and 

1881, he taught school in 

Jackson and Toboyne Town- 
ships, and then was employed 

for several years in the gen- 
eral store of J. H. Little & 

Brother, at Concord, Franklin 

County. In 1887 he was re- 
ceived into the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the M. E. Church, and 
and 1899 into full membership. He served as assistant pastor at Cassville 
for one year and at Port Royal for another. He was pastor at Thomp- 
sontown for three years, beginning with 1888: at the Second M. E. Church, 
Huntingdon, for five years, beginning with 1891 ; at the First Church,' 
Jersey Shore, five years, 1897-1901 ; at the Fifth Street M. E. Church in 
Harrisburg, 1901-15; at the Pine Street Church, Williamsport, 1915-20, 
since which time he has been pastor of the First Church at York. In 
1912 he was delegate to the Methodist General Conference. In 1907 he 
was Grand Master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of the State 
of Pennsylvania. Rev. Hart is one of the most noted of the many able 
divines of his denomination. 

In a letter from the late Senator Smiley to Rev. J. D. Calhoun, himself 
a noted minister of the same denomination, dated February 23, 1902, among 
other things, is this reference to Rev. Hart, which he has never seen: 

"A few Sundays ago I was in Harrisburg and was assured by a friend 
that I would hear a good sermon if I would go up to the Fifth Street 
Methodist Church. I went and heard a sermon that could have been 
preached acceptably before the most cultured congregation in the country 
It was particularly pleasant at the close of the service to be allowed to 
greet the pastor as an old friend, a Perry County boy, who, from a humble 
birth, is rising to a big position in his church. It was the Rev Barnett 
Hart, reared near New Germantown, Perry County." 




REV. BARNETT H. HART. 



788 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

SMITH, REV. MARTIN ALBERT. Rev. Martin Albert Smith was 
born on a farm, three miles west of Bloomfield, November 22, 1822. He 
was the son of Benjamin Smith (who, with his father, Adam Smith, emi- 
grated from Alsace, in 1848,) and Elizabeth (Albert) Smith. His father 
having purchased a farm in Tyrone Township in the part that is now 
Spring Township, with his parents he moved there in 1829. He attended 
the local schools, then taught by William Power, Henry Thatcher (father 
of the noted Thatcher boys), and George R. Wolfe, who also married a 
sister of Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Thatcher. There he got his preliminary 
education in English, and in his home, from his parents, he learned to read 
German. During 1840-41 he taught Market's school, near his home, at- 
tending the New Bloomfield Academy the following season. He then 
taught several seasons at Hogestown, Cumberland County, where the late 
noted A. Loudon Snowden was one of his pupils, attending summer ses- 
sions of the academy in the meantime. In 1843 he attended a course of 
catechetical lectures at the Loysville Lebanon Church, conducted by Rev. 
C. H. Leinbach, the Reformed pastor, which changed the future course of 
his life. This class numbered about seventy from the congregations of 
Lebanon, St. Peters' and Rudolph's. In the words of Mr. Smith, "As a 
catechist, Rev. Leinbach had few equals in the Reformed Church ; more 
than once I saw tears flowing down his cheeks while expostulating." He 
attended Sunday school at Landisburg, as there was none then at St. 
Peter's Church, near his home. In the fall of 1843 he entered the fresh- 
man class of Marshall College, at Mercersburg. Conveyed in a covered 
wagon, by his brother, he and a cousin, Charles H. Albert, with their room 
furniture, bedding and stove, arrived at the primitive college town. Most 
of the students came in the same way — the custom of the period. Part 
of the time students would board themselves, and the cost would be as low 
as thirty cents a week. Corn was then thirty cents per bushel, and other 
products accordingly low in price. During two winters of his college 
career Mr. Smith taught school, as the terms were then short, and still 
kept up in his work. He graduated in 1847. During his senior year he 
had also taken some of his theological work, and in 1849 he graduated at 
the Theological Seminary at Mercersburg. He was licensed to preach on 
May 14, 1849. That summer he supplied the charge at Nittany Valley, and 
during the following winter taught in the York Institute. In the fall of 
1850 he traveled by train and overland to Clarion, where he was installed 
as pastor of the Reformed Mission. Remittent fever caused him to relin- 
quish it, and he started to return home overland on horseback. He stopped 
with a friend at Boalsburg, and about that time the charge there was di- 
vided, and later, in 1852, he became the first pastor of the new Aarons- 
burg charge, with five churches, at a salary of $350 per year. He also 
preached for the Presbyterians at Spring Mills for two years of this pe- 
riod. Two churches were built during this pastorate, which lated until 
December, 1856. He was married March 21, 1854, to Miss Mary Jane 
Myers, of the Nittany Valley charge, first served by him. He assumed the 
Hummelstown charge in December, 1856. It consisted of five congrega- 
tions. Going into other congregations in eastern Pennsylvania he raised 
enough money to pay the considerable indebtedness of the church at Hum- 
melstown, where he remained until 1866. In December of that year he 
began his ministry at Dryland and Bath, Pennsylvania, to which Nazareth 
was later added. At Bath a fine church was erected during his pastorate, 
and it became a separate pastorate about 1885, Rev. Smith remaining with 
Nazareth and Dryland. During December, 1890, he resigned the charge, 
and on March 13, 1891, he passed away. Prior to the organization of the 
Potomac Synod he was president of the old Synod of the United States. 
During his forty years' ministry he preached almost eight thousand ser- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 789 

mons. Of his children, one, Charles M. Smith, is a prominent retired 
minister, residing at Middletown, Maryland, and another, Calvin, was long 
an editor and publisher at Pen Argyl. A third, George, is a druggist at 
Patterson, N. J. 



ADAMS, JACOB LINCOLN. Jacob Lincoln Adams was born in Bucks 
Valley, Buffalo Township, the first-born of Frank and Catherine (Buck) 
Adams' children. When about nine years old his father died, and with 
four other children he was left an orphan. His mother married again and 
moved to near Wichita, Kansas, where he attended the public schools. His 
mother died when he was about twenty, thus breaking up the family. He 
first worked on a cattle range. About 1885 he began teaching at Geneva, 
Nebraska, and continued for fifteen years in the Fillmore County schools 
He was then elected county superintendent, which position he held until 
his death. He stood high in his profession. 

ADAMS, JOHN QUINCY. John Quincy Adams, son of Nathaniel and 
Elizabeth Adams, was born in New Bloomfield, August 27, 1892. He was 
educated in the local schools and graduated from the Central State Normal 
School, Lock Haven, in 1913, where he was teacher of physical training 
the next year. In 1914-16 he was principal of the Consolidated High 
School at Corvallis, Montana. In 1917 he was appointed deputy clerk of 
the District Court of Ravalli County, Montana, and in 1920 was elected as 
clerk of the court. 

ADAMS, WILMOT J. Wihnot J. Adams was born February 7, 1889, 
in Toboyne Township, the son of Robert Cochran and Sarah Jane (Yhost) 
Adams. He graduated at Millersville and took a course in the University 
of Pennsylvania. He teaches science and mathematics in the West Phila- 
delphia High School. 

ALBERT, WM. T. Wm. T. Albert was born in Landisburg, October 14, 
1842, a son of Abraham and Lydia Albert. He attended the public schools 
and also Mt. Dempsey Academy there. He taught several terms, and was 
then engaged as clerk in John A. Linn's store, later teaching again and also 
employed as a clerk in the store of his uncle, Henry Thatcher, at Martins- 
burg, Pa., from 1864 to 1867. From then until 1871 he taught in Bethany 
Orphans' Home, at Womelsdorf. In 1871, he located at Pueblo, Colorado, 
where he has since been with the Thatcher Brothers' bank, save for a 
period of seven or eight years when, with a brother, he was engaged in 
managing the business of the Pueblo Transfer Co., which they owned, and 
a later period of years. From his first Sunday in Pueblo, April 30, 1871, 
Mr. Albert has been identified with the Protestant Episcopal Church. Mr. 
Albert's grandfather, John Albert, was a clockmaker at Landisburg. 

ALEXANDER, SAMUEL E. Samuel Edmiston Alexander, son of 
John and Margaret (Clark) Alexander, was born in what is now Madison 
Township, January 17, 1785. Later in life he was an associate judge and 
county commissioner of Mifflin County, where his people had located dur- 
ing his earlier years. Of his fifteen children, John Edmiston Alexander 
became the founder of Hightstown Classical Institute in New Jersey. 

ALEXANDER, WILLIAM. William Alexander and his twin sister, 
Emily, were born in what is now Madison Township, December 2$, 1777. 
He was a son of Hugh Alexander and his second wife, Mrs. Lettice 
Thompson. Early in life he removed to Centre County, where he later 
became sheriff. His father was a member of the Constitutional Conven- 
tion which adopted the first Constitution of Pennsylvania, and of the first 
Colonial Assembly. 

ALLEN, ROY R. Roy R. Allen, son of Dr. William J. and Flora R. 
Allen, was born at New Germantown, February 27, 1887, where he at- 



790 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

tended the local schools. He also attended Gettysburg Academy and 
graduated from Harvard University in 1912. He attended three summer 
sessions at Columbia University. He was instructor of mathematics at 
New Castle, Pa., and vice-principal of the Meriden (Conn.) High School, 
1914-19. From 1919 he has been vice-principal of the Tourtellotte Memo- 
rial High School, North Grosvenordale, Conn. 

ANDERSON, ALEX. A. Alexander A. Anderson, son of William and 
Margaret (McCord) Anderson, was born in what is now Madison Town- 
ship, in 1786. He graduated at Washington College, practiced law at the 
Mifflin County bar, and was twice a member of the Pennsylvania Legisla- 
ture. He died in April, 1823. 

ANDERSON, DR. B. H. Dr. Benjamin Hooke Anderson was born at 
Andersonburg, April 19, 1867, the son of Alexander B. and Mary Ann 
(Lackey) Anderson. He was educated in the common schools, the Bloom- 
field Academy, and at the Medico-Chirurgical College at Philadelphia, 
where he graduated in 1899. He is located at Wilkinsburg, Pa., and is a 
physician of the Pennsylvania Railroad Medical Department. 

ANTHONY, B. F. Rev. B. F. Anthony was born May 30, 1844, at 
Juniata Furnace, Perry County. His educational advantages were limited 
to the public schools and private study. He died at East Berlin, May 23, 
1886. He was licensed to preach by the Evangelical Church in 1875, and 
served on the Middleburg Circuit one year as a junior pastor, and as 
pastor on the circuits at McClure, Hagerstown, Lewisburg, Jarettsville 
and Dillsburg. 

ARNOLD, JOHN H. John H. Arnold was born in Perry County and 
was educated in the public schools. He read law with Benjamin and C. J. 
T. Mclntire, was admitted to the bar and located at Middleburg, Snyder 
County, in i860. He was district attorney of Snyder County from 1876 
to 1879. 

ARNOLD, DR. GEO. D. Dr. George D. Arnold was born January 1, 
1847, in Tyrone Township, near Loysville, the son of Jonathan and Mary 
(Ernest) Arnold. He was educated in the Loysville school and at Loys- 
ville Academy. At the age of seventeen he entered Susquehanna University 
at Selinsgrove, and a year later entered the University of Michigan, at 
Ann Harbor, as a medical student. He later transferred to the University 
of Pennsylvania, where he graduated in 1869 from the medical department. 
In 1887 he was appointed medical examiner of the relief department of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad, being stationed at Tyrone, Pa. He later moved to 
Cleveland, Ohio, becoming chief examiner of the Pennsylvania Lines west 
of Pittsburgh. He remained there until 1919, when he was retired on ac- 
count of age. He removed to Mexico, Juniata County, to live in retirement 
among friends, but died June 14, 1920. 

ARNOLD, DR. J. L. Dr. J. Loy Arnold, son of John S. and Ella (Mc- 
Kenzie) Arnold, was born at Millerstown, August 14, 1887. He attended 
the public schools, graduating in 1907 from the Harrisburg High School. 
He then entered Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated in 
191 1. After serving as an interne for a year at the Allegheny Hospital he 
located in his home city — Harrisburg — where he has since practiced. Dur- 
ing the World War he was a lieutenant in the Medical Corps, and was 
located at Fort Oglethorpe, Camp Forest, at the hospital for returned sol- 
diers at Lakewood, New Jersey, and at Camp Grant, Illinois. 

ARNOLD, JOSEPH M. Joseph Mitchell Arnold was born at New 
Buffalo, December 14, 1863, the son of Jacob L. and Elizabeth (Mitchell) 
Arnold. He attended the local schools and the New Bloomfield Academy. 
He prepared for college at Dickinson Seminary, and graduated at Lafay- 
ette College in 1887. He has since taken postgraduate work at the Uni- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



791 



versity of Pennsylvania and Columbia University. He was principal of 
the New Bloomfield Academy 1887-93, an d superintendent of the Perry 
County schools 1893-96. He resigned the latter position to become prin- 
cipal of the schools at Towanda, Pa., which he filled until 1898. He was 
elected supervising principal of the Princeton (N. J.) schools, serving 
from 1898 to 1906, since which time he has been superintendent of the 
schools of Mercer County, N. J. Mr. Arnold is a trustee of the Supreme 
Council of the Royal Arcanum. 

ASPER, REV. E. F. Rev. E. F. Asper, son of William H. and Mary 
A. Asper, was born in Miller Township, January 15, 1888. He attended the 
public schools and the New Bloomfield Academy, teaching in Miller and 
Centre Townships. In the fall of 1912 he entered the East Pennsylvania 
Eldership of the Church of God as a minister, and has filled appointments 
in Dauphin, Bedford, Huntingdon and Blair Counties. He is now serving 
an appointment which includes part of York and Cumberland Counties. 
In connection with his ministerial duties he has taken up work with the 
Moody Bible Institute. 

AUMILLER, EMMETT U. Emmett U. Aumiller was born November 
3, 1858, on the banks of the Susquehanna, at Dry Sawmill, three miles 
north of Liverpool, the son of Benjamin and Mary Magdalene (Deitrich) 
Aumiller. The youngest of the 
family he was thrown upon his 
own resources at the age of 
twelve, when his mother died, in 
1870. In 1875 he entered the 
Summer Normal School of the 
late Silas Wright at Millers- 
town, where L. E. McGinnes 
was then a teacher, and where 
Ex-Judge James W. Shull was a 
fellow student. From 1875 to 
1881, when he graduated at the 
head of his class, at the Central 
State Normal School, at Lock 
Haven, he taught during the 
winters, went to school during 
the spring term, and worked dur- 
ing the summer and fall to pay 
the way, as did so many other 
Perry Countians. In 1910 he 
was passed by the Millersville 
State Normal School, took the 
State Board examination and 
graduated in the advanced course. 
Susquehanna University has con- 
ferred upon him the A.M. de- 
gree. In 1884, 1887 and 1890 he 
was elected superintendent of the 

Perry County schools, succeeding J. R. Flickinger. He then passed the 
preliminary examination for admission to the bar of Perry County, but 
returned to teaching, being elected principal of the Wrightsville (Pa.) 
schools, which he resigned after serving eighteen years. He was then 
elected principal of the Elizabethtown (Pa.) schools, from which he was 
called, at the end of ten years, by Dr. Daniel Fleisher to be one of the 
assistant countv superintendents of Lancaster Countv, which position he 
still fills. 




HMMETT U. AUMILLER. 



792 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

ARNOLD, IRA E. Ira E. Arnold was born in Madison Township, 
December 2.7, 1885, the son of James S. and Clara J. (Ernest) Arnold. 
He attended the public schools and the Blain Summer School, also the 
New Bloomfield Academy. He taught a number of years in Perry County. 
In 1910 he took a clerical position with the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- 
pany in Cleveland, Ohio, and while filling it for a period of three years he 
attended the Academy of Baldwin University, graduating in 1912. He 
also graduated from the Law School in 1913, in which year he was ad- 
mitted to the bar in the State of Ohio. He began practice at once and 
specializes along the lines of common carrier law. 

BAILEY, JACOB. Jacob Bailey was born in Miller Township, Sep- 
tember 5, 1847, the son of Congressman Joseph Bailey and Mrs. Bailey. 
He studied law under C. J. T. Mclntire and was admitted to the bar in 
October, 1870. After his marriage to Harriett Power, of New Bloomfield, 
he moved to Hastings, Nebraska, where he served four years as probate 
judge of Adams County. In 1905 he moved to Spokane, Washington, and 
became the senior member of the legal firm of Bailey & Brown. He died 
March n, 1919. 

BAKER, PAULINE. Pauline Baker, daughter of John D. (Jr.) and 
Clara M. (Baker) Baker, was born October 10, 1894, in Tuscarora Town- 
ship, where she attended the local schools. She graduated at the Cumber- 
land Valley State Normal School in 1913, at the University of Pittsburgh 
in 1919, and in the medical course at the same institution, in 1921, being 
the second woman physician from Perry County soil, and the first for 
many years. The other was Dr. Elizabeth Reifsnyder, of Liverpool. 

BARNETT, ARTHUR E. Arthur Elliott Barnett, son of Chas. A. and 
Mary (McClure) Barnett, was born in New Bloomfield, October 15, 1875. 
He attended the public schools and the New Bloomfield Academy. He 
read law in the office of his father and was admitted to the bar in 1897. 
He practiced in New Bloomfield for two years, and in 1899 located at 
Beaver, Pa., where a year later he entered into partnership with John M. 
Buchanan, practicing until his death, which occurred on May 13, 191 1. 

BARNETT, DR. R. T. Dr. Robert T. Barnett was born in New Bloom- 
field, September 1, 1873, the son of George Smiley and Jane Rebecca (Ram- 
sey) Barnett. He attended the public schools and the New Bloomfield 
Academy. He graduated from the medical department of the University 
of Pennsylvania in 1895. He practiced for a time in Duncannon, Pa., after 
which he located in Lewistown, Pa., where he is an associate surgeon at 
the Lewistown Hospital. 

BEACHAM, H. H. H. H. Beacham, while born near Mifflin, Juniata 
County, was brought to Millerstown by the removal of his parents to that 
town when he was six months old. He was the son of James and Phcebe 
Beacham, and was born Oct. 23, 1875. He attended the public schools, 
the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, the Susquehanna Univer- 
sity. He taught in Tuscarora and Greenwood Townships, Millerstown 
Borough, and in the boroughs of Jeannette and Juniata. For the past 
twelve years he has been supervising principal in the Altoona schools. 

BEALOR, DR. JOHN WEIBLEY. John Weibley Bealor, M.D., was 
born March 18, 1853, near Markelville, the son of Benjamin Franklin and 
Elizabeth (Weibley) Bealor. He was educated in the local schools and 
graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, 
now the University of Maryland, on May 15, 1875. He located at Sha- 
mokin, Pennsylvania, where he practiced until his death, which occurred 
December 18, 1914. 

BEALOR, G. A. Gustavus Adolphus Bealor, son of Benjamin Franklin 
and Elizabeth (Weibley) Bealor, was born at Markelville. He graduated 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



793 



at the National College of Law at Washington, D. C, and from the State 
University of Law, at Nashville, Tennessee. He practices at Huntingdon, 
West Virginia. 

BEAVER, THOS. K. Thomas K. Beaver was born in Pfoutz Valley, 
in Liverpool Township, January 8, 1864, the son of Samuel L. and Mary 
(Kipp) Beaver. He attended the common schools of Liverpool and 
Greenwood Townships, Silas Wright's Summer Normal at Millerstown, 
and the Central State Normal School at Lock Haven. He then farmed 
for some years, and then, with his brother William A., entered mercantile 
business at Academia, Juniata County. In 1891 the latter withdrew, and 
since then Mr. Beaver has conducted the business. He is also the post- 
master there. He represented Juniata County in the General Assembly of 
Pennsylvania during 1901-02. 

BEAVER, PETER and THOMAS B. These brothers were born at 
Millerstown (1802 and 1814), the sons of Rev. Peter and Elizabeth (Gil- 
bert) Beaver. They were educated in the schools of the period, and in 
1853-54, with several partners, erected the Union furnace, in Union County, 
under the firm name of Beaver, Geddes, Marsh & Co. Until about 1873 
they received their ore from Millerstown. As early as 1834 Peter Beaver 
was in business at Millerstown. Thomas Beaver worked on a farm for 
$2.50 per month, then clerked in a store until 1833, when, with a partner 
he entered the mercantile business at Lewisburg. Two years later he re- 
turned to Perry County. In 1857 he moved to Danville and took charge 
of the Montour Iron Works, in which he had a large interest. He owned 
much property, his mansion at the foot of Baldhead Mountain having been 
one of the best homes in Montour County. In 1886 he donated to the town 
of Danville, as a memorial to himself and wife, a handsome gray stone 
library and Y. M. C. A. building, erected at a cost of $195,000. He also 
left an endowment of $50,000. 

BEITZEL, A. J. Andrew J. Beitzel was born August 15, 1852, in Spring 
Township, the son of Jesse and Nancy (Bear) Beitzel. He attended the 
public schools and Mt. Dempsey Academy at Landisburg. He then entered 
the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, graduating in 1877. Mr. 
Beitzel conducted a teachers' summer school at Boiling Springs one term, 
and had two assistants, having had an enrollment of ninety-two. He also, 
was principal at Newville, and supervisory principal at Mechanicsburg. 
He was once a teacher in the Cumberland Valley State Normal School. 
In 1887 he was elected as county superintendent of the Cumberland County 
schools, serving three terms, or nine years. During that time Franklin 
and Marshall College awarded him the A.M. degree. During the past 
twelve years he has been teacher of English in the Central High School 
at Harrisburg. Mr. Beitzel married Miss Mary S. Frownfelter, who was 
a fellow student in both the common schools and at Mt. Dempsey Academy. 
A daughter, Mildred, is the wife of Dr. Merwin G. Filler, Dean of Dickin- 
son College. 

BENFER, HENRY A. Henry A. Benfer, D.D., was born at Marys- 
ville in i86r, the second son of David and Matilda (Drees) Benfer. He 
was educated in the public schools and in the Union Theological Seminary, 
completing a divinity course in Oskalooska College, Iowa, from whom he 
received his degree, D.D. Rev. Benfer was ordained as a minister in the 
United Evangelical Church and has served pastorates in Williamsport, 
Lock Haven, Carlisle, York, and Baltimore. For eight years he was dis- 
trict superintendent, which is the highest office in the gift of the confer- 
ence. He represented the conference three times as delegate to the Gen- 
eral Conference, the highest legislative body of the church. He served 
for sixteen years on the Board of Examiners and served as trustee for 



794 1 1 1 STORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the United Evangelical Church Home. Pie is now president of the Board 
of Conference Trustees, director of the Deaconess Board, and pastor of 
one of the largest congregations in Pennsylvania, being located at Red 
Lion, Pennsylvania. 

BERGSTRESSER, REV. HENRY. Rev. Henry Bergstresser was born 
at Liverpool, January 19, 1831, and grew to manhood near New Bloom- 
field. In 1853 he settled in Richland County, Ohio, and two years later 
located at Newark, Licking County, Ohio, which he represented in the 
Ohio State Legislature. He subsequently joined the Ohio Conference of 
the Methodist Church, and began preaching in October, i860. 

BERNHEISEL, AUSTIN. Austin Bernheisel was born at Green Park, 
November 10, 1867, the son of Martin J. and Catherine A. (Heim) Bern- 
heisel. He attended the country schools and learned the printing trade. 
For the past twenty-five years he has been editor and publisher of the 
Neosho Valley Times, published at Hartford, Kansas, and is a director in 
the Farmers' State Bank of that town, as well as an agriculturist. 

BERNHEISEL, PETER. Peter Bernheisel was born August 18, 1806. 
His early education was secured in the subscription schools of the period. 
He learned the trade of carpenter and builder at Carlisle, and in 1830 
located at Harrisburg, where he conducted a contracting business until 
1859. During this time he built the county jail and the Market Square 
Presbyterian Church. 

BILLMAN, REV. A. M. Rev. A. M. Billman, while born near McCrea, 
Cumberland County, was brought back by his mother to her girlhood home 
in Spring Township, six months after his birth, in the spring of 1890, his 
father having died two months before he was born. He was the son of 
Arasman M. and Sarah Ellen (Souder) Billman, and was born November 
15, 1889. He attended the public schools of Spring and Tyrone Town- 
ships and attended Mercersburg Academy for three years, graduating in 
1908. He graduated from Ursinus College in 1912 with the degree A.B. 
In 1918 he graduated from the Union Theological Seminary of New York 
City, and received the M.A. degree from Columbia University in 1920. He 
taught for three years, 1912-15, in the Syrian Protestant College at Beirut, 
Syria, traveling during the summer vacations in Egypt, Palestine, Russia, 
and most of Central Europe. He was a chaplain in the U. S. Army in 
1918, being with the Tank Corps, and saw service in Camps Taylor, Colt 
and Dix. During his student days he had been assistant pastor of Christ 
Presbyterian Church and Madison Avenue Baptist Church, in New York 
City. During one year, 1919-20, he was with the Interchurch World Move- 
ment in New York City. In 1920 he became pastor of the First Reformed 
Church at McKeesport, Pennsylvania, which is his present location. 

BILLOW, REV. HARRY J. Rev. Harry Jacob Billow, son of William 
H. and Ellen Rebekah (Kumler) Billow, was born in Buck's Valley, Buf- 
falo Township, February 19, 1888. During his childhood his parents moved 
to Herndon, Northumberland County, where he got his early education in 
the public schools. He then taught school in that vicinity four years, from 
1906 to 191 1. In the fall of 1911 he entered Allentown Preparatory School, 
graduating in the spring of 1912. He then entered Muhlenberg College, 
graduating in 1916 with the A.B. degree. He entered the Lutheran Theo- 
logical School in Philadelphia, and graduated in 1919. He was ordained to 
the gospel ministry June 5, 1919, and in a few weeks was elected pastor of 
the Lutheran Church at Turbotville, Pa., where he is still located. 

BISTLINE, J. B. J. B. Bistline was born April 10, 1862, the son of Ben- 
jamin and Jane (Nesbit) Bistline, of Andersonburg. He was educated in 
the public schools and in Captain G. C. Palm's Select School at Blain. He 
taught school in Madison Township for two years, and in 1881 left for 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 



795 



Illinois, where he taught during the winter terms and worked on farms 
during the summer. In 1884 he went to Nebraska, bought a quarter section 
of raw prairie land and broke it. Selling this three years later, he started 
a hardware and implement store in western Kansas. In 1890 he located 
at Pocatello, Idaho, where he worked in the O. S. L. shops until 1900, 
when he started in the lumber business, which has since been enlarged to 
include hardware, coal, and farm implements. During 1899 he was mayor 
of Pocatello; 1910-11 he served as county commissioner of Bannock County. 
BISTUNE, J. M. J. M. Bistline was born May 11, 1866, the son of 
Benjamin and Jane (Nesbit) Bistline, of Andersonburg. His education 
was secured in the public schools and in Captain Palm's Select School at 
Blain. He taught several terms in Jackson Township, and left Perry 
County in 1885, going to Nebraska, and later to Kansas, where he taught 
several years and served one term as county superintendent of the Ness 
County (Kansas) schools. In 1903 he left Kansas and located in Poca- 
tello, Idaho. Until 1913 he was associated with his brother, J. B. Bistline, 
in the lumber business, since which time he has been interested in real 
estate to some extent. He served two years as mayor of Pocatello, and is 
now on the board of aldermen. 

BLOOM, S. S. S. S. Bloom was born at East Waterford, Juniata 
County, on March 11, 1834, the son of George and Mary Ann (Stam- 
baugh) Bloom. His mother died 
a few days after his birth, and he 
was brought to Perry County and 
became a member of the family 
of his grandfather, John Stam- 
baugh, near Blain. In that home, 
in the public schools and at the 
New Bloomfield Academy he se- 
cured his education. He taught 
school for several terms. In 1856 
he located at Shelby, Ohio, where 
he remained the balance of his 
life, save for a period of three 
years, when he lived at Columbus. 
He entered politics early in life, 
served in many local offices, and 
four two-year terms in the Ohio 
Legislature. He was heralded as 
a candidate for governor in 1884, 
but declined for financial reasons. 
He was his county's choice for 
Congress, but was defeated owing 
to the unit rule. He was an attor- 
ney and was also admitted to the 
Ohio Supreme and United States 
Courts. While in the legislature, 1878-81, he was much interested in the 
codification of Ohio laws, and subsequently published a "Popular Edition 
of the Laws of Ohio," a book of 1,000 pages. He was also author of 
"Why We Are Democrats" and "The American Democracy." During the 
term of President Cleveland Mr. Bloom wrote him an interpretation of 
the Monroe Doctrine, at the time of the controversy between England and 
Venezuela, which Secretary Olney used word for word in settling the dis- 
pute, for which Mr. Bloom's family have President Cleveland's acknowl- 
edgment. He published The Pioneer, The Gasett, and later the Shelby 
News. He died August 1, 1902.' 




S. BLOOM. 



796 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

BLAINE, EPHRAIM W. M. Ephraim W. M. Blaine was born in 1804, 
on the Anthony Black farm, in Jackson Township. The family migrated 
to Northeast, Erie County, many years ago. Mr. Blaine was elected sheriff 
of Erie County in 1840. His brother, Alexander Blaine, represented Cum- 
berland County in the State Legislature. 

BOOK, WM. I. William I. Book was born at Blain, June 9, 1875, the 
son of Edmund D. and Elizabeth (Long) Book. He attended the local 
schools, and graduated from Juniata College in 1897, and from the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania in 1913. He was supervising principal at Stoners- 
town and Saxton, Bedford County, 1897-99, and at Duncannon, 1899-1900. 
From 1901 to 1909 he was principal of the Gettysburg schools. In 1909 he 
became instructor in Physics at the University of Pennsylvania. Since 1920 
he has been Professor of Physics at the same institution. In 1913 he was 
awarded the Ph.D. degree. 

BOSSERMAN, REV. C. O. Rev. C. O. Bosserman was born in New- 
port, August 25, 1869, the son of William Henry and Mary Minerva (Mil- 
ler) Bosserman. He attended the Newport schools, graduating in 1885. 
He graduated from the New Bloomfield Academy in 1887, from Princeton 
College in 1891, and from the Princeton Seminary in 1894. He was pastor 
of the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, 1894-1908, pastor of 
the Shippensburg Presbyterian Church, 1908-15, since which time he has 
been pastor of the Cape May, N. J., Presbyterian Church. 

BOWER, DR. PETER. Dr. Peter Bower was born in Landisburg, 
December 4, 1825, a son of Peter and Mary (Sheibley) Bower. He was 
educated in the public schools and located at Thomasville, Ga., where he 
spent most of his life. He served as a surgeon in the Confederate Army 
during the War between the States, and died December 19, 1897. 

BOWERS, B. J. Ben. J. Bowers was born in Saville Township, Febru- 
ary 3, J 864, the son of David B. and Diana (Hopple) Bowers. He attended 
the public schools of Saville and Tyrone Townships, Tressler Orphans' 
Home as a pay student, and the New Bloomfield Academy a number of 
terms. He graduated from the Cumberland Valley State Normal School 
in 1892. He taught two terms in Dauphin County, and from 1894 to 1899 
taught in Mill Hall, where he organized the high school and graduated the 
first class. He later taught in the schools of Clearfield and McKean Coun- 
ties. In 1910 he became principal of the Washington School Building in 
Johnstown, where he is now a supervising principal over two districts. For 
nine years he also taught in the night school in Johnstown. He has taken 
several university extension courses. 

BOYER, SAMUEL J. Samuel J. Boyer, M.D., was born at Markel- 
ville in 1856, and educated at the New Bloomfield Academy. He read 
medicine with Dr. J. E. VanCamp, and graduated from the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons, at Baltimore, in 1881. Practiced with his pre- 
ceptor for seven years, also in Illinois and at Elliottsburg. In 1884 he 
located at Siglerville, Mifflin County. 

BOYER, REV. HARRY. Rev. Harry Boyer was born at Duncannon, 
January 28, 1870, the son of John B. and Annie (DeHaven) Boyer. He 
attended the local schools and graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 
1887. He entered the ministry of the U. B. Church and served the fol- 
lowing charges: Dover, York County, 1897-1901 ; Spry, York County, 
1901-07; Shermansdale, 1907-15, and since then at Oakville, Cumberland 
County. Rev. Boyer has been one of the examiners for the reading course 
of the U. B. Conference for fifteen years. 

BRANDT, ANTHONY. Anthony Marion Brandt, son of Isaac and 
Caroline (Emerick) Brandt, was born at Millerstown, April 8, 1844. His 
father was a railroad contractor, and died when the boy was but five 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 797 

years old. He was educated in the public schools, was a page in the 
Pennsylvania Legislature as a boy, learned harness making in Philadel- 
phia, and located in the West, at Clinton, Iowa, in 1866. He was in the 
livestock business at Bellevue, Iowa, for twenty-six years, at the same time 
conducting a farm and livery business for ten years. He purchased the 
Bellevue Herald in 1887, and from then to his death was its editor. He 
died April 16, 1921, a leader among the editors of the country press of 
his adopted state. 

BRETZ, F. K. F. K. Bretz was born at Newport, August 4, 1872, the 
son of Mahlon T. and Emma P. (Kirby) Bretz. He was educated in the 
public schools and graduated from Lafayette College in 1893. In 1888 he 
was a telegraph operator on the P. R. R., and 1888-89 was private secretary 
to the general manager of the W. Va. C. & P. Ry. at Cumberland, Md. 
During his college vacations he was with the engineering department of 
the same road. During 1893-94 he was secretary to the general counsel, 
and from 1894 to 1902 was general manager of the Dry Fork Railroad, at 
Hendricks, W. Va. • During the period from 1902 to 1919 he was general 
manager of the Morgantown and Kingwood Railroad, being vice-president 
of the same from 1909 to 1919. He was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa, of 
Lafayette College. 

BRINER, GEO. M. Geo. M. Briner was born in New Bloomfield, Janu- 
ary 11, 1883, the son of George S. and Susan B. (Moose) Briner. He at- 
tended the public schools and graduated from the Shippensburg Normal in 

1901, from Dickinson College in 1907. From 1907 to 1917 he was a member 
of the faculty of the Carlisle High School, being principal from 1910 to 
1917. He now represents a publishing house, and resides in Carlisle. 

BRINER, W. GRIER. William Grier Briner was born in New Bloom- 
field, July 21, 1885, a son of George S. and Susan B. (Moose) Briner. 
He attended the public schools and graduated from the Carlisle High 
School in 1905, and Dickinson College in 1909. He was vice-principal of 
the Emporium High School from 1909 until 191 1, and its principal from 
then until 1914. During 1914-15 he was principal at Greencastle, Pa., and 
1915-18, supervising principal of the State College schools, since which time 
he has followed other vocations, residing at Newark, N. J. 

BRINER, J. FRANK. J. Frank Briner was born in Newport, October 
30, 1887, the son of George S. and Susan B. (Moose) Briner. He at- 
tended the public schools and graduated from the Carlisle High School 
in 1906, since which time he has been connected with the Farmers Trust 
Company of Carlisle, being its assistant secretary. 

BRINER, CHAS. S. Chas. S. Briner was born in Newport, December 
6, 1889, the son of George S. and Susan B. (Moose) Briner. He attended 
the public schools and graduated from the Carlisle High School in 1907, 
and from Dickinson College in 191 1. He was instructor in Latin and 
Greek in the Wilmington Conference Academy at Dover, Delaware, from 
191 1 to 1913, and in the same branches in the Montclair (N. J.) Academy 
from 1913 to 1916, since which time he has followed other vocations. 

BRYNER, IRA L. Ira L. Bryner, the son of George M. and Frances 
(Peck) Bryner, was born at Cisna Run, May 29, 1867. He was educated 
in the public schools, the Millersville State Normal School, and graduated 
from Ursinus College in 1892. He took postgraduate work at Worcester 
University, studied law and was admitted to the Cumberland County bar in 

1902. Prior to this he was an instructor for four years in the Shippens- 
burg Normal School and had also taught in Perry and Lancaster Counties. 
He was county superintendent of the schools of Cumberland County for 
six years. In 1902 he located in Pasadena, California, being interested in 
banking and the development of the oil fields of California and Wyoming. 



798 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

While Mr. Bryner was county superintendent of the Cumberland Valley 
schools, his brother, Ezra H. Bryner, was county superintendent of the 
schools' of Perry County, probably the first instance in the state where 
brothers were superintendents of adjoining counties at the same time. 

BRYNER, E. H. E. H. Bryner, son of George M. and Frances (Peck) 
Bryner, was born at Elliottsburg, February 13, 1864. He attended the pub- 
lic schools and graduated from the Millersville State Normal School in 
1890, prior to which time he had been teaching in Perry and Lancaster 
Counties. After his graduation he taught in Lancaster County, and prior 
to September, 1896, was principal of the Newport schools for three years. 
At that time he was appointed county superintendent of schools to suc- 
ceed Prof. Joseph M. Arnold, who resigned. In 1899 and 1902 Mr. Bryner 
was elected to the county superintendency, but resigned in October, 1905, 
to accept a position in New York City, where he died in November, 1909. 
BRYNER, DR. J. H. Dr. J. H. Bryner was born at Andersonburg, 
February 18,' 1864, the son of John H. and Margaret (Rice) Bryner. He 
attended the common schools, the New Bloomfield Academy, the Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania, and the Columbus Medical College, graduating from 
the latter in 1882. Dr. Bryner began practice at New Germantown, but 
after a few years removed to Ickesburg, where he was long located. He 
is now located at Quentin, Lebanon County, Pa. 

BRUNNER, DR. M. W. Dr. M. W. Brunner, son of William and Sarah 
(Brindle) Brunner, was born in Centre Township, on November 7, 1872. 
He attended the public schools and the New Bloomfield Academy. He 
graduated from the Cumberland Valley State Normal School in 1885, and 
from the Lebanon Valley College in 1901. He graduated from Philadelphia 
College of Osteopathy in 1904, and since that time has practiced his pro- 
fession at Lebanon, Pennsylvania. 

BUCKE, W. FOWLER. W. Fowler Bucke was born in Hunter's 
Valley, Buffalo Township, September 29, 1866, the son of Samuel E. 
and Nancy Jane( Fortney) Bucke. He attended the public schools and 
select school at Liverpool. He entered the Bloomsburg State Normal 
School in 1886 and passed to the senior class at the end of the spring term, 
graduating in 1887. He entered Dickinson College in the fall of 1892, 
graduating in 1895, receiving the A.M. degree in 1898. In 1895 he began 
non-resident work at the University of Wooster, Ohio, and completed the 
course for Ph.D. in June, 1902. He was then appointed Scholar in Clark 
University, at Worcester, Massachusetts, and subsequently Fellow, spe- 
cializing in psychology and education, receiving the degree of Doctor of 
Philosophy from Clark in June, 1904. 

He taught in the schools of Huntingdon, Perry, and Juniata Counties 
from 1884 to 1889. In 1889 he opened a school for teachers at Thompson- 
town. After graduating from college he was called to head the Depart- 
ment of Mathematics in the Centenary Collegiate Institute at Hacketts- 
town, N. J. He remained here three years, leaving to become principal of 
the Newcastle (Pa.) High School, remaining there four years. He was 
the first principal of the Technical High School of Harrisburg, before go- 
ing to the head of the Department of Education in the State Normal 
School at Geneseo, N. Y., in the fall of 1905. Due to the illness of the 
principal of this institution, he has been acting principal since November, 
1020. There he organized the training school and developed courses in 
observation, psychology, history of education, etc. In the fall of 1920 an 
act of the legislature established the Craig Colony School of Educational 
Therapy, in which he is a director in addition to his other duties. This 
institution correlates with the Normal School in the development of de- 
fective children. He is a noted speaker along educational lines in the 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 799 

Central Eastern States. In G. Stanley Hall's work on Adolescence he is 
quoted for original work in that line. 

BUCKE, REV. J. E. A. Rev. J. E. A. Bucke was born in Hunter's Val- 
ley, Buffalo Township, November 3, 1875, the son of Samuel Elias and 
Nancy Jane (Fortney) Bucke. He attended the Mt. Patrick school, with 
the exception of one term when his family resided at Montgomery's Ferry. 
At the former school his father was his teacher at all times. He gradu- 
ated from the Lock Haven State Normal School in 1897, prior to which 
time he had taught school in his home township. Following his graduation 
he taught in Liverpool, and was principal of the Ramey (Pennsylvania) 
schools for two terms. 

When a lad of seventeen he had gone to Harrisburg to work in a shoe 
factory, where he joined the Stevens Memorial Methodist Episcopal 
Church, which later licensed him to preach, a year before his graduation 
at the State Normal School, the quarterly conference granting him a local 
preacher's license. Although he had been elected for the third term as 
principal of the Ramey schools, he resigned to enter Drew Theological 
Seminary at Madison, N. J., in September, 1900, from which he graduated 
in 1903. While a student, 1901-03, he served the New Germantown (N. J.) 
Methodist Church as pastor. As he was already married this helped sup- 
plement the funds needed for the support of his family and the securing 
of a college education at the same time. After his graduation he joined 
the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Church at the 
spring session of 1903, and has since served the following charges : Buck- 
horn, Columbia Co., 1903-05 ; Sunbury, Catawissa Avenue (which he or- 
ganized), 1905-12; Newberry, Williamsport, 1912-20; St. Paul's, Hazleton, 
1920-21. In 1921 he was elevated to the position of district superintendent 
of the Central Pennsylvania Conference, probably the youngest man ever 
selected to fill that honorable position, the most important of the conference. 

BUCK, HARVEY E. Harvey E. Buck was born December 17, 1869, in 
Buck's Valley, Buffalo Township, the son of Jacob Resler and Esther 
(Albright) Buck. He attended the local schools, later becoming a teacher 
in his home township. In 1890 he located in Philadelphia, having a position 
on the street cars. In the fall of 1892 he opened a grocery there, the fol- 
lowing year he and his father entering into a partnership in the grocery 
and meat business, and later, in 1896, taking his brother, Jacob U. Buck, 
into the firm. This continued until 1900, when the brothers begin gradu- 
ally entering the cake business, and in 1902 the partnership was dissolved 
and they engaged entirely in the cake business, being the establishes and 
sole proprietors of the Enterprise Cake Company, which continued in 
business until the death of the younger brother, Jacob U. Buck, in 1916. 
The business was then conducted by Harvey E. Buck until his death on 
October 11, 1918. This firm had become one of the leading wholesale cake 
firms of the City of Philadelphia, and employed a large number of delivery 
wagons in the distribution of their product. 

BURD, W. H. W. H. Burd was born at Donally's Mills, April 8, 1873, 
the son of Ananias and Sarah E. (Long) Burd. He attended the local 
schools in which he later taught. He graduated from the Cumberland 
Valley State Normal School in 1892, and from Lebanon Valley College in 
1901, since which time he has taken postgraduate work at Harvard College 
and the University of Pennsylvania. At present he is principal of the 
Central Junior High School at Altoona, and a member of the Executive 
Committee of the Pennsylvania State Educational Association. 

BURKHOLDER, A. K. A. K. Burkholder was born in Juniata Town- 
ship, and was educated at the Markelville Academy. He read law in the 
office of B. Mclntire at New Bloomfield. After being admitted to the bar 



8oo HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

he located in Ohio, becoming a captain of volunteers in the Northern army. 
After his term of service expired he located in Missouri, where he later 
served as a president judge of the courts of a district. 

BURNS, REV. CHAS. E. Rev. Charles Edward Burns was born in 
Duncannon, August 13, 1846, the son of Ephraim and Eleanor (Maxwell) 
Burns. He attended the local schools and academy and graduated from 
Lafayette College and the Union Seminary in New York City. He began 
his work in the Presbyterian ministry in October, 1876, at Beemerville, 
New Jersey. He was pastor of the Manayunk Church for twenty-five years, 
later being located at Bristol, Pennsylvania, where he died in November, 
1918. 

CALHOUN, REV. W. SCOTT. Rev. W. Scott Calhoun was born July 
16, 1846, near Cisna's Run, Madison Township, the son of John and Catha- 
rine (Kiner) Calhoun, one of a family which has become distinguished in 
the annals of Illinois, being a brother of Rev. J. D. Calhoun and Wm. F. 
Calhoun, once speaker of the Illinois Assembly, brief biographies of whom 
appear elsewhere. After the death of his father in 1858 the family re- 
moved to Blain, and in 1866 migrated to Illinois, locating in LaSalle 
County. Being refused enlistment on account of his youth he served in a 
civil capacity at Washington for a period during the war. Upon his re- 
turn for a time he attended Sherman's Valley Institute at Andersonburg. 
He taught for several terms in Perry County and for a time in Illinois. 
Learning photography he followed that occupation for several years. 

He was converted in 1875, and the following September was ordained to 
preach by the M. E. Conference of Illinois. He served the pastorates of 
such towns as Newcomb, Marshall, South Champaign, Newman, Perry, 
Pittsfield, Barry, Alanta, Beardstown, Tuscola, Monticello, Saybrook and 
Potomac, Illinois. While at Tuscola a new edifice costing $19,000 was 
built. While he was pastor at Perry (1883-84) a member of his church 
was Miss Mame Baird. In 1884 she was united in marriage to William 
Jennings Bryan, then a struggling young lawyer. Rev. and Mrs. Calhoun 
attended the wedding and, heard the new wife express her ambition "that 
Will might go to Congress," little dreaming that he should lead his party 
three times as a candidate for the Presidency of the United States. It 
was the opinion of Rev. Calhoun that never were two more honest men 
than Wm. McKinley and Wm. J. Bryan opponents in a political contest. 

Married in 1878 to. Miss Anna Brown, of Ohio, four children were born 
to the family. During his lifetime Rev. Calhoun made a pilgrimage back 
to Perry County almost bi-annually. He died at Tuscola, Illinois, Sep- 
tember 10, 1917, where he made his home after retiring from the ministry, 
after the close of his pastorate at Potomac, in 1905, his death occurring 
in a physician's office, from heart failure. 

Rev. Calhoun had a remarkable family, all three of his children gradu- 
ating at Wesleyan University at Bloomington, Illinois. His son, G. M. 
Calhoun, is the Methodist pastor at Stevens Point, Wisconsin, one of the 
most important churches in that state and the location of the State Normal 
School. Another son, W. W. Calhoun, has for years been on the staff of 
the Cincinnati Post, and the only daughter married H. Verne Swartz, a 
successful young attorney of Chicago. Mrs. Calhoun resides at Long 
Beach, California. 

CAMPBELL, DR. OLIVER HOWARD. Dr. Oliver Howard Camp- 
bell was born at New Germantown, July 26, 1871, the son of James Robin- 
son and Mary Eliza (Douglass) Campbell. He attended the local schools 
and the College University of Kansas, graduating from the Medical De- 
partment of Washington University at St. Louis, Mo., in 1809. He is a 
member of the staff of the city hospital at St. Louis, Mo.; of the St. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 801 

Louis Hospital, and the Missouri Baptist Sanitarium. During the World 
War lie was a lieutenant colonel and was stationed at the Base Hospital 
at Camp McArthur, and at Toul, France. 

CHARLES, J. O. J. O. Charles, son of Edward T. and Emma (Sheaf- 
fer) Charles, was born in Penn Township, in 1899. His family moved to 
\\ heatfield Township, where he attended the public schools. He attended 
the New Bloomfield Academy, Cumberland Valley State Normal School, 
and Muhlenburg College, at Allentown. He taught school in Wheatfield 
Township, and since graduating was first assistant principal in the State 
High School at Creswell, N. C, principal of the Millerstown schools, pre- 
fect at Girard College, and principal of the public schools at Macungie and 
Emaus, Pa. 

CISNA, DR. WM. R. Dr. Wm. R. Cisna was born at Chambersburg, De- 
cember 8, 1837, but moved to Cisna's Run, Perry County, with his people 
when but a mere lad, in 1845. His parents were William and Anna 
(Everidge) Cisna. He attended the local schools and worked on the 
farm. He prepared for college at Mt. Dempsey Academy, and in 1863 
graduated from Dickinson College. In 1865 he received his medical 
diploma from the University of Pennsylvania. At the closing of the Sec- 
tional War he was a surgeon in the U. S. Army. He was transferred to 
Texas, where General Kirby Smith's troops were still fighting, and made 
chief medical officer. He was brevetted major for meritorious conduct in 
the field. On his return he first located at Landisburg, but in 1866 located 
at Ickesburg. In 1889 he was appointed medical examiner of all the Penn- 
sylvania Lines west of Pittsburgh, with headquarters in Chicago. There 
he served for over twenty-five years, when he returned to Perry County. 
He died in 1920. 

CLARK, ARTHUR B. Arthur B. Clark was born at New Bloomfield, 
June 16, 1872, the son of James B. and Margaret Jane (McFarland) Clark. 
He attended the public schools and learned the printing trade. In 1893 he 
located at Altoona, being employed on the Morning Tribune (for six or 
seven years). On his arrival there he began attending night school. He 
later became advertising manager of the Altoona Evening Gazette, subse- 
quently being elected a director and treasurer, and in 1912 was elected 
general manager of the company. In February, 1905, he was elected city 
treasurer of Altoona on the Democratic ticket, being the only Democrat to 
win out. In 1908 he was reelected, carrying every voting precinct in the 
city, something that had never been accomplished by any other candidate. 
In 1914 he was nominated by the Democrats of Pennsylvania for Con- 
gressman-at-large, but failed of election, as the entire Republican ticket 
swept the state, but led the entire Democratic ticket by more than 8,000 
votes. 

CLARK, REV. JOSEPH. Rev. Joseph Clark was an early minister. 
He was licensed to preach by the Carlisle Presbytery, June 11, 1851, and 
ordained in 1852. He was pastor of the Falling Springs Church, at Cham- 
bersburg, from 1852 to 1857. He died June 9, 1865. 

CLEGG, JOHN. John Clegg was born at New Bloomfield, the son of 
C. T. and Jennie (Stultz) Clegg. He attended the public schools and 
learned the printing trade. In 1902 he became associate editor of the 
Everett (Pa.) Press, and in September, 1914, purchased the plant of the 
Everett Press and became its editor and publisher. It is one of the best 
country newspapers in the state. 

CLOUSER, EMMA. Emma Clouser (Mrs. Andujar) was born at New 
Bloomfield, November 6, 1857. She attended the local schools and took a 
great interest in church work. She was united in marriage to Rev. Andu- 
jar, then pastor of the New Bloomfield Methodist Church. Shortly after 
5i 



8o2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

their marriage, Rev. and Mrs. Andujar were sent to San Juan, Porto Rico, 
in June, 1901. There she entered the work of a missionary with enthusiasm 
and success, but during a severe electrical storm was struck by a bolt of 
lightning and was killed, her death occurring September 28, 1902. With 
her husband she had charge of the Methodist Missions of the entire Island. 
COCHRAN, DR. THOS. P. Dr. Thomas P. Cochran was born in 
Pfoutz Valley, near Millerstown, October 25, 1866, the son of Robert Pat- 
terson and Anna Mary (McFarlane) Cochran. He attended the public 
schools, the New Bloomfield Academy, Blair Hall, at Blairstown, N. J., 
and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1893. He practiced his 
profession in Millerstown until 1897, when he located at Pittsburgh. He 
has been on the staff of St. Joseph's Hospital since its organization in 
1904, and has been president of the staff since 1905. In 1901 he helped 
organize the Lyman Building and Loan Association with a capital of $5,- 
000,000, and was selected its president, a position which he still holds. He 
is also president of the St. Clair Incline Plane Company, and a member of 
the board of directors of the Hill Top Savings and Trust Company. 

COCHRAN, REV. WILLIAM P. Rev. William P. Cochran was born 
in Millerstown in 1803, where he attended the subscription schools. He 
graduated from Dickinson College in 1824, and from Princeton in 1827. 
He went to Missouri in 1831 as a home missionary, where he remained 
until 1862-68, when he was pastor of the Millerstown Presbyterian Church. 
He returned to Missouri in the spring of 1868. While in Missouri he was 
the owner of a plantation which he conducted in connection with his min- 
istry. During his stay in Pennsylvania he organized the Presbyterian con- 
gregation at Newport. He died in Missouri, in 1886. 

COMP, REV. GEO. L. Rev. Geo. Leiby Comp, the son of Andrew and 
Margery (Miller) Comp, was born near Walnut Grove, Juniata Township, 
February 28, 1848. He attended the local schools, and when fifteen years 
old ran away from home to enter the Union Army. His father brought 
him back, but he later enlisted as a member of the Emergency Corps and 
reached Gettysburg after the battle was fought, but assisted in restoring 
the field from the havoc of war. In 1864 he reenlisted in Company G, 
208th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served to the end of the 
war. He then farmed on the Comp homestead until 1889, when he entered 
the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, serving appointments at 
Alum Bank, Reedsville, Ennisville, Warriors Mark, Hopewell, Petersburg, 
Duncannon, Barnesboro, and Coalport. On account of his health he re- 
tired from the ministry in 1914. He died at Newport, November 2, 1916. 
CROW, REV. H. I. Rev. H. I. Crow was born in Hunter's Valley, 
Buffalo Township, February 2, 1865, the son of Abraham and Mary (Bair) 
Crow. He attended the public schools and the New Bloomfield Academy 
for several terms. He graduated at the Bloomsburg State Normal School 
in 1888, and from the Reformed Theological Seminary at Lancaster, in 
1895. Prior to entering the ministry he had taught in Perry and Dauphin 
Counties, being four years in Marysville, the last two of which he was 
principal of schools. He was ordained to the ministry of the Reformed 
Church in 1895, and served the New Hamburg (Mercer Co.) Church until 
1900. He was on the Nittany Valley charge from 1900 to 1908, at Hublers- 
burg (owing to a division of the former charge) from 1908 to 1911. Since 
that time he has been pastor of the Bethany congregation at Bethlehem, 
1'a. Mr. Crow is president of the East Pennsylvania Classis of the Eastern 
Synod, which is the oldest classis in the United States. He was also presi- 
dent of each of the other classis of which he was a member, and was a 
delegate of the General Synod of the United States. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 803 

CROW, REV. H. E. Rev. H. E. Crow was born August 27, 1871, in 
Hunter's Valley, Buffalo Township, the son of Abraham and Mary (Bair) 
Crow. He was educated in the public schools and graduated from the 
Bloomsburg State Normal School in 1893. Prior to his graduation he had 
taught in Perry and Clearfield Counties. After graduating he taught in 
Liverpool and Downingtown, Pa. He prepared for college at Centenary 
Collegiate Institute at Hackettstown, N. J., graduating in the class of 1897. 
In 1901 he graduated from Dickinson College, and in March of that year 
was admitted to the Central Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist 
Episcopal Church, and has since been pastor of charges at Greencastle, 
Vira, South Williamsport, Wilburton, Laurelton, Conyngham (1911-18), 
and since ,1918 has been at Dillsburg, Pa. 

DARLINGTON, DR. E. E. Dr. E. E. Darlington was born at New 
Bloomfield, March 24, 1874, the son of John and Mary Elizabeth (Arnold) 
Darlington. He was educated in the public schools and the Bloomfield 
Academy, graduating from the Maryland Medical College in 1900. He 
practiced seven years at Gordon, Pa., after which he located at Harrisburg, 
where he now practices. 

DAVIS, CHAS. S. Charles S. Davis was born in New Bloomfield, 
November 14, 1864, the son of James Reynolds and Margaret (Dougherty) 
Davis. His father later located at Liverpool, and there Mr. Davis attended 
the public schools. He taught school at Thompsontown, and graduated at 
the Central State Normal School at Lock Haven in 1883. He began teach- 
ing in Steelton in 1883, and in the Steelton High School in 1885, being its 
principal from 1888 to 1919, when, on the death of L. E. McGinnes, super- 
intendent of schools, he was elected to that position. The record of Mr. 
Davis and Mr. McGinnes for joint service in the educational field in Penn- 
sylvania probably stands first for length. In 1910 Mr. Davis was president 
of the high school department of the State Teachers' Association, and in 
1917 was elected president of the State Educational Association. He was 
one of the original enthusiasts for clean sport, and in 1913 he was chair- 
man of the committee that drafted a constitution for control of Pennsyl- 
vania high school athletics, and was the first president of the State Board 
of Athletic Control under this constitution, thus helping to place high 
school athletics in Pennsylvania on a higher plane. He is interested in 
community and municipal affairs, holding office in the Municipal League, 
the Park and Playground Commission, and on the Shade Tree Commission 
of Steelton. 

DEACH, REV. SAMUEL R. Rev. Samuel R. Deach was born near 
New Germantown in 1838. He was a captain in the Union Army in the 
Sectional War. He had been licensed to preach in i860, and at the end of 
his term of service, in 1864, he became pastor of the Dwight and Odell 
charge of the M. E. Church in Illinois. He served in the ministry for 
thirteen years, when pulmonary trouble caused his retirement. He was 
regarded as a zealous and able preacher, one of the best in his conference 
His mother was a daughter of Peter Sheibley. He died May 4 188? 

DEACH, REV. JACOB N. Rev. Jacob N. Deach was born June 16 
1846, near New Germantown, his mother being a daughter of Peter Sheib- 
ley and his father dying when he was very young. He was educated at 
the Cumberland Valley Institute at Mechanicsburg and at the New Bloom- 
field Academy and taught for several years. He then joined the Central 
Illinois Conference of the Methodist Church and for sixteen years en- 
gaged 111 the ministry, when a throat affection resulted in his retirement 
He is spoken of as an able and pursuasive divine. He had entered the 
army on a three-year enlistment, but was discharged on account of his 
health. He lives in retirement in the State of California, where his son 



804 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Ivan, a brilliant educator, is a member of the faculty of Leland Stanford 
University. 

DECKARD, DR. J. W. Dr. John Wesley Deckard was born in Howe 
Township, December 27, 1850, the son of David and Barbara (Stence) 
Deckard. He attended the public schools and the Summer Normal School 
of Prof. Silas Wright, at Millerstown. He then taught in Buffalo and 
Howe Townships. His summers were occupied in studying medicine, with 
Dr. Samuel Stites, of Millerstown, as preceptor. He then entered the Ohio 
Medical College at Cincinnati, graduating in medicine and surgery in 1874. 
He located at Richfield, Juniata County, where he has been engaged in 
practice ever since. He was a member of the school board for twenty-two 
consecutive years, and is now president of the Juniata County Medical 
Society. 

DECKARD, DR. PARK A. Dr. Park A. Deckard was born at Liver- 
pool, September 12, i88r, the son of Elmer E. and Mary (Lutz) Deckard. 
He graduated from the Liverpool High School in 1898, from the Central 
State Normal School in 1900, from Pierce Business School in 1903, and 
from the Medico-Chirurgical College and the University of Pennsylvania, 
in 1908. In 191 4 he took a postgraduate course in the New York School 
of Medicine. He has practiced at Harrisburg, Pa., since his graduation, in 
1908, and has been electro therapeutist at Harrisburg Hospital since 1912. 
Dr. Deckard was president of the Harrisburg Medical Club in 1915, sec- 
retary-treasurer of the Harrisburg Academy of Medicine, 1918 to 1920, 
and president of the Harrisburg Academy of Medicine in 1921. He was 
also a member of the Medical Advisory Board of this district during the 
World War. 

DEMAREE, HARRY S. Harry S. Demaree was born at Newport, the 
son of B. F. and Jennie M. (Stambaugh) Demaree. He graduated from 
the Newport High School and attended Franklin and Marshall College 
and Lehigh University. He later entered the United States Bureau of 
Standards, and was transferred from there to the Patent Office. While 
at the latter place he took up the study of law at Washington University, 
graduating in 1917. In the World War he was located at the Pontiac 
Naval Air Station, near Bordeaux, France. Returning home he reentered 
the Patent Office, took a law examination, and was admitted to the bar at 
Washington, D. C. In August, 1920, he became associated with a large 
electrical company in Chicago as patent attorney. 

DERICKSON, S. H. S. Hoffman Derickson was born in Greenwood 
Township, April 9, 1879, the son of Henry Benner and Elizabeth Naomi 
(Hoffman) Derickson. He attended the public schools and the Newport 
High School. He graduated from Lebanon Valley College in 1902, and 
attended Johns Hopkins University in 1903, Bermuda Biological Labora- 
tory, Cinchona Botanical Laboratory, and the Brooklyn Institute of Arts 
and Sciences. He has been professor of Biology at Lebanon Valley Col- 
lege since 1904. In 1903 he was the land zoologist with the Bahama Ex- 
pedition of the Baltimore Geographical Society, and in 1908 was director 
of the field expedition for the collection of Eocene fossils for Vassar 
College. In 1920 he was made treasurer of Lebanon Valley College. 

DERICK, GEO. W. Geo. W. Derick was born at Newport, November 
30, 1863, the son of Geo. and Sarah (Burd) Derick. His family removed 
to New Bloomfield in 1869, where he attended the public schools and New 
Bloomfield Academy. In 1881 he graduated from Allen's Business Col- 
lege, Ehnira, N. Y., learned telegraphy, and entered the employ of the 
H. & B. T. M. R. R. Co., remaining in various capacities for fifteen years. 
He became interested in politics and held all the Republican party offices 
of Bedford County. In 1905 he was elected prothonotary and clerk of the 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 805 

courts. In 1904 he started the First National Bank of Saxton, Pennsyl- 
vania. In 1905 he became a partner in the Everett (Pa.) Bank, and in 
1909 he became cashier of that institution. During the war he was chair- 
man of the Bankers' Liberty Loan Committee, Bedford County, and took 
a leading part in other World War activities. 

DICE, REV. L. M. Rev. L. M. Dice was born at Marysville, February 
10, 1870, the son of Levi and Mary J. (Ilgenfritz) Dice. He attended the 
public schools and graduated from Central Pennsylvania College in 1894. 
He entered the ministry of the United Evangelical Church in 1896, filling 
several important churches and being active in the work of the confer- 
ence and the denomination. He is an officer of the management of the 
United Evangelical Home at Lewisburg. 

DICK, REV. J. M. Rye Township was the birthplace of the late Rev. 
J. M. Dick, he having been born May 3, 1853. His parents were Israel 
and Elizabeth Dick. He attended the Juniata Valley Normal School at 
Millerstown, conducted by Prof. Silas Wright, taught school several terms, 
and was then ordained a minister of the gospel in the Church of the Evan- 
gelical Association. From 1880 to 1893 he served various congregations 
of that faith, when, owing to a schism he transferred to the Congregational 
Church, serving a number of pastorates until 1903. He then became a 
Sunday school organizer and missionary of the Congregational Church 
for the western section of the State of Washington, serving until his death, 
which occurred February 5, 1920, at the Swedish Hospital, in Seattle, 
Washington, where he had dwelt for many years. His early work was in 
Pennsylvania, hut in 1887, he removed to the State of Washington, which 
was the scene of his later success. His marked Christian character and 
kindliness made him a notable man in the religious annals of his adopted 
state. His Pennsylvania pastorates were at Liverpool, Perry County, and 
at Lock Haven, Pa. 

DIFFENDAFER, A. P. Alton P. Diffendafer was born at Millerstown, 
December 16, 1870, the son of Thomas and Johanna (Graham) Diffendafer. 
He attended the public schools, graduating at Millerstown in 1887, and 
from the Lock Haven State Normal School in 1888. He is also a graduate 
of the Chautauqua Institution, Chautauqua, New York. He taught at Mil- 
lerstown, and in 1891 was elected principal of the Nanticoke High School, 
later being elevated to the position of superintendent of the Nanticoke 
schools, which he still holds. 

DRAKE, CAPT. C. ARTHUR. C. Arthur Drake was born at Avon, 
Illinois, May 20, 1894, and was brought to Perry County by his mother, 
Myrtha (Campbell) Drake, on July 3d of the same year, and was reared 
in the home of his grandfather, John S. Campbell. He attended Evergreen 
school, in Oliver Township, completing the course at fourteen. He then 
entered Grove City College, but when Dr. J. R. Flickinger took charge of 
the Central State Normal School he matriculated there, at the suggestion 
of his grandfather, who had been a co-worker of Dr. Flickinger's in the 
Perry County schools. He graduated at Lock Haven when but eighteen. 
He then taught at Homestead as headmaster of the Schwab Industrial 
School, and later graduated from the University of Illinois, at Champaign, 
where he had four years of military training. He enlisted and saw service 
on the Mexican Border, and in the World War rapidly rose to the rank of 
captain, having been connected with General Pershing's Headquarters 
Company. Upon the completion of the World War he was sent to Hawaii 
by the government upon an educational mission. 

DROMGOLD, DR. S. T. Dr. S. T. Dromgold, son of John and Ban- 
dinah (Hench) Dromgold, was born in Saville Township, March 26, 1852. 
He attended the common schools, Airy View Academy, and the Bloomfield 



8o6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Academy. He taught school in Perry County and Ohio for five years. 
He graduated in medicine in 1877, and practiced for one year at the North- 
western Insane Asylum at Toledo, Ohio. He then located at Elmore, Ohio, 
where he has since practiced. 

DROMGOLD, DR. T. M. Dr. Thomas Miller Dromgold was born in 
Saville Township, July 30, 1848, being one of twin sons of John and Ban- 
dinah (Hench) Dromgold. Studied medicine and located at Ottawa, Illi- 
nois, where he practiced until his death. 

DUM, REV. RAY S. Rev. Ray Spotts Dura was born at Landisburg, 
July 6, 1888, the son of George Billow and Annie (Spotts) Dum. He at- 
tended the Landisburg schools, Carlisle High School, Conway Hall, and 
graduated from Dickinson College in 191 1, and the Drew Theological 
Seminary. He entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 
1913, becoming pastor of Calvary Church in New York City. During 1914 
to 1921 he was located at Clayton, Las Vegas, and Rosewell, N. M. In 
1921 he became pastor of the Bethel M. E. Church at Pueblo, Colorado. 
DUMM, DR. J. M. Dr. J. M. Dumm was born at EHiottsburg, Novem- 
ber 21, 1853, the son of Jacob and Sarah (Reapsome) Dumm. He attended 
the public schools and the New Bloomfield Academy, and graduated from 
the University of Pennsylvania in 1878. He located at Mackeyville, Pa., 
where he has since been in active practice. 

DUNKELBERGER, REV. ROY M. Rev. Roy Martin Dunkelberger 
was born August 25, 1884, in Spring Township, the son of Josiah W. 

Dunkelberger and wife. He attended the 
local schools and graduated from Dickin- 
son College in 1906. He then entered the 
Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary, from which 
he graduated in 1909. He then entered for- 
eign mission work, and has spent the days 
of his ministry in India, where he is mis- 
sionary in charge at Lentichintila, in the 
Madras presidency, having a field covering 
a paluk (county), with ten thousand bap- 
tized Christians, a task of great magnitude. 
He is and has been for some years the 
missionary of Zion Lutheran Church at 
Harrisburg, which pays all of his salary 
and expenses. During recent years he en- 
joyed a furlough of a year in the land of 
his birth, but his heart was in the work. 
Rev. Michael G. Ehrhart was born in Centre 

He 
He 




KKY. ROY DUXKULBKRGER. 



EHRHART, REV. M. G. 
Township, in 1824, the son of Michael and Sarah (Wolf) Ehrhart. 
attended subscription and the public schools and Selinsgrove College. 
entered the ministry of the Lutheran Church and preached at New Flor- 
ence, Newry, Newville, West Fairview and Steelton, being located at the 
latter place when he died in January, 1886. 

ENDSLOW, S. S. S. S. Endslow, son of William S. and Addie 
(Stroup) Endslow, was born in Jackson Township, near Blain, June 10, 
1872. He attended the public schools, graduated from Dickinson College 
in 1898 with the Ph.B. degree. In 1908 he was awarded the A.M. degree 
by the same institution. He taught in the high school at Lewistown 
1898-99, in the Mankate (Washington) High School, 1899- 1901, and was 
superintendent of the Elmore (Minn.) schools, 1901-03. Then for five 
years he followed the retail drug line. From 1908 to the present time he 
has been connected with the Lewis & Clark High School at Spokane, 
Washington, as teacher of Physics and Chemistry. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN So; 

EVERHART, DR. EDGAR S. Dr. Edgar S. Everhart was born at 
Millerstown in 1879, the son of William and Mary (Goodman) Everhart. 
He attended the public schools and Phillips Exeter Academy. He gradu- 
ated from Dickinson College in 1903, and from the University of Penn- 
sylvania in 1907. He entered medical practice at Lemoyne, Pa., where he 
was in active practice until the World War. He then entered the Medical 
Corps of the United States Army as first lieutenant, later being assigned as 
Junior Medical Officer of the 308th Infantry, at Camp Upton, New York. 
March 1, 1918, he was assigned as surgeon of the 3020* Ammunition Train, 
and landed in France on May 4th. From July 15th to November nth he 
was in the Oise-Ainse offensive and the Argonne-Meuse offensive engage- 
ments. On October 16th he was transferred as the commanding officer of 
the 307th Field Hospital, Seventy-Seventh Division. He was promoted 
to the rank of captain, April 13, 1918, and on November 26th was pro- 
moted to the rank of major. He is at present with the Pennsylvania State 
Department of Health. 

EVERHART, DR. JAMES K. Dr. James K. Everhart was born at 
Millerstown, June 15, 1878, the son of William and Mary E. (Goodman) 
Everhart. He attended the public schools and Millersville State Normal 
School. In 1902 he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania. Dur- 
ing 1902-03 he was an interne at Germantown Hospital, Philadelphia. He 
located at Millerstown in 1903, and practiced there for over a year, when 
he located at Pittsburgh, where he has since practiced. He is assistant 
professor in Diseases of Children at the University of Pittsburgh at this 
time. 

FAHNESTOCK, S. B. S. B. Fahnestock, the ninth county superin- 
tendent of schools of Perry County, was born in Oliver Township, March 
3, 1848, the son of Daniel and Nancy (McNaughton) Fahnestock. He was 
educated in the local schools, at Juniata College, and the Millersville State 
Normal School. He was principal of schools at Duncannon, Newport, 
Millerstown, and Williamstown, Dauphin County. He served as county 
superintendent of schools during 1878-80, inclusive. After retiring he be- 
came connected with the Surgeon General's office at Washington, D. C, 
in 1885, which position he held until his death on October 14, 1887. He 
was notable as a Bible student. 

FERGUSON, JOHN F. Although born at Pittsburgh, February 12, 
1890, John F. Ferguson was early brought, with two sisters, to New Bloom- 
field, where he was reared in the family of Mr. and Mrs. Luke Baker, his 
uncle and aunt. His father was John Ferguson, and his mother Cecilia 
(Clancy) Ferguson. He attended the public schools, graduating from 
the New Bloomfield High School, and the International Correspondence 
Schools of Scranton. He is at present public accountant and treasurer, 
tax collector, and public administrator of Shoshone County, Idaho. 

FERGUSON, JOHN F. John Frazier Ferguson was born in Centre 
Township, February 6, 1870, the son of Jesse Miller and Mary Ellen 
(Orwan) Ferguson. He attended the public schools, the New Bloomfield 
Academy, the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, Columbia Univer- 
sity, State College, and took extension courses during the last nine years 
from the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Pennsylvania, and 
Lehigh University. He is a supervisory principal of the Harrisburg 
public schools. 

FLICKINGER, DR. W. H. Dr. William H. Flickinger was born at 
Loysville, May 10, 1886, the son of Newton F. and Minnie (Oxenford) 
Flickinger. He attended the public schools and the University of Mary- 
land, graduating from the Medical College of Virginia in 1917. In earlier 
years he had taught in the public schools of Jackson Township. He is a 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



FLICKINGER, CHAS. D. 
Juniata Township, January 3, li 
garet Jane (Kroh) Flickinger. 



member of the medical staff of the relief department of the Westinghouse 
Electric and Manufacturing Company of Pittsburgh. During the World 
War he was an acting assistant surgeon of the United States Public Health 
Service. 

Chas. D. Flickinger was born at Wila, 
83, the son of William Harrison and Mar- 
He attended the public schools and gradu- 
ated from the Newport High School in 1889, and from State College in 
1906, in the mechanical engineering course, being granted a degree in 1913. 
He has held a number of positions as assistant engineer, engineer, and 
superintendent of instruction on various power plants and construction 
jobs. At the present time he is chief draftsman with a noted New York 
construction company. 

FLEISHER, PROF. DANIEL. Daniel Fleisher. son of Jacob and 
Mary (Clouser) Fleisher, was born in Oliver Township, September, 1852. 
He was educated in the public 
schools, at Bloomfield Academy, 
and Gettysburg College, graduat- 
ing from the latter in 1880. He 
was principal of schools of Brad- 
ford, Pennsylvania, and later 
superintendent of schools at 
Wrightsville. In 191 1 he was 
appointed by Dr. N. C. Scheaf- 
fer, then State Superintendent 
of Public Instruction, as superin- 
tendent of the schools of Lan- 
caster County, and was reelected 
on two occasions, filling the posi- 
tion until his death, which oc- 
curred at Altoona, January 22, 
1922, while attending a meeting 
of the State Educational Asso- 
ciation. The Pennsylvania School 
Journal, in a biographical sketch, 
classed him as a hard working, 
faithful and efficient superintend- 
ent — one of a type for which 
Perry County has long been 
noted. Daniel Fleisher was a 
member of a large family, a 
number of whom were among 
the county's substantial business 
men. A brother, John Fleisher, 
was an associate judge of the 
county, and was noted for his 
stand along moral lines. Daniel 
Fleisher was awarded the Ph.D. 
degree by Gettysburg College in 1 
ing educators. 

FOOSE, PROF. LEMUEL O. Prof. Lemuel O. Foose, son of James 
and Catherine (Boyer) Foose, was born January 16, 1838, at Markelville, 
Juniata Township. His parents were native Perry Countians and he spent 
all of his early years in Perry County. There, at Markelville, he attended 
the public schools and there he attended the Markelville Academy. In 
1863 he finished the course at Gettysburg College. During his terms at the 




DANIEL FLEISHER. 



He was one of Pennsylvania's lead- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 809 

Markelville Academy and also at college he taught in the interim to help 
pay his way to an education. In 1864 and 1865 he was in charge of the 
academy at Aaronsburg, Pennsylvania. During 1866-67 he taught at Lima, 
Ohio, and in 1868-69 was superintendent of schools at Miamisburg, Ohio. 
In 1869-70 he was at the head of the Boys' High School at Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania, and in 1870 was elected superintendent of the schools of 
the City of Harrisburg. His selection came through his stand for system 
and order in the schools. Under his supervision a course of study was 
adopted and the schools of the state capital forged to the front. He re- 
mained at the head of the city schools until his death in 1905. He was 
one of the founders of the public library and long chairman of the Bible 
Society. In 1868 he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Eleanor Kuhn, 
a daughter of Rev. Samuel Kuhn. 

FOSSELMAN, REV. M. F. Rev. Millard F. Fosselman was born in 
Juniata Township, October 4, 1856, the son of John and Susan (Dum) 
Fosselman. He attended the public schools and Union Seminary at New 
Berlin, Pennsylvania, from 1878 to 1881. He entered the ministry of the 
Evangelical Association, now the United Evangelical Church, in the year 
1881. He served forty years in the ministry, eight of which he was pre- 
siding elder, the highest position within the gift of his conference. He is 
now located at Williamsport. 

FOSSELMAN, JOHN JONES. One of four children of William and 
Rebecca (Jones) Fosselman, John Jones Fosselman was born in Donally's 
Mills, Tuscarora Township, October 18, 1879. He attended the local 
schools and taught at seventeen. He attended the New Bloomfield Acad- 
emy and Indiana State Normal School, where he graduated in 1898. Im- 
mediately afterwards he enlisted in the SpanishrAmerican War. In 1900 
he was appointed a clerk in the U. S. Pension Bureau at Washington. In 
1901-02 he attended Lafayette College at Easton, where he took a scientific 
course. In 1903 he became a clerk in the U. S. Bureau of Education at 
Washington and matriculated at George Washington University, from 
which he later received his A.B. and LL.B. degrees. In 1906 he was ap- 
pointed fourth assistant examiner in the United States Patent Office. On 
January 25, 1910, he was admitted to the bar of the District of Columbia. 
In 1912 he received the degree M.L.P. (Master of Patent Law) from the 
National University, having passed at the head of his class. In 1913 he 
was admitted to the bar of the U. S. Supreme Court. January 1, 1918, 
he was made first assistant examiner of the Patent Office, after having 
been successively promoted to second and third assistant. He was a mem- 
ber of the Pennsylvania Society of the District of Columbia and a student 
and champion of Esperanto, the universal language. 

FOYE, EDWARD M. Edward M. Foye was born at New Bloomfield, 
January 16, 1870, the son of Charles and Zorah (Boyles) Foye. He was 
educated in the public schools and learned the printing trade in the office 
of the Diincannon (Pa.) Record. Locating in Erie County, he edited and 
published the Northeast Advertiser for ten years. In the meantime he 
studied law at Erie, was admitted to the bar and practiced many years. 
He is the author of several legal publications which had a large sale. Mr. 
Foye is now an extensive fruit grower on the shores of Lake Erie. 

FRANK, REV. A. L. Rev. A. L. Frank was born in Howe Township, 
near Newport, November 22, 1865, the third son of Lewis and Susan 
(Rathfon) Frank. He attended the public schools, the night school con- 
ducted by Silas Wright, and the Bloomfield Academy for a number of 
spring terms. He began teaching in 1885, and continued until 1898, in the 
townships of Howe and Miller, New Buffalo High, East Newport High, 
Evergreen High, Marysville Grammar, and Baskinsville High Schools. 



810 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Entering the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, he served pas- 
torates at Thompsontown, Hustontown, Frankstown, Shawville, New 
Washington, Stormstown, Mahaffey, Mt. Holly Springs, Coalport, Hope- 
well and Weatherly, where he is now located. 

II \1\. REV. J. J. Rev. James Julius Funk was horn May 21, 1869, 
at Liverpool. At nine years of age he began to follow the life of a canal 
boatman on the old Pennsylvania Canal during the summer, attending the 
public schools in the winter. He later lived near Montgomery's Ferry, 
and attended school there. He taught school in Watts Township, and in 
1891 was converted at a revival meeting at the Hill Church. In 1899 he en- 
tered the ministry of the United Brethren Church, serving the following 
charges in the Allegheny Conference of Western Pennsylvania : Industry, 
Ligonier, Woodland, Westmoreland, and the Homestead Avenue Church at 
Johnstown, where he has been for the past eight years. He was ordained 
in 1901 by Bishop Kephart. During his present pastorate his congregation 
has erected a handsome and expensive church and parsonage. In 1917 he 
served as a delegate to the General Conference of the U. B. Church in 
the United States, which met at Wichita, Kansas. 

GABLE, J. H. J. H. Gable was born near New Germantown, the son 
of John and Elizabeth (Eby) Gable. His mother was a daughter of 
Elder John Eby, long one of western Perry's prominent citizens. Mr. 
3able was the second of twelve children, all of whom are living and who 
were reared without ever calling a physician — a most remarkable occur- 
rence. When a lad he was taken West with the family. In Illinois he 
learned telegraphy, serving almost ten years at that occupation. For thirty 
years he was the traveling passenger agent of the Chicago & Northwestern 
Railway System, a position requiring tact and diplomacy. He was re- 
tired at his own request, and resides at Lincoln, Nebraska. 

GANTT, T. FULTON. T. Fulton Gantt was born at New Bloomneld, 
January 31, 1849, the son of Daniel Gantt (later Chief Justice of Ne- 
braska) and Agnes T. (Fulton) Gantt. In 1857 the father moved to 
Nebraska and, with him went the little son. Upon the death of his mother 
he returned to Pennsylvania, but in 1863 again went to Nebraska. In 1867 
he completed the machinist trade in the railroad shops at North Platte, 
Nebraska. After finishing his trade he went to Nebraska and studied law 
with his father. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and located at North 
Platte. Later he practiced at Deadwood, S. D. From 1877 to 1888 he 
was connected with the U. S. Government at Washington, D. C. He then 
returned to North Platte, Nebraska, where he practiced law until his death 
in August, 1897. Like his father, he was an exemplary man. 

CANTT, AMOS E. Amos E. Gantt was born October 4, 1853, in New 
Bloomfield, the son of Daniel Gantt (later Chief Justice of Nebraska) 
and Agnes T. (Fulton) Gantt. His family moved to Nebraska in 1857, 
where he was educated in the public schools, with several years at the 
State University. He read law with his father, and at the age of twenty- 
one was admitted to the bar. He entered the newspaper business, and from 
[876 to 1879 published a paper at North Platte, Nebraska. In 1879 he 
settled in Falls City, Nebraska,- and practiced law there until his death in 
March, 1914. He served as district attorney in 1891-92. Like his illus- 
trious father, he was held in high esteem. 

GANTT, WILLIAM E. William E. Gantt, son of Joseph and Mary A. 
( McGowan) Gantt, was born in Centre Township, April 29, 1845. He was 
educated in the common schools, and when eighteen enlisted in the Signal 
Corps of' the Union Army. After the Civil War he taught school in 
Perry County and then went West as a surveyor, being located at Sioux 
City, Iowa, for a time. He read law at Elk Point, South Dakota. On 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 811 

being admitted to the bar he opened a law office at Ponca, Nebraska, where 
he remained until 1899, when he removed to Sioux City. He later located 
at California, where he died in 1920. 

GARDNER, REV. J. CHAS. Rev. J. Charles Gardner was born at 
Benvenue, Duncan's Island, on June 24, 1858, being the son of Ephraim 
Finley and Catrinah Jane (Kenee) Gardner. He was educated in the 
public schools and in Silas Wright's Academy, at Millerstown. He gradu- 
ated from the U. B. Theological Seminary at Dayton, Ohio, in 1894, since 
which time he has preached at Baltimore, Md. ; Dayton, Ohio; Shippens- 
burg, Shiremanstown, Newburg, Red Lion, Gettysburg, Greencastle and 
Duncannon. For the last six years he has been located at Williamsport, 
Md. Six churches and three parsonages have been built by the congrega- 
tions over which he was in charge. 

GARMAN, REV. SHERIDAN G. Rev. Sheridan G. Garman was born 
in August, 1866, before his father, Rev. John Garman, located in Perry 
County, but came with him as a child, and always counted Perry County 
his home. His mother was Margaret (Ferguson) Garman. He received 
his education in the public schools and taught several terms in Perry 
County, before entering Lebanon Valley College, where he graduated. He 
then entered the ministry and preached at York, Pennsylvania, for over a 
year, but left to enter Bonbrake Theological Seminary at Dayton, Ohio, 
from which he graduated in 1901. Resuming the ministry, this time in the 
State of Wisconsin, he preached for several years. He then transferred 
to the Galesburg Conference, and in 1910 was elected presiding elder and 
conference treasurer. He died during November, 1901, his wife living but 
one year longer. 

GELBACH, W. H. William H. Gelbach was born in Penn Township, 
October 9, 1866, the son of Henry and Louisa (Bowser) Gelbach. He at- 
tended the public schools, the Keystone State Normal School, and Roches- 
ter Business University in New York. He taught in the Perry County 
public schools for seven years, and quit teaching to become the cashier 
of the Second National Bank of Mechanicsburg, Pa. For the last eighteen 
years he has been cashier of the Citizens National Bank of Waynesboro, 
which has erected one of the finest banking buildings in southern Penn- 
sylvania. He suggested a plan for using Liberty Bonds for circulation — 
bank currency, which appeared in the Congressional Record. 

GIBSON, GEORGE E. George E. Gibson, son of Francis West and 
Tabitha (Kennedy) Gibson, was born on the Gibson homestead, near Fall- 
ing Springs, September 27, i860. He attended the public schools and 
learned printing under the tutelage of J. L. McCaskey, in the Duncannon 
Record office. He located at Erie, where he was employed as a com- 
positor on the Erie Daily Times. He then studied law at Normal Uni- 
versity in Ohio, and was admitted to the Erie bar in 1884. He died Janu- 
ary 28, 1916. Mr. Gibson was a man of a kindly and philosophical dispo- 
sition and absolute integrity, and is reputed to have been a good lawyer. 

GIBSON, REUBEN. Reuben Gibson, known as R. Bannister Gibson 
by reason of having been jokingly referred to as "Bannister" on account 
of his last name being Gibson, adopted that name when he began the prac- 
tice of law. He was born May 19, 1862, at the Gibson home, near Falling- 
Springs. He attended the public schools and New Bloomfield Academy. 
He then taught a number of terms in the public schools and graduated 
from Dickinson Law School in 1894, being admitted to the Perry County 
bar the same year. After practicing a number of years he located else- 
where. 

GRUBB, DR. I. N. Dr. Isaac Newton Grubb was born August 25, 1845, 
in Perry Valley, the son of Henry and Margaret (Charles) Grubb. He 



812 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



attended the public schools and the academies at Freeburg and Markel- 
ville. He taught school and then entered the service of the United States 
Army as a private and came out as a captain, being wounded at Berryville, 
\ irginia. He then taught school again for a time and read medicine with 
Dr. P. L. Greenleaf, of Thompsontown. He graduated at the University 
of New York in 1869 and began practice at Thompsontown, forming a 
partnership with his preceptor, whom he later succeeded. He died in 
February 9,' 1912. 

GRUBB', REV. JOEL E. Rev. Joel Emory Grubb was born in Green- 
wood Township, July 18, 1880. His parents, A. R. and Sarah Catherine 
( ( Irner) Grubb, moved to Newport, where he attended school. He 
graduated from Gettysburg College in 1905, from the Theological Seminary 
in 1908. He was ordained a minister of the Pennsylvania (Central) 
Synod in 1908, and served as pastor of the New Kingston Lutheran Church 
from then until 1912. He was located at Gloversville, N. Y., for the next 
four years, and in 1916 became pastor of the Second Lutheran Church at 
Baltimore, where he is still located. 

GIBSON, M. B. Milton B. Gibson was born near Landisburg, in i860, 
the son of Francis F. and Catherine E. (Baker) Gibson. His father died 
when he was seven years of age. He attended the public schools and the 

New Bloomfield Academy, after which 
he taught for several years. In 1881 he 
purchased his father's property at Alinda 
and engaged in mercantile pursuits for 
several years. At the same time he be- 
gan selling instruments for the Weaver 
Organ & Piano Company, then building 
a factory at York, Pennsylvania. He 
became a stockholder and was made 
state representative for the company. 
His presence was then needed at the 
plant and he moved to York in 1885. In 
1886 he was elected secretary of the 
company, and in 1890 he became treas- 
urer and general manager. In 1896 he 
was elected president, which position he 
held until his death in 1919. He died at 
Spokane, Washington, from the effects 
of a carbuncle, while on a pleasure trip 
to the Pacific coast. For twenty-five 
years he was superintendent of Heidel- 
burg Sunday school, and for twenty-nine years he was a director in the 
Y. M. C. A. at York. He was vice-president of Hood College at Frederick, 
Maryland. He was active in the Chamber of Commerce and the York 
Manufacturers' Association. Mr. Gibson was a Republican, and under the 
old form of government was a member of the York City Select Council. 
In 1892 he was elected mayor of York, serving the full term, until 1895. 
He was one of the organizers of the York Card & Paper Company, being 
a director and vice-president for a number of years. He was married to 
Miss Elizabeth Shumaker in 1882, five children being born, of whom two 
survive. Miss Marion Elizabeth Gibson and Mrs. W. T. Sibbett, whose 
husband is sales manager for the Columbia Graphophone Company, with 
offices in Baltimore. 

HALL, DR. ROSCOE. Dr. Roscoe Hall was born in Millerstown, 
February 22, 1888, the son of Dr. James Calvin and Elizabeth Jane (Wil- 
lis) Hall. He attended the public schools, and graduated from Mercers- 




MILTON B. GIBSON. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 813 

burg Academy in 1905, and from Dickinson College in 1908. He graduated 
from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1912. He was connected with the 
Johns Hopkins Hospital from 191 5 to 1919. He entered the United States 
Medical Corps during the World War as captain and was promoted to 
major. He saw service with the British in various shell shock hospitals 
in France and in the First Army of the A. E. F. In 1919 he became senior 
assistant physician at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D. C. 

HALL, WM. F. William F. Hall was born in Jackson Township, ad- 
joining Blain, on January 19, 1892, the son of Harry M. and Florence V. 
(Shreffler) Hall. He attended the public schools of Jackson Township 
and graduated from Millersville Normal School in 1913. He taught in 
the schools of Jackson Township and Duncannon, and was supervisory 
principal of the Christiana schools, 1914-15. He graduated from Pennsyl- 
vania State College in 1920. He served in the World War, being com- 
missioned a second lieutenant in the U. S. Infantry, on August 20, 1918. 
In 1920 he was director of the Vocational High School at Newtown Square, 
and in 1921 he was director of the Petersburg Community Vocational 
School, since which time he has been associated with the rural life depart- 
ment of the Pennsylvania State College, as head of the farm shop work. 

HAMILTON, F. A. F. A. Hamilton was born in Liverpool, February 
18, 1873, the son of John J. and Susan A. (Myers) Hamilton. He was 
educated in the local schools, graduating from the Liverpool High School 
in 1888. He attended the Bryant & Stratton Business College in Philadel- 
phia, and graduated from the Millersville Normal School in 1898. In 1916 
he attended State College, taking special work. He taught school in Liver- 
pool Township, was principal of the Liverpool schools for nine years, and 
principal of the Bellwood schools for fourteen years, still holding that 
position. 

HARKINS, REV. JOHN F. Rev. John F. Harkins was born in Jack- 
son Township, February 21, 1891, the son of Simon Edward and Mary 
Elizabeth (Stambaugh) Harkins. He attended the Blain schools and Sus- 
quehanna University, from which he graduated in 1915. He finished his 
theological course at the same institution in 1918, since which time he has 
been pastor of Grace Lutheran Church at State College. During 1919-20 
he was president of the Northern Conference of the Central Pennsylvania 
Synod. 

HART, REV. L. I. Rev. L. I. Hart was born near New Germantown, 
October 16, 1871, the very year of his father's death, who left six small 
children. His father was Levi J. Hart, and his mother Mary Elizabeth 
(Cogley) Hart. He attended the Loysville Soldiers' Orphans' Home four 
years, Juniata College one year, and Williamsport Dickinson Seminary 
four years. On August 26, 1901, he joined the Colorado Conference of 
the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1903 he transferred to the Ohio Con- 
ference, in 1914 to the Northeast Ohio Conference, and in 1916, again to 
the Ohio Conference. In 1921 he retired to enter business, and is now 
assistant to the president of the Cleveland Discount Company, the largest 
first mortgage concern in the United States. During his ministry he served 
pastorates at Beuna Vista, Mosca and Del Norte, in Colorado, and at 
Crown City, Chatham, Neil Avenue in Columbus, Manly, Portsmouth and 
Galion, in Ohio. 

HARTMAN, REV. H. H. Rev. Harry H. Hartman was born in Sa- 
ville Township, October 25, 1868, the son of John and Catherine Matilda 
(Brandt) Hartman. He was educated in the public schools and the Cum- 
berland Valley State Normal School. He completed the academic course at 
Ursinus and entered the college in 1890, graduating in 1894. He completed 
his theological course at Ursinus in 1897, and was ordained to the min- 



Si 4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

istry of the Reformed Church in May. He served as pastor at East Vin- 
cent, in 1897-98; of the Woodcock Valley charge in Huntingdon County, 
1898-1902; of Memorial charge, Dayton, Ohio, 1902-13, and of Bethany 
Tabernacle charge, Philadelphia, from 1913 to 1921. He was president of 
Miami Classis in 1904 and served as a member of the Board of Publication 
of the Ohio Synod in 1904-10. He served as a member of the Board of 
Visitors of the Central Theological Seminary 1910-13, and was president 
of Philadelphia Classis in 1920. 

HARTZELL, REV. C. V. Rev. Chas. V. Hartzell was born at New- 
port, March 9, 1856, the son of John and Augusta (Giebel) Hartzell. He 
attended the public schools of Newport, Williamsport Dickinson Seminary, 
where he graduated in 1879, and Drew Theological Seminary at Madison, 
New Jersey, taking a postgraduate course at the latter place. For several 
years before entering Dickinson Seminary he was employed as a telegraph 
operator on the Middle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad, being sta- 
tioned at Newport, Marysville, Mifflin, Huntingdon, Tyrone and Altoona. 
He resigned this position to become agent of the East Broad Top Railroad, 
at Robertsdale, on the opening of that road. He resigned this position in 
1875 to enter Dickinson Seminary. In 1879 he entered the ministry of the 
Methodist Episcopal Church, serving continuously until March, 1921, when 
he voluntarily retired, locating at Muncy, Pennsylvania. Among the 
churches he served were Millerstown, Huntingdon, Hollidaysburg, Waynes- 
boro, Harrisburg, and York. From March, 1903, to January, 1913, he was 
chief clerk of State Department of Factory Inspection, and from January 
6, 1913, to June 3 of the same year, he was chief factory inspector, being 
the last person to hold that office. During his years of employment by 
the state he served pastoral charges at a merely nominal salary. In 1904 
the Ohio Northern University conferred the D.D. degree upon him. 

1 1 KIM, REV. G. R. Rev. G. Robert Heim was born on the old Heim 
farm, near Loysville, April 13, 1883, the son of George W. and Mary V. 
(Shuman) Heim. He attended the public schools until seventeen, and 
graduated from the Millersville State Normal School in 1905. He gradu- 
ated from Gettysburg College in 1913, and from the Gettysburg Theo- 
logical Seminary in 1916. Prior to this he had taught school seven years 
in ungraded, summer normal and high schools. He organized the first 
Township High School in Perry County, at Lower Duncannon, in Perm 
Township. This school was later merged with the Duncannon High 
School. Entering the ministry in 1916, he was pastor of the Lutheran 
Church of Our Saviour at Coatesville. On March 2, 1918, he entered the 
U. S. Army as a chaplain, serving fifteen months, of which one year was 
in France. He was assigned to the Eightieth Division, and was on active 
duty, including participation in the great Meuse-Argonne offensive. Soon 
after his discharge he assumed charge of the Lutheran pastorage at Blain, 
where he is now located. 

HEISLEY, REV. L. H. Rev. L. H. Heisley was born in Rye Town- 
ship, near Marysville, January 3, 1894, the son of William and Annie Re- 
becca (Fisher) Heisley. He attended the public schools and Albright 
Academy at Myerstown, where he graduated in 1914. He was a student 
at Albright College, the Moody Bible Institute, and McCormick Theo- 
logical Seminary of Chicago. He was pastor of the North Ashland Ave- 
nue United Evangelical Church of Chicago during 1916 and 1917. He was 
pastor of the church at Manhattan, Illinois, during 1918, and in 1919 be- 
came pastor of the Cragin Congregational Church of Chicago, which posi- 
tion he fills at this time. 

HENCH, ATKINSON L. Atkinson L. Hench, oldest son of George 
and Mary (Hackett) Hench, was born in Saville Township, January 24, 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 815 

1838. He attended Big Spring Academy, walking home to Centre over 
the week ends, one of many young men then attending academies and col- 
leges who did that. He then entered his father's tannery and later was 
the owner of an interest in it, which he resold to his father, and in 1872 
located at Pleasantville, Bedford County, where he built a tannery. He 
became one of Bedford County's representative citizens and was twice 
elected to the General Assembly of Pennsylvania. 

HENCH, REV. SILAS M. Another Perry Countian who carried the 
Christian message to distant peoples was Rev. Silas M. Hench, born in 
Northeast Madison Township, November 1, 1851. His parents were George 
W. and Frances Rice Hench. His schooling started in the district schools, 
continued at Markelville Academy and at Airy View Academy at Port 
Royal, Pa., where he prepared for college. Was valedictorian of his class 
at Ursinus College in 1877, and in 1879 graduated from the Theological 
School of the same college. Entered the ministry at Walkersville, Mary- 
land, the same year and remained in that pastorate twenty-eight and one- 
half years, a rare record indeed. During the greater part of this period 
he resided in Frederick, Maryland. Served many religious offices of dis- 
tinction while there, the principal one being that of the presidency of Mary- 
land Classis of the Reformed Church. During this pastorate one new 
congregation was organized, the parent one became two self-supporting 
ones, and four new church buildings were erected. His second and last 
pastorate was the charge at Cavetown, Washington County, Maryland, 
from October 1, 1909, to November 1, 1916. He then retired from active 
service, and at Trappe, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, he lives in re- 
tirement. 

HENCH, JACOB BIXLER. Jacob Bixler Hench, the son of Atcheson 
L. and Alice (Bixler) Hench, was born at Center, Madison Township, 
February 21, 1863. He attended the common schools of Perry and Bed- 
ford Counties, Shellsburg High School, and graduated from Lafayette 
College. He taught in the Freemount Seminary at Norristown, in Blair 
Presbyterian Academy, at Blairstown, N. J. ; Dearborn-Morgan School, 
Orange, N. J., and at Shady Side Academy at Pittsburgh. He then be- 
came the founder and is the present principal and owner of the University 
School, Pittsburgh, Pa. He is secretary of the Pittsburgh Society of the 
Archaeological Institute of America, the Academy of Science and Art of 
Pittsburgh, and of the Presbyterian Union of Pittsburgh. 

HENCH, REV. C. R. Rev. C. R. Hench was born at Eshcol, Saville 
Township, June 12, 1875, the son of Ross and Mary (Bixler) Hench. He 
attended the public schools, two summer terms under Prof. W. E. Baker, 
at Eshcol, and the Rochester Business Institute. He graduated from the 
Theological Department of Temple University, Philadelphia, in 1904. Be- 
fore entering the ministry he was a bookkeeper at the League Island Navy 
Yard. His first pastorate was the Rosedale Baptist Church at Camden, 
N. J., 1907 to 1910. In 1910-11 he was pastor of the Baptist Church at 
Powell, Wyoming. From 1913 to 1918 he was again pastor of Rosedale 
Baptist Church at Camden. During the World War, from April, 1918, to 
August, 1919, he was in Y. M. C. A. work in France and Belgium. 

HENCH, REV. S. L. Rev. S. L. Hench was born September 29, 1885, 
at Kistler, Perry County, the son of William Monroe and Matilda Emaline 
(Ernest) Hench. He attended the public schools until seventeen, and then 
taught one term. He attended the New Bloomfield Academy and Albright 
College, where he graduated in 1910. In 1913 he graduated from the Lu- 
theran Seminary at Gettysburg. He has been pastor of Christ Lutheran 
Church, Dallastown, for the past seven years. He has been president of 



816 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the York County Conference and a delegate to the United Lutheran Church 
Convention in Washington, D. C. For over two years, during war times, 
he was a teacher in the Dallastown High School. 

HENCH, REV. THOMAS H. Rev. Thomas H. Hench was born April 
5, 1840, at Centre, Madison Township, the son of George and Mary 
( Hackett) Hench. He attended the public schools and prepared for col- 
lege at Loysville Academy, 1855-58. He graduated from Princeton College 
in [861, and from the Theological Seminary in 1866. He was made a D.D. 
by Hanover College, Indiana, in 1894. He was a Presbyterian pastor and 
a noted one for over fifty years. He resides at Carthage, Missouri, in 
retirement. 

HIPPLE, WESLEY. Wesley Hippie was born in Rye Township, and 
later became a successful ward principal in the city schools of Harrisburg, 
a position which he held until his death, in 1910. 

HOBACH. DR. JOHN U. Dr. John U. Hobach was born at Green 
Park, Tyrone Township, the son of George and Catharine (Bernheisel) 
Hobach. He attended the public schools, graduated from Franklin and 
Marshall College in 1878, and the University of Pennsylvania in 1884. He 
has long been connected with the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company of 
Philadelphia, as medical examiner. 

HOLLENBAUGH, REV. J. A. Rev. J. A. Hollenbaugh was born at 
Blain, March 5, 1852, the son of Samuel and Mary (Rowe) Hollenbaugh. 
He attended the public school at Stony Point, the Select School at Blain, 
and entered Union Seminary at New Berlin (Now Albright College, 
Myerstown), in 1873. He entered the ministry of the Evangelical Church, 
and preached for forty-four years. He was presiding elder of the Wil- 
liamsport District of the Central Pennsylvania Conference for four years 
and of the Carlisle District for four years. He served six years in the 
Oregon Conference, and at the following places in Pennsylvania: Lewis- 
burg, Lock Haven, Williamsport (two churches), Altoona and Lewisburg, 
also at Baltimore, Md., always staying the limit of time. He was thrice 
delegate to the General Conference of his church. He was retired in 
March, 1921, and resides at Lewisburg. 

HULINGS, DAVID W. David W. Hidings, a Perry Countian, gradu- 
ated at Dickinson College, read law in the offices of his uncle, David 
Watts, and located at Lewistown in 1818; same year appointed deputy 
attorney-general for Mifflin County. About 1830 became the owner of 
Hope furnace, which he operated for many years. Later ceased the prac- 
tice of law. 

. HULINGS, FRED'K. WATTS. Frederick Watts Hidings, son of 
Thomas and Elizabeth (Watts) Hidings, was born in Buffalo (now Watts) 
Township, March 9, 1792. He settled in Tennessee, where he became 
speaker of the House of Representatives. He cast his lot with the Con- 
federacy and became a captain in the Southern Army. While attempting 
to board a train during the war he was severely wounded, from the effects 
of which he died. 

HULL, DR. G. L. Dr. G. L Hull, principal of Banks Business Col- 
lege, at Philadelphia, was born at Markelville, Perry County. 

ICKES, DR. JONAS. Dr. Jonas Ickes, a son of Nicholas Ickes, is 
spoken of in the Bloomfield Borough chapter, elsewhere in this book. He 
first practiced medicine several years at Ickesburg, then from the farm of 
Rev. Joseph Brady, one mile west of Duncannon, whose daughter he had 
married. In 1825 he located at Bloomfield, and in 1856 moved to Mon- 
mouth, Illinois, and later to other sections of the state. His wife died in 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 817 

1868. In 1879 he returned to Monmouth to reside with his daughter, Susan 
lckes Harding. Later he lost his sight, and his hearing was also greatly 
impaired. Susan lckes Harding had married Gen. A. C. Harding, in 1835, 
and resided at Monmouth. During her life she was a great friend of the 
Collegiate Institute at Geneseo, Illinois, and presented two buildings to 
that institution, one a dormitory and the other known as Harding Hall. 

IRVINE, REV. J. E. Rev. J. E. Irvine was born in Saville Township, 
the son of John and Eleanor (Elliot) Irvine. He was educated in the 
public schools and the Juniata Valley Normal School of Prof. Wright, 
beginning teaching at the age of sixteen. He later attended the Culpepper 
Classical Academy, and then entered Washington and Jefferson College, at 
Washington, Pa., where he graduated in 1883. He then taught in Buffalo 
( Washington Co.) Academy for one year, after which he entered the 
Western Theological Seminary, at Pittsburgh, graduating in 1887. He 
was ordained into the ministry of the Presbyterian Church in 1888, and 
served as pastor at Fredonia and Cool Spring for two years. He became 
pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church of Altoona, in 1889, and re- 
mained until 1917. Was awarded the Ph.D. degree by the University of 
Wooster in 1898. In 1917 he became the pastor of the Williamsburg (Blair 
Co.) Presbyterian Church. He is the stated clerk of Huntingdon Presby- 
tery since 1905. 

IRVINE, REV. S. L. Rev. Samuel Linn Irvine, son of John and Mary 
(Elliott) Irvine, was born at Ickesburg, June 13, 1862. He attended the 
public schools, graduating from Roanoke College, located at Salem, Vir- 
ginia, in 1886, as valedictorian of his class. In 1889 he graduated from 
Princeton Theological Seminary. He entered the ministry of the Pres- 
byterian Church in the same year and was pastor of the Cooperstown, 
Sunville and Sugar Creek Memorial churches, in Venango County, Pa., 
from 1889 to 1894; the Lower Brandywine Presbyterian Church at Wil- 
mington, Delaware, from 1889 to 1903 ; the Hobart, Oklahoma, Church, 
1903-04; Sapulpa (I. T.), Oklahoma, 1904-06, and Highland Church, 
located at Street, Maryland, from 1906 to the present time (1922). 

JACKMAN, WM. J. William James Jackman, son of James and Eliza 
Louisa (Mitchell) Jackman, was born at Liverpool, September 20, 1837. 
He attended the public schools and William Mitchell's Select School at 
Dauphin, and the New Bloomfield Academy. He then learned printing, 
and in 1856 again attended the New Bloomfield Academy, after which he 
taught several terms in Perry County. He worked throughout the West 
as a journeyman printer, enlisted in the First Pennsylvania Cavalry, in 
July, 1861, and after the war purchased the Juniata True Democrat, at 
MifHintown, which had been owned by Dr. E. Darwin Crawford, forming 
a partnership with Mr. Grier. In October, 1867, he and Amos Bonsall, 
owner of the Register, formed a partnership and merged the papers into 
the Democrat and Register. Mr. Bonsall died in 1888, and Mr. Jackman 
became sole proprietor, publishing the paper until his death, November 
5. 1900. 

JACKSON, J. ROY. J. Roy Jackson was born at New Buffalo, May 3, 
1886, the son of J. Benson and Caroline (Bair) Jackson. He attended the 
public schools, graduated from the Cumberland Valley State Normal 
School in 1908, and from Dickinson College in 1914. During 1920 he did 
graduate work at the University of Pittsburgh, and in 1921, at State Col- 
lege. He was at the head of the Department of Science in the Coraopolis 
High School, supervising principal of the Battles Memorial School at 
Girard (1916-19), and principal of the New Brighton High School since 
1919. 

. 5^ 



818 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

JACKSON, \Y. B. William B. Jackson was born at New Buffalo, Oc- 
tober 3, 1880, the son of J. Benson and Caroline (Bair) Jackson. He at- 
tended the public schools and Dickinson Preparatory School at Carlisle. 
He graduated from Dickinson College in 1903, attended three summer ses- 
sions of the University of Pennsylvania, and traveled three months in 
Germany. He was the principal of the Township High School at Madeira, 
Pa., assistant principal of the Lewistown Schools, instructor of languages 
at Wenonah Military Academy (Wenonah, N. J.), instructor of languages 
at the Harrisburg (Pa.) Academy, and assistant principal of the Duncannon 
schools. He spent ten months in France with the A. E. F. as a Y. M. C. A. 
secretary, since which time he has been instructor of languages in the 
Friends' Central School at Fifteenth and Race Streets, Philadelphia. 

JACKSON, WM. STEELL. William Steell Jackson, son of Joseph E. 
and Isabelle (Steell) Jackson, was born at Duncannon, March 11, 1871. 
He attended the public schools and prepared for college at Blairstown, 
New Jersey. He then learned the machinist's trade at Steelton. He gradu- 
ated in the electrical engineering course at Lehigh University and took 
law courses at the National University, Washington, and Columbian (now 
George Washington) University. He then spent five years as an assistant 
examiner in the Patent Office at Washington, D. C. He located at Phila- 
delphia, where he has since practiced law, specializing on patents 

JOHNSTON, DR. R. W. Dr. Russell W. Johnston was born at New 
Bloomfield, December 12, 1888, the son of Alexander Russell and Laura 
Theresa (Willhide) Johnston. He attended the public schools and gradu- 
ated from the New Bloomfield Academy in 1904. He graduated from the 
College Preparatory Department of the Lock Haven State Normal School 
in 1905, attended Princeton University for one year, and graduated from 
the Jefferson Medical College in 1910. He served as an interne in the hos- 
pital of the Protestant Episcopal Church at Philadelphia, from June, 1910, 
to November, 1912. With the exception of a period of four months of 
military service as a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps of the U. S. 
Army, he has since practiced medicine at Selinsgrove. He is an assistant 
surgeon on the staff of the Mary Ann Packer Hospital at Sunbury. 

JOHNSTON, REV. ROBERT. Rev. Robert Johnston was born in the 
Sherman's Valley about the time of the Revolutionary War. In 1792 his 
father removed to western Pennsylvania and settled on a farm near 
Canonsburg, Washington County. This enabled Robert to secure a col- 
legiate education and enter the ministry. The families on both sides were 
Presbyterians, of Scotch-Irish descent. 

JOHNSTON, REV. EDWARD. Rev. Edward Johnston, a brother of 
Rev. Robert, named above, was born in the Sherman's Valley about the 
time of the Revolutionary War. His father removed to western Penn- 
sylvania in 1792 and settled on a farm near Canonsburg, thus enabling 
Edward to secure a college education and enter the ministry. He was a 
descendant of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians on both the paternal and mater- 
nal sides. 

H >NES, CHAS. A. Charles Alvin Jones was born at Newport, August 
27, 1887, the son of Alvin and Mary Elizabeth (Sheats) Jones. He at- 
tended the public schools, Mercersburg Academy, and Williams College at 
Williamstown, Mass. He graduated from Dickinson Law School in 1910 
with the LL.B. degree, since which time he has been a members of the Alle- 
gheny County bar, having served on the executive committee of the same 
fur two terms. 

KELL, C. J. C. J. Kell was born at Blain, May 8, 1892, the son of 
Reuben H. and Annie M. (Baker) Kell. He was educated in the public 
self mis and attended Conway Hall Preparatory School at Carlisle, gradu- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 819 

ating from State College in 1916, in the agricultural course. He was super- 
visor of agriculture in the Falls Township Vocational School, at Mill City, 
Pa., 1916-18, and director of the Vocational School at Newfoundland, Pa., 
1918-19, since which time he has been county supervisor of agriculture of 
Westmoreland County, with headquarters at Greensburg, Pa. 

KELL, REV. B. H. Rev. Benjamin Harrison Kell, son of Amos Frank 
and Elizabeth Jane (Kuhn) Kell, was born near' Ickesburg, in Saville 
Township, August 22, 1889. He attended the common schools and New 
Bloomfield Academy. He was graduated from Ursinus College in 1914, 
with a B.A. degree, and from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chi- 
cago, in 1917, with the degree of B.D. He also graduated from the Uni- 
versity of Chicago in 1917. He was licensed by the Chicago Presbytery 
and ordained to the gospel ministry in 191 7. He was a chaplain in the 
United States Army during the World War, 1918. He was the pastor of 
the First Presbyterian Church at Hazleton, Idaho, 1918-20, since which time 
he has been pastor of the Milwaukee (Wis.) Berean Presbyterian Church. 

KELL, DR. E. A. Dr. Elmer Andrew Kell was born in Loysville, Janu- 
ary 20, 1879, the son of Peter J. and Sarah E. (Long) Kell. He attended 
the public schools and the New Bloomfield Academy, graduating there in 
1895. He taught school one term and then entered Baltimore Medical Col- 
lege, from which he graduated in 1900. He served one year as interne at 
the Maryland General Hospital at Baltimore. He then became medical 
examiner in the relief department of the Pennsylvania Railroad at Balti- 
more, where he remained until 1910. He was in active practice at Potts- 
town (Pa.) from 1910 to 1915. In November, 1915, he began practice at 
Rawlins, Wyoming. Taking an interest in Republican politics, he was 
elected mayor of Rawlins in 1921 by that party, on a law and order plat- 
form. 

KELL, DR. RALPH C. Dr. Ralph C. Kell was born November 11, 
1882, at Elliottsburg, the son of Emanuel and Jemima (Foose) Kelt. He 
attended the public schools and graduated from the New Bloomfield Acad- 
emy. He entered Jefferson Medical College, from which he graduated in 
1905. He was resident physician of the Phcenixville Hospital for a year. 
From 1906 to 1909 he was at Waverly, Massachusetts, as assistant physician 
at the McLean Hospital, doing special work in mental diseases. In 1909 he 
was with the Worcester State Insane Hospital, and from 1910 to 1912 he 
was superintendent of the Chester County Hospital for the Insane. In 
1913 he entered the services of the relief department of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad as a medical examiner. 

KELL, PHILIP S. Philip S. Kell, son of Joseph and Margaret 
(Hench) Kell, was born October 22, 1850, in Saville Township. He at- 
tended the usual four months' school sessions of that period until he was 
eighteen. In February, 1869, having a desire to see the great West he 
went to Wilton Junction, Iowa, where he attended a Western Baptist 
School, affording an academic course, making his home with his sister, 
who lived there. He taught several years and then located at Des Moines, 
engaging in the newspaper business. He began at the bottom, setting type, 
and passed through all departments until he became general manager. In 
1890 he founded the Spirit of the West, a weekly journal devoted to the 
promotion of country, district and state agricultural fairs, pedigreed stock, 
etc. He owned and controlled this for twenty-five years, but sold it in 
1915 and moved to California. He was nominated for Congress by the 
Democrat Congressional Convention of the Seventh Iowa District in 1888, 
but declined the nomination. 

KELL, RALPH L. Ralph L. Kell was born at Loysville, September 8, 
1881, the son "of Peter J. and Sarah E. (Long) Kell. He attended the 



820 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

public schools at Loysville and the New Bloomfield Academy, where he 
graduated in iqoi. He graduated from State College in 1905 in civil en- 
gineering. He was assistant supervisor for the Pennsylvania Railroad, 
being located at Millville (N. J.), Ereeport, Altoona, and Chester (Pa.). 
Since that time he has held positions with prominent engineering firms 
and with the State Water Supply Commission of Pennsylvania. He is now 
connected with a prominent engineering firm at Lancaster. 

KELLER, REV. B. F. Rev. B. F. Keller is another of those persons 
generally known as Perry Countians, but who was born elsewhere. Rev. 
Keller was born of Perry County parents, then residing at East Prospect, 
York County, on March 4, 185 1. Before he was six his parents moved 
back to the county. He was a son of Emanuel and Elizabeth (Barshinger) 
Keller. He attended the public schools and Union Seminary at New Berlin. 
He entered the ministry of the Evangelical Church, in March, 1875. He 
has served as pastor at Jersey Shore, Bendersville, Liverpool, Tunkhan- 
nock, and many others of like import. 

KERN, O. B. Oliver B. Kern was born at Blain, Pa., September 29, 1871, 
the son of David N. and Ellen M. Kern. He attended the Blain pub- 
lic schools, and during the winter of 1887-88 took private lessons with 
the late J. C. Preisler at Landisburg. He graduated from Millersville 
Normal School in 1893, and from Franklin and Marshall College in 1899. 
He spent a year at the Teachers' College, Columbia, Missouri, 1903-04. 
He taught in Perry and Lancaster Counties for a number of years, and 
from 1900 to 1902 he was principal of the San Juan (Porto Rico) graded 
and high schools. He was principal of the Reynoldsville High School 
1902-03, and a supervising principal in the schools of Camden, N. J., since 
May, 1904. 

KERR, MISS AMANDA. Miss Amanda Kerr was born at Marsh Run, 
Tuscarora Township, Perry County, April 16, 1875, the daughter of 
Thompson and Margaretta (Fry) Kerr. She attended "the little red school- 
house" known as Kerr's, and graduated from the Cumberland Valley State 
Normal School in 1899. B*efore graduation she had taught four years in 
Perry County, and after that she taught six near Easton, Pa. In 1905 she 
entered the mission field and sailed for India, where she first taught in the 
schools for Mohammedans and Hindus at Saharanspur. Later she had 
charge of the Christian Boarding School at Jagroon. In 1915 she enjoyed 
a furlough, since which time she has been in charge of the Orphanage and 
Boarding School at Hoshiarspur, where she has more than a hundred 
"brownies" to mother. Miss Kerr's work in the mission field has been a 
notable one. 

KERR, SAMUEL W. Samuel W. Kerr was born at Landisburg, the 
son of Lewis Barnett and Elizabeth (Postlethwaite) Kerr, December 5, 
1867. He attended the public schools of Madison and Saville Townships, 
and graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1892. He then ac- 
cepted the principalship of the Clarion Collegiate Institute at Rimersburg, 
Pennsylvania, which he filled for several years. He taught one year in 
Franklin and Marshall College, and then, with Prof. Ambrose Cort, estab- 
lished the Reading Classical School at Reading, Pennsylvania, with which 
he was associated for almost ten years. He then was selected to the 
faculty of the Boys' High School, at Reading, Pennsylvania, and still fills 
that position. 

KERR, REV. DAVID W. Rev. David W. Kerr, son of Lewis Barnett 
and Elizabeth (Postlethwaite) Kerr, was born in Tuscarora Township, 
February 6, 1864. In 1886 he graduated from the Cumberland Valley State 
Normal School and taught two years as principal at Dauphin, Pennsyl- 
vania, having previously taught three years in Saville Township, Perry 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 821 

County. In 1888 he entered Mercersburg College, spending two years 
there. He then entered the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church 
at Lancaster, where he graduated in 1893. He entered the ministry of the 
Reformed Church and has since been pastor of the churches at Worth- 
ville, Grove City, New Hamburg and Apollo, Pennsylvania. In 1914 he 
located at Fayette, New York, where he had charge of a unique work 
along the line of church federation, having been the pastor of the Re- 
formed and Lutheran congregations. There each church maintained its 
organization as well as its relations to its denomination, but both worship 
under the ministry of one pastor. The church buildings were used on 
alternate Sundays. In January, 1921, he assumed charge of the Reformed 
Church at Orangeville, Pa., where he is now located. 

KERR, REV. F. L. Rev. Frank L. Kerr, son of Lewis Barnett and 
Elizabeth (Postlethwaite) Kerr, was born at Landisburg, September 14, 
1869. He was educated in the public schools and later taught in Saville 
Township. He graduated at Franklin and Marshall College and in 1894 
entered the ministry of the Reformed Church. He has served in the fol- 
lowing pastorates : Penbrook, Meadville, Newport, Pitcairn, Phcenixville, 
and New Kensington, where he is now located. 

KINER, HENRY L. Henry L. Kiner was born February 1, 1851, the 
son of William and Margaret (Calhoun) Kiner. While very young, he 
went with his parents to Illinois, where he became proprietor of the 
Gcneseo News, a position which he filled for thirty years. He was mayor 
of Geneseo, and was a gifted newspaper man. His last work was the 
writing of a History of Henry County, Illinois. Of his two sons, one is 
an attorney in Chicago, and another a civil engineer. Mr. Kiner died 
March 11, 1920, in a hospital in Moline, Illinois, where he had made his 
home in later years. 

KINTER, DR. JOHN H. G. Dr. John H. G. Kinter was born at Mil- 
lerstown, June 5, 1880, the son of John H. G. and Ann E. (Smith) Kinter. 
He attended the public schools and graduated from Lafayette College in 
1905, and from Jefferson Medical College in 1907. He then located at 
Chambersburg and is now county medical director and coroner of Franklin 
County. 

KISTLER, LLOYD K. Lloyd K. Kistler was born at Loysville, Sep- 
tember 16, 1847, the son of David and Susanna (Rice) Kistler. He was 
educated at the common schools and the New Bloomfield Academy. He 
taught in Perry County and in the State of Iowa and Kansas. He served 
in the 208th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, during the Sec- 
tional War. He homesteaded a quarter-section near Waterville, Kansas, in 
1869. He has written a number of pamphlets upon economic and social 
lines. 

KISTLER, REV. J. L. Rev. John Luther Kistler, son of David and 
Susanna (Rice) Kistler, was born at Ickesburg, Pa., September 25, 1849. 
He attended the public schools and graduated from Gettysburg College in 
1872. He taught at Susquehanna University in 1874-75. He then went to 
Hartwick Seminary, Otsego Co., N. Y., in 1876, where he was professor 
of Greek and Mathematics, resigning in 1920. He received the degrees 
Sc.D. and D.D. from Gettysburg College. 

KISTLER, MARY J. Mary J. Kistler was born at Blain, the daughter 
of John A. and Caroline V. (Sheibley) Kistler. She attended the public 
schools and the New Bloomfield Academy, graduating from the Edinboro 
State Normal School in 1896. She has taught in the schools of Pennsyl- 
vania, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, and is now a deaconess in the St. 
James' Methodist Episcopal Church at New York City, superintendent of 



822 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the New York Deaconess Home, and superintendent of the New York 
Deaconess Association. 

KISTLER, CLARK B. Clark B. Kistler was born May 22, 1885, at 
Elliottsburg, the son of Clayton J. and Ellen (Shearer) Kistler. He at- 
tended the public schools and the New Bloomfield Academy, graduating 
from Pennsylvania College in 1909. He did special work at the University 
of Pittsburgh since then. He taught in the schools of Perry County and 
in the High School at Connellsville, Pa. In 1913 he taught in the Depart- 
ment of History in the Pittsburgh High School, and in 1915 began teaching 
Mathematics in Carnegie Institute of Technology. 

KISTLER, MISS SUE R. Miss Sue Rice Kistler is another of Perry 
County's missionaries of note. She is a daughter of David and Susan 
(Rice) Kistler, and was born October 25, 1863. 

KLINE, IRVIN E. Irvin E. Kline was born near Blain, November 22, 
1874, the son of William A. and Catherine (Mumper) Kline. He attended 
the public schools at Blain, graduated from the Lock Haven State Normal 
School in 1896, and from Dickinson College in 1901. He was a graduate 
student at Columbia University, New York City, during the summer ses- 
sions of 1904-06-07. He taught at Dickinson College Preparatory School, 
Blair Hall (Blairstown, N. J.), and in the Atlantic City High School, where 
he is located at present. 

KLINE, G. ALFRED. G. Alfred Kline was born near Blain, July 27, 
1880, the son of William A. and Catherine (Mumper) Kline. He attended 
the Blain schools, Shippensburg Normal School, Conway Hall, at Car- 
lisle, and graduated from Dickinson College in 1907. He did postgraduate 
work there in 1907-08. He did graduate work at the University of Penn- 
sylvania, specializing in Mathematics and Science. Before going to col- 
lege he taught several years in Perry County. He had charge of Mathe- 
matics in Conway Hall three years after graduation, the last two of which 
he was vice-headmaster. In the fall of 1910 he went to Philadelphia, and 
has been in the Mathematical Department of the South Philadelphia High 
School the past eight years. He has also been teaching higher mathematics 
in the evening schools at Drexel Institute. 

KOCHENDERFER, REV. H. W. Rev. H. W. Kochenderfer was born 
near Saville, in Saville Township, March 19, 1875, the son of Thomas F. 
and Caroline (Adams) Kochenderfer. He attended the public schools and 
Prof. W. E. Baker's select school at Eshcol. He prepared for college at 
Ursinus Academy and graduated from college and the School of Theology. 
He also attended Ludlamb's School of Dramatic Art, and the University 
of Pennsylvania, where he received the M.A. degree. He had taught 
school in Saville Township and in Ursinus Academy. He served four 
years as pastor of the Royersford Reformed Church, was located at Al- 
toona for two years, and at Linfield for ten years, teaching during the 
same time at the Central High School of Philadelphia. 

KRETZING, REV. JOHN. Rev. John Kretzing was born March 7, 
1840, in Juniata Township, the son of John and Susan (Ernest) Kretzing. 
He attended the local schools and an advanced school at Chambersbura:. as 
well as Selinsgrove Institute. He entered the ministry and served pas- 
torates at Littlestown, Newport, Brodhead's Mill, and other places. He 
died about 1894. 

LANE, ALBERT M. Albert M. Lane was born at Duncannon, July 31, 
1878, the son of Austin Luther and Rebecca (Moore) Lane. He attended 
the public schools and graduated from the Duncannon High School in 
1894. He entered Lafayette College and graduated in the class of 1905. 
The college retained his services upon his graduation and he has been 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 823 

with them ever since, being now bursar and acting treasurer of the col- 
lege, as well as superintendent of the buildings and grounds. 

LATCHFORD, DR. O. L. Dr. Orwan Luther Latchford, only son of 
Philip Leonard and Elizabeth E. (Orwan) Latchford, was born at Markel- 
ville, March 15, 1874. He attended the public schools and Prof. \\ . I'.. 
Baker's select school at Eshcol, from 1890 to 1893. He taught during 1893 
and 1894. He then entered the drug business with John W. Cotterel, at 
Harrisburg, where he was located for two years. He graduated from the 
Philadelphia College of Pharmacy in 1898. From 1898 until 1899 he occu- 
pied positions as head pharmacist. He entered Medico-Chirurgical Col- 
lege in 1899, and graduated in 1903. He then began the practice of medi- 
cine at 1319 Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, with office also at Fifth and 
Chestnut Streets, and has been in continuous practice there since that date. 
He entered the Philadelphia Polyclinic and College for Graduates in Medi- 
cine, in the Department of Eye Diseases, in 1907, and was clinical assistant 
instructor in diseases of the eye, and acting chief of the clinic until 1912. 
In 1908 he was a special student at Jefferson Medical College, taking dis- 
eases of the nose and throat. During the same year he was clinical assist- 
ant on diseases of the nose and throat at Lebanon Hospital, Philadelphia. 
He was once a member of the associate staff of Northwestern General 
Hospital. In 1921 he helped organize the Broad Street Trust Company 
with a capital of $250,000, and was elected one of its directors. 

LEONARD, JOHN M. John Moore Leonard, son of Edward Burchard 
and Julia (Rumple) Leonard, was born in Landisburg, where his father 
practiced law. He attended the local schools and graduated from Dick- 
inson College, later studying at the University of Berlin. He was professor 
of Greek for years at the University of Cincinnati, where he died in 1894. 
Prof. Leonard had the unique distinction of having been an instructor of 
the noted President, William McKinley. 

LIGGETT, MARTIN L. Martin L. Liggett was born at Ickesburg, 
November 10, 1839. He was educated in the public schools and the Acad- 
emy at Academia, Juniata County. He graduated at Princeton and read 
law in Berks County and at Chillicothe, Missouri. He practiced seven 
years in Williamsport, but failing health caused him to return and locate 
at Newport, where he dLed a year later, on December 30, 1883. 

LINDAMAN, DR. R. H. Dr. R. H. Lindaman was born at Blain, 
March 20, 1881, the son of Rev. F. S. and Amelia Josephine (Rice) Linda- 
man. He left the county as. a lad. He attended the schools of Adams 
County, later studying medicine. He practices at Littlestown, Adams 
County. 

LINN, JOHN ACHESON. John Acheson Linn was born in Landis- 
burg, January 24, 1820, a grandson of Rev. John Linn, the pioneer pastor 
of old Center Church for forty years. He was a son of Samuel and Mary 
(Diven) Linn. He attended the Landisburg schools and later engaged in 
mercantile business there until i860, when he removed to Philadelphia and 
became a member of the noted grocery firm of Coyle, Laughlin & Co., Mr. 
Coyle being married to his sister, with whom he made his home. He was 
an active and honorable business man, an active church man, and passed 
away January 14, 1901, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. William Patton, 
whose husband is first assistant to the president of the Pennsylvania Rail- 
road at Philadelphia. 

LONG, REV. HENRY F. Rev. Henry F. Long, son of Isaac and Eliza- 
beth (Smith) Long, was born in Saville Township, September 3, 1841. He 
was educated in the public schools. The Sectional War attracted him to 
the colors. He enlisted in Company 8, Seventeenth Regiment, Pennsyl- 
vania Cavalry, and served until May 31, 1864, when he was shot through 



824 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the shoulder at the Battle of Cold Harbor, and the next day lost his left 
arm through amputation as the result. Returning home, he entered the 
Eshcol Select School and the Markelville Academy. He taught a term 
and attended the academies at Greason, Cumberland County, and at New 
Bloomfield. He then spent six years at the Missionary Institute (now 
Susquehanna University) at Selinsgrove, graduating in 1873. He served 
charges at Arndtsville, Pine Grove Mills, Spring Hill, Illinois, and Bunker 
1 1 ill," Kansas. At Bunker Hill, through the efforts of Mr. Long and his 
wife, with Eastern friends, Zion Lutheran Church— the first church in the 
town, was built. In 1883 he returned to Perry County and became pastor 
at Duncannon, later being located at Sharpsburg, Shippensburg, and also in 
Fitzgerald, Georgia, where a new church was built during his pastorate. 
He retired in 1901 from the regular ministry. 

LOSH, SAMUEL S. Samuel Stephen Losh, pianist and baritone, was 
born at Lebo, Tyrone Township, October 4, 1884, the son of Charles S. 
and Alice (Wagner) Losh. He attended the schools of Perry County and 
Hagerstown, Md., graduating from the Hagerstown High School in 1902. 
He also attended Leipsic Conservatory. He has been director of music 
at Catawba College, N. C, the Texas Christian University, and army song 
leader at Camp Bowie. He is director of municipal grand opera at Fort 
Worth, Texas, and was one of the forerunners in the development of com- 
munity music in the United States, having led mass singing from coast to 
coast. He is widely known as a pianist, singer, conductor and lecturer. 

LUPFER, ALEXANDER McCLURE. Alexander McClure Lupfer 
was born at Blain, September 17, 1855, the son of Samuel and Matilda 
(McClure) Lupfer. His early education was gotten principally in the 
schools of Newville, where his parents moved shortly after his birth. He 
attended Millersville State Normal School, where he prepared for college. 
He graduated in the civil engineering department of Lafayette College in 
1880. The following year he went West and became one of the famous 
engineers who blazed the trails of the great transcontinental railways. He 
is recognized as one of the great locating and construction engineers of the 
great Northwest. He constructed lines in Pennsylvania, Minnesota, North 
Dakota, Montana, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and British Columbia. For 
practically thirty years he was one of James J. Hill's chief engineers on 
the Great Northern Railway. He died February 3, 1920. 

LUPFER, DR. GEORGE W. George W. Lupfer, M.D., was a son of 
Jesse K. and Sarah (Ricedorf) Lupfer, born at Markelville, November 15, 
1856. He was the eldest of a family of twelve children. He attended local 
schools until fifteen, then the New Bloomfield Academy, and three terms 
at Millersville. He taught two terms in Perry and two in Northumberland 
County. He worked with bis father at carpentering to secure funds for 
his education. He read medicine with Dr. J. D. Shull, of Williamsport, 
and graduated from College of Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore 
in 1881. His preceptor had in the meantime removed to Markelville, and 
with him he practiced for a year and a half. He then located at Neff's 
Mills, being postmaster there during a term starting in 1893. After assist- 
ing a physician perform an operation at Petersburg, Huntingdon County, 
November 2, 1905, he started home in his carriage. About a mile and a 
half east of that town he was observed in a reclining position, with his hat 
off and the horse driverless. Kind hands conveyed him into the neighbor- 
ing farmhouse, and in a few minutes he expired. 

LUPFER, EDWARD P. Edward P. Lupfer was born at Toboyne 
Tannery, Perry County, October 22, 1868, the son of Samuel and Matilda 
(McClure) Lupfer. He attended school at Beavertown, Pa., where his 
family resided later, and at Newton, Kansas, where he graduated from the 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 825 

High School in 1889. From 1892 to 1894 he was at the University of Kan- 
sas at Lawrence. Since that time he has been assistant engineer in charge 
of heavy mountain construction on the Rio Grande Western, assistant en- 
gineer of construction on the western extension of the Great Northern 
Railway in Montana, Idaho and Washington; assistant engineer of con- 
struction on the Rio Grande Western in Utah; transit man on location of 
a route of the Great Northern Railway; assistant engineer of the Middle 
Division of the Great Northern Railway ; division engineer of the Eastern 
Minnesota Railway; locating engineer on mountain work on the Great 
Northern Railway in Northern Washington; locating engineer on the 
West Branch Valley Railroad in Pennsylvania; resident engineer of the 
Pennsylvania Division of the New York Central; locating engineer of the 
Buffalo & Susquehanna Railway in New York, and later division engineer 
and assistant chief engineer of the same line. In May 1907, he entered 
private construction work and contracting at Buffalo, New York, under the 
firm name of Lupfer & Remick, in which he still continues. This firm 
makes a specialty of heavy bridge building and filtration plant work. 

LUTZ, ALBERT J. Albert J. Lutz, the son of Isaac and Sarah (Inch) 
Lutz, was born in Liverpool, May 9, 1863. He attended the Liverpool 
schools and graduated at the Lock Haven State Normal School. He then 
followed teaching for a number of years, having been principal at various 
places, and ranking high in the profession. He was a writer of no mean 
ability and contributed to the press both prose and verse. Upon the found- 
ing of the Mont Alto camp for tubercular patients in the South Mountains 
he founded and edited a little magazine called Spunk, which gave him a 
nation-wide reputation as an optimist. Later returning to Liverpool he 
entered the furniture business with his father, but March 11, 1912, died in 
the prime of his manhood. 

MacCLUER, REV. DONALD W. M. Rev. Donald W. M. MacCluer 
was born May 28, 1885, at Springfield, Ohio, but spent all of his early life in 
Perry County. He was the son of William M. and Mary C. (Rice) MacCluer. 
He attended the Centre Township schools and graduated from the New 
Bloomfield Academy in 1902. He graduated from Mercersburg Academy 
in 1904, Washington and Lee University, Virginia, in 1907, and from Au- 
burn Theological Seminary in 1910. From September, 1910, to September, 
191 1, he was a missionary in charge of the educational work of the Pres- 
byterian Church in Chieng Rai Province, Siam. He was invalided home 
with jungle fever. He was pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church at 
Niagara Falls, 1911-13; pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at Cold 
Water, Michigan, 1913-19; assistant pastor of the Central Presbyterian 
Church, at St. Louis, Missouri, 1919-20, and pastor of the Rose City Park 
Presbyterian Church, at Portland, Oregon, since July 1, 1920, the mem- 
bership of which is 663. During the war he was camp pastor for the Na- 
tional Service Commission, being stationed at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. 

McGUIRE, REV. F. W. Rev. Frank W. McGuire was born October 
11, 1863, in Wheatfield Township, the son of Robert and Harriet Henri- 
etta (Greenbaum) McGuire. He attended the local schools, the Duncan- 
non High School, the Bloomfield Academy, and entered Washington and 
Jefferson College as a freshman, quitting owing to his health. In October, 
1887, he was ordained a minister of the gospel by the Church of God. He 
has since served at Smithville, Matamoras, EHzabethtown, Churchtown, 
Newville, Shiremanstown, Landisville, Saxton, Lisburn, and Roherstown, 
where he is now located. For twenty-five years he has been president of 
the Board of Extension of the East Pennsylvania Eldership, and for al- 
most that long a member of the Board of Missions. At present he is ex- 
executive controller and a member of the standing committee. He has 



826 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



been a member of the General Eldership since 1902, a member of the Ex- 
ecutive Board of that body since 1905, and president of that body since 
1913. For nine years he was associate editor of the Sunday School Gem. 
McCASKEY, JOHN L. John L. McCaskey was born at Shermansdale, 
\ugust 14, 1857, the son of Joseph A. and Jane (Smiley) McCaskey. He 
was educated in the local schools and the Cumberland Valley State Nor- 
mal School at Shippensburg. 
He also attended the Philadel- 
phia High School. He con- 
ducted a Summer School of the 
teachers' preparatory grade at 
Shermansdale, 1878-80. Of a 
mechanical turn of mind, in 
connection with Wilson Smiley, 
he designed and constructed 
the large tower clock placed 
upon the Smiley foundry, with 
quarter-hour strikes, which 
served Carroll Township with 
standard time for many years. 
From 1882 to 1888 he was edi- 
tor and publisher of the Dun- 
cannon (Pa.) Record, serving 
part of the time as principal of 
schools there also. From there 
he went to Waynesboro as su- 
perintendent of schools, and 
while there installed an electric 
signal (program) system, the 
first one in the country. In a 
legal contest over this matter 
with Thomas A. Edison, in 1892, Mr. McCaskey won. His inventions are 
covered by seventeen patents and three foreign patents, the more important 
being the" electric signal (program) time clocks, sold around the world, 
geographical time charts, and his World's War torpedo reflector, the latter 
being one of three ordered built from almost two thousand inventions of 
the same class. As a member of the War Board Mr. Edison urged its 
preferential building. For some years Mr. McCaskey has been connected 
with the Westinghouse Company of Pittsburgh, as a consulting engineer of 
the purchasing department. He is a gifted speaker and is called upon in 
the field of economics and community betterment, etc. He is president of 
the Beautifying Commission of the Homewood-Brushton district of Pitts- 
burgh. He is teacher of the men's organized Bible Class of the Fourth 
Methodist Church. He has been recognized by the Allegheny County 
courts as an expert mechanical engineer, and was for a time connected 
with the Department of Commerce and Labor as an expert accountant. 
In December, 1921, he was appointed a deputy revenue collector for the 
Pittsburgh District. 

McKEE, REV. GEO. B., Ph.D. With the single exception of his birth, 
which occurred at Port Royal, Pennsylvania, April 4, 1862, Rev. George 
Brady McKee was a Perry Countian, as he was less than a year old when 
his parents removed to Ickesburg. His father was John M. McKee, who 
had been "a Southerner," a teacher, and musician, and his mother was 
Susan J. Crist, of Markelville, Perry County. At the age of six years his 
lather died. To the schools of Buckwheat Valley and Eshcol he first 
went, after which he attended the New Bloomfield Academy. At seven- 




JOHN h. McCASKEY. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 827 

teen he taught, and at nineteen he secured a position in a large printing- 
house in Philadelphia. He was converted at the age of sixteen, and from 
then on his object was to enter the ministry. He took a theological course 
in Philadelphia, and at the age of twenty-one was ordained to preach. He 
was reared a Presbyterian, but changing his views about baptism in his 
twenty-seventh year, he transferred his allegiance to the Baptist denomi- 
nation. He visited the Holy Land in 1900 and spent four months in study 
of Biblical locations. He served pastorates in Pennsylvania at Port Provi- 
dence, Tyrone, Altoona, New Brighton and Sharon; in Indiana at Kokomo, 
Lebanon and Indianapolis, and in Illinois, at Vermont and Canton. He also 
served once at Fredonia, Kansas. Rev. McKee was married to Miss 
Luella Wickey, a daughter of Rev. L. A. Wickey, of Eshcol, Perry County, 
who survives him. Three daughters and a son composed the family. He 
was a director of the Graham Hospital of Canton, Illinois, where he died 
of apoplexy, August 13, 1921, being then the beloved pastor of the First 
Baptist Church of Canton. He is spoken of as a man of broad vision, 
positive convictions, and of a kindly and loving disposition. 

McKEE, REV. J. KERN. Rev. J. Kern McKee, son of Samuel and 
Margaret (Kern) McKee, was born at Andersonburg, August 22, 1872. 
He attended the local schools and preparatory school at Blain. He gradu- 
ated from Ursinus College in 1898, and from the Ursinus School of The- 
ology in 1901. He has been pastor of the following Reformed churches : 
Red Lion, 1901-06; Christ's, Pittsburgh, Pa., 1906-07; Zion, York, Pa., 
1907 to date. During his pastorate two fine churches have been built, Zion 
Church, at York, having cost $120,000. This church has over nine hundred 
members. 

McKEE, JOHN M. John M. McKee was born at New Bloomfield, 
March 1, 1851, the son of Wilson and Martha (Milligan) McKee. He was 
educated in the public schools and the New Bloomfield Academy. He 
learned the machinist trade in Harrisburg, later working in Sunbury and 
Renovo. In 1880 he went to Colorado, where he prospected in the moun- 
tains, finally settling in Pueblo, where he was made master mechanic in 
the railroad shops. He served four years as deputy revenue collector in 
that district. At the outbreak of the Spanish-American War he enlisted 
in Co. E, First Regiment, Colorado Volunteers, and served in the Philip- 
pines two years. On his return while lying sick in San Francisco he was 
elected treasurer of Pueblo County, in which office he served two terms. 
Subsequently he was selected sheriff of his county, and died during his 
second term in that office, April 19, 1918. 

McKEE, THOMAS L. Thomas L. McKee was born at New Bloom- 
field, October 17, 1854, the son of Wilson and Martha (Milligan) McKee. 
He was educated in the public schools and the New Bloomfield Academy, 
learning the printing trade in Harrisburg. In 1880 he published The Voice, 
a weekly, in Martinsburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania. Later he went to 
Colorado, where he became editor and manager of the North Park Miner. 
From there he went to Laramie, Wyoming, and bought a half interest in 
Bill Nye's Daily Boomerang, afterward the Laramie Republican. While in 
Laramie he served two terms as county treasurer, and was also internal 
revenue collector for the State of Wyoming. In 1905 he went to Aberdeen, 
South Dakota, and was one of the founders of the Aberdeen American. 
He died in St. Luke's Hospital, in Aberdeen, February 6, 1920. 

McKEEHAN, REV. H. D. Rev. Hobart D. McKeehan, son of L. Scott 
and Ella (Mahaffey) McKeehan, was born at Mannsville, April 26, 1897. He 
was educated in the public schools, the New Bloomfield Academy, Franklin 
and Marshall Academy, and the Universities of Chicago and Valparaiso. 
He graduated from the Theological Seminary of the Reformed Church at 



828 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Lancaster with the B.D. degree, and the Lincoln and Jefferson University 
at Chicago conferred upon him the degree of B.D., and S.T.M. For two 
years he was president of the Historical Research Association at Valpa- 
raiso University, and is the author of a treatise on "The Influence of Cal- 
vinism Upon John Knox and the Scottish Reformation." In 1918 he was 
acting minister to Bethel Church at High Point, N. C. The following 
year lie became pastor of St. Paul's Reformed Church at Dallastown, 
Pennsylvania, where he is still located. 

McKENZIE, REV. DAVID LEMUEL. Rev. David Lemuel McKenzie, 
son of John and Nancy Agnes (Smiley) McKenzie, was born November 11, 
1838, in Wheatfield Township. He was a minister of the Lutheran Church 
from 1871 to the time of his death, in 1906. He was married to Mary 
Louise, a daughter of Rev. C. F. Stover, of Mechanicsburg. During the 
war he served in the 138th Infantry, and was later appointed a lieutenant. 
Among charges he served were Frostburg, Maryland ; Rhinebeck, New 
York; Sioux City, Iowa, and Indianapolis, Indiana. He died about 1901, 
while serving as pastor of the Lutheran Church at Lykens, Pa. 

McMILLEN, REV. HOMER GEORGE. Rev. Homer George McMil- 
len was born February 24, 1883, near Sandy Hill, the oldest son of Albon 
and Martha Jane (Milligan) McMillen. He attended the local schools, 
and in his teens spent two years at the New Bloomfield Academy and Smith 
Collegiate School, at which he graduated. He graduated from Washington 
and Jefferson College in 1907^ and from the Western Theological Seminary 
in 1910. In 1909, while yet a student at the seminary, he was licensed to 
preach the gospel by the Presbytery of Carlisle. In 1910 he accepted the 
pastorate of Cove Presbyterian Church, at Holliday's Cove, W. Va., where 
he was ordained and installed, and where, in 1913, under his supervision 
was erected a fine church building at a cost of $60,000. He was later given 
an assistant pastor and stenographer. This church worked much among 
the foreign element. Rev. McMillen remained there until the end of 192 1, 
when he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church at St. Clairs- 
ville, Ohio, where he is now located. While in West Virginia he was 
moderator of the Presbytery of Wheeling, and also treasurer of the Pres- 
bytery for a number of years. He has attended the last six General As- 
sembly meetings of the Presbyterian Church, representing his Presbytery 
in a special way. By referring to the description of Sunday school work 
in Perry County, elsewhere in this book, it will be noted that Rev. Mc- 
Millen had a large part in the forward movement of this work. 

McMORRIS, REV. JOHN W. Rev. John W. McMorris, son of John 
W. and Mary J. (Bair) McMorris, was born at New Buffalo, December 15, 
1886. He attended the local schools, Harrisburg Academy, and graduated 
at Ohio Wesleyan University. He then attended the Northwestern Univer- 
sity at Chicago, for a year, after which he graduated from the Boston 
Theological Seminary. He entered the Methodist ministry in 1920, at 
Hustontown, and is now located at Millerstown. 

MAGEE, A. J. A. J. Magee, son of James and Matilda (Mumper) 
Magee, was born near New Germantown, October 24, 1856. He attended 
the local schools and worked on the farm until he was sixteen. He then 
attended the Blain Summer School several summers, teaching during the 
winters. He taught Shenandoah (near Ickesburg), Manassa (near Blain), 
and the Church Hill school at Blain. He went West in 1878 and worked 
upon farms and taught near Woodhull, at Alpha and New Windsor. At 
Port Byron, Wyanet, Cambridge and Buda he was principal, being at the 
latter place nine years. After locating in Illinois Mr. Magee, during his 
vacations, attended Heading College, Dixon College, Valparaiso (Ind.) 
Normal and the University of Illinois. He was regarded as one of the 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 829 

most successful teachers of western Illinois. In 1902 Mr. Magee quit 
teaching and moved to Iowa, where he purchased a farm, later residing in 
Kansas and at Des Moines, Iowa, where good schools were an enticement 
for his children. Asthma had been the cause of his retirement from his 
favorite vocation, and, as it still troubled him, the family located at San- 
ford, in the famous San Luis Valley of Colorado, in 1909, on a quarter 
section of irrigated land. His wife was Annie L., daughter of C. \\ . 
Garber, of Blain. 

MAGEE, HENRY C. Henry C. Magee was born in Carroll Township, 
February 6, 1848, the son of Richard L. and Margaret (Black) Magee. 
He attended the public schools and graduated from the Bloomsburg State 
Normal School in 1870. He was principal of the public schools of 
Plymouth, Luzerne County, from 1871 to 1875, of which town he was also 
mayor for two years later on. He read law in the meantime, and in Au- 
gust, 1875, he was admitted to the Perry County bar, and later to the bar 
of Luzerne County, where he located for practice. He served two terms 
in the State Legislature as a representative from that county, 1881-82. 

MANNING, DR. J. CHARLES. Dr. Charles J. Manning, although 
born at Little Washington, Lancaster County, was brought to Perry 
County by his parents so early in life that he is recognized as a Perry 
Countian. He was born January 9, i860, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth 
(Kendig) Manning. He was educated in the public schools of Newport 
and taught five years in Perry County. In 1884 he started reading medi- 
cine with Dr. J. D. Shaw, of Markelville. He attended the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore one year, and in 1887 entered Jef- 
ferson Medical College at Philadelphia, where he graduated two years 
later. He practiced at Markelville until 1893, when he located in Harris- 
burg, where he now practices. 

MEMINGER, REV. SAMUEL E. Rev. Samuel E. Meminger was born 
November 21, 1852, at Sandy Hill, Madison Township, the son of John 
Fell and Sidney E. (Behel) Meminger. He was educated in the public 
schools, and in March, 1883, was admitted to the Central Pennsylvania 
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In 1889 he located in 
Oregon, where he followed the calling for twenty-five years. He is now 
retired and resides at Roseburg, Oregon.' 

MEMINGER, REV. WM. M. Rev. Wm. M. Meminger was born in 
Liberty Valley, Perry County, March 16, 1822, the son of Theodore and 
Susan (McKean) Meminger. He attended the subscription schools, the 
Academy at Academia and Dickinson College. He was licensed to preach 
by the Quarterly Conference of Mifflin Circuit in 1843, when but twenty- 
one years of age. In 1845 he was admitted to the Baltimore Annual Con- 
ference, being ordained as a deacon in 1847 and as an elder in 1849. Dur- 
ing his ministry he was a member of the Baltimore Conference, the East 
Baltimore Conference, and the Central Pennsylvania Conference, and 
served charges in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. He died Janu- 
ary 5, 1888. 

MICHENER, A. R. Albert R. Michener was born in Marysville, De- 
cember 6, 1892, the son of Philip Milton and Sarah W. (Roberts) Miche- 
ner. He obtained his early education in the Marysville schools, and upon 
the death of his parents in 1913, he gave up college preparatory work and 
entered the circulation department of the Harrisbiirg Telegraph, where he 
had spent several vacation periods. After a few months he entered the edi- 
torial department as a reporter. In 1910 he was appointed circulation man- 
ager of the Telegraph, a position which he still holds, being the youngest 
Perry Countian to obtain such a responsible position in the newspaper field, 
and probably the youngest in the state. He is president of the Interstate 



830 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Circulation Managers' Association, an association composed of circulation 
igers of the more important dailies in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Mary- 
land, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. He has also been chair- 
man of several committees of the International Circulation Managers' As- 
sociation, including the important committee on postal affairs. During the 
war he was selected by the Commission on Training Camp Activities to be- 
come a member of a committee to arrange plans for the distribution of 
home newspapers in training camps here and abroad, at the request of the 
War Department. 

MILLER, CHAS. R. Chas. Reed Miller was born in Duncannon, April 
14, 1864, the son of Thomas Dromgold and Sarah (Reed) Miller. He at- 
tended the public schools, graduated from New Bloomfield Academy, from 
Dickinson College in 1887, and from the University of Pennsylvania in 1885. 
Specializing in modern languages, he made three trips to Europe, studying 
in Berlin and Leipsic. For six years he was an instructor at the Brooklyn 
Polytechnic Institute, and for the next six years at Lehigh University. 
Owing to the state of his health he retired to a farm in Rye Township, 
later removing to Harrisburg, where he died early in 1920. 

MILLER, CURT W. Curt W. Miller, son of Isaac Pfoutz and Mar- 
garet Ellen Miller, was born in Pfoutz Valley, October 4, 1863. When he 
.was four years old, his people removed to Loysville. He attended the 
public schools and later learned the printing trade in the office of the Perry 
County Times. He located in the territory of Arizona, in 1883. He served 
as chief clerk of the House of Representatives of the twenty-first and 
twenty-second sessions of the Territorial Legislature, 1901-03. He served 
two years as secretary of the Board of Education of the Tempe Normal 
School of Arizona, and one term as postmaster of Tempe. For eight years 
he was a captain of the National Guards of Arizona, and since February, 
1916, has been chairman of the Board of Pardons and Paroles of the State 
of Arizona. Since 1887 he has been editor and manager of the Tempe 
News. 

MTNICH, REV. ROY L. Rev. Roy L. Minich, son of Ezekiel and Mary 
E. (Kell) Minich, was born at Blain, November 15, 1889. He attended the 
public schools, graduated from Mercersburg Academy in 191 1, from 
Ursinus College in 1915, with the A.B. degree, and from Union Theological 
Seminary in 1918. He did graduate work at Columbia University during 
1915, and was physical director of the Y. M. C. A. From 1916 to 1918 he 
was pastor of the Borough Park Church, at Brooklyn, N. Y. During that 
year he became a chaplain in the U. S. Army, and was assigned to Camp 
Upton as battalion athletic officer. Upon the termination of the war he 
became pastor of Christ Church at Wo©dhaven, Long Island. Rev. Minich 
married Gertrude DeWitt Talmage, August 27, 1918, who is a grand- 
daughter of Rev. T. DeWitt Talmage, her father being the late F. DeWitt 
Talmage. 

MITCHELL, DR. G. W. Dr. Geo. W. Mitchell was born January 4, 
1834, in Greenwood Township, the son of William and Alice (McBlair) 
Mitchell. His parents moved to Juniata Township when he was six years 
old and he attended the public schools of that township. He also attended 
the New Bloomfield Academy and Dickinson College, intending to complete 
the course in the latter place, but went to Kansas in 1856, at the time of the 
slavery agitation. He taught school in Missouri for several terms and 
then returned to Perry County with the intention of studying medicine. He 
read medicine with Dr. Brown, of Newport, and then entered Jefferson 
Medical College, where he graduated in the class of i860. He practiced at 
Newport until 1861, and then removed to Andersonburg, where he enjoyed 
a large practice until 1902, with the exception of the war period, when he 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 831 

served as surgeon of the 119th Pennsylvania Volunteers, from February 8, 
1863, to the close of the war. He was at Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and 
all the principal battles of the Army of the Potomac. In connection with 
his practice, he owned and supervised the cultivation of a large farm. He 
died February 5, 1917, at Denver, Colorado. 

MITCHELL, WILLIAM. William Mitchell was born at Newport, the 
son of Dr. George W. and Ellen C. (Carpenter) Mitchell. His parents 
having located at Andersonburg, he attended the public schools there, and 
later the New Bloomfield Academy, and Lafayette College for three years. 
He located in Nebraska in 1887, since which time he has been engaged in 
the practice of law at Alliance, in that state. 

MITCHELL, G. W. George Willis Mitchell, son of Charles and Thiana 
Mitchell, was born in Greenwood Township, July 26, 1870. He attended 
the public schools, and the Newport High School, walking five miles each 
way daily to attend the latter, from which he graduated before he was 
seventeen. He then began teaching in Greenwood and Liverpool Town- 
ships. In the meantime he had attended Williamsport Dickinson Seminary 
one spring term, and in April, 1890, he entered the Dickinson Preparatory 
School, graduating from Dickinson College in 1895. He was elected a 
member of the Phi Betta Kappa. He was then principal at Pemberton and 
Point Pleasant, N. J., and at Lewes, Del., for eight years. He was prin- 
cipal at Marionville for three years, and in 1908 became principal of the 
Johnsonburg (Pa.) schools, remaining for ten years, after which he located 
in Philadelphia, taking up the insurance business. 

MOTZER, REV. DANIEL. Rev. Daniel Motzer, son of Daniel and 
Susan (Hench) Motzer, was born in September, 1817. He attended the 
subscription schools, and later graduated at the Jefferson College, at 
Canonsburg, Pa. He entered the M. E. ministry, and served until his death, 
in 1864. 

MYERS, WALTER. Walter Myers was born in Rye Township, the 
son of George R. and Harriet (Heishley) Myers. He was educated in 
the public schools of Rye Township, New Bloomfield Academy (now 
Carson Long Institute), at Yale University, and the University of Indiana. 
In 1905 and 1906 he was instructor in social science and economics in the 
University of Indiana. In 1907, he was admitted to the bar of Indianapolis, 
where he has since practiced law. He was one of the counsel for the com- 
mittee that drafted the first presentation of what became the Federal Re- 
serve Act. During the last administration, he declined appointment as one 
of the assistant attorneys general of the United States and also to the 
Federal Trade Commission. During the World War, he served as an offi- 
cer in the Chemical Warfare Service. Mr. Myers is city attorney of In- 
dianapolis, as well as the attorney for several noted organizations. 

MYERS, DR. CHAS. W. Dr. Charles W. Myers was born in Rye 
Township, December 16, 1890, the son of George R and Harriet (Heishley) 
Myers. He attended the public schools, the Landisburg Training School 
for Teachers, and the New Bloomfield Academy. He taught school in Rye 
Township from 1908 to 1911. He then entered the University of Alary- 
land and graduated from its School of Medicine in 1915. He was. an 
interne in the Maryland General Hospital until 1917, when he became sur- 
geon for the Davis Coal & Coke Co., at Thomas, W. Va. On April 18, 
1918, being called into active duty in the U. S. Army, he entered the train- 
ing camp at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga. On June 7th he sailed from Hoboken, 
and was immediately ordered to the Ninth United States Infantry of the 
Second Division Regular Army at Chateau Thiery. He joined this organi- 
zation on July 1st, and on July 2d, less than twenty-four hours after his 
arrival in the front lines, was awarded the distinguished service cross. 



832 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

He continued as surgeon of the Second Battalion, Ninth Infantry, through 
the remainder of the war, taking part in five major operations accredited to 
the Second Division. He was awarded the Croix de Guerre with Palm for 
activities in the Champagne Sector, and the Croix de Guerre with Star for 
later activities in the Argonne Forest. Upon the signing of the armistice 
he accompanied the victorious army into Germany, being stationed near 
Coblenz until May, 1919, at that time securing his transfer to an organi- 
zation which was homeward bound. He was discharged from the army at 
Camp Zachary Taylor, in Kentucky, July 2, 1919. He was then commis- 
sioned to the United States Public Health Service as past assistant sur- 
geon and stationed at Indianapolis with the Bureau of War Risk Insur- 
ance, or the United States Veteran Bureau for the care and treatment of 
ex-service men. He is now (December, 1921) still located there, and is an 
associate physician in gynecology to the Indianapolis City Hospital and a 
member of the staff of the Methodist Episcopal Hospital at Indianapolis. 

NEILSON, REV. S. B. Rev. Samuel Black Neilson was born in New 
Bloomfield, August 19, 1853, the son of Robert and Sarah A. (Gallatin) 
Neilson. He attended the local schools and the New Bloomfield Academy. 
He graduated from Lafayette College in 1876, and from the Union Theo- 
logical Seminary in New York, in 1879. He was elected the same spring 
to the pastorate of the Waterloo (Nebraska) Presbyterian Church, re- 
maining until 1884. He had been married in 1883 to Miss Ella R. Trout, 
of Omaha. He spent one year in Nevada, and in 1886 became the pastor 
of the Presbyterian Church at Falls City, Nebraska, remaining until 1891. 
He then spent two years as pastor of the Frankfort (Kansas) Church, 
returning to Perry County, where he remained four years, caring for his 
aged mother. From 1897 to 1900 he was pastor of the Winamac (Indiana) 
Presbyterian Church. Locating at Glenwood, Iowa, he expected to make 
his permanent home on a small fruit farm, but, on a visit to Colorado a 
position was offered him with the Union Pacific Railroad Company, by 
whom he was employed until his death, January 14, 1920. 

NIPPLE, DR. D. CLARK. Dr. D. Clark Nipple was born in Green- 
wood Township, August 1, 1852, the son of Henry and Mary (Orner) 
Nipple. He attended the public schools and at sixteen became a teacher, 
teaching in Perry, Juniata and Snyder Counties for seven years. During 
the summers he attended the Freeburg Academy one term and the Millers- 
ville State Normal School two terms. For two years he read medicine 
with Dr. J. A. Leinaweaver at Millerstown, earning his living by clerking 
in the drug store of his tutor. He then attended Jefferson Medical Col- 
lege for a term and the Ohio Medical College at Cincinnati for two terms, 
graduating from the latter in 1877. He then practiced for a short time at 
Fremont, Snyder County, and with his brother at Freeburg, Snyder County, 
until 1882, when he located at Newton Hamilton, succeeding to the prac- 
tice of Dr. J. T. Mahon. 

NIPPLE, DR. H. M. Dr. Henry M. Nipple was born in Greenwood 
Township, the son of Henry and Mary (Orner) Nipple. He attended the 
public schools, later graduating from Jefferson Medical College at Phila- 
delphia. He located at Freeburg, Snyder County, where he practiced 
medicine for many years. He was one of the organizers of the Snyder 
County Medical Society. 

NIPPLE, DR. J. O. Dr. John O. Nipple was born in Greenwood Town- 
ship, the son of Henry and Mary (Orner) Nipple. After attending the 
public schools he graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1873, and 
practiced at Port Trevorton for many years. 

NIPLE, DR. D. M. Dr. D. M. Niple was born at Ickesburg, May 24, 
1879, the son of J. C. and Fietta J. (Adams) Niple. He attended the local 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 833 

schools, the Mifflintown Academy, and the Cumberland Valley State Nor- 
mal School, where lie graduated in 1900. In 1906 he graduated from Jef- 
ferson Medical College, and during 1906-07 he served as resident physician 
at the Williamsport Hospital. In September, 1907, he located at Turbot- 
ville, where he still practices. 

NOEL, W. A. W. A. Noel was born at New Germantown, March 3, 
1887, the son of \V. A. and Elizabeth (Hollenbaugh) Noel. He attended 
local schools, graduating from Conway Hall, at Carlisle, in mho, and from 
the Mechanical Engineering Department of State College in 1914. For a 
number of years he was draftsman and was engaged in research work in 
Pensylvania. He was on the engineering faculty of the Kansas. State Agri- 
cultural College at Manhattan, Kansas. Eater he was an efficiency engineer 
with the Savage Arms Company, on the Eewis Automatic Machine Gun. 
He was with the imperial ministry of munitions at Ontario, Canada, as 
chief examiner, and during the war was in charge of the Pacific Coast 
district work in grain dust explosion investigations and fire prevention in 
flour mills and grain elevators. He was also in charge of the Middle 
West district investigation for the prevention of fires and explosions in 
threshing machines, all of which had to do with the conservation of food 
during the war. He is connected at present with the Department of Agri- 
culture at Washington. 

NOLL, CHAS. F. Charles F. Noll was born at Green Park, July 22, 
1878, the son of Jonas and Rosanna (Hostetter) Noll. He attended the 
public schools and the New Bloomfield Academy, graduating from the 
Cumberland Valley State Normal School in 1900, and from State College 
in 1906. He received the degree of M.S. from Cornell University in 191 1. 
He is connected with the Pennsylvania State College as Professor of Ex- 
perimental Agronomy. 

NOLL, WALTER L. Walter L. Noll was bom at Green Park, Janu- 
ary 15, 1883, the son of Jonas and Rosanna (Hostetter) Noll. He attended 
the public schools and graduated from the Shippensburg Normal School in 
1902, and from Bucknell University in 1908. He has also done some post- 
graduate work at Columbia University. He has always been a teacher, and 
in the last ten years has been instructor in science in the Barringer High 
School at Newark, N. J. 

ORNER, REV. T. P. Rev. Theodore Porter Orner was born December 
22, 1839, the son of Joel and Mary C. (Kepner) Orner. He attended the 
local schools, and the Loysville Academy, after which he entered the min- 
istry of the United Brethren Church. In 1884 he located in Altoona as 
pastor of the First United Brethren Church. After four years of that 
service he was assigned the duty of organizing a new congregation in 
Altoona, and thus became the founder of the Second United Brethren 
Church. He served for two years as pastor there, and then was made 
presiding elder of the Allegheny Conference. After that he served charges 
at Pitcairn, at Tyrone, and on two different occasions was returned to the 
First Church at Altoona, where he was retired as pastor emeritus. He 
died in Altoona, in October, 1920. 

OWEN, REV. REUBEN. Rev. Reuben Owen was born in Wheatfield 
Township, the son of Benjamin and Mary (McBride) Owen. Educated 
in the schools of the period, he studied for the ministry and entered the 
Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the Methodist Church, serving vari- 
ous appointments in the vicinity of Schuylkill County. 

OWEN, REV. GEO. D. Rev. Geo. D. Owen was'born in Centre Town- 
ship, in 1883, the son of George D. and Sarah (MacFarland) Owen. He 
attended the New Bloomfield Academy and graduated from Lebanon Val- 
ley College in 1905, taking graduate work in Yale University for three 
. 53 



834 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

years, and graduating from the Divinity School with the degree of S.T.B. 
Rev. ( hvi.ii was a "sky pilot" in South Dakota for two years, and since 
has held pastorates in Trumbell and Thomaston, Connecticut, and is now 
located at Pawtucket, R. I., where he is. pastor of the Smithfield Avenue 
Congregational Church. During the war he was an official speaker in 
Connecticut for the Council of Defense, as well as educational and reli- 
gious secretary for the Y. M. C. A. at Fort Terry. He was the state rep- 
resentative of the town of Thomaston and served in the legislature of 
Connecticut two years, 1918-20. 

PATTERSON, DR. FRANK. Dr. Frank Patterson was born near Lan- 
disburg, December 20, 1877, the son of John S. and Ada K. (Lightner) 
Patterson. He attended the public schools and a private school at Landis- 
burg, the Millersville Normal School, and Baltimore Medical College, 
graduating from the latter in 1902. Dr. Patterson is medical examiner for 
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, with headquarters at Huntingdon, 
Pennsylvania. 

PATTERSON. D. JAMES. D. James Patterson was born in Tyrone 
Township, August 6, 1876, the son of John S. and Ada K. (Lightner) 
Patterson. He attended the public schools and graduated from Millers- 
ville State Normal School in 1896, being an expert mathematician. He 
later taught at various places, among them the New Bloomfield Academy, 
and as a township superintendent in the Cambria County schools. During 
the World War he was with the 137th Engineers as an instructor. He died 
in 1921. 

PEFFLEY, REV. W. E. Rev. W. E. Peffley was born at Marysville, 
March 31, 1876, the son of John and Susan B. (Kocher) Peffley. The 
father died when he was very young and his mother was later married to 
William A. Houdeshel. In early life Mr. Peffley was a clerk in Wise's 
store at Marysville for seven years. He attended the Marysville schools, 
also the schools of Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from Central 
Pennsylvania College (now Albright College) in 1902, and from the Theo- 
logical Department of Temple University in 1912. He entered the ministry 
in 1902, serving appointments at Millmont (Union Co.), York, Scranton, 
Juniata, and Lewistown. He was elected associate editor of the Sunday 
school literature of the Evangelical Church in 1916, and has since filled 
that position. He was elected general secretary of Sunday School and 
Christian Endeavor work in 1910, and has since served in that capacity. 
He was also elected as one of the two members of his denomination on the 
board of trustees of the United Society of Christian Endeavor. He is the 
author of the "Evangelical Teacher Training," a book which has a wide 
sale and large influence. 

POTTER, J. W. John Wesley Potter was born in Howe Township Janu- 
ary 2j, 1882, the son of Samuel Astor and Agnes Minerva (Bair) Potter. 
He attended the Miller Township schools and Newport High School, and 
graduated from Williamsport Dickinson Seminary in 1904. He graduated 
from Dickinson College in 1913, having been chosen a commencement 
speaker on that occasion. He was the first Pennsylvania teacher to take 
up the study of agriculture, which he began at State College in 1914. He 
taught school in Perry County for a number of years, being assistant prin- 
cipal of the Newport High School, 1905-06. He was principal at Millers- 
town, 1907-08. During the intervening year he taught the Newton Town- 
ship High School in Cumberland County. From 1908 to 1912 he was 
teacher of science and mathematics in the Carlisle High School, and from 
[913 to 1918 he was teacher of science and mathematics in the Wilkes- 
Barre High School. He secured a leave of absence and became a curative 
workshop instructor in the United States Army Medical Department at 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 835 

Large, November 20, 1918, being stationed at General Hospital No. 3, later 
becoming head of academic work in this hospital. He became principal of 
the Carlisle High School on September 19, 1919, which position he now fills. 

POTTER, REV. ISAIAH. Rev. Isaiah Potter was born in Buffalo 
Township, January 7, 1819, the son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Buck) Potter. 
He attended the subscription schools and the New Bloomfield Academy. 
He was one of the early ministers of the United Brethren Church and 
served charges at Scottdale, Mapleton, Ligonier, Liverpool, Warrior's 
Mark, Port Matilda and other places. Of his seven children, Miles I. 
Potter, the youngest, is now president judge of the Seventeenth Judicial 
District, composed of Snyder and Union Counties. Albert W. Potter was 
for years an attorney in Selinsgrove, but about fifteen years ago was in- 
jured in a railroad wreck which crippled him for life. N. I. Potter was 
an attorney, but died at Selinsgrove in his twenty-ninth year. M. G. Potter 
was a minister of the Methodist Church until a few years ago, when he 
died at Pittsburgh. Of his other children, Silas M. Potter is in the 
Post Office Department at Washington; Elizabeth is the wife of Ira C. 
McCloskey, county superintendent of the schools of Clinton County, for 
the past five or six terms, and Emily I died in her twenty-first year at 
Scottdale, Pa., where her father was then stationed as a minister. 

PORTER, JOHN B. John B. Porter was born in Perry County terri- 
tory, near Liverpool, in 1800. He was educated in the subscription schools. 
He was an old-time scrivener at Liverpool and taught school several terms 
at Millerstown. He then removed to Juniata County, where he was elected 
as county superintendent in i860. Upon the completion of his term, in 
1863, he removed to Iowa, where he was soon elected as county superin- 
tendent of the schools of Louise County, serving two terms. 

RAFFENSPERGER, REV. C. I. Rev. C. I. Raffensperger was born in 
Centre Township, October 12, 1872, the son of John and -Catherine (Fry) 
Raffensperger. He attended the common schools and spent five terms at 
W. E. Baker's school in Eshcol. He graduated from the Cumberland 
Valley Normal School, and taught school for nine terms, eight of which 
were in Perry County. He enrolled as a non-resident student at Oska- 
loosa Bible School and continued for five years, completing both the Eng- 
lish Bible course and the regular theological course. Four years later he 
was granted the D.D. degree by the institution. For twenty-one years he 
has been in the ministry of the gospel, having been located at Cearfoss, 
Md. ; Newport, Hallam, and Mt. Holly Springs, Pennsylvania; Baltimore 
and Williamsport, Maryland, and Berwick, Pa., where he is now located. 
Rev. Raffensperger has served in many of the highest offces of his con- 
ference for terms of from seven to a dozen years. 

REAMER, CHAS. W. Chas. W. Reamer was born near Markelville, 
February 8, 1871, the son of Geo. W. and Susan C. (Freeburn) Reamer. 
He attended the public schools there, and at Marysville, where his family 
moved in 1883. He studied telegraphy and was employed as a telegraph 
operator of the Pennsylvania Railroad, from 1887 to 1890, and by the 
Western Union and Postal Telegraph Companies in Pittsburgh, New York, 
Chicago and other cities from 1890 to 1898. During this time he took a 
law course and graduated from the Western University of Pennsylvania 
with the degree of LL.B. He was admitted to the bar of Allegheny 
County in 1898 and has practiced there since then. In 191 1 he was ap- 
pointed a member of the Board of Viewers of Allegheny County. 

REEDER, DR. FRANK E. Dr. Frank E Reeder was born at New 
Bloomfield, April 9, 1883, the son of Jacob B. and Jemimah C. (Fry) 
Reeder. He attended the public schools, the New Bloomfield Academy, 
Mercersburg Academy, Lafayette College, which conferred upon him the 



836 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Ph.B. degree, and the University of Michigan, where he graduated in 
medicine and surgery. He is located at Flint, Michigan. During the World 
War he was a first lieutenant in the Medical Corps. 

REEDER, GEO. W. George W. Reeder was born in Jackson Town- 
ship, near Plain, the son of Solomon and Hannah (Smith) Reeder. He 
attended the common schools and Millersville State Normal School. He 
entered the teaching profession and made a success in the Middle West. 
He was principal of the Coquillard School at South Bend for over twenty 
years. He enlisted in the Sectional War at the age of seventeen. He died 
July 26, 1914. 

REEN, REV. GEO. H. Rev. George H. Reen was born near Liverpool, 
fanuary 17, 1867, the son of Samuel and Sarah (Hunter) Reen. His 
family removed to Newport, where he was educated in the public schools. 
He then went to Troy (Pa.) and prepared for Gettysburg College, under 
the late Daniel Fleisher, Ph.D. He graduated from Gettysburg College 
in 1890, at the head of his class. He graduated from the seminary in 1893, 
and was ordained to the Lutheran ministry. He was pastor of the St. 
Luke's Lutheran Church at Mansfield, Ohio, 1893-98, and of the First Lu- 
theran Church at Columbia, Pa., 1898-1903. As a member of the Board 
of Home Missions he became greatly interested in St. Paul's Mission at 
St. Louis, Missouri, and in 1903 he became its pastor. The congregation 
formed there by him built a fine church building, towards which he and 
his wife contributed $3,600, which represented the profits of a boarding 
house which they themselves conducted during the St. Louis World's Fair 
during the year of 1904. Worn by his strenuous labors he fell a victim of 
disease, dying October 13, 1906, at the age of thirty-nine years. The Sun- 
day following his funeral had been fixed as the time he should deliver his 
first sermon in the new church, just completed. That day the congregation 
voted to change. its name to the "Reen Memorial Church of St. Louis," 
the name by which it is now known. 

RHINESMITH, ARTHUR D. Arthur D. Rhinesmith was born near 
New Germantown, August 13, 1870, the son of Samuel and Adeline 
(Deach) Rhinesmith. He attended the Mt. Pleasant school, and later the 
school at Blain. In 1891 he located at Peoria, Illinois, becoming a hard- 
ware clerk. He later established a business in the Board of Trade build- 
ing which has grown into a leading cafeteria. In 1919 he organized the 
Peoria Cafeteria Company, of which he is secretary. As his father had 
served in Captain Palm's military company in the War between the States 
he became active in the Sons of Veterans, and in 1913 was elected State 
Secretary of that order in Illinois. In 1914 he was elected State Com- 
mander. After his term as commander he was again elected State Secre- 
tary for a term of three years. 

RHINESMITH, B. H. Blaine H. Rhinesmith was born at Blain, June 
!7, J 875, the son of Henry and Mary E. (Stambaugh) Rhinesmith. He 
attended the public schools and the State Normal Schools at Edinburgh 
and Lock Haven. He was principal of the schools at Caledonia, Pa., and 
of the Ridgeway Township High School. At present he is superintendent 
of the Ridgeway Township (Elk County) schools. 

RHINESMITH, CHAS. W. Chas. W. Rhinesmith, eldest son of David 
M. and Sarah A. (Smith) Rhinesmith, was born at Blain, February 10, 
1X56. He attended the public schools, New Bloomfield Academy, and 
Eastman Business College, at Poughkeepsie, New York. He read law 
with the late Judge W. N. Seibert, and was admitted to the Perry County 
bar in 18*2, after which he served three years as clerk to the county com- 
missioners. He removed to Iowa in 1886, and located at Harlan, where 
he is engaged in the newspaper business. He served as postmaster at 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 837 

Harlan under Presidents McKinley and Roosevelt. In 1904 he located at 
Charles City, Iowa, where he again engaged in the newspaper business. 

RICE, DR. CHAS. S. Dr. Charles S. Rice was born at Ickesburg, De- 
cember 23, 1865, the son of Samuel L. and Anna E. (Rowe) Rice. He 
attended the public schools and the select school in Newport, and the New 
Bloomfield Academy, as well as the Cumberland Valley State Normal 
School. He graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, in 
1891, and in dentistry at Columbian University at Washington, in 1894. 
He is medical examiner in the Bureau of Pensions, at Washington. 

RICE, REV. HARRIS G. Rev. Harris G. Rice was born at Ickesburg, 
October 1, 1853, the son of William and Caroline (Milligan) Rice. He 
attended the public schools, the New Bloomfield Academy, and gradu- 
ated from Princeton College in 1876. He then taught school one year 
at Van Wert, Ohio, and in 1880 graduated from the Union Theological 
Seminary in New York. The same year he was ordained to the Presby- 
terian ministry, and has served charges at Jefferson and Albia, Iowa ; 
Delphi and Monticelli, Indiana, and at Seven Mile, Osborn, and De Graff, 
Ohio. He has been stated clerk of the Fort Dodge and Logansport Pres- 
byteries, and permanent clerk of Iowa and Indiana Synods. Of his six 
children, Rev. Chas. Herbert Rice is a missionary to India since 191 1; 
another is an attorney, and one a physician. 

RICE, REV. JOHN W. Rev. John W. Rice, son of George and Mag- 
dalena Ickes Rice, was born February 22, 1839, in Saville Township. He 
graduated at Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg, and from the Seminary 
there in 1864. He went to Africa as a missionary for some years. Later, 
after returning, he was located in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. 

RICE, REV. VERNON S. Rev. Vernon Spurgeon Rice, son of Josiah 
and Margaret (Howell) Rice, was born near Saville. He was educated 
in the public schools and at Blain and the New Bloomfield Academy. He 
taught school for a time and graduated from Ursinus College in 1901, and 
from Ursinus Seminary in 1905. His pastorate began at the St. Vincent 
Reformed Church in Chester County. He died April 8, 1912. 

ROBISON, PUERA BEATRICE. Puera Beatrice Robison was born 
at Liverpool, July 1, 1889, being the daughter of Samuel Alexander and 
Emma (Kerchner) Robison. She was educated in the Liverpool schools, 
Williamsport Dickinson Seminary, Carnegie College, Pennsylvania State 
College, Pennsylvania Business College, and Temple University. She 
taught in the schools of Buffalo and Liverpool Townships three years, and 
in Liverpool Borough eight years. She was supervisor of the Junior 
School and Bible instructor, also had charge of Americanization work in 
the Williamsport Dickinson Seminary, since 1918. She is also teacher of 
Junior Methods in the Williamsport School of Religious Education for the 
second year. For eight years she was corresponding secretary of the 
Perry County Sabbath School Association. In 1921 she was licensed to 
preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is, as near as the writer 
knows, the first Perry County woman to be ordained to the ministry of the 
gospel. 

RODDY, H. JUSTIN. H. Justin Roddy was born at Landisburg, May 
25, 1856, the son of William H. Roddy, a teacher, and Susan C. (Waggoner) 
Roddy. His early education he received in the Landisburg schools and at 
Mt. Dempsey Academy. He taught in Perry County from 1875 to 1880, 
and graduated from the Millersville State Normal School in 1881. He 
taught in Lancaster County higher grade schools from 1881 to 1887, in 
which year he became a teacher of geography (physical, political, and 
commercial) in the State Normal School. In 1896 he took charge of the 
Department of Geography and Geology. In 1906 he was given the Ph.D 



838 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

degree. In 1908 he was put at the head of the Department of Natural 
Science. He was made a Fellow in the American Geographical Society in 
1910, and of the Geographical Society of America in 1919. He was a 
contributor to Warren's "Birds of Pennsylvania," published by the state, 
and wrote a series of geographies for the public schools which has had a 
wide sale. He also wrote a geography of Lancaster County. He has made 
many original contributions of the geology of Lancaster County and as- 
sisted Professor Gilbert Van Ingen in a geological survey of Perry County. 
Professor Roddy edits the Educational Department of the New Era, a 
Lancaster daily. 

RODDY, REV. JOSEPH STOCKTON. Rev. Joseph Stockton Roddy 
was born at Mt. Pleasant, Jackson Township, June 10, 1864, the son 
of George Black and Martha Eliza (Ege) Roddy. He attended the 
public schools of Jackson Township and'Blain, also Capt. G. C. Palm's 
summer school. He then attended the George G. Meade Grammar School 
in Philadelphia, the New Bloomfield Academy, the Scott-Browne Phono- 
graphic School in New York City, and graduated from Princeton Uni- 
versity and Princeton Theological Seminary. Entering the ministry he 
served these pastorates : Dexter-Earlham Churches in Iowa, Raymond- 
Bradley Churches (supply) in South Dakota, Olivet Church at Harris- 
burg, Pennsylvania; college and community pastor of Arch Street Pres- 
byterian Church, Philadelphia ; Olyphant, Pa. ; Dutch Reformed Church 
at Churchville, Pa., and Gloucester City (N. J.) Presbyterian Church, 
where he is now stationed. Rev. Roddy is also chaplain of the First Regi- 
ment, Penna. National Guard. 

While at Princeton Rev. Roddy was captain of the General Athletic 
Team, and in 1890 tied for first place in the Canadian one-half-mile cham- 
pionship. In 1891 he was a member of the American Athletic team which 
went to Europe, and there captured the world championship in the 1,500- 
meter run. The Manhattan Athletic Club elected him to life membership 
in consideration of winning these events. He has been a member of the 
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (1902) and moderator of 
the Des Moines (Iowa) and Carlisle (Pa.) Presbyteries. He has also 
taught in Dexter (Iowa) Normal College, been editor of the Pennsylvania 
Bndeavorer and M. A. C. Chronicle, and has done much contributing to 
newspapers and religious journals along the line of Christian endeavor, 
sports, and community work. 

RUPP, REV. J. C. Rev. J. C. Rupp, son of Geo. W. and Catherine 
(Leiter) Rupp, was born at Liverpool, January 3, 1874. He was educated 
in the Liverpool schools. Central State Normal School at Lock Haven, 
and Lebanon Valley College, from which he graduated in 1906 with the 
A.B. degree. He graduated from Western Theological Seminary, at Pitts- 
burgh, in 1921. Prior to this he had taught school seven years in Perry 
County, while farming, and learned the printing trade in the office of the 
Perry County Democrat. He entered the ministry in 1906 and has since 
served charges at Bigler, Coalport, Wall, and Beaverdale, being located at 
Wall from 1913 to 1921. His present charge is at Beaverdale. While at 
Coalport he was assistant principal of the Beccaria Township High School, 
and while at Wall he was principal of schools for two years and clerk of 
the borough council for six years. 

S VNDERSON. GE< >. W. George W. Sanderson, son of John and 
Sarah (Rice) Sanderson, was born at Ickesburg, October 31, 1844. He 
attended the public schools and the New Bloomfield Academy, during the 
principalship of Prof. James A. Stephens, teaching three terms in the coun- 
try schools, and two in the Loysville Orphans' School. In the meantime 
Prof. Stephens had taken charge of the Huntingdon Academy, and Mr. 



FERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 839 

Sanderson attended it two terms. He then taught nine years in the Hunt- 
ingdon schools and was principal at McConnellstown and Petersburg, after 
which he engaged in business at Huntingdon for thirty-nine years. 

SANDERSON, T. C. T. C. Sanderson, son of John and Sarah (Rice) 
Sanderson, was born near Ickesburg. He attended the public schools and 
the Bloomheld Academy. He then taught for several terms, and attended 
Gettysburg College for a period. Entering railroad work, he was train- 
master of the Huntingdon and Broadtop Railroad for twenty-five years. 
He represented Huntingdon County in the General Assembly in 1901-02. 
He died in Harrisburg, February 7, 1902. 

SCHOLL, T. J. T. J. Scholl, son of Alfred C. and Sarah A. (Rice) 
Scholl, was born in Landisburg, October 22, 1871. He attended the public 
schools, after which he took a course in Eastman Business College at 
Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He taught school three terms in Perry County, and 
in 1895 entered the First National Bank at Patton, Pennsylvania, as stenog- 
rapher, later being elected cashier, a position which he filled for several 
years. He resigned to take up general auditing and examination work 
among banks and trust companies, subsequently entering the employ of the 
Second National Bank at Mechanicsburg. In 1913 he was promoted to 
cashier. Mr. Scholl is a member of the hoard of trustees of the Methodist 
Home for Children, near Mechanicsburg, as well as treasurer of the board 
of managers. 

SCHROEDER, G. G. George G. Schroeder was born May 1, i860, 
near Dry Sawmill, Liverpool Township, the son of Tillman and Kate 
(Kerstetter) Schroeder (sometimes spelled Schrawder). He attended the 
public schools of Liverpool Township and Borough, and spent four years 
in preparatory school and college in New York. He was an artificer in 
the United States Army for almost five years, testing oils and coals as 
fuels for the army and navy contracts. He has been assistant and chief 
engineer for probably fifteen large companies during the past twenty-eight 
years in Washington, New York, Chicago and elsewhere. Mr. Schroeder 
is also a patent attorney, being senior member of the firm of G. G. Schroe- 
der & Company. He is also senior member of Schroeder & Armstrong, 
engineers. He is also an inventor, some of his inventions being of consid- 
erable value. 

SEIBERT, DR. J. L. Dr. J. L. Seibert was not born in Perry County, 
but near Mifflinburg, on October 16, 1851, the son of Rev. Samuel W. and 
Eleanor K. (Neilson) Seibert. By reason of his parents' long residence 
in Perry County, where he attended school and the Bloomfield Academy, 
he is recognized usually as a Perry Couhtian. After teaching school for a 
number of years he graduated from the Medical Department of the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania, in 1883. He then located at Bellefonte, where he 
has since practiced. 

SHAEFER, DR. J. C. Dr. J. C. Shaefer was born at New Buffalo, in 
1833, and was graduated at the Philadelphia Medical College. He prac- 
ticed medicine at Millersburg, Berrysburg and Freeburg. 

SHAVER, REV. JOSEPH B. Rev. Joseph B. Shaver was horn near 
Bixler's Mills, Madison Township, December 3, 1844, the son of Rev. 
David and Nancy E. (Linn) Shaver. His father was a member of a com- 
mission which met in Harrisburg to equalize taxation over the state, and 
later Member of Assembly from Perry County. Joseph B. Shaver was 
educated in the public schools of the period, and under the instruction of 
a well-read father. When less than eighteen he enlisted in the Forty- 
Seventh Penna. Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Red River cam- 
paign, where he was wounded in the arm. After his discharge from the 
army he attended Williamsport Dickinson Seminary, and in 1867 traveled 



840 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Newport Circuit of the M. E. Church under the presiding elder. In 1868 
he was ordained to preach, and served congregations at Gettysburg, New 
Cumberland, Greencastle, Thompsontown, Osceola, Bedford Circuit, Miles- 
burg, Hollidaysburg, Curwensville, First Church at Altoona, Hazleton, 
Danville, and Williamsport. He was a noted preacher of the Word from 
a Biblical standpoint, rather than from present day themes. He died at the 
home of his eldest daughter at Hazleton, November 17, 1903. 

SHEAFFER, REV. W. J. Rev. W. J. Sheaffer was born in Sheaffer's 
Valley, near Landisburg, July 18, 1863, the son of John Baer and Emma 
Carrie (Spence) Sheaffer. He attended the public schools and graduated 
from Williamsport Dickinson Seminary in 1890, with the A.B. degree. He 
graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University and from Oskalooska Col- 
lege, postgraduate work, with A.M. and Ph.D. degree in 1914. He entered 
the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1890. He is now pastor 
at Jersey Shore, Pa., and secretary of the directors of the Methodist 
Home for Aged at Tyrone, Pa. 

SHEAFFER, DR. J. C. Dr. J. C. Sheaffer was born at New Buffalo 
in 1833, attended the local schools, and was graduated at the Philadelphia 
Medical College. He practiced at Millersburg, Berrysburg and Freeburg. 

SHOEMAKER, HARRY W. Harry Watters Shoemaker, son of Ben- 
jamin and Penniah Shoemaker, was born in Perry County, his father once 
having operated Oak Grove furnace. The son became in turn an iron 
man and founded the Hartman Steel Company at Beaver Falls, Pa. 

SHORTESS, REV. SAMUEL IRVINE. Rev. Samuel Irvine Shortess 
was born June 7, 1834, near New Bloomfield, the son of Thomas and Elea- 
nor (Greer) Shortess. In his early years he learned carpentering. In 
1864 he enlisted in Co. 3, 208th Regt, Pennsylvania Volunteers, and served 
in the Sectional War. He had been educated in the public schools, and in 
1866 entered the ministry of the Evangelical Church, being ordained in 
1867. After serving a number of congregations within the bounds of the 
Central Pennsylvania Conference, he retired from the active ministry in 
1903, and continued to reside at Millersburg, his last charge, where he 
died in 1910. 

SHORTESS, REV. J. D. Rev. John David Shortess was born near 
Markelville, March 22, i860, the son of Rev. Samuel Irvine and Elizabeth 
(Kline) Shortess. He attended the public schools until his eighteenth 
year, when he entered the Union Seminary at New Berlin. During the 
winter of 1879-80 he taught school in Union County to help secure his 
education. In 1882 he graduated from the Theological Department of the 
Seminary, and during the same year was admitted to the Central Penn- 
sylvania Conference, where, with 1922, he is closing his fortieth year of 
active work. He was elected by his conference in 1917 as presiding elder, 
and was stationed at Carlisle for the four-year term. Upon being reelected, 
in iyii, he was stationed in the Lewisburg District. In 1914 the D.D. de- 
gree was conferred upon him by Oskaloosa College. For sixteen years he 
has been an active member of the board of trustees of Albright College at 
Myerstown, and is also a member of the board of trustees and treasurer 
of the Ministerial Aid Society of the Central Pennsylvania Conference. In 
191 5, he had a prominent part in the establishing of the United Evangelical 
Home for children and the aged at Lewisburg, Pa., and has since served 
as a trustee and on the executive board. At the last meeting of the His- 
torical Society of the United Evangelical Church, he was elected president, 
to succeed Bishop U. F. Swengel. He has also represented his conference 
at three quadrennial sessions of the General Conference, the highest legis- 
lative body of his church. Of his four children, Samuel Irvine Shortess, 
A.B., is professor of Biology in Girard College, Philadelphia. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 841 

SHULL, B. M. Brinton McClellan Shull was born near Keystone, 
Perry County, January 17, 1873, the son of David and Leah (Yohe) Shull. 
He attended the Rye Township schoolst for two years, and graduated from 
the Marysville High School and the Cumberland Valley State Normal 
School. He received his A.B. degree from Milton University, Baltimore, 
Md., and has attended the summer sessions of other institutions. He 
taught in the schools of Dauphin County, and Penn Township, Perry 
County, also in the graded schools at Marysville, and in the Lower Dun- 
cannon High School. He has been grammar school principal, assistant 
principal, principal of schools, and supervising principal successively at 
Lehighton, Carbon County, having held his present position for fourteen 
years. The fine granite-faced high school building at Lehighton, Pennsyl- 
vania, is largely due to the work of Mr. Shull. 

SHULL, DR. J. D. Dr. J. D. Shull was born at Markelville, Perry 
County, June 10, 1851, the son of Simon and Elizabeth (Fleisher) Shull. 
He attended the common schools, Markelville Academy (1871-72), Juniata 
Valley Normal School (1874), Medical College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons at Baltimore (1881-82), and graduated from the University of Penn- 
sylvania in 1887. He practiced medicine at Markelville for about ten years, 
since which time he has been medical examiner of the Pennsylvania Rail- 
road at Baltimore, a period of over thirty-three years. 

SHULTZ, REV. W. K. Rev. W. K. Shultz was born at Elliottsburg, 
in 1883, where his father, Rev. James F. Shultz, was pastor of the Evan- 
gelical Church. His mother was Mary E. Shultz. The son of a minister, 
his early schooling was in many different places. He spent three years at 
Central Pennsylvania College (now Albright College) at New Berlin, Pa., 
after which he entered the ministry of the United Evangelical Church. 
He taught in the public schools, edited the Sullivan Reviezv, a Sullivan 
County weekly, and has been in the ministry for nineteen years, at present 
being pastor of Calvary United Evangelical Church at Newport, Perry 
County. 

SHUMAKER, DR. L. M. Dr. Luther Melancthon Shumaker, son of 
Henry and Margaret (Kessler) Shumaker, was born April 6, 1856. He 
was educated in the public schools, the New Bloomfield Academy, and 
Gettysburg College. In 1882 he entered Carthage College, at Carthage, 
Illinois, but failing health brought him back to Perry County. He then 
taught school three years in Perry County and three years in the Wyom- 
ing Valley. In 1887 he entered Jefferson Medical College, where he gradu- 
ated in 1889. He established an office at Elliottsburg, where for a decade 
he had a good practice. Seeking a larger field he then located in Harris- 
burg, where he was successful, and where he gave his life through over- 
work during the serious influenza epidemic early in 1919. 

SHUMAKER, JOHN H., Ph.D. John H. Shumaker, Ph.D., was born 
near Sandy Hill, Madison Township, in 1828. He was educated in the 
free schools, just opened when his schooling started, and at the Tuscarora 
Academy and Marshall College, from which he graduated in 1850. An 
ancestor of his had been tutor to the King of Prussia, and he early de- 
cided upon teaching as a profession. In 1851 he began teaching at Tusca- 
rora Academy, where he remained as principal until 1868. From then until 
1883 he was principal of the Chambersburg Academy, when he was elected 
as principal of Blair Presbyterial Academy at Blairstown, New Jersey. 
He was the first principal of this institution to receive a salary. He was 
so successful that it became necessary to enlarge the institution, the new 
girls' dormitory being added. He remained there until 1892. He returned 
to his home in Chambersburg, where a malignant disease cut short his life 
in 1894. He was a noted speaker and was frequently heard at normal, 



8 4 _> HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

county and state meetings. He had pursued a course in theology and filled 
many vacant pulpits as an able supply. 

SHUMAN, WILLIAM C. William Colhozeh Shuman was a Perry 
County lad from very early years, although born in Lancaster County in 
1836. Orphaned in his first year, the youngest of fifteen children, he was 
reared among his kin here. In 1852, while a Miss Minnie Owen, of Croton 
Falls, New York — who later was married to Dr. David Fetter, of Landis- 
burg— was conducting a select school in Ickesburg, she boarded with his 
people, and he thus got his first lessons in grammar— private lessons, as 
it was not then taught in the public schools. Securing a position in Auburn, 
New York, in a printing office, he worked there a year, but returned to 
Ickesburg and spent a year at Academia Academy (Juniata County), of 
which Prof. John H. Shumaker, of Perry County, was then principal. In 
1856 he began teaching. He attended the academy of Rev. John B. Strain 
one term. In 1859 he attended Millersville, but again taught in Perry for 
several years. In 1862 he married Rebecca Fertig, of Millerstown, and then 
taught in Lancaster for several terms. In 1878 he removed to Chicago, 
where he taught in the Cook County Normal School five years, was prin- 
cipal of the Chicago grammar school for five years, and in charge of the 
evening schools for several years. While Prof. Shuman's name will ever 
stand high in the educational world, yet his successful compilation of the 
Genealogy of the George Shuman Family, a volume of over three hundred 
large pages, will ever stand as a monument to the energy and persistency 
with which he pursued that task for a period of twenty years during the 
declining years of an active life, after relinquishing school work. It is of 
this famous family that came Lieutenant Governor Shuman, of Illinois, 
but he was born and reared in Lancaster County. From it also came the 
names of Shuman's Mill, Shuman's Church, etc. Following a slight stroke 
he slept peacefully away, July 7, 1917. 

Prof, and Mrs. Shuman were the parents of five children : Edwin L., 
a noted literary writer; Roy R., expert advertising man; Jesse J., engi- 
neering expert on steel; Lucy Estelle (Mrs. Chester B. Masslich), and 
Grace Ethel (Airs. John Ernest Smiley). All are graduates of North- 
western University of Chicago. 

Mrs. Shuman, nee Rebecca C. Fertig, of Millerstown, at the request of 
Miss Frances E. Willard, in 1890, undertook the mounting of the World's 
Polyglot Petition, a document which was to make a strong appeal to the 
governments of the world to abolish the manufacture of opium and alco- 
hol. Miss Willard's "Around the World" workers had solicited signers of 
this petition in every country in the world and the islands cf the sea. The 
names came in great rolls — sometimes in sheets, sometimes singly — and 
were mounted on canvass half a yard wide. Counting three names to the 
inch the petition was eight miles in length; but including the six millions 
attestations from societies of various organizations, the entire length of 
the petition would have been forty miles. Mrs. Shuman was educated in 
the Millerstown schools and in the select school of S. H. Galbraith at Blain. 
SHUMAN, TIMOTHY BAXTER. Timothy Baxter Shuman was a 
son of Samuel and Susannah (Bixler) Shuman, born August 1, 1857, at 
Eshcol, the father being noted as the champion wrestler of Perry County, 
an athletic sport of much note in that period. He was educated in the local 
schools. When entering young manhood he went with his parents to 
Huntingdon County, where he taught school, later entering the business 
world. He was appointed register and recorded of Mifflin County, by 
Governor Pattison. 

SHUMAN, LEWIS WAYNE. Lewis Wayne Shuman was a son of John 
and Rebecca Ann (Crane) Shuman. He was born near Ickesburg, October 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 843 

4, 1855, educated in the local schools and attended the sessions of '73, '75 
and '76 at the New Bloomfield Academy. He taught continuously from 
1873 to 1883, three terms in Perry County, three at Earlville, Illinois, and 
four at Aurora, Nebraska. In the fall of 1883 he was elected clerk of the 
courts of Hamilton County, Nebraska, of which Aurora is the county seat. 
He was also a deputy in the county clerk's office, and in the fall of 1891 he 
was elected county clerk. In 1894 he was elected grand chancellor of the 
Knights of Pythias of the State of Nebraska. The same year he entered 
the real estate business, and later located at Long Beach, California, where 
he resides. 

SHUMAN, WILLIAM CUMMINGS. William Cummings Shuman, a 
son of Michael and Elizabeth (Chesney) Shuman, was born in Liverpool, 
September 9, 1849, and there he received his early education. With his 
family he removed to Ohio in 1866. He has always been in business in 
Ohio, where, at Covington, he is known as the manufacturer of Milky 
Evaporated Sweet Corn, a table delicacy. One of his sons, Clinton Polleck 
Shuman, a graduate of the University of West Virginia, is superintendent 
of mails of the Philippine Islands. 

SHUMAN, JOHN RUSHER. John Rusher Shuman was born Novem- 
ber 17, 1826, at Liverpool, the son of George and Susannah (Rusher) 
Shuman. He was educated at the local schools and at Tuscarcra Acad- 
emy. He located at Covington, Ohio, in 1850, where for over fifty years 
he was identified with its growth. In 1871 he organized and became presi- 
dent of the Stillwater Valley Bank of Covington, holding that position 
until his death, which occurred September 14, 1906. Among his children 
is George George L. Shuman, head of the noted publishing firm of George 
L. Shuman & Company of Chicago. 

SMILEY, REV. JAS. W. Rev. James W. Smiley was born near Sher- 
mansdale, April 12, 1824, the son of William and Anne (Wilson) Smiley. 
His father was a son of John Smiley, one of the original settlers of 1755. 
He entered the Methodist ministry and preached for a time in the South. 
His health failing he returned to Carlisle, and for years conducted a large 
clothing store in that town. He was for many years a trustee of Dickin- 
son College. He died March 22, 1893. 

SMILEY, REV. FRANKLIN. Rev. Franklin Smiley was born near 
Shermansdale, April 24, 1867, the son of James and Emily (Green) Smiley. 
He became a 'Presbyterian minister. He died March 15, 1892. 

SMILEY, REV. L. C. Rev. L. C. Smiley was born near Shermansdale 
in 1869, the son of William A. and Martha A. (Adair) Smiley. His grand- 
father was a son of John Smiley, an original settler in 1755. He attended 
the public schools and the Union Biblical Seminary at Dayton, Ohio, where 
he graduated in 1898. He entered the ministry of the gospel and is now a 
member, of the Presbytery of Carlisle, being their supply pastor. He re- 
sides at Lemoyne, Pa. 

SMILEY, REV. J. E. Rev. J. E. Smiley was born near Shermansdale, 
February 10, 1848, the son of Andrew B. and Frances (Lenhart) Smiley. 
He attended the public schools, the Millerstown Normal School of Prof. 
Wright, and the Millersville State Normal School. He went to Ohio in 
1872 and taught for a number of years. He finally located in Paulding 
County, Ohio, a new territory, and entered the mercantile and timber busi- 
ness. While there he was postmaster, railway agent, and express agent, 
the post office being named Smiley. In 1908 he began teaching in the 
Fairmount Bible School, at the same time taking the course himself and 
graduating in 1911. He continues to teach there but is also a licensed 
minister. He is treasurer of the Indiana Conference of the Wesleyan 
Methodist Church, having filled the position for the past twelve years. 



844 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

He is now assistant to the president of the Fairmount Bible School, which 
is developing into Marion College, at Marion, Indiana, with a prospect of 
becoming a noted church school. 

SMILEY, REV. JOHN M. Rev. John M. Smiley was born near Sher- 
mansdale, in 1822, the son of William and Anne (Wilson) Smiley. He 
was the grandson of one of the original settlers of 1755, being a brother 
of Rev. James W. Smiley. He entered the ministry of the United Brethren 
Church and served for many years. He died at Shippensburg, Pa. 

SMILEY, REV. GEO. W. Rev. George Washington Smiley, who was 
born near Shermansdale, was a noted preacher and lecturer. His lecture 
on "Origin of the North American Indian," delivered many years ago at 
the courthouse at New Bloomfield, is still remembered by some of the 
older people who heard it. He was the son of Frederick Smiley, whose 
father was one of the original settlers of 1755. He graduated at Dickin- 
son College at Carlisle. His mother was a Miss Berryhill. He preached 
in some of the Southern states, and died in Pottsville, Pa., but his remains 
were buried in the State of Kentucky. 

SMILEY, DR. JAMES M. Dr. James Meredith Smiley, son of John 
and Sarah Eliza (McBride) Smiley, was born at Shermansdale, February 
20, 1867. He attended the public schools, the New Bloomfield Academy, 
and the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, where he graduated in 
1891. He taught several years, and then entered Jefferson Medical College, 
where he was three years a student, when overtaken by illness. He later 
finished the course at the University of the South at Suwanee, Tennessee, 
in 1900. He practiced at Nashville, Tennessee, for one year, and then 
returned to Pennsylvania, and formed a partnership with his brother, 
Howard M. They are now located at Yeagerstown, Pennsylvania. 

SMILEY, DR. HOWARD M. Dr. Howard Miles Smiley, son of John 
and Sarah Eliza (McBride) Smiley, was born at Shermansdale, February 
22, 1869. He attended the public schools, the New Bloomfield Academy 
and the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, where he graduated in 
1893. He then attended Pennsylvania State College for a year, after 
which he matriculated at Jefferson Medical College, graduating in 1897. 
He practiced at Landisburg for six years, at Cincinnati, Ohio, for three 
years, and at Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, for a year, when an opening oc- 
curred at Yeagertown, Pa., where he located and where he still practices, 
in connection with his brother, Dr. James M. Smiley, a partnership having 
been formed. 

SMITH, REV. JOSHUA. Rev. Joshua Smith was born December 6, 
1841, near Hagerstown, Md., of a Perry County mother. He was the son 
of William Alexander and Elizabeth (Kiner) Smith. At a very early age 
his family removed to Blain, where they lived until the close of the Civil 
War, when they located in Illinois. He was educated in public and select 
schools. In the War between the States he was a member of Co. A and 
first lieutenant of Co. K of the Twentieth Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry. 
He was on the staff of General Fitzhugh as assistant quartermaster of 
the Second Brigade of the First Cavalry Division of Sheridan's Army. 
He was also an assistant inspector general of the First Brigade, Second 
Division, on the staff of General Avery. He attended dental lectures and 
practiced dentistry in Chicago for thirty years. He took the theological 
course of the Rock River Conference of Illinois and was ordained an elder 
of the M. E. Church in 1885. He was superintendent of Marie Chapel, 
and pastor of the Marie M. E. Church, 1890-1905, and pastor of the Forty- 
Seventh Street Church, 1905-11, when he retired from the active ministry. 
In 191 1 he founded the Burnside Settlement, a noted community charity of 
Chicago. He is the author of "From Gettysburg to Appomattox," and of 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 845 

Christmas Gems and various other Sunday school literature, as well as 
several songs. He is also a lecturer of note on war topics. 

SMITH, C. LESTER. C. Lester Smith was born at Wila, Juniata 
Township, August 12, 1870, the son of William H. and Elizabeth (Crist) 
Smith. He was educated in the public schools, Central State Normal 
School, where he graduated in 1894, and through postgraduate work at 
both Lock Haven and Columbia Teachers' College. He was assistant prin- 
cipal at Mt. Carmel, and from there went to Altoona, where he has been a 
ward principal for twenty-seven years. 

SNYDER, DR. J. W. O. Dr. John Wesley Owen Snyder was born in 
1835 in Wheatfield Township, the son of Rev. John G. and Peggy (Owen) 
Snyder. Went with his family to Iowa when twenty years of age and 
prepared for college there. After the Sectional War he graduated in 
medicine and surgery in a New York college and practiced at Pueblo, 
Colorado, where he died. Of his children Almira J. married Henry Cal- 
vin Thatcher, a native Perry Countian who became the first chief justice 
of the State of Colorado, and Rev. Henry D. became a United Brethren 
minister. 

SNYDER, REV. J. G. Rev. John George Snyder was born in Perry 
County, and was educated in the public schools. He entered the United 
Brethren ministry and served at various places, the longest being with 
Western U. B. College, where he was an instructor. 

SNYDER, DR. GEO. GUY. Dr. George Guy Snyder, son of George C. 
and Mary Elizabeth (Zaring) Snyder, was born at Liverpool, August 10, 
1875. He graduated in the Liverpool schools and at the Central State 
Normal School at Lock Haven, in 1893. He then read medicine with Dr. 
E. Walt Snyder, and in 1899 graduated from Jefferson Medical College. 
He practiced in Marietta for a year, and then located at Harrisburg, where 
he has since practiced. Dr. Snyder is now the county physician of Dauphin 
County. 

SNYDER, WM. S. William S. Snyder was born in Millerstown, Octo- 
ber 11, 1870, the son of David A. and Margaret A. (Foster) Snyder. He 
attended the public schools of Millerstown, graduating in the class of 1887. 
He then entered Millersville Normal School, graduating in the class of 
1888. He entered Dickinson College and graduated from that institution 
in 1894. In earlier life he was a teacher and at one time principal of the 
public schools of Duncannon. He later entered the legal profession, and 
is now a member of the firm of Olmsted, Snyder & Miller, one of the 
leading law firms of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 

SOULE, BLANCHE. Blanche Soule was born at New Bloomfield, 
August 28, 1874, the daughter of John W. and Margaret (Smith) Soule. 
She attended the local schools and graduated at the New Bloomfield 
Academy and Cumberland Valley State Normal School. She taught in the 
public schools for five years, served as a trained nurse from six to eight 
years, and was head nurse at the Germantown Hospital for five years, 
being recognized as at the head of her profession. She has always been 
interested in mission work, and in 1921 set sail for the Egyptian Soudan, 
1,500 miles up the Nile, several hundred by caravan. She will have charge 
of the dispensary in her new field, under the Presbyterian Board of For- 
eign Missions. 

SOWERS, T. J. T. J. Sowers was born near Landisburg, December 30, 
1840, the son of David and Elizabeth (Reiber) Sowers. He was educated 
in the common schools. He was at Gettysburg with the Thirty-Sixth 
Pennsylvania Home Guards, and in 1864 joined the 208th Pennsylvania 
Regiment, serving until the end of the war. In April, 1869, he moved to 
Ford County, Illinois, of which county he was elected treasurer in 1898. 



S46 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



on the Republican ticket. After serving his term as county treasurer, 
Mr. Sowers took up his residence at Piper City, near which place he had 
large landed interests, and in company with his son engaged in buying 
and shipping grain. There, he passed away several years ago. The busi- 
ness is continued by the son. 

SPICHER, ALBERT. Albert Spicher, son of Mr. and Mrs. John 
Spicher, was born in Liverpool Township. He was elected in 1920 as 
county commissioner of De Lacs County, North Dakota, from the Fourth 
District, and was made chairman of the board upon its organization. 

STAMBAUGH, S. F. Samuel F. Stambaugh was born in Jackson 
Township, December 10, 1846, the son of John and Sarah Heim (Foust) 
Stambaugh. He attended the Mt. Pleasant and Blain schools, and was 

one of the first Perry Countians to 
take a business course, immediately 
after his term of enlistment in the 
Union Army, at Eastman Business 
College, Poughkeepsie, N. Y. He 
then located at Shelby, Ohio, where 
he has resided ever since, save for 
six years, when he was the owner 
and publisher of the Atchison (Kan- 
sas) Daily Patriot. There his son 
Carlton learned the newspaper and 
printing business, and afterwards, in 
connection with his uncle, John B. 
Stambaugh, became the founder of 
the Daily Globe at Shelby, Ohio, 
which he still publishes, and which 
is a valuable property. Returning 
to Shelby Mr. Stambaugh became a 
pention attorney and established a 
real estate agency, which is to-day 
the leading one in Shelby. As an 
assistant in S. S. Bloom's law office 
he became familiar with legal pro- 
cedure, and, according to the judge 
of the probate court, be drafts 
more wills than any man in Richland County, Ohio. He was married to 
Miss Mary E. Moore, of Shelby, Ohio, who passed away December 25, 
1909. Three children were born, John Carlton, Mary Grace, and Luther 
Earl, the latter dying from the effects of having his chest crushed in at a 
cane rush at Kenyon College. Air. Stambaugh was the first secretary of 
the Sunday school connected with the Lutheran Church at Shelby, which 
to-day has an edifice costing $100,000, and which organization was formed 
by persons, of whom eighty per cent were descendants of those who were 
members of "Father" Heim's churches and lived in Perry County. As 
commander of the Third Troop of the Ohio National Guard for five 
years Mr. Stambaugh personally equipped his command with Smith & 
Wesson carbines, sabres, and accoutrements, from his personal funds. He 
is the only survivor of the first board of directors of the First National 
Bank of Shelby. 

STAMBAUGH, J. b! John B. Stambaugh was born at Blain, Pa., Oc- 
tober 18, 1856, the son of John and Sarah C. (Foust) Stambaugh. He at- 
tended the school at Mt. Pleasant, Jackson Township. He located in Ohio, 
where he has become one of the leading onion growers of the country. 
Since locating in Ohio he has served as county commissioner for six years, 




SAMUEL F. STAMBAUGH. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 847 

and in the House of Representatives for four years. He was on the build- 
ing committee which supervised the building of the new courthouse of 
Hardin County, Ohio. 

STAHL, C. L- C. L. Stahl was born October 8, 1879, at Newport, the 
son of William C. and Julia Ann (Horting) Stahl. His family later (in 
1885) moved to Virginia, and he became a student in agriculture, special- 
izing in dairying at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, at Blacksburg, Vir- 
ginia, in the class of 1907. He did special work at Purdue University, 
Lafayette, Indiana, 1908. He then entered the employ of Ex-United States 
Treasurer Carter Class and others, having charge of their dairy farms in 
Virginia, and being manager of two creameries. He is at present dairy 
director of the Virginia State Dairy and Food Division at Richmond. 

STAHL, HORATIO S. Horatio S. Stahl was born October 19, 1868, 
at Newport, the son of William C. and Julia Ann (Horting) Stahl. In 
1885 his family removed to Virginia, where he graduated at the Virginia 
Polytechnic Institute, with the B.S. degree, as an honor student in various 
branches. He has since done research work in diseases of the peach, 
apple, corn, and potatoes. He is now professir of Biology in the Virginia 
Polytechnic Institute. 

STEPHENS, PROF. JAS. A. Prof. James A. Stephens was born May 
14. 1831, in Juniata Township, the son of Robert G. and Martha (Jones) 
Stephens. He was a noted educator in the days when academies flour- 
ished, and was twice principal of the Bloomfield Academy, as will be noted 
in the chapter on that subject, in this book. He was also principal of the 
Huntingdon Academy, where he died April 22, 1876. He had two sons, 
Robert Neilson and James, the former having been an author of consid- 
erable note, a sketch of his life appearing earlier in this book. The Advo- 
cate described him as "a man of ability, fine education, and an excellent 
teacher." 

STEWART, RICHARD HENRY. Richard Henry Stewart was born 
in Duncannon, May 23, 1859, his parents being William Jones Stewart and 
Hannah (Henry) Stewart. He was educated at the public schools and at 
the New Bloomfield Academy, and read law with the late Charles A. Bar- 
nett. He was admitted to the bar, December, 1881, and served as district 
attorney from 1885 to 1888. At the conclusion of his term he located at 
Kansas City, Missouri, where he practiced law and acted as trust officer 
of a large trust company. In 1901 he located in New York City, where 
he is engaged in corporation law practice. Mr. Stewart bears the unique 
distinction of being the father of one of America's leading theatrical stars, 
"Marie Doro," whose biography appears earlier in this book in an ex- 
tended form. 

STINE, DR. H. A. Dr. H. A. Stine was born April 23, 1878, at Pillow, 
Dauphin County, but was brought to Perry by his parents' removal here, 
when he was a mere child, so is recognized as a Perry Countian. He is a 
son of Charles and Catherine (Row) Stine. He was educated in the Perry 
County schools and graduated at the Cumberland Valley State Normal 
School in 1902. He taught for a number of years, and then entered Bal- 
timore Medical College, where he graduated in 1912. He located at Har- 
risburg, where he has since practiced. 

STITES, DR. GE< >. M. Dr. George M. Stites was born in Millerstown, 
March 11, i860, the son of Dr. Samuel and Katharine (Matter) Stites. 
His father was descended from a long line of medical men on both sides. 
His mother's name was Rush, and she was of the famous Benjamin Rush 
family. On the father's side the first Stites came as a surgeon to the 
colonists in the time of Cromwell. Dr. William Stites, who practiced in 
Perry County for a few years, was a brother of his father. Dr. Stites 



8 |S HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



attended the Millerstown schools, where he got his preliminary education. 
In March, 1882, he graduated from the College of Physicians and Sur- 
geons at Baltimore. His father died about that time and he succeeded to 
the practice at Millerstown. In a few years he removed to WilHamstown, 
where he assumed the practice of his uncle, Dr. George Matter. There 
he resided and practiced until his death in 1921. He was surgeon of the 
Lykens Division of the Susquehanna Colliers Company. He was in charge 
of the First Aid Corps of that mining district and his men were drilled so 
efficiently that many lives were saved. He helped organize the Williams 
Valley Railways Company and was long vice-president of the Williams 
Valley Bank, and was for fourteen years a member of the board of edu- 
cation, etc. He was married to Miss Hannah Durbin. They had three 
children, Joseph D., Mrs. Herbert T. Quinn, and Harry J. 

STITES, ALBERT HARVEY. Albert Harvey Stites was born in 
Millerstown, March 2, 1858, the son of Dr. Samuel and Catharine (Motter) 
Stites. He attended the public schools, and in 1875 worked for one year 

on The Times, at New Bloom- 
field. He then went to Philadel- 
phia and began clerking in a 
drug store. In 1879 he gradu- 
ated in pharmacy and continued 
there in the drug business until 
1 88 1. In June of that year he 
located in what was then Da- 
kota Territory, at Sioux Falls, 
and opened a drug store, which 
he has conducted for the past 
forty years. He was president 
of the South Dakota State 
Board of Pharmacy for six 
years, and was county commis- 
sioner of Minnehaha County 
for three years. In 1896 he 
was elected mayor of Sioux 
Falls, and in 1898 was elected 
to the State Senate, a position 
in which he served two terms, 
having been reelected. During 
the Roosevelt administration he 
was postmaster for four years. 
In 1884 he married Elizabeth 
M. Law, of Chicago, to whom three children were born, one son, Samuel L., 
living and being in the drug business in Sioux Falls. 

STITES, DR. HARRY. Dr. Harry Stites was born at Fisherville, 
Dauphin County, June 28, 1854, the son of Dr. Samuel and Catherine 
(Matter) Stites, but at a very early age his father having located at Mil- 
lerstown, he became a Perry Countian and always claimed it as his home. 
He was educated in the public schools of Millerstown and at Freeburg 
Academy. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1876 
and immediately began practicing medicine at Newport. In 1881 he located 
at Sioux Falls, and became government physician to the Blackfoot Indian 
Agency, being later transferred to the Sioux Reservation. He then located 
in Florida for a time, and from 1887 to 1893 he practiced in Harrisburg. 
His health failing he returned to Florida, going in a vessel of his own with 
his family. In that state he was examining surgeon of the East Coast 
Railway under the noted Henry M. Flager's regime. In 1896 he took a 




ALBERT II. STITES. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 849 

postgraduate course in the Polyclinic College at Philadelphia and again 
located in Harrisburg, where he remained until 1900, when he traveled 
Europe, visiting the principal hospitals in order to advance further in his 
profession. He returned to his Harrisburg practice, but in January, 1906, 
left on a trip South to regain his health, going to Cuba. Two days after 
his arrival there he died. Dr. Stites had another distinction. In 1870 he 
organized Newport Council, No. 107, Junior Order of United American 
Mechanics, and two years later was elected National Vice-Councilor, be- 
coming National Councilor the succeeding year, so far as is known, the 
only Perry Countian to become the national head of a beneficial order. 

STROUP, F. NEFF. F. Neff Stroup was born near Blain, in 1884, the 
son of George M. and Mary Ellen (Martin) Stroup. He attended the 
public schools of Jackson Township and graduated from the Millersville 
State Normal School in 1908, and at Dickinson College in 1913. In 1918 
he graduated from Columbia University with the M.A. degree. He taught 
four years in Jackson Township, was principal of the Strasburg (Pa.) 
High School for two years, and assistant in mathematics at the Millers- 
ville State Normal School one year. For three years he was supervising 
principal of the schools of Spencerport, N. Y., and then became super- 
intendent of schools at Palmyra, N. Y., where he served five years. He 
is now superintendent of public schools at Newark, N. Y. 

SWEGER, DYSON. Dyson Sweger was born in Buckwheat Valley, 
September 21, 1882, the son of Aaron and Martha Ann (Campbell) 
Sweger. He received his early education in the public schools, in Prof. 
W. E. Baker's Summer School at Eshcol, and at the New Bloomfield 
Academy, graduating in 1904. He later attended the Lebanon Valley Col- 
lege while teaching in the Annville schools. After completing a term in 
the A. Grammar School, at Newport, in 1906, he went West and located 
at Los Angeles, where he was first connected with the Pacific Electric 
Company. In 191 1 he entered the Department of Health, and in 1918, 
through competitive examination, was promoted to the position of Execu- 
tive Secretary of the Housing Commission — a Bureau of the Health De- 
partment. Mr. Sweger has charge of all housing and hotel and tenement 
maintenance in the City of Los Angeles. 

SWEGER, R. L. Roy L. Sweger was born at New Bloomfield, Octo- 
ber 14, 1886, the son of Isaac and Annie (Briner) Sweger. He attended the 
public schools and later learned printing. He left Perry County in 1905 
and worked as a printer in New Jersey, Connecticut, and at Philadelphia 
for about four years. In the fall of 1909 he returned to New Bloomfield 
and attended the academy until spring, when he went to Florida and 
located at Live Oak, as foreman of the Suzvance Democrat. After two 
years he was made manager of this publication. He held this position 
four years, and then became manager of the Gasden County Times of 
Quincy, Florida. In 1918 he bought this plant, and has since owned and 
edited the paper. When Cary A. Hardee became governor of Florida it 
was after his name had been first announced by Mr. Sweger, who has 
since been made a member of the governor's staff, with the rank of lieu- 
tenant colonel. 

SYPHER, J. R. Author and War Correspondent. Josiah Rhinehart 
Sypher was born in Greenwood Township, in 1832, being a brother of 
Gen. J. Hale Sypher, whose biography appears earlier in these pages. 
The Sypher family came to America during the early part of the Eighteenth 
Century, settling in Chester County. Subsequently a branch of the family 
located in Pfoutz Valley, where these sons were born. Josiah Rhinehart 
Sypher attended the public schools and then entered Union College at 
Schenectady, New York, where he graduated in 1858. He read law with 
■ 54 



850 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Thaddeus Stevens at Lancaster, and in 1862 was admitted to the Lancaster 
County bar. He had in the meantime been doing corresponding for city 
newspapers, and when the Sectional War came on he went to the front as 
war correspondent of the New York Tribune. After the war he opened 
up the first Philadelphia office for that paper, and later was made an asso- 
ciate editor for the same. After the war, in connection with his news- 
paper work, he wrote and compiled the "History of the Pennsylvania Re- 
serves" (1865) and a "School History of Pennsylvania" (1868). In con- 
nection with E. A. Apgar he also wrote and published a School History 
of New Jersey. He was also a temperance worker and writer. For many 
years thereafter, or until his death in 1902, he practiced law in Philadelphia, 
specializing along the lines of copyrights, trade-marks and patents. 

TAYLOR, DR. S. BANKS. Dr. S. Banks Taylor, son of George D. 
and Frances Taylor, was born in Tuscarora Township, March 14, 1868. 
His parents moved to Millerstown, where he attended the public schools, 
later graduating at the Central State Normal School at Lock Haven (1889) 
and at Jefferson Medical College (1895). After graduating at Lock Haven 
he taught until 1892. Upon graduating in medicine he located at Reading, 
Pennsylvania, where he is practicing at this time. 

TOLAND, DR. L. L Dr. L. L. Toland was born near Iroquois (Miller 
Township) in 1870. His people located in the West and he graduated at 
the Sterling High School, the Ada (Ohio) Normal School, and the West- 
ern Reserve Medical College, and Chicago Polyclinic Medical College. He 
has been a teacher, pharmacist, physician, and is now an obstetrical phy- 
sician. He also served one year as interne at St. Clair Hospital at Cleve- 
land. 

TRESSLER, PROF. JOHN A. John Andrew Tressler was the oldest 
son of Col. John and Elizabeth (Loy) Tressler, and was born at Loys- 
ville. His early education was secured in the local schools. He graduated 
from Pennsylvania College at Gettysburg in 1848. He then became an in- 
structor in the State University at Columbus, Ohio, reading law simul- 
taneously. There he met and became a close friend of Stephen A. Doug- 
las, later a national figure. He died September 12, 1851, while connected 
with the university. 

TRESSLER, REV. JOHN WILLIAM. Rev. John William Tressler, 
a son of Colonel John and Elizabeth (Loy) Tressler, was born at Loys- 
ville. Educated in local schools and at Pennsylvania College at Gettys- 
burg, where he graduated. He entered the Lutheran ministry, serving 
principally charges in western Pennsylvania. He became known as "the 
missionary preacher," being successful in building many churches. He 
died in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, in 1907. He was the father of two 
daughters and a son, Rev. Victor G. A. Tressler, D.D., who is to-day one 
of the leading figures in Lutheran circles in the United States. 

Rev. Victor G, A. Tressler, after finishing his course at McCormick 
Seminary at Chicago, started a mission at San Jose, California, where, 
after a few years of hard work he built a church. His postgraduate work 
was at London, Paris and Berlin. After four years of study and travel 
Leipsic University conferred the Ph.D degree upon him. Returning to 
America he occupied prominent positions in several institutions, among 
which was Wittenberg Seminary, at Springfield, Ohio. In 1919, at the 
time of the consolidation of the Lutheran Churches of America, he was the 
president of General Synod of the Lutheran Church in America. 

TRESSLER, DR. JOSIAH EZRA. Dr. Josiah Ezra Tressler, a son 
of Colonel John and Elizabeth (Loy) Tressler, was born at Loysville. 
He was educated in the local schools, and in 1866 graduated in medicine 
at the University of Pennsylvania, having previously attended Loysville 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 851 

Academy and Muhlenberg Institute. He practiced his profession for some 
years in Illinois and then removed to Peabody, Kansas, where he engaged 
in the banking and brokerage business. He lives retired at "Luther Lawn," 
Peabody, Kansas. He is the only living son of Colonel John Tressler. 

TROSTLE, WM. P. William P. Trostle was born near New German- 
town, January 14, 1871, the son of Abraham M. and Susannah (Long) 
Trostle. He attended the public schools of Toboyne Township until 1889, 
and then taught in the same township until 1897. He took the normal 
course at Juniata College at Huntingdon, 1897-99, and the A.B. course 
1899-1903. He later did postgraduate work in school administration. Dur- 
ing 1903 and 1904 he was principal of the Second Ward schools of Hunt- 
ingdon. During 1904-07 he was principal of the High School at Williams- 
burg, and 1907-18 he was the supervising principal of the Woodward Dis- 
trict schools of Clearfield County. In 1918 he was elected county super- 
intendent of the schools of Clearfield County, which position he has since 
filled. In college he was a noted debater. 

TRUBY, REV. CHARLES. Rev. Charles Truby was born in Millers- 
town, November, 1867. After his completion of public school work he 
attended the New Bloomfield Academy and Princeton College, from which 
he graduated. He then entered McCormick Theological Seminary at Chi- 
cago, also graduating there. He served charges in Fowler, Winchester 
and Lafayette, Indiana, but is now located in New York City. 

ULSH, DR. J. A. Dr. J. A. Ulsh was born in Greenwood Township, 
December 10, 1854, the son of George and Susannah (Cauffman) Ulsh. 
He attended the public schools and the Freeburg Academy (1870-71), and 
the Juniata Normal School at Millerstown (1872-73). He taught in the 
public schools of Greenwood and Liverpool Townships, and graduated in 
1878 at the Medical College of Ohio, now the University of Cincinnati. 
He took postgraduate courses at Philadelphia Polyclinic and College of 
Graduates in Medicine, 1885 and 1893. He practiced medicine at Enders, 
Dauphin County, from 1878 to 1881, and at Elizabethville, 1881 to 1885, 
since which time he has been practicing in Lykens. 

ULSH, RALPH. Ralph Ulsh was born near Millerstown, July 29, 1884, 
the son of James Morrow and Ada M. (Dimm) Ulsh. His people moving 
to Duncannon, he graduated from the high school there, from Franklin and 
Marshall Academy, and from Franklin and Marshall College (A.B.) in 
1907. He was admitted to the bar in the State of New York in 1910, and 
practiced law at Elmira, New York, for about three years, and at Buffalo, 
New York, for about eight years. 

VanCAMP, DR. J. E. Dr. Joshua Emanuel VanCamp was born at 
Bailey's, Miller Township, February 22, 1844, the son of William and 
Melvina (Hoffman) VanCamp. He attended the Loysville Academy in 
i860, and went with Captain Tressler's company to serve in the Sectional 
War. Returning he attended Gettysburg College, 1865-66, and the Uni- 
versity of Michigan, 1866-68, graduating in medicine from the latter place. 
As a young man he had clerked in Dr. Singer's store at Newport. Upon 
his graduation in medicine he located at Markelville, where he practiced 
from 1869 to 1871. He located at Plainfield, Cumberland County, in 1872. 
He located at Carlisle in 1899, where he practiced until his death in 1904. 
He was a member of the commission to erect the Hartranft memorial, 
which stands at the west entrance to the Pennsylvania State Capitol, and 
made the presentation speech to the state. 

VanCAMP, DR. DAVID W. Dr. David W. VanCamp was born at 
Markelville, Perry County, educated in the public schools of Cumberland 
County, graduated from Gettysburg College as salutatorian in 1894, and 
from the Medical Department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1898. 



852 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

During 1918-19 he was president of the Cumberland County Medical So- 
ciety, and is on the staff of the Carlisle Hospital. 

WAGNER, REV. JAS. M. Rev. James M. Wagner was born in Ty- 
rone Township, March 1, 1842, the son of George and Mary (Stambaugh) 
Wagner. He attended the local schools and the New Bloomfield Academy, 
and later entered the ministry of the Church of God. He was later retired 
and resides at Penbrook, Pa. 

WAGNER, JOHN C. John C. Wagner was born in Saville Township, 
March 10, 1872, the son of John W. and Sarah (Eby) Wagner. He at- 
tended the public schools, Millerstown High School, New Bloomfield 
Academy, and graduated from the Cumberland Valley State Normal 
School in 1892. Since that time he has done special work under various 
institutions. He taught in the townships of Miller and Howe, and was 
principal of the schools at Mt. Holly, 1892-97, and of Newport, 1897-1903. 
Since that time he has been superintendent of the schools of Carlisle, Pa. 
In 1905 Dickinson conferred the M.A. degree upon him. In 1917 he was 
elected treasurer of the Pennsylvania State Educational Association, in 
which position he still serves. 

WAGNER, REV. SCOTT R. Rev. Scott R. Wagner was born in Sa- 
ville Township, August 16, 1874, the son of John W. and Sarah (Eby) 
Wagner. He attended the public schools, the New Bloomfield Academy, 
where he graduated in 1893, and Franklin and Marshall College, where 
he graduated in 1897. He then entered the Reformed Theological Semi- 
nary, and graduated in 1900. He served congregations in Allentown, 
Riegelsville, and Reading, Pa., and is now pastor of Zion Reformed Church 
at Hagerstown, Md. He received the degree of D.D. in 1918. He served 
as chaplain in the World War with the rank of first lieutenant, being sta- 
tioned at Camp Zachary Taylor, in Kentucky, and Camp Jackson, in South 
Carolina. 

WAGNER, REV. S. T. Rev. Samuel T. Wagner was born in Spring 
Township, in 1846, the son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Tressler) Wagner. 
He attended the public schools, and graduated from Mercersburg College, 
of which Dr. E. E. Higbee was then president, in 1874, and in the post- 
graduate course in theology in 1878. Between the two courses he was 
principal of an academy in Iowa, 1874-75. He had also taught two terms 
in Perry County prior to that. He served several pastoral charges in Penn- 
sylvania until 1905, and since then has had no regular appointment, being 
classed as retired. He has several times served as president of Classis, 
and one year as president of the Pittsburgh Synod. For fifteen years he 
was a member of the board of directors of St. Paul's Orphan Home, now 
located at Greenville, Pa. He resides at Alinda, Perry County. 

WEIRICK, DR. CARL. Dr. E. Carl Weirick was born at Liverpool, 
March 5, 1876, the son of John C. and Ada C. (Patton) Weirick. He at- 
tended the Liverpool schools, graduating from the high school in 1889, 
and from the Harrisburg High School in 1893. In 1904 he graduated from 
the University of Michigan, and located at Harrisburg, Pa. In 1905 he 
was appointed as surgeon of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, which 
position he still holds, being located at Harrisburg. 

WEISE, REV. CHAS F. Rev. Charles F. Weise, son of Henry C. and 
Delila (Cook) Weise, was born at Milford, Juniata Township, December 2, 
[867. He attended the public schools and the Bloomfield Academy. From 
1883 to ^90 he was a telegraph operator in the employ of the P. R. R. 
During 1891-92 he was connected with the P. & R. in a similar capacity. 
He then entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has 
been a member of the Central Pennsylvania Conference for twenty-five 
years. During 1912 he organized the First National Bank of Three Springs, 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 853 

Pennsylvania, of which he was president for three years. In 1919 he or- 
ganized the First National Bank of Port Royal, Pennsylvania, of which he 
is a director. He has been pastor of the Port Royal M. E. Church since 
April, 1917. 

WEST, REV. WM. A. Rev. William A. West was the son of William 
and Susan (Loy) West, his grandfather having been Edward West, the 
pioneer who settled near Falling Springs, about four miles east of Lan- 
disburg. Rev. West was born at Landisburg, February 25, 1825. That 
spring the family removed to Warm Springs, Perry County, where they 
resided for ten years, then living a year in Landisburg. In 1836 they re- 
moved to New Bloomfield, where the future theologian attended the public- 
schools. A year later, when the Bloomfield Academy opened its first term, 
he was one of the students, and there he prepared for college, teaching 
in the meantime, when yet not seventeen. He united with the Bloomfield 
Presbyterian Church in 1843. In 1844 he entered Marshall College, at 
Mercersburg, but lost a year by becoming organizer and first teacher in the 
Reformed Parochial School at Middletown, Maryland, and six months as 
a private tutor, to replenish his funds for his education. He graduated in 
1849. He then entered the Western Theological Seminary at Allegheny, 
Pa. While at the seminary he taught latin and mathematics two hours 
daily at Caton Academy, in Pittsburgh, and during one vacation at the 
Plainfield Academy, near Carlisle. On April 14, 1852, he was licensed by 
the Presbytery of Carlisle, to preach the gospel. During the following 
winter he filled the Upper Path Valley pastorate for Rev. Wm. A. Graham, 
who was ill. When Rev. Graham resigned, he became the pastor, being 
installed in 1853. He remained there until 1873, when he went to Harris- 
burg to engage in mission work, under the joint care of the Market Square 
and Pine Street churches. During September of that year Rev. West organ- 
ized Westminster Presbyterian Church, in the small, dingy lodge room over 
the Broad Street market house. The next year a small chapel was erected 
at Reily and Green Streets, and there he remained until 1890. Then, 
owing to throat trouble he had to leave a river atmosphere, and located 
at Carlisle, filling the pulpit of the Second Presbyterian Church for over 
a year, while the pastor was in Europe. He then returned to Path Valley, 
feeling that his ministry was at an end. However, he filled pulpits as 
stated supply, served a year at the Biddle Memorial Mission, in Carlisle. 
He was pastor of the Robert Kennedy Memorial Church at Welsh Run 
for five years. There, on February 6, 1898, Mrs. West passed away, and 
Rev. West then left there to become president of Metzgar College, at 
Carlisle. In 1900 he was called to the McConnellsburg and Green Hill 
churches, where he was pastor until his retirement, about 1905. He died 
in 1908. He was stated clerk of Carlisle Presbytery for many years. 

WHITE, JAMES W. James W. White was born near Shermansdale, 
June 9, 1886, the son of James A. and Jennie S. (Smiley) White. He at- 
tended Lackey's school and later the New Bloomfield Academy. He took 
teachers' training instruction during two summers at Landisburg select 
school, teaching during the winter. He graduated from the Cumberland 
Valley State Normal School in 1910, and took postgraduate work at Co- 
lumbia University in 1916, and at the Maryland University in 1919. He 
was principal of the Cold Spring Harbor (N. Y.) public schools for three 
years, and of the Darnestown (Md.) High School, seven years. 

WHITE, THOS. J. Thomas J. White was born in Perry County, May 
17, 1827. His parents early moved to Ohio, settling in Crawford County. 
He was elected to the General Assembly of Ohio. 

WICKEY, H. J. H. J. Wickey, son of Rev. Lewis A. and Lydia A. 
(Wagner) Wickey, was born at Mont Alto, Pa., November 1, 1870, but 



854 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

was taken to Perry County when about six years old, and spent all of his 
early life there. He attended the village school at Eschol under Professor 
William E. Baker. In 1889 he taught bis first term of school in Saville 
Township, teaching three years in Perry County. In 1893 he graduated 
from the Cumberland Valley State Normal School, and was elected prin- 
cipal of schools of Orbisonia, Huntingdon County, where he remained 
until 1896. He was then elected principal of the high school at Middle- 
town. In 1899 he was advanced to the superintendency of the schools at 
Middletown, Pa., which position he is still filling. 

WICKEY, J. GOULD. Rev. J. Gould Wickey, son of W. O. and Jennie 
A. (Hartman) Wickey, was bom at Eshcol, where he attended Prof. W. 
A. Baker's school. His parents moved to Littlestown, Pa. He graduated 
from the Littlestown schools in 1907, Gettysburg College (19"), and the 
Theological Seminary there (1915), after which he entered Harvard and 
war awarded the D.D. degree in 1921. He won a year's scholarship at the 
University of Oxford, England. He returned to America, in 19.20. and is 
now professor of philosophy at Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., of 
which he is dean and where he teaches religious philosophy. 

WOODS, REV. ROBERT W. Rev. Robert W. Woods was born at 
Blain, May 30, 1873, the son of William Wharton and Catherine Jane 
(Loy) Woods. William Wharton Woods was the descendant of General 
Anthony Wayne. Rev. Woods attended the public schools at Blain, and at 
an early age joined the Zion Lutheran Church. He attended the Blain 
schools, Gettysburg Academy, and graduated from the Pennsylvania Col- 
lege at Gettysburg in 1898. In 1901 he graduated from the seminary there. 
During the summer prior to his graduation he had worked up a charter 
membership for the organization of a new Lutheran church at Pittsburgh, 
to be known as the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer. On his graduation 
he was called as its first pastor, and is still connected with this church, 
although twenty years has elapsed, and he has received calls from else- 
where. He has taken into this church over 1,500 adults, and has had an 
average annual increase in salary of $100. He has served as the president 
of the Homewood Christian Committee for social betterment, and as sec- 
retary, treasurer, and president of the Lutheran Ministerial Association of 
Pittsburgh at different times. For eight years he was president of the 
Perry County Association of Pittsburgh. He is a member of the Com- 
mittee on Jewish Mission Work of the United Lutheran Church, and has 
served as president of Pittsburgh Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. 
WRIGHT, DR. W. J. Dr. Win f red J. Wright was born in Millerstown, 
November 8, 1876, the son of Silas and Fannie E. (Calhoun) Wright. 
When about five years old, his parents removed to Greenwood Township, 
where he received his early education. During 1895-96 he taught in Pfoutz 
Valley, and from 1896 to 1898 attended the Mifflin Academy, where he 
graduated. In 1902 he graduated from the Medico-Chi. College at Phila- 
delphia, and began the practice of medicine at Ickesburg. In March, 
1903, he located at Duncannon, succeeding Dr. Robert T. Barnett. He 
remained here until August, 1909, when for less than a year he was located 
at Swarthmore, Delaware County. He then purchased the home and prac- 
tice of a physician at Skippack, Montgomery County, where he has prac- 
ticed successfully since. He was president of the Montgomery County 
Medical Society during 1918, and while in Perry County was president of 
the Perry County Medical Society. 

ZEIGLER, REV. GEO. C. Rev. Geo. C. Zeigler was born in Howe 
Township, January 16, 1867, the son of Jacob A. and Hannah M. (Lahr) 
Zeigler. He began attending school there, but when eleven years old his 
parents removed to Mifflintown, where he finished his common school 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN '855 

education. He attended several theological schools, beginning the min- 
istry at the same time. Mr. Zeigler has been awarded the D.D. degree. 
He has served churches in Altoona, Williamsport, Berwick, and Blooms- 
burg, Pa.; Petersburg, Va. ; Rocky Mountain, N.C., and is now at Wythe- 
ville, Va. He is also a lecturer, having appeared on the platform, both 
North and South. He is connected with the Christian Church (Disciples 
of Christ). 

ZELLERS, PARK. Park Zellers was born at Liverpool, April 26, 1897, 
the son of John Adam and Caretta Louise (Lutz) Zellers. He attended 
the Liverpool schools, graduating in 1914. He graduated at the Central 
State Normal School in 1917. During 1917-18 he taught in Marysville. 
He was instructor in printing at the Edison Junior High School in Harris- 
burg, principal of schools at Liverpool (1920-21), and is now principal of 
schools at Mill Hall, Pa. 

ZIMMERMAN, CHAS F. Charles F. Zimmerman, son of Lucian C. 
and Clara R. (Steele) Zimmerman, was born in Allen's Cove, Penn Town- 
ship, June 21, 1878. He attended the Duncannon public schools. From 
1895 to 1898 he attended Lafayette College. He then transferred to 
Princeton University, graduating in 1900, the next year taking a post- 
graduate course there. He was then with the First National Bank at Har- 
risburg as correspondence clerk for a time. When the Steelton Trust 
Company was organized in 1902 he was tendered a position there, and in 
1906 became its treasurer. In 1912 he was elected treasurer of the Leba- 
non County Trust Company at Lebanon, Pennsylvania. He was chairman 
of Group Five of the Pennsylvania Bankers' Association, 1919-1921, and 
in 1921 was elected secretary of the State Bankers' Association. He is 
also chairman of the committee on education. 

ZIMMERMAN, FRANK A. Frank A. Zimmerman was born in Allen's 
Cove, Penn Township, March 16, 1875. He is a son of Lucian C. and 
Clara R. (Steele) Zimmerman. He was an attendant of the Duncannon 
public schools from 1883 to 1893. His first position was with the Dun- 
cannon National Bank, from which place he went with the Citizens' Na- 
tional Bank at Waynesboro as cashier. After a number of years there he 
was elected treasurer of the Chambersburg Trust Company, with which he 
is still connected as vice-president, secretary and treasurer. This trust 
company, by the way, has a capital stock of $218,000, a surplus, profit and 
reserve fund of about $350,000, and is one of the best institutions in the 
Cumberland Valley. Mr. Zimmerman has been there eighteen years. 

ZIMMERMAN, DR. G. L. Dr. G. L. Zimmerman was born in Madison 
Township, January 9, 1862, the son of William and Margaret (Bower) 
Zimmerman. He attended the public schools, Captain G. C. Palm's select 
school at Blain, Susquehanna University (then Missionary Institute) at 
Selinsgrove for three years, ending in 1886. He graduated in medicine at 
Jefferson Medical College in 1889 and located at Carlisle, where he has 
since practiced. He is a member of the staff of the Carlisle Hospital in 
the Department of Obstetrics. From 1904 to 1907 he was medical super- 
intendent of the Cumberland County Hospital for Insane. 

Other Noted and Professional Men. 

The task of compiling the list of these men and women seems endless, 
and must be relinquished so that the book may go to press. Other Perry 
Countians, briefly: Rev. W. N. Wright, pastor of the Marysville Church 
of God, whose work so far has been within the county ; Rev. L. E. Henry, 
a pastor of the same denomination, residing at Penbrook; Rev. Daniel 
Motzer, a graduate of Canonsburg College, who died in 1864; Rev. Martin, 



8c6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

a Spring Township native who became a D.D. ; Rev. G. C. Hall, born at 
Blain, who graduated from Franklin and Marshall College in 1875, entered 
the Episcopal ministry, and served charges principally in New York State 
until about 1915, when he retired; Rev. John Adams, a Lutheran minister 
born in Spring or Carroll Township; Rev. Linden H. Rice, a Reformed 
pastor; Rev. Dison Hench, who passed away a few years ago; Isaac G. 
Black/lately of Duncannon, but long a resident of Philadelphia, where 
during the period after 1880 he taught for many years in Old Bethany 
(John Wanamaker's Church), a Sunday school class of over a hundred 
Pennsylvania University students; Dr. Lewis Smiley, who located in 
Philadelphia and became noted as a great Sunday school man and welfare 
worker as well as a physician of note; Albert Leonard Dorwart, a young 
student at State College, a fine spirited youth whose clean moral life and 
sunny disposition caused that great institution to issue "The Story of a 
Brief Life," a booklet of appreciation of his work; Robert E. Ferguson, 
a Perry County boy, who edited the Bradford Herald at Towanda, Penn- 
sylvania, during the Sectional War period; Anna Thompson (Sutch) 
Stevens, wife of Rev. Stevens, and her sister, Frances Bates (Sutch) 
Friese, wife of Rev. Friese, whose long work in the Indian mission fields 
is of note; Milton C. Miller, an attorney at Wichita, Kansas, and the late 
J. Cal. McAlister, who died about 1917; Theo. K. Holman, who is an 
attorney in Salt Lake City, and who held a prominent state office in Utah ; 
Millard F. Clouser, a former checker expert of international fame, and 
long editor of the Chess and Checkers page of the Nciv York World; 
Lew Ritter, long catcher of the Brooklyn National baseball team, and Rob- 
ert Clark, with the Cleveland world series winners in 1921 ; H. W. Mc- 
Kenzie, of Walton, New York, an executive committeeman of the Ameri- 
can Farm Bureau Foundation, which represents a million and a half of 
farmers in the northwestern region of the United States, he being one of 
three men on that committee from this large territory; Samuel Tressler, 
Washington, New Jersey; J. Cloyd Tressler, New Gardens, Long Island; 
Ed. S. Taylor, Mt. Carmel, Pa.; S. E. B. Kinsloe, from 1890 to 1900 a 
ward principal in the Philadelphia schools, and Helen Elizabeth Wilkinson, 
a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, wdio held a similar position 
until her death in 1921 ; John Dum, once principal of the White Hill 
Orphans' School; E. C. Miller, half owner and treasurer of the Milligan 
Fruit Company at St. Louis, which handles several hundred carloads of 
fruit each season, and who attended the public schools of Pennsylvania, 
Ohio, Illinois and Missouri, teaching for some years; Jos. W. Billow, 
long a ward principal at Lewistown; Dr. Ben Hooke Ritter, who had 
located in Juniata County and became first president of the Juniata County 
Medical Society ; Dr. John L. Ickes ; Dr. Geo. A. Ickes, who practiced at 
Altoona, Pa.; Dr. Gilbert Conner, born at Landisburg, who practiced medi- 
cine, in Michigan, where he died, and Dr. Fetter, born at Landisburg, who 
settled at Croton Falls, New York, about 1885 ; E. D. Bistline, works ac- 
countant with the Federal Shipbuilding Company; H. B. Raffensberger, 
holding a responsible government position at Chicago ; Dr. C. A. Rinehart, 
of Philadelphia; Win. Kinter, a Philadelphia attorney; E. R. Sponsler, a 
Harrisburg attorney; Rev. C. W. Winey, Pittsburgh; Rev. Melancthon 
Sohn, Rev. Eugene Raffensberger, Rev. Joseph W. Wagner, Rev. Elmer 
E. Hench, Rev. Harry Kleckner, Rev. C. J. Dick, Rev. B. F. Hall, Rev. 
D. L. Kepner, Rev. I. M. Pines, and Rev. B. A. Shively, the latter five 
being ministers of the Evangelical Church; Rev. G. W. Crist and Rev. 
John A. Flickinger, Lutheran ministers; Rev. Cassius E. Bixler, minister 
to Brazil, and Dr. Zenas J. Gray. The Young Men's Christian Associa- 
tions throughout the world are directed by secretaries who are under the 
guidance of Paul Super, a native of Perry County. 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 857 

One of the big lines of business of New York City is the Casket busi- 
ness, and there, as secretary of the Casket Manufacturers' Association, 
and also secretary of the Casket Manufacturers' Service Bureau, is an- 
other Perry Countian, J. W. Lukenbach, a native of Liverpool. Mr. 
Lnkenbach's father, Win. Lukenbach. was once a Newport photographer, 
and later moved to Liverpool, in 1863. 

Two others often considered Perry Countians and whose associations 
were mostly in the vicinity of the county seat, are Henry C. Dern, late 
publisher of the Altoona Tribune, and Dr. J. Frank Raine, who has prac- 
ticed medicine at Sykesville, Pa., since his graduation at the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons at Baltimore, in 1905. Both men learned the 
printing trade in New Bloomfield, but Mr. Dern was born in Carroll 
County, Maryland, and Dr. Raine, at West Fairview, Cumberland County. 

Perry County has furnished many men who have filled and fill respon- 
sible banking positions in other states, the most noted having been M. D. 
Thatcher and John A. Thatcher, whose biographies appear elsewhere, and 
whose names as financiers were noted over half the continent. They, how- 
ever, drifted from general business into the banking business. Others who 
have made a success abroad are George W. Derick, of the Everett (Pa.) 
Bank; Frank A. Zimmerman, W. H. Gelbach, Charles F. Zimmerman, 
Tolbert J. Scholl, Wm. K. Swartz, Chas. W. Bothwell, Wm. T. Albert, 
\Y. C. Boyles, T. Ward Rice, J. A. Garber, Edgar Ulsh, Warren Sellers 
and Max Taylor. Others are holding responsible banking positions. It is 
doubted if there is an inland town of its size in Pennsylvania which has 
sent out in the past few years so many bank cashiers as has Landisburg, 
through the Bank of Landisburg, of which James R. Wilson is cashier. 
The list includes : James M. Sheibley, Creigh Patterson, Mervin N. Light- 
ner, J. Todd Stewart, Karl Rice, John F. Neely and Harry R. Patterson. 

It is not inappropriate to cite here a fine illustration of the far-reaching 
influence of a Godly home, as found in the life and career of George Mc- 
Ginnes, who resided in Buffalo Township from 1787 to 1814. He came 
from Ireland and, on leaving what is now Perry County, located at Ship- 
pensburg. His people were Presbyterians, and he was brought up in the 
church at the mouth of the Juniata, the forerunner of the Duncannon 
Presbyterian Church, becoming an elder in early life. Two of his sons 
were educated for the Christian ministry at Jefferson College, Canonsburg, 
Pennsylvania. One of these sons, Rev. James Y. McGinnes, became the 
founder of Milnwood Academy at Shade Gap, Huntingdon County, where 
he preached, and where he died August 31, 1851. In 1840 he had married 
Elizabeth Criswell, of Franklin County. His only son, George Harold 
Criswell, expected to study for the ministry, but entered the Union Army 
in 1862 and died after the Battle of Chancellorsville. His mother had 
moved to Canonsburg, so that he might be educated in the institution 
where his father had graduated. She died there February 10, 1887. Four 
of their daughters married Presbyterian ministers, and two of them, now 
deceased, went as missionaries to India. A fifth, Miss Alice Y. McGinnes, 
of W'ooster, Ohio, remained in this country to look after the education of 
the children of her two missionary sisters, and through her self-sacrificing 
devotion they have taken the places of their parents in the missionary 
fields of India. Of these sisters, Elizabeth McGinnes married Rev. J. V. 
Hughes ; Mary McGinnes married Rev. Horatio W. Brown ; Amanda B. 
married Rev. J. M. Goheen (Kohlapur, India), and Anna M. married Rev. 
J. J. Hall (Vengurle, India). The sons of the McGinnes sisters who be- 
came missionaries are Dr. R. H. H. Goheen (Vengurle, India), and John 
L. Goheen (Sangli, India). A daughter, Frances Goheen (now Mrs. 
Avison), of Pittsburgh, became a trained nurse. 



858 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 
The Blood of the Pioneer. 

Of the bravery, tact and resolution of the pioneers who settled 
the soil of Perry County volumes could be written and yet much 
remain untold. Throughout this book is recorded much of their 
early history, including the names and first settlements of many, 
whose mantle has fallen upon their descendants down through the 
generations and the years, who has crossed the Alleghenies, 
helped settle Ohio, Indiana and Illinois ; braved the dangers of the 
plains, helping populate Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota — where 
they furnished a governor to the state ; the Dakotas, Nebraska and 
Kansas — where a boy in Perry County became a United States 
Senator, and crossed the Rockies, contributing a share of the popu- 
lation on the way, to settle in the three great states bordering the 
Pacific — in all of which they or their descendants are to be found, 
a people unafraid, red blooded, and a credit to the land from 
whence they came. In other words, they have ever been in the van 
of civilization and have helped build a mighty empire. Charles 
Dickens is credited with having said that "the typical American 
would hesitate to enter Heaven unless assured that there he could 
still go farther west." That surely has been largely applicable to 
many generations of Perry Countians, and even to this day there 
is considerable migration. 

The ancestry of many families of Washington County, Penn- 
sylvania, can be traced to the Scotch-Irish emigrants from Perry 
County. In the State of Kentucky that is also true. George, 
Anthony and William Logan, sons of old Alexander Logan, the pio- 
neer who lost his life while defending his home from the Indians 
in 1763, located in that state in 1786. James Anderson removed to 
Kentucky in 1802 and wed Mary Logan, a descendant of these 
Logans. In 1785 Jonathan Anderson, a son of George Anderson, 
visited Kentucky, selected several hundred acres of land there, re- 
turned to Perry County territory, and at once removed to Ken- 
tucky. Other members of the family followed, and in 1797 George 
Robinson and wife removed there, settling near the present town 
of Georgetown, Kentucky. Jonathan Robinson, the advance agent 
of the numerous Robinson families who then went to Kentucky, 
was a Revolutionary soldier from Perry County territory, and was 
married to Jane (Black) Robinson. They became the parents of 
James Fisher Robinson, the twenty-second governor of Kentucky, 
that staunch Unionist who helped retain Kentucky in the Union 
and who sent three of his own sons into the army. Governor 
Robinson was born in Scott County, Kentucky, October 4, 1800. 
He held a high place among Kentucky lawyers and died in 1892. 

The Ellmakers, who were of the first to warrant lands in Green- 
wood Township, settled in Iowa, when that state was in the mak- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 859 

ing, and a later generation to this day is among the residents of the 
productive Williamette Valley, Oregon. 

When Kansas was being settled dozens of Perry Countians "took 
up" lands there of the public domain, and among them was Joseph 
W. Huggins, whose ancestors were among the first settlers of 
Perry County soil, and one of whom — Jacob Huggins — was a 
member of the first board of county commissioners and the Perry 
County representative in the State Legislature when the county 
seat controversy was settled by locating it at New Bloomfield. Mr. 
Huggins located on a quarter section in Ellsworth County, Kansas, 
and became one of the new state's successful farmers, owning and 
operating at one time land to the number of 1,280 acres. His sons 
and sons-in-law, eight in number, are almost all engaged in agri- 
culture there on a large scale. From the same section (Buffalo and 
Howe Township) with Mr. Huggins went George W. Sneath, 
part of whose family remains in that state engaged in agriculture, 
and William Hetrick, both of whom died in 1919. 

"Going West" before railroad travel was available was not the 
easy matter that it is to-day. In 1856 William Woods and William 
Owings left Jackson Township, in western Perry, for Iowa, with 
a covered wagon and two horses, leaving Blain on a Monday morn- 
ing, and getting to Pittsburgh the following Sunday morning, for 
it must be remembered that the roads were not then what they are 
now. The state capitol at Des Moines was just then being built, 
and the Mormons, five or six thousand of whom they saw, were 
just migrating from the Middle West to the great Salt Lake, where 
they are now so impregnably entrenched. 

John Bistline, who was born near EHiottsburg, went to Illinois 
in 1857, and was there early enough to help break up the virgin 
soil with an oxen team. Robert L. Woods, of Blain, landed at 
Ottawa, Illinois, in 1856, and remembered it as "a vast prairie 
country, sparsely settled, and beautiful to look upon." 

William Kiner, of Sheaffer's Valley, in 185 1 went to Illinois 
with his family and his son, Henry L. Kiner, two and one-half 
years old, also born in Perry County, became the editor of the 
Geneseo, Illinois, News, in 1874, and conducted it until 1904. His 
editorial work was noted throughout the state along moral lines 
and he came to be known as "Parson Kiner." 

The post office and village at Smiley, Ohio, was named after J. 
E. Smiley, an early settler who was born in Perry County and 
whose biography appears under the chapter devoted to theologians, 
as Mr. Smiley has since entered the ministry. The post office has 
been superseded by rural delivery. 

Wesley Shannon, a prominent citizen of Seattle, Washington, 
was among the Perry Countians who aided in the railroad con- 
struction of the great transcontinental lines, helping to "carry the 



S6o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

chains" in the survey of the Northern Pacific, between Butte, Mon- 
tana, and Seattle. 

The counties of La Salle, Bureau, Dupage, Carroll, Henry, Ford 
and Knox, in the State of Illinois, contain a large percentage of 
former Perry Countians and their descendants, who are among 
their best citizens. The country surrounding Buda, Illinois, is a 
veritable garden spot, and is peopled largely by Perry Countians 
and their descendants. In one section surrounding Buda, Illinois, 
are the Stutzmans, Toomys, Gutshalls, Bittings, Morgans, Tress- 
lers, and other Perry County families. Other Perry Countians 
than those already named who were pioneers there were Alfred B. 
Preisler, who left Sheaffer's Valley and located in Ottawa, Illi- 
nois, in 1871, later a prominent marble dealer of that city; George 
A. Kline, of Blain, who went West in 1866 and settled in La 
Salle County, Illinois, but later migrated to Grundy County, Iowa ; 
Sylvester Toomey, now a prominent druggist at Buda, who left 
the county in 1878; Jacob P. Kiner, of Madison Township, who 
left for Ottawa, Illinois, in 1854; John L. Woods, of Blain, who 
went West in 1881, and is now proprietor of a dry goods store in 
Woodhull, Illinois; Henry Briner and his wife (Jane Stroup), of 
western Perry, who went West as newly-weds in 1855, settling in 
La Salle County, where he gained quite a competence; Benj. Kell, 
of Blain. who left for Carroll County, Illinois, in 1878, a mere 
child with his parents, later going to Sioux City, where a son, Ben, 
is one of the owners of a large engine and iron company ; An- 
drew Bistline, of Madison Township, who went to Ogle County, 
Illinois, later migrating to Waterloo, Iowa, and then Ogden, 
Utah ; Jonathan F. Bistline, of Blain, who left for Ford County, 
Illinois, in 1870, but later located at Finley, North Dakota; Daniel 
E. Burd, of Mannsville, who was confined in Ljbby prison during 
the war, and migrated to Mercer County, Illinois ; Margaret Mum- 
per, a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth Kiner Mumper, a Perry 
County girl, who wed Philip M. Shoop, and with him was among 
the early stand-bys of Hedding College, at a time when help was 
sorely needed, among their children being Rev. W. B. Shoop, D.D., 
pastor of the M. E. Church at Pekin, Illinois. 

Willis Sylvester Long, who left Perry County in 1879, "with- 
out anything," as he says, and later owned a valuable quarter- 
section ; David A. Grubb and Preston Grubb, who were successful 
agriculturalists near Ellsworth, Kansas ; Blair Moul, who went West 
as a laborer, and by hard toil became the owner of a 200-acre farm, 
which he sold in war times for $60,000, giving each of his seven 
children a present of $6,000, and still retaining $18,000; David 
Billow and his wife, Susan (Tressler) Billow, who left Perry 
County in i860 and settled in Shelby, Richland County, Ohio, 
where was born their son, C. O. Billow, the noted consulting engi- 



PERRY COUNTY'S NOTED MEN 86l 

neer, now located in Chicago ; William W. Sheibley, of New Ger- 
mantown, who located in Shelby, Ohio, in 1873, ^ ut l ater move d 
to Tiffin, where he was a prominent real estate dealer; Henry 
Albert, bereft of a father during the Sectional War, who located 
a claim in California in 1877, and later became an orange grower 
at Alta Loma, California. He was president of the Orange Grow- 
ers' Association there for fonr years and of the Chamber of Com- 
merce for two years. 

The counties of Ogle and Winnebago, Illinois, include the names 
of many Perry Conntians and their descendants. Among them 
were Jacob Barrick, who went West in 185 1, settling near Byron, 
where the Wrays, William and Samuel Tate and their mother, 
from Donally's Mills, also first located in 1856. William Linn 
left Perry Valley in 1852 with his wife and five children, and also 
located near Byron, one of the sons, David W., now over eighty 
years of age, still living on his farm near there. Robert Bull and 
his family settled in North Byron in 1851, as did John Hench and 
his family, some of these two families being sweethearts and later 
married. John Swartz Rosier, a venerable contractor of Byron, 
married one of the Misses Bull, who died many years ago, but he 
is still hale and hearty and ninety-one. The Meredith family set- 
tled in the Middle Creek region in 1852, Calvin being deceased, 
but David still resides near the old home on his farm, his sister 
Jennie living in Rockford. Adam Hamaker and Jacob Hetrick, 
from Perry Valley, settled near Byron, where their descendants 
still live. Ephraim Burd and his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Kline, set- 
tled near Leaf River and now live at Byron. Two Millerstown 
teachers, Misses Ellen Jane and Caroline Wray, moved to Win- 
nebago in 1871 and followed their professions. Both are now 
dead. Among the later emigrants to this territory were John M. 
Fry and family, from Donally's Mills, in 1880 — the parents of 
Judge Fry, of Chicago ; J. Ambrose Leonard and wife, from Don- 
ally's Mills, in 1885, settled at Byron and engaged in general con- 
tracting, removing to Rockford in 1904, and continuing the busi- 
ness there ; Emerson Martin Leonard, from Donally's Mills, in 
1886, located north of Byron; Cameron Wesley Leonard, from 
Donally's Mills, in 1900, and Margaret (Leonard) Kennedy, in 
1890, are Rockford residents. 

To all parts of the world go Perry Countians. To the Klondike 
went David Shearer, of Spring. To help build the Panama Canal 
went Benj. Kuller and sons, of near Landisburg; Charles F. Lom- 
man, of Duncannon, and C. Deane. Roy and Russell Eppley, of 
Marysville, and others. C. Deane Eppley yet remains there in a 
supervisory position. 



CHAPTER XXXV. 
AGRICULTURE IN PERRY COUNTY. 

PERRY County is largely an agricultural county, having prin- 
cipally engaged in the raising of the standard grains since its 
very first settlement; but it is now slowly drifting towards 
the raising of fruit and dairying. The fact that Perry County is 
the best watered county in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is 
probably the reason for the statement, by a noted lecturer of the 
State Agricultural Department, that there is no other county in the 
state where grazing and attendant dairying can be made more 
profitable. That its soils are excellent for fruit raising has been 
proven by the young and numerically small Fruit Growers' Asso- 
ciation of Perry County, which was captured on four occasions the 
first prize for the finest exhibit of apples grown in Pennsylvania, 
which has captured it for three successive years (1918, 1919 and 
1920), and which only failed in 1921 owing to an extensive late 
frost which ruined the entire crop, thus barring any exhibit what- 
ever. The agriculturists of Perry County should more generally 
belong to this association and gradually work into the fruit busi- 
ness. The raising of fruit has been reduced to a science and no 
haphazard plans will bring success. The pioneers planted orchards 
from the very year of their entry, and with their primitive stills 
and stillhouses, they turned to profit the product of their trees, 
which was largely sold later in Baltimore, where their "applejack" 
and "peach brandy" commanded a fancy price. Already the prod- 
uct of the Perry County Fruit Growers' Association commands a 
fancy price in the choicest markets of our eastern cities, and the 
highly tinted fruit stands beside the choicest product of the orange 
groves of California and Florida. 

The pioneer used a sickle, his son the scythe, his grandson the 
grain cradle, and another generation, the reaper, only to see it re- 
placed by the self-binder of a later day. Even the mower is not 
many generations away, for, according to available data Capt. An- 
drew Loy, father of Ed. R. Loy, on the very farm on which stood 
Fort Robinson, and which is now owned by the latter, owned and 
used the first mower which was brought into Perry County. It 
cut a wide swath and required four horses. The first reaper is be- 
lieved to have been brought to the county by John Robinson, tan- 
ner and farmer, in 1849, he having been what is termed an ad- 
vanced farmer. The first method of threshing wheat and rye was 
to tramp it out on the barn floors with horses, or to flail it out ; and 

862 



AGRICULTURE IN PERRY COUNTY 863 

many persons little over middle life can recall such threshings in 
their early years. The primitive way of cleaning the wheat was to 
throw scoopfuls of grain and chaff into the air and let the wind 
blow away the chaff. Then came the horse-power and treadmill, 
with the windmill or fanning mill, and later the steam thresher and 
separator. While still "in my forties" I can recall all four meth- 
ods of extracting the grain in the community in which I was 
reared. The flailing out of rye left the straw in fine shape for 
use as bands in the tying of corn fodder, then the method used. 
Along with the self-binder and the steam thresher and separator 
has come labor-saving machinery for almost every operation, and 
the many little homes which once nestled by the side of the farms, 
and even the tenant houses upon them, where dwelt those who 
helped in the farm operations, are largely gone, the result of the 
introduction of labor-saving machinery and the demand for labor 
from the mill and factory of the town and city. The former 
laborer is to-day often the skilled operative of the industrial plant. 

Agriculture is the most important and most extensive single in- 
dustry in America, for it is both a necessity for maintaining life 
and the basis of all commerce — of the big meat packing industry, 
the canning factory, the dairying industry, and all of their kind. 
The very life of the great transportation lines depends upon the 
handling of the products of the farm and the manufactured prod- 
ucts dependent upon it. The life of the town and city are so inter- 
twined with that of the farm that neither could long exist without 
the other. Were there no towns and cities where would the sur- 
plus products of the farms be sold ? And were there no farms how 
long would life be sustained ? In Pennsylvania the commonwealth 
conducts the great and noted State College, second to none in the 
nation, and also holds a number of farmers' institutes in every 
county. The national government, through the Department of 
Agriculture, furnishes bulletins and the result of tests upon every 
imaginable subject, and in almost all counties (including Perry) 
farm bureaus exist, with their farm agents (wrongly named) in 
charge, thus helping advance agricultural science. There is room 
for improvement in the production of Perry County. During 
1920 there were 23,591 acres in corn, with an average yield of only 
38.1 bushels per acre. The cash value of the crop was $808,935, 
according to the State Department of Agriculture. The wheat 
crop was harvested from 25,805 acres, with an average yield of 
only 15.4 bushels per acre. The cash value of the crop was 
$675,574- 

One reason why the average crop per acre is as small as it is in 
Perry County is that one class of farmers have been hard task- 
masters on the land. They have cropped the soil for years and 
have returned but little to the soil in the way of fertilizer. A 



864 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

noted Perry Countian still living, refers to that condition in these 
winds: "As early as 1850 there were a number of fields in onr 
vicinity that had been farmed to death. Some that were still culti- 
vated yielded poor crops, while others had been abandoned and 
were covered with scrub pines in places growing so thick that any 
living being larger than a dog had hard work to get through." 

While the soils of Perry County are not noted for their fertility 
yet there are several limestone sections in which the soil rivals any 
other in the state. In the vicinity of Blain, Landisburg, and Loys- 
ville, and in the famous Pfoutz Valley, farms bring from about 
ten thousand to almost twenty twenty thousand dollars on occa- 
sions when they come into the market, and they do not lie next 
door to any city or have a market at their very side. William 
Woods, of Blain, once owned five farms at one time valued at 
$125,000, and in recent years Jacob Loy, of Blain, owned seven at 
one time, all very valuable. From the public records at the county 
seat records of a number of sales at good prices are to be found. 
In 1915 Frank P. Lightner purchased 179 acres in Tyrone Town- 
ship, from the heirs of Daniel E. Garber, for $16,017.52. In 1920 
Elmer E. Rice purchased 286 acres in Saville Township, from John 
E. Lesh, for $16,000; Aurand A. Ickes, 185 acres in Centre Town- 
ship, from Chas. L. Johnson, for $14,550; Dr. W. T. Morrow, 
the John S. Ritter farm near Loysville, from Samuel B. Shu- 
maker, for $10,500; Ralph B. Adams, 190 acres near Bloomfield, 
from the H. C. Shearer estate, for $10,200; Charles D. Stahl, 240 
acres (much of it woodland), in Madison Township, from Mr. and 
Mrs. Flickinger, for $14,800; Herman H. Smith, 138 acres, a mile 
west of Bloomfield, from Miles Ritter, for $14,000. and Wra. J. 
Hall, a Spring Township farm, from John S. Zimmerman, for 
$15,750. In 192 1 N. Kurtz Bistline purchased 167 acres, located 
in Jackson Township and Blain Borough, from Sarah C. Loy, for 
$17,000; Charles L. Darlington purchased 181 acres in Spring 
Township, from Frank G. Dunkelberger and others, for $17,000, 
and John L. Bernheisel, 153 acres in Tyrone Township, from 
Thomas Bernheisel, for $16,000. 

The spring sales of farmers who are retiring, of estates and of 
others are a noted institution, from the time of the pioneer. Chas. 
L. Johnson, an ex-sheriff, holds one annually, which has attained 
wide fame, and at which the proceeds often exceed $10,000. At 
these sales personal property of every nature is offered, as well as 
livestock and agricultural implements. 

In 1914 the State of Pennsylvania through the Department of 
Agriculture, issued a publication called "The Soils of Pennsyl- 
vania," eighteen pages of which describe minutely the soils of the 
various townships and sections of Perry County, from which the 
following is taken : 



AGRICULTURE IN PERRY COUNTY 865 

"The soils of the county, leaving out of consideration the trap dykes, 
are derived from eighteen geological strata, differing sufficiently to be sepa- 
rately classified. 

"The strata begins with the Trenton limestone, which outcrops in Horse 
Valley, and extends through the Utica shale, the Hudson River shale, the 
Medina and Oneida standstone, the Clinton shale, the Onondaga grey and 
red shale, the Lower Heidelberg limestone, the Oriskany sandstone, the 
Marcellus black shale, limestone and ore beds, the Hamilton lower shale, 
the Hamilton sandstone, the Hamilton upper shale, the Genesee shale, the 
Portage shale, the Chemung olive shale, the Catskill red sandstone and 
shale, the Pocono grey sandstone and the Mauch Chunk red shale. All 
these together, with the narrow trap dykes, enter into the composition of 
the soils throughout the various townships of the county." 

With the exception of five states — Ohio, Indiana, Iowa, West 
Virginia and Kentucky — Pennsylavnia has more native-born farm- 
ers than any other state. In Perry County they are all native-born, 
not a foreigner and only one negro. In the state ninety-two and 
six-tenths per cent are native-born and of the white race, with not 
a single Japanese or Chinaman. The state has 202,252 farms. 
These figures are from the State Agricultural Department, which 
in turn compiled them from the Federal census of 1920. The last 
census credited the county with having 2,105 farms and with 5,683 
families, from which the deduction is made that, while it is a rural 
and an agricultural county, yet but thirty-seven per cent of the 
families are engaged in agricultural pursuits. The 1910 census 
showed that seventy-five per cent of the Perry County farms were 
operated by owners, twenty-three per cent by tenants, and the re- 
maining two per cent by managers. During 1920 the totals 
of the various products were as follows : wheat, 392,000 bushels ; 
oats, 546,600 bushels; corn, 980,900 bushels; potatoes, 190,500 
bushels, and hay, 51,700 tons. The tractor is just being introduced, 
but, owing to the physical formation of the county, will never be- 
come of general use. Speaking of motors recalls that the first 
steam tractor was sold to Andrew Keller, over forty years ago, by 
Jacob Sheibley, long an agricultural implement agent. 

While the agricultural, animal and poultry production in recent 
years has attracted attention, yet as early as 1884 there was a con- 
siderable poultry plant located in East Newport (Oliver Town- 
ship), with Hirsh & Fulton as proprietors. They had four hun- 
dred laying hens and a hatching and brooding house, using four 
incubators with a capacity of two hundred eggs each. While this 
plant would be considered very ordinary now, yet in that day it 
was one of the larger plants of central Pennsylvania. 

As early as 1873 George A. Wagner embarked in the nursery 
business in Spring Township, and for a period of almost half a 
century has supplied fruit trees, vines and plants not only to the 
inhabitants of the county, but also to surrounding counties and 
even to states far distant. He was a pioneer in this line and the 
. 55 



866 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Wagner nursery was known far and near. Trees from his nursery 
were among those which brought to the county for a number of 
years the prize of the state for raising the finest varieties of apples 
in the entire commonwealth. 

Agriculture in the great Susquehanna Valley, of which Perry 
County is a part, originated not so far from Perry County's south- 
ern line, for that pioneer minister at "Paxtang" (now Harris- 
burg), told William Maclay that John Harris "was the first per- 
son to introduce a plough along the Susquehanna." The mod- 
ern farmer often thinks that all his ills are of recent origin, but as 
early as 1823 The Forester, Perry County's first paper, in various 
issues was bemoaning the "Hessian fly," that destroyer of the 
wheat crop. On one occasion the statement was made that "if 
( *regg is elected governor he will exterminate the Hessian fly." 

Perry County farmers who have migrated to the neighboring 
counties of Cumberland and Lancaster, and to the valley of the 
( )hio and the many states drained by the Mississippi, as well as 
farther west, have not only become successful farmers in their 
new homes, but hundreds have amassed fortunes. Not unlike the 
professional men who have gone forth, they have been a credit to 
their native county. 

As showing what can be done with hillside lands, in 1890, J. C. 
Hench began the cultivation of berries and small fruit on eighteen 
acres of what was considered practically worthless land, in W T heat- 
field Township, at a point almost central to Duncannon, Newport 
and New Bloomfield, and became the largest berry producer of the 
county, often raising 500 bushels in a season and employing as 
many as twenty pickers at a time in the busy season. In those days 
berries retailed at three boxes for a quarter, or thirteen for $1.00, 
and yet Mr. Hench amassed a competence. Later in life, after he 
had largely curtailed the production of berries, he was elected a 
commissioner of Perry County on the Republican ticket. 

In the dairying line the Dickinson, Gilbert & Keen Creamery, 
at Loysville, was the successful pioneer. It was later followed, in 
1919, with a milk condensory at Elliottsburg, operated by the 
Hershey Creamery Company. During 192 1 the Supplee- Jones 
Company opened a large shipping depot at Duncannon for for- 
warding dairy products to Philadelphia via fast express trains. It 
would appear that Perry County is but starting in the dairying 
businesss. Future years will tell. 

To the efforts of a few men Perry County is indebted for stand- 
ing first on at least four occasions as growing the finest apples in 
Pennsylvania. Among these men are William Stewart, Daniel 
Rice, and D. R. Kane, of Spring Township. Some years ago the 
Perry County Fruit Growers' Association was organized, and, 
largely through its efforts the growing of fruit was stimulated. 



AGRICULTURE IN PERRY COUNTY So; 

Exhibitions were made at the State Horticultural Shows, and, in 
km 4, when the exhibition was held at York, the county captured 
the first prize for the largest and best display of apples. William 
Stewart and Daniel Rice, of Spring Township, and the Samuel 
Sharon Fruit Farm, near Newport, were the exhibitors who staged 
this first successful exhibit. Then, again in 1919, 1920 and 1921 — 
three successive years — at the State Horticultural Exhibition at 
Harrisburg, the award was made to the county for the largest and 
best display of apples. The principal exhibitors at this last show 
(1921) were William Stewart, Daniel Rice, Sharon & Jones, and 

D. R. Kane. In the United States Government Year Book New 
York State is accredited with being first in the Union in the pro- 
duction of apples, with Pennsylvania second, notwithstanding that 
so much is heard of Pacific slope fruit farms. It is no mean posi- 
tion to hold — standing first three consecutive years in the second 
apple growing state of the Union. 

Along the county's northern tier, from Pfoutz Valley to Ickes- 
burg, a number of baby chick hatcheries do a large business over 
the state, shipping by parcel post. J. A. Schiffer ships 2,000 a 
week during the season, from what he terms the Cyclone Hatchery. 
Mrs. John Ward operates the Buckeye Hatchery, with a dozen 
incubators. At Ickesburg Ira M. Johnson hatched and shipped 
over 50,000 last year. His plant consists of three mammoth incu- 
bators in which the eggs are turned automatically. These are men- 
tioned to show that Perry County argiculture in the broad sense 
is varied. 

As the county commissioners refused to employ a county farm 
agent, or to contribute towards the support of one, it was done 
independently, beginning with the organization of a County Farm 
Bureau, July 1, 192 1. The officers of this association were : Edgar 
A. Stambaugh, president ; Daniel Rice, vice-president ; John Bern- 
heisel, secretary, and E. R. Toy, treasurer. At the regular annual 
election, December 7, 1921, the following officers were elected: 
John M. Gantt, president ; E. R. Loy, vice-president ; John L. 
Bernheisel, secretary ; D. A. Kline, treasurer. 

Even the wood lot is receiving an attention once not accorded, 
for, according to the State Forestry Department, during the past 
year over five thousand such trees were planted on private lands 
in Perry County, that department furnishing the seedlings without 
cost. Of these trees over two thousand were white pine, 1,900 
being Norway spruce. 

During the past two years, largely through the efforts of Rev. L. 

E. Wilson, rural life institutes were held each fall at Roseglen, 
Wheatfield Township, at which home and church problems as well 
as agricultural matters were discussed. Noted speakers from 
abroad were there with their messages along these lines. These 



868 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

community meetings show the trend of the times towards civic 
betterment in the farming communities, and presage better condi- 
tions in any community. Rev. Wilson is pastor of the Duncannon 
M. E. Church, and is to be commended for filling a broader field 
in religious and community work. 

Long before the present Perry County Agricultural Fair became 
a reality there was a county fair held at New Bloomfield. The 
first fair was held there on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 
October 13, 14 and 15, 1852. Finlaw McCown was the president 
of the County Agricultural Society at that time. Charles Mclntire 
and Jacob Lupfer were the secretaries, and David Lupfer the treas- 
urer. Daniel Gantt, later Chief Justice of Nebraska, was chairman 
of the premium committee, and Rev. Matthew B. Patterson was 
an exhibitor and won a prize. The last fair was probably held in 
1859, as the local press contains nothing in reference to it after 
that. The dark clouds of Sectional War were then rising, which 
evidently was the reason for its abandonment. Jacob Billow was 
president of the association for the larger part of the period when 
the fairs were held there. 

Then, in 1868, a notice calling for a fair to be held at "Everhart- 
ville," near Newport, was issued, being dated August 5th, and 
signed by Jesse L. Gantt, president ; J. E. Singer, D. R. P. Bealor, 
C. L. Murray, and William Kough, Sr. The first fair at that loca- 
tion was held on October 6, 7 and 8, 1868, and there is record in 
the public press of its continuance until at least 1874, when the 
seventh fair was held. 

The present Perry County Agricultural Society fair was insti- 
tuted in 1885, with B. F. Junkin, president; Dr. James B. Eby, 
secretary, and I. H. Irwin, treasurer. The directors were J. B. 
Black, A. S. Whitekettle, J. M. Smith, T. H. Milligan, T. H. But- 
turf, and William Wertz. In 191 1 the association was incorpo- 
rated anew. The officers since the organization have been : 
Presidents: ' Secretaries: 

1885-89— B. F. Junkin. 1885-90— James B. Eby. 

1889 — Frank Mortimer. 1891-97 — F. A. Frv. 

1890-08— D. H. Sheibley. 1898-99— J. B. Eby. 

1909-22 — T. H. Butturf. 1900 — Cbas. K. Diven. 

1901-20 — J. C. F. Stephens. 
1921-22 — M. L. Ritter. 

J. C. F. Stephens was assistant secretary from the organization 
in 1885 until 1901, when he was elected secretary, his connection 
with the annual fair thus exceeding the periods served by any 
other. The fair grounds are located a mile north of Newport, on 
the old John Kough farm, opposite the Evergreen school building. 

Agriculture in Perry County has been stimulated towards better 
things by the organization known as the Patrons of Husbandry, 
or more frequently termed The Grange. In many cases this or- 



AGRICULTURE IN PERRY COUNTY 869 

ganization is to the farming community just what the community 
centre is to the city and town. The meetings of the organization 
also include literary and other entertainment. Exhibitions made 
by these granges at the county fair have equaled those at ex- 
hibits of far greater note, save that the display was not so expen- 
sively garbed in modern receptacles and cartons. ( )n May 23, 
1919, a County Pomona Grange was organized at Green Park 
Grange Hall, with Wm. E. Raffensberger, master ; J. Frank New- 
lin, lecturer, and E. A. Stambaugh, secretary. All members of the 
order in Perry County are entitled to become members in that 
organization. There is also a Junior Grange connected with the 
organization in Buck's Valley. The first organizations were 
formed about 1874 or 1875, but disbanded. 

Of those granges now in existence the oldest is Perry Grange, No. 759, 
organized in Hunter's Valley, October 16, 1881, with J. W. Charles as 
master, and Jacob Charles, Jr., secretary. It meets at the homes of its 
members and now has a membership of but 16. 

Pine Grove Grange, No. 1038, in Miller Township, was organized May 
19, 1891, with H. B. Cumbler, master, and W. H. Evans, secretary. It meets 
at Pine Grove schoolhouse and has a membership of 78. 

Oliver Grange, No. 1069, was organized in Oliver Township, August 2, 
1892, with John W. S. Rough, master, and Philip Troup, secretary. It 
meets at Oak Hall schoolhouse and has a membership of 109. 

Green Park Grange, No. 1615, was organized at Green Park, Tyrone 
Township, May 27, 1914, with E. A. Stambaugh, master ; Carrie Stam- 
baugh, lecturer, and Paul Noll, secretary. It meets in a fine hall which it 
has erected and has a membership of 229. 

Ickesburg Grange, No. 1729, was organized March 29, 1917, at Ickesburg, 
Saville Township, with D. N. Hall, master ; Miss Mary J. Gray, lecturer, 
and James O. Gray, secretary. It meets in P. O. S. of A. hall and has a 
membership of 81. 

Buck's Valley Grange, No. 1745, was organized in Buck's Valley (part 
of Buffalo and Howe Townships), June 26, 1919, with Wm. E. Raffens- 
berger, master; Miles Stephens, lecturer, and S. W. Billow, secretary. It 
meets in Grange Hall and has a membership of 172. 

Community Grange, No. 1767, was organized in Juniata Township, July 
6, 1918, with J. F. Newlin, master; John M. Gantt, lecturer, and H. H. 
Shumaker, secretary. It meets in its own grange hall and has a member- 
ship of 135 members. 

Shermanata Grange, No. 1796, was organized in Penn Township, May 
31, 1919, with E. T. Charles, master; Mrs. Lena Smith Snyder, lecturer, 
and C. L. Snyder, secretary. It meets in a fine new grange hall, erected in 
1920, and has a membership of 192. 

Perry Valley Grange, No. 1804, was organized in Perry Valley (parts 
of Greenwood and Liverpool Townships), July 29, 1919. with C. E. Reis- 
singer, master ; Brant Mangle, lecturer, and Herbert Sarver, secretary. 
It meets at Beaver's schoolhouse and has a membership of 117. 

Shermansdale Grange, No. 1858, was organized at Shermansdale, Carroll 
Township, September 1, 1920, with Alfred P. Barries, master; Edward C. 
Hall, lecturer, and H. C. Minich, secretary. It meets in Mechanics' Hall, 
at Shermansdale, and has 109 members. 



CHAPTER XXXVI. 
♦THE TUSCARORA FOREST. 

UNDER original natural conditions Pennsylvania was one of 
the best wooded states, if not the best, in the eastern half of 
the United States. Not only were forests dense and trees 
large and valuable, but the varieties were of a greater commercial 
value. For years the state stood first, then second. Few counties 
in the state excelled Perry, which had a reputation for prompt 
shipments of fine lumber. Its forests were well set with rock, 
chestnut and black oak, white and yellow pine, hemlock, locust, 
hickory, etc. 

Even before 1700, when an act was passed by the Provincial 
Assembly putting a penalty of ten pounds for felling or removing 
a tree or other landmark, there was legislation on forestry in Penn- 
sylvania. This, however, had principally to do with landmarks 
and was not intended to deal with the preservation of the forests 
in a general sense. While the nation and some of the states had 
viewed with alarm the stripping of the hills of timber, thus inter- 
fering with the water supply, very little was done in Pennsylvania 
until 1896, when Dr. J. T. Rothrock, Pennsylvania's first Com- 
missioner of Forestry, recommended in his report the forming of 
state forests, in the following words: 

"In view of the generally admitted effect of forests upon the water 
supply of our streams, I would strongly advise that as soon as the condi- 
tion of the State Treasury will permit, an attempt should be made to ob- 
tain control of at least a portion of the timber areas on the watersheds of 
one or both branches of the Susquehanna, in Pennsylvania, by imitating the 
example of other states, and be placed in a position in the near future to 
influence the water supply by controlling the character and condition of the 
forests upon the watersheds. The experiment may be made by degrees, as 
the condition of the treasury may warrant, but a beginning cannot be made 
too soon, as the emergency becomes more pressing each year, and the diffi- 
culty of obtaining control of these areas is annually increasing." 

The act first authorizing the purchase of lands was passed by the 
Legislature of 1897, the member of assembly from Perry County 



*Forester H. E. Bryner is a son of Mr. and Mrs. A. K. Bryner, of 
Southwest Madison Township, where he was born May 16, 1883. He was 
an attendant at the New Bloomfield Academy, Shippensburg State Normal 
School, Ursinus Academy, Ursinus College, and the State Forestry Acad- 
emy, where he graduated in 1908, being the first Perry County native to 
graduate in forestry. Mr. Bryner has since been promoted to the State 
Forestry Department at Harrisburg. We are indebted to him for much 
valuable information, as well as to various other officials of the Depart- 
ment of Forestry. D. B. McPherson, his successor, is also a native Perry 
Countian. 

870 



THE TUSCARORA FOREST $j i 

being J. Harper Seidel, and the state senator of the district of 
which Perry is a part being William Hertzler, of Juniata County 
— both of whom supported it — and it was signed by Governor 
Daniel H. Hastings on March 30, 1897. It applied to lands sold 
for taxes. Another bill signed on May 25, 1897, authorized the 
purchase of lands in large bodies. Under the provisions of the 
former act the first purchase of lands was made in Clinton County 
on June 13, 1898, by Dr. Rothrock, the Commissioner of Forestry. 

While the attitude of the various governors of Pennsylvania is 
not exactly a matter of Perry County history, yet it is deemed of 
sufficient importance in connection with our two Divisions of State 
Forests to be briefly recorded. Governor John F. Hartranft, the 
first to consider it, called attention to the coming need of forestry 
legislation. Governor James A. Beaver urged it further and also 
had the State Board of Agriculture take it up, but nothing prac- 
tical resulted. Governor Robert E. Pattison presided at a meet- 
ing to draw up the law to create three forest reservations of 40,000 
acres each. It was defeated. During his administration the first 
forestry commissioners were appointed. When Governor Daniel 
H. Hastings was inaugurated in 1895, he helped the movement 
from the start. When the Department of Agriculture was created 
in that year the interests of forestry were provided for and a spe- 
cial division given charge of the work. Legislation was passed 
during his term, as previously stated, and at its close, in 1899, the 
state had already acquired 19,804 acres. 

Governor William A. Stone found the way paved and promptly 
began the task of providing forest reservations for the people, to 
be their property and their outing grounds forever, and upon which 
timber could grow to restore the lumbering industry and to main- 
tain the water supply. At his retirement in 1903 the state pos- 
sessed over a half-million acres. On February 25, 1901, the bill 
creating the Department of Forestry became a law with the signa- 
ture of Governor Stone. Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker, 
whose administration was marred by the capitol scandal, was 
greatly interested in the forestry movement, and in 1903 signed the 
law creating the State Forestry Academy. During his term 375,000 
acres were added to the state lands. Most of the lands were by 
this time being bought from the owners and few from tax sales. 
Governor Pennypacker's great interest was no doubt responsible 
for the State Forestry Reservation Commission naming the newly 
created domain in Perry County the Pennypacker Reserve. 

During the administration of Governor Edwin S. Stuart laws 
were enacted for the protection of roadside trees, enabling munici- 
palities to acquire forest lands, authorizing the appointment of 
shade tree commissions by municipalities and first class townships, 
and providing that a fixed charge be made on state forest lands for 



872 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA ' 

school purposes. The administration of Governor John K. Tener 
saw legislation furthering the protection of shade and fruit trees 
along highways, and provided for taxing auxiliary forest reserves. 
During his administration the most of the work for the eradication 
of chestnut blight was undertaken, but unfortunately failed. Dur- 
ing the administration of Governor Martin G. Brumbaugh a num- 
ber of important forest laws became effective. Among them was a 
law permitting the Forestry Department to grow and distribute 
young forest trees to private owners of forest lands ; a law creat- 
ing within the Department of Forestry a Bureau of Forest Protec- 
tion, which is regarded as the best of its kind in the United States, 
giving to the chief forest fire warden of the state power not equaled 
by any other forest officer anywhere ; a law authorizing the pur- 
chase of surface rights for use as state forests, and allowing the 
state to lease for agricultural purposes those of its lands which 
are more useful for that purpose than for forestry. The present 
incumbent, Governor Wm. C. Sproul, is a consistent friend of 
forestry. His appointment of Gifford Pinchot as Commissioner of 
Forestry, and of Major Robert Y. Stewart later as deputy com- 
missioner, and still later as commissioner to succeed Mr. Pinchot, 
was ample proof of that. Mr. Pinchot, after graduating from 
Yale, had studied forestry abroad, and became a pioneer in con- 
serving American forests and natural resources, and was at the 
head of the Federal forest service during the Roosevelt adminis- 
tration of the Presidency. Major Stewart, after graduating at 
Dickinson, had entered the Yale Forestry School, and, after be- 
coming a master forester, had held a number of the more important 
assignments in the Federal service and won a citation and a 
major's commission in the A. E. F., during the World War, where 
he was District Commander of the Forestry Troops in the Gien 
District. Among the acts which have become laws during his ad- 
ministration is one for the exchange or sale of forest lands, a law 
making a fixed charge on state lands for county purposes, a law 
providing for the condemnation of lands suitable for forest pur- 
poses, and a law permitting the Federal government to acquire 
lands from the state for national forestry purposes. The Legisla- 
ture of 1921 appropriated $1,000,000 for forest protection, which 
has permitted the development of many necessary lines of forest 
work. No executive so far has taken a backward step. 

Lumbering, as it was later carried on in Perry County, began 
about 1870, by winter cutting each year of only the finest speci- 
mens of valuable varieties. From the time of the pioneer water- 
power sawmills of the old "up-and-down" variety were set up 
along the streams to cut construction timbers from white oak and 
white pine, and some cutting was done chiefly to produce bark for 
the many small tanneries which dotted the county. At the time 



THE TUSCARORA FOREST 873 

the only railroad in the county was over twenty miles distant from 
western Perry, and no great inroads were made on the timber until 
about 1880, when steam mills and circular saws came. From then 
until 1891 a large area was cut clear and much of the remainder 
thinned of its best growth. The construction of two railroads in 
the county — the Perry County line to Landisburg and Loysville, 
and the Newport & Sherman's Valley to New Germantown about 
1890 — brought the market nearer to the lumber, and for years it 
was a great source of income to those roads. 

The; Pennypacker Division of the; Tuscarora State Forest. 

By resolution of the State Forestry Reservation Commission 
adopted December 7, 1906, the forest located in southwestern 
Perry County was officially designated the Pennypacker Forest, 
"in honor of Governor Samuel W. Pennypacker, who has so wor- 
thily upheld the cause of forestry and during whose administration 
about 375,000 acres were added to the state reserves." Of the 
two divisions, the greater part of which is in Perry County, the 
Pennypacker was the first to be formed. The first lands purchased 
in Perry County were bought on October 11, 1906, from Harry 
W. Meetch, the tract comprising 2,962 acres, a part of which was 
over the line in Franklin County. The price paid was $2.75 per 
acre, and the transaction amounted to $8,147.72. This was the 
nucleus of the Pennypacker Forest. 

*This forest lies in Perry, Franklin and Cumberland Counties. 
The greater part of the land is located in Jackson and Toboyne 
Townships, Perry County, and extends southward over the great 
ridges which traverse the western end of the county. There are 
8,915 acres in Jackson and 17,200 acres in Toboyne Township. 
These ridges are, in order from north to south : Conococheague 
Mountain, Round Top, Little Round Top, Rising Mountain, Am- 
berson Ridge, Bower Mountain, Sherman's Mountain, and the Kit- 
tatinny or Blue Mountain, the summit of the latter forming the 
boundary line between Perry and Cumberland Counties. 

The main body of the land lies on the southwestern side of the 
county, extending from the Franklin County line eastward about 
twelve miles, and from the southern boundary northward to the 
north side of Bower Mountain, inclosing Henry's Valley and part 
of Sheaffer's Valley. This area incloses several tracts in Toboyne 
Township which are yet owned by individuals, while in Jackson 
Township there are a number of interior tracts situated in Henry's 
and Sheaffer's Valleys. 

The area lying southwest of New Germantown is nearly all on 
the Round Top and Rising Mountain. It is very irregular in out- 
line and almost separated from the area lying to the south, being 
connected in Fowler's Hollow by a narrow strip at each end. 

*See shaded part of county map on page 6. 



874 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

There are several large tracts lying within the outer boundary 
which are owned privately. They cover nearly all of Fowler's 
Hollow and a part of Amberson Ridge. 

The portion lying in Franklin County, designated on many old 
maps as the "Elder Lands," is located on a continuation of the 
Rising Mountain, which divides Path Valley from Amberson Val- 
ley, and contains about 3,668 acres. In outline it is not unlike the 
shape of a wedge, being wide at the county line and tapering gradu- 
ally to the west until it becomes very narrow at its western extrem- 
ity. Although included in the Pennypacker Forest it is separated 
by a large tract which is owned by George B. Dum, P. F. Duncan, 
and William Wills (who compose the Oak Grove Lumber Com- 
pany, having purchased from McCormick heirs, March 23, 1911). 

Five mountain ranges traverse parts of Perry County, and three 
of the five ranges are of one geological character and physical for- 
mation. The body of land in which the state is interested here in- 
cludes but two of the three ranges, which are similar in form and 
character. The first of these ranges includes Tuscarora Mountain, 
Conococheague Mountain, Round Top, Little Round Top, Rising 
Mountain, Amberson Ridge and Bower Mountain. All of these 
are merely longer or shorter zigzags of the one range, which en- 
closes the western end of the county. The Kittatinny or Blue 
Mountain is the second range and similar in form and character 
to the others. The general trend of these mountains is from north- 
east to southwest. 

Gunter Run is the only stream that rises on the Perry County 
part of the state forest, which flows westward. Rising at the water- 
shed, it flows about one and a half miles through the forest and 
then crosses into Franklin County, continuing westward to near 
Forge Hill, where it turns to the south. It passes through a gap 
in the Blue Mountain and enters the Cumberland Valley north of 
Roxbury. Sherman's Creek, Brown's Run, Huston's Run and 
Laurel Run flow eastward, their waters reaching the Susquehanna 
at Duncannon via the first named stream. 

There are considerable areas of cleared land scattered at various 
points through the forest which were once dotted with homes. 
There are few houses remaining, while crumbling walls and deso- 
late orchards mark the sites of former firesides. A few of the 
remaining houses are in fair condition. Two are occupied by 
forest rangers and several others are rented. The abandonment of 
these lands was largely due to the fact that the soil was thin, being 
better adapted to the growing of trees than the production of 
crops, and with the passing of the industries, such as the tanneries 
and the sawmills, the inhabitants of these areas were unable to earn 
a living from the tilling of the soil alone because the timber in these 



THE TUSCARORA FOREST 875 

regions contributed largely toward their existence. Many of these 
cleared areas have been planted with forest tree seedlings while in 
other places natural regeneration has practically reclothed the 
cleared areas. 

Practically nothing remains of the original growth which once 
covered this land. From a few scattered trees of different species 
and one small stand of hemlock one can get a relative idea of what 
it once was. The entire area had been lumbered over and burned 
over with forest fires for probably twenty-five years before the 
purchase by the state. The present growth is almost all of mixed 
hard woods in which chestnut and rock oak predominate. On the 
lower slopes of the mountain and ridges, where the soil is deep 
and there is considerable vegetable mould, there is an abundant 
growth of rock oak, black oak, hickory, white oak, locust and red 
oak, while higher up the slopes toward the top are numerous areas 
almost bare. At such places there is a scanty undergrowth and 
some scattered rock oak, red oak, chestnut, birch, and a few pitch 
pine and hemlock. 

The area southwest of New Germantown, from the summit of 
Sherman's Mountain to the Conococheague Mountain, was lum- 
bered over about 1890 by the Perry Lumber Company. The upper 
slopes of the Round Top are sparsely covered with a mixture of 
hemlock, red oak, rock oak and birch, where most of the trees are 
overmature. On the lower slopes there are thrifty growths of 
chestnut, rock oak, hickory, locust, white oak and red oak. Hickory 
is plentiful on the southern slopes and grows in groups. It forms 
clean trunks and attains a good height.' In the hollows and low- 
lands the growth is tall, and in addition to the species found on the 
lower slopes some birch, yellow poplar, ash, gum, basswood and 
hemlock are ocasionally found. Near the head of Patterson's Run 
is a small stand of virgin hemlock, the only stand of virgin timber 
in the forest. 

The south side of Sherman's Mountain is covered with a good 
and almost even aged growth of rock oak, white oak, and hick- 
ory, being from eight to twelve inches in diameter. The trees 
are mostly straight and middling tall. The growth in Sheaffer's 
and Henry's Valleys consists principally of chestnut, rock oak, 
white oak, black oak, pin oak, red oak, hickory, yellow poplar, red 
maple, sugar maple, butternut, locust and hemlock. The slopes 
bordering on the south side of Laurel Run are covered with a 
mixture of white oak, hickory, rock oak, chestnut and black oak. 
White oak and hickory being the most abundant. Damage by 
snow and ice, November 16-20, 1920, amounted to thousands of 
dollars, and the loss is almost incalculable. 

Pennypacker division at the present period is divided into four 
ranges, each in charge of a ranger who gives his entire time to the 



876 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

vocation. In surveying, many of the boundary marks were found 
to have been almost or completely obliterated, and there was diffi- 
cult v in locating them, even in the case of the county line between 
Perry and Cumberland. Springs are numerous along the lower 
slopes and ridges of the mountains, the greater number being on 
the southern slopes, but the water on the northern ones being colder 
and apparently better. Telephone lines have been run to connect 
with the headquarters of the rangers. Old roads have been main- 
tained and accessible for use while new ones have been made where 
necessary. In one year alone over 35,000 trees, principally red 
oak, were planted. Up to 1914 there had been 233,000 planted, of 
which 154,000 were white pine. 

Owing to the transfer from narrow gauge to standard gauge 
cars at Newport the prices for lumber showed little profit after 
paying the present high prices for labor. During 1912 there were 
two forest fires, both in the month of December. 

In 1912 a part of the forest was set apart as a game preserve. 
It was stocked with thirty deer, six males and twenty-four females, 
since which time there has been a constant increase, and they can 
be seen grazing in widely separated parts of the mountain. 

The McClure Division, Tuscarora Forest. 

The area comprising the McClure Division of the Tuscarora 
State Forest contains approximately 6,093 acres, the first purchase 
having been made on April 23, 1907, when 4,311 acres of land 
were bought from the Perry Lumber Company at a cost of $10,- 
098.36, or $2.25 per acre. It was named in honor of Col. A. K. 
McClure, a Perry Countian who attained national fame, and its 
location is in the extreme northwestern part of Perry County, in 
the townships of Toboyne, Jackson, and Northeast Madison, the 
main body being in Horse Valley, on the slopes of the Conoco- 
cheague and Tuscarora Mountains. The region is one of deep, 
narrow valleys having the same general direction, and are nearly 
surrounded by great mountains and valley ridges, giving the coun- 
try a rough contour and making access to the interior and the set- 
tlements within very difficult. This condition is causing the settle- 
ments to decrease and in a few years perhaps the greater portion 
of the land once cleared will have reverted to its original state. 

The bordering land of this forest is to a great extent timbered 
for a short distance, where it meets the agricultural section with 
its well settled communities. It is irregular in shape, long and nar- 
row, attaining its greatest width at the eastern end. There are no 
known minerals in this reservation, yet the state in its original 
grants exacted a proportion of such as will be noted in the chapter 
relating to Jackson township, elsewhere in this volume, where the 
specific reservation is copied from one of the original Blaine war- 



THE TUSCARORA FOREST 877 

rants for the farm lands now belonging to Clark Bower, member 
of the General Assembly. The main outlets of this reservation are 
to the north and west. 

About the year 1900 a stock company was formed known as the 
Union Oil & Gas Company, supported in part by local capital, and 
extensive operations were carried on in the Tuscarora Valley, ad- 
joining these state lands in an endeavor to locate oil and gas. 
Three wells were drilled, ranging from 1,000 to 2,600 feet, and 
natural gas seems to have been tapped, but not in sufficient quan- 
tity to warrant further operations. During the excitement lands 
for miles around were leased for oil and gas rights. Since then 
another corporation has been trying to locate beds of iron ore on 
an adjoining tract. The first mail route from Perry County to the 
West was through this reservation, entering between the Conoco- 
cheague and the Tuscarora Mountains, and crossing to East Water- 
ford^ 

The general supervision of a state forest is in charge of a for- 
ester. While the two divisions of the Tuscarora Forest were sepa- 
rate forests there were two foresters until the World War, when 
the McClure section was placed under H. E. Bryner, the forester 
of the Pennypacker Forest. J. L. Witherow had been the first 
forester of the McClure Forest. John H. Zeigler, of East Water- 
ford, is now the ranger of that section. Mr. Bryner became for- 
ester September 1, 1908, and continued until 1922, when he was 
succeeded by D. B. McPherson. The forester, besides having 
general supervision, such as the laying out of roads, planting of 
trees, fighting of forest fires, etc., is also in charge of the fire war- 
dens of the Tuscarora District. 

The headquarters of the ranger are at what was known as the 
"Cole House," in Horse Valley. In that valley are mineral and 
magnesia springs. 

There are four streams on the McClure division, Laurel Run, 
Blain Run, Kansas Creek, and Horse Valley Creek. Blain Run 
rises between the Conococheague Mountain and the Big Knob, and 
flows in a northwesterly direction, emptying into Kansas Creek 
near the west base of the Big Knob. Laurel Run rises at the head 
of Liberty Valley and flows eastward to near where Mohler's tan- 
nery stood, where it turns northwest and passes through the Honey 
Grove narrows, emptying into Tuscarora Creek near Honey Grove, 
in Juniata County. 

The Ohio Oil Company has a right of way twenty feet wide, 
entering the forest near the Juniata County line, in the Waterford 
narrows. Two long-distance telephone lines cross from east to 
west. It has practically no virgin growth, except a few over- 
mature chestnut and rock oak. 



878 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Such timber as arrives at maturity or is impaired by disease or 
lire is marketed from time to time, under the supervision of the 
district forester. During a single recent month, about 150,000 
staves for nail kegs were manufactured and shipped. The staves 
were produced from chestnut timber that was dead or dying as a 
result of the chestnut blight. This stave-mill operation is located 
at the Hockenberry tract, in Horse Valley. 

Forest fires sometimes become almost a tragedy in more ways 
than one. A few years ago when a fire was raging in that part of 
the Tuscarora Forest known as the Pennypacker Division, the wife 
of a recluse, whose cabin was in the woods, lay dead. The flames 
were within 200 feet of the house and were gradually forcing their 
way towards it. The forester had planned the removal of the body 
should it be necessary, but fortunately the fire was gotten under 
control in time. 

In June, 1894, 1,500,000 acres of Pennsylvania woodland, most 
of which had been cut over, was advertised for sale for unpaid 
taxes. To the credit of Perry County, not a single acre was within 
its borders. 

A few facts about general Perry County forestry may not be 
inappropriate here. In 1896, 545 acres were cut over, 150 of which 
were to be used for farming. The following product was mar- 
keted : 

Feet (board measure) of white pine, 335.000 

" hemlock 200,000 

" other woods 2,552,000 

Number of cords of bark peeled, 660 

In 1902, 2,867 acres were cut over, none of which were to be 
utilized as farm lands. During that year the marketed product was 

as follows: 

Feet (board measure) of white pine, 275,866 

" hemlock, 55.000 

" " " " other woods, 3,131,000 

Cordwood 30,95« 

Pulp wood, 299 

Number of cords of bark peeled, i>507 

In 1903, 1,459 acres were cut over, from which were taken the 
following product : 

Feet (board measure) of white pine, 515,209 

" hemlock, 102,000 

" other woods 1,605,425 

Cordwood 28,777 . 

Pulp wood, 180 

Number of cords of bark peeled, 844 



THE TUSCARORA FOREST 879 

In 1904, 2,338 acres were cut over, twenty-five of which were 
cleared for farming, with the following result: 

Feet (board measure) of white pine, 321,279 

hemlock, 20,000 

" other woods, 1,798,210 

Cordwood, ' 34,093 

Alcohol wood, 21,762 

Number of cords of hark peeled 402 

In 1905, 910 acres were cut over, none to he cleared. The prod- 
uct was as follows : 

Feet (board measure) of white pine, 160,000 

hemlock, 10,000 

other woods, 230,000 

Cordwood, 8,343 

Alcohol wood 8,343 

Number of cords of bark peeled, 10 

In 1916, 1,121 acres were cut over, ninety-live being cleared for 
farm lands. The product : 

Feet (board measure) of white pine, 1,242,000 

hemlock, 175,000 

other woods, 2,553,400 

Cordwood, 8,554 

Alcohol wood, 8,179 

Number of cords of bark peeled, 446 

In 1907, 1,223 acr es were cut over, none to be utilized for 
farming. The product : 

Feet (board measure) of white pine, 1,260,000 

hemlock, 130,000 

other woods 1,995,000 

Cordwood, 7,078 

Alcohol wood 6,978 

Number of cords of bark peeled, 521 

Forest fires sometimes play havoc and burn over large acreage 
in Pennsylvania. For the period of 1902 to 191 1, inclusive, the 
acreage in Perry County burned each year was as follows : 

1902 — 689 acres 1906 — 1,172 acres 1909 — 1,097 acres 

1903—574 1907— 61 " 1910—1,840 " 

1904—325 1908— 260 " 19 1 1— 14 " 
1905—331 " 

Other products from the forests of Perry County are railroad 
ties, mine props, trolley poles, telegraph poles, etc., over three mil- 
lion mine props being shipped in a single year. Trees that grow 
best are white pine, white oak, rock oak, red oak, hickory, black 
walnut and locust. Gravel and limestone are best for walnut, 
chestnut, oak and locust ; bottom lands surpass for hickory. 

The rangers of Tuscarora Forest at this time are F. P. Sunday, 
residing in Henry's Valley ; Leroy Koontz and H. N. Hart, resid- 



88o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

ing in Toboyne Township proper, and John H. Zeigler, residing in 
Horse Valley. 

In August, [921, the entire state was divided into twenty-five 
districts and a forester placed in charge of each. On September 
14. 1921, the State Forestry Commission approved the report of 
Col. Henry W. Shnmaker, which recommended that each district 
be given a name which would also apply as the name of all state 
forest land within the district. The separate units in the district 
arc designated divisions of the forest. 

The Tuscarora District is so named because of the Tuscarora 
Indian path, which ran through the eastern part and the lofty Tus- 
carora Mountains, which bisect it. Perry County is included in 
the Tuscarora District, which also includes about one-half of Cum- 
berland County, two-thirds of Juniata County, and a small portion 
of Franklin County. The total area of the district is 1,173 square 
miles. 

The Tuscarora State Forest includes the Pennypacker and Mc- 
Clure Divisions. These divisions were so named because Col. 
Alexander K. McClure was an early editorial advocate of conser- 
vation and a .native of this region. Governor Pennypacker was 
during his entire term of office an earnest advocate of improved 
forest methods. This district comprises 37,500 acres of state- 
owned forest land, of which 29,467 acres are in Perry County, 
4,365 acres in Cumberland County, and 3,668 acres in Franklin 
County. 

The Tuscarora State Forest is well covered with a mixed growth 
of hardwood forests, although very little remains of the original 
forests which once covered this land. There are many places of 
great natural beauty and the landscape is highly diversified. The 
forest contains many ideal spots for outing and recreation. In and 
adjoining the state forest are numerous trout streams which afford 
sport for the fishermen. Small game is plentiful in the forest and 
each year, especially during the hunting season, hundreds of people 
avail themselves of the opportunity to use the forest as an outing 
ground. 

A number of mineral springs containing principally sulphur and 
magneisia, are found on the state forest in Horse \ ,T alley, Perry 
County, and in Doubling Gap, Cumberland County. Many per- 
sons visit these springs. The White Sulphur Springs Hotel, located 
on a privately owned tract within the boundaries of the forest in 
Doubling (rap, is a famous summer resort. 

The first plantation of forest trees on the Tuscarora State Forest 
was made in 1908. Since that time extensive plantations have 
been in various parts of the forest, and 575,000 seedlings have been 
planted, largely white pine; also sixty-eight bushels of seed, con- 
sisting principally of black walnut and red oak. 



THE TUSCARORA FOREST 88 1 

During the past two years the Tuscarora State Forest has been 
practically free from the curse of forest fires. This condition is 
largely due to the fact that the people using the forest have shown 
their appreciation of it as an outing ground, by being careful with 
fire in the woods. Constant care with fire in the woods will not 
only insure a better playground for the people, but will also add 
to the beauty and value of the land by producing valuable forest 
crops for future generations. 

Henry's Valley, now uninhabited save for the residence of F. 
P. Sunday, the forest ranger, is the location of an old cemetery, 
where many former residents are interred. The hemlock area 
southwest of New Germantown, proposed to be set aside as a tract 
of original timber or a recreation park, is fast deteriorating and 
almost inaccessible for access. If the State of Pennsylvania de- 
sires to spend any money for recreation park purposes it had bet- 
ter be in the vicinity of the Big Spring, above New Germantown. 
one of the headwaters of Sherman's Creek, or some other place 
easy of access. 



56 



CHAPTER XXXVII. 
PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS. 

PERRY County is noted as a community where law and order 
prevail, and frequently the county jail is without a single occu- 
pant. Many times during recent years the grand jurors have 
not been called, as there were no criminal cases, and on several 
occasions during the past few years the traverse jury was not 
needed, as there was no litigation whatsoever. For years many 
men have refused to be elected to the office of justice of the peace, 
and others, when elected to that office, refuse to be commissioned, 
as the fees in many cases do not pay the cost of the necessary 
books. Only once has it been necessary in Perry County to inflict 
capital punishment, and in that case the victim was neither a na- 
tive, nor the descendant of one. but had moved to the county less 
than two years before the commission of the crime. 

This reputation for law and order in the county is no matter 
of mere whim or opinion, but is a matter of record for a century. 
Pages could be filled with statements from the press and from 
court records, but that is unnecessary. However, the charge of 
Judge Reed to the grand jury, January 7, 1834, which was sub- 
stantially as follows, is of interest : 

"It is a matter of congratulation to find so small a number of criminal 
prosecutions in the sessions of this county. We are advised that only one 
or two cases have been returned, and those of a very unimportant char- 
acter. It is usually so here. For a number of sessions past we have been 
able to dispose of all the sessions in a day, and often in a half-day. Jails 
and penitentiaries, no doubt, have their effect; but there is in public opin- 
ion a more sure and certain preventative of crime, than results from 
public punishments. Whenever reproach and opprobrium are attached 
indignation frowns upon the culprit when placed upon his trial — whenever 
the scorn of the community points its condemnation at the convict, and 
detestation as well as punishment follow a conviction — whenever a crimi- 
nal finds that he goes abroad disgraced, after paying the forfeiture or suf- 
fering his punishment — then criminal courts are encouraged to proceed 
and the community have cause to rejoice in their success. 

"But if the public look on with indifference, and no disgrace is added to 
the sentence of the law, the mere principle of fear will have but a limited 
effect. Public sentiment is generally exercised in this county; and it is 
mainly owing to that circumstance that our criminal list is so meagre. 
When we consider that the grand jurors are sworn to present truly, not 
only such cases as are given them in charge, but all others that they know 
to be presentable here — when from both sources but a case or two can be 
found at a term, we have good reason to rejoice." 

Five years later, on assuming the judgeship, Samuel Hepburn. 
upon opening his first court here on April 1, 1839, in his address 

882 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 



883 



to the grand jury, noted the fact that there was not a single person 
m jail and complimented the county upon its morals. In fact, the 
small number of criminal cases has become a tradition. In 1853 
again the jail was empty so much that it attracted the attention of 
the press of the state. 

The public institutions of the county have been devoid of scan- 
dals, and when Bromley Wharton, representing the State Board of 
Chanties, inspected the Perry County jail, in 1903, the few pris- 
oners protested that they were given too much food considering 
their close confinement— a most unusual proceeding, especially for 
a penal institution. 

The county's population has largely descended from pioneers 
principally of the Scotch-Irish and German strain, as noted more 
fully in earlier pages, and has always been practically all Protes- 
tant in faith, so much so in fact that not a single Catholic church 
has ever been built within the county's borders. The population 
has also been practically all Gentile and of the white race with the 
exception of a small colony of negroes which has inhabited the 
borough of Millerstown. 

Although a small county having many rivers and creek brido- es 
it freed its toll roads over a half century ago, and its toll brides' 
about forty years ago, while several wealthy and populous near-by 
counties which boast of their rich soils, only recently freed their 
toll roads (and then at the partial expense of the state), and even 
yet have toll bridges, a relic of a departed age. A noted Perrv 
Countian of a Middle Western state, commenting on this writes ■ 
I have tramped almost over this entire county (his adopted resi- 
dence) and not infrequently have had difficulty in crossing streams 
over which there was neither bridge nor foot-log. As long ago as 
1850 I had no such experience in Perry County; for, although 
not all the small streams in our neighborhood were bridged the 
foot-log was never absent." He then quotes a beautiful little Perry 
County stream of but three miles in length, with the statement that 
it was then already spanned by eleven bridges or foot-logs 

Perry County sometimes has been referred to as "the hoop 
pole county," just as some counties are referred to as coal coun- 
ties, and another as the tobacco county, but, while it has not al- 
ways been applied with an affectionate motive, yet the title in itself 
is one of a historical character, as it shows that the county or the 
territory comprising it was settled during the pioneer period In 
those days there were no bags and boxes used in marketing 
everything was in barrels, and to this day we speak of a barrel of 
flour, yet much of the flour is not actually barreled in our day 
The period has even left its language to posterity for all time' 
the grains that were not ground into flour and meal were distilled 
into liquors, for in those days drinking was general. There again 



884 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the barrel was a necessity. To make barrels required hoops, and 
the modern steel and iron mills were not even dreamed of. Hoops 
were made of wood and the hickory, which grew in the wooded 
lands of Perry County territory was then, as it is to-day, of a 
superior quality. Expert woodmen even vouch for the fact that 
the hickory from the northern slopes of a mountain is superior to 
that grown on the southern slopes. Perusal of the various chap- 
ters of this book will show an additional source of supply of hoop 
poles in the number of early charcoal furnaces which operated in 
the territory, and a demand even at home for hoops by the large 
number of mills and distilleries which an industrious people had 
erected in the wake of the redmen at that early period. To keep 
these furnaces going large tracts of timber were cut over, and in a 
very few years the second growth was ready for the market as 
hoop poles. As there were no canals or railroads at that time, 
and as the Sterrett's Gap road was the most improved highway 
leaving the county territory, the continuous stream of wagons 
bearing the products to Carlisle, Columbia and other markets fas- 
tened the name to the county. There was a great demand for 
hoops by the manufacturers at Baltimore, Lancaster and other 
towns to the south and east, and it was a noted fact that orders 
from Perry County were filled more quickly than from elsewhere. 
There was, of course, a reason for this. The hickory close to 
these cities had been largely depleted and their orders had to come 
north to the Blue Mountain section, and the traffic by river led 
them up the Susquehanna. Once there the territory of Perry was 
the very first to which they came, and the promptness with which 
the orders were filled and the satisfactory product finally attached 
its name to the county. The mother country imported largely hogs- 
heads, barrel staves and heads, hoop poles, etc., according to Adam 
Smith's "Wealth of Nations," as contained in the Harvard Classics, 
and paid a bounty for their importation from January i, 1772, to 
January I, 1781. This helped enlarge the demand, even at that 
early date, as the lower Susquehanna trade then entered the traffic. 
An anecdote connected with this subject may not be inappro- 
priate. Just prior to the Sectional War, Congressman B. F. Junkin 
was scheduled to speak in a northern tier county of Pennsylvania. 
Large bills proclaimed the coming of "Congressman B. F. Junkin, 
of Perry County." In the district a paper condoning slavery in an 
indirect way was being published, its editor belonging to the class 
usually termed "copperheads," and in that paper the residence of 
the congressman was quoted "from hoop pole Perry." In open- 
ing his address Congressman Junkin described the uses of hoop 
poles, remarking that "hoop poles are of use in supplying hoops 
for kegs to contains nails, for barrels to contain meats, flour, liquor, 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 885 

fish and many other products, and they are also a d — good thing 
to kill copperheads with." 

During the compilation of this volume, reference was made to 
"the Pennant County," by persons in four widely separated sec- 
tions of the Union. Three of these persons, descendants of Perry 
Countians, had never seen the county, save as pictured upon a 
map. Interrogated as to the name, a noted woman replied, "Did 
you never notice on the Pennsylvania map how it hangs there upon 
the dear old Susquehanna River of my ancestry just as a pennant 
floats from its staff?" And so it does ! And how appropriate seems 
this name conferred upon it by descendants of the pioneers, for, 
in many ways is it not a "Pennant Perry"? Where is there an- 
other whose scenery excels its scenery ? Where is there another so 
well watered ? Where is there another which has captured the State 
prize for the finest apples for three successive years? Where is 
there another of like size and population with more noted sons and 
daughters who have attained fame ? Where is there another, con- 
sidering size and population, which has sent into the ministry and 
the teaching profession an equal number of successful men? And 
thus we might go on! So, here's to the name conferred by the 
descendants, "Perry, the Pennant County"; may it ever stand 
upon those other traditions of the pioneers which have made it 
worth while ! 

Almost with the coming of the pioneer and civilization came the 
first physician, which in this case was Dr. John Creigh, who lo- 
cated in Landisburg in 1799, twenty-one years before the forma- 
tion of the county. Even to this day the territory covered by the 
county's physicians often requires a ten-mile drive to see a patient. 
In the earliest days of the new settlements, with no roads except 
paths, and almost the whole country yet in forests, with only a 
few scattered physicians in the entire territory, their practice led 
them to places far remote from their offices. The first practicing 
physicians were located at Landisburg, Millerstown, Ickesburg, 
Duncannon, Milford (near Newport) and Liverpool. Theirs was 
not an easy service, and their life was rather a hard lot. They 
were held in high esteem by their communities, a fact which gen- 
erally applies to the profession to this day. 

^ The Perry County Medical Society is one of the oldest in the 
State of Pennsylvania, having been organized in Millerstown on 
November 19, 1847. As the result of a call among the medical 
profession the following physicians met and formed the organi- 
zation : 

Dr. J. H. Case, Liverpool. Dr. T. Stilwell, Millerstown. 

Dr. T. G. Morris, Liverpool. Dr. B. F. Grosh, Andersonburg. 

Dr. John Wright, Liverpool. Dr. J. E. Singer, Newport. 

Dr. A. C. Stees, Millerstown. Dr. P. Whiteside, Newport. 



886 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The first officers of the organization were: President, Dr. J. H. 
Case ; vice-president, Dr. A. C. Stees ; treasurer, Dr. J. E. Singer; 
secretaries, Dr. B. F. Grosh, Dr. T. Stilwell. 

The constitution then framed and adopted, with little modifica- 
tion, is still the organic law of the association. The objects of the 
society were defined to be "the advancement of medical knowledge, 
the elevation of professional character, the protection of the inter- 
ests of its members, and the promotion of all means to relieve 
suffering, to improve the public health and protect the life of the 
community." Incidentally, the real object, to promote a social and 
fraternal spirit among the fraternity, has been largely attained. 
Meetings are held several times each year. 

While the great Sectional War was over in 1865, the Soldiers' 
Reunions, so familiar to a later generation, were not inaugurated 
at once, but ten years intervened before the first one was held, at 
Newport, on September 30, 1875. The chief marshal of the first 
parade was Capt. B. F. Miller. The aids were Major George A. 
Shuman, Capt. A. D. Vandling, Lieut. D. C. Orris and Sheriff J. 
W. Williamson. The procession included the following and 
marched over the principal streets of Newport : 

Barnet Sheibley, survivor of the War of 1812, in carriage. 

Dr. Isaac N. Shatto, of the Mexican War, in carriage. 

Keystone Band, of Newville, Pa. 

Company of Veterans, under Lieut. S. S. Auchmuty, of the Forty- 
Seventh Regiment Penna. Volunteers, and also a Mexican War veteran. 
(The Duncannon contingent.) 

Morris Drum Corps, Liverpool; Win. Morris, drum major, 8 drums. 

Company of Veterans, commanded by Capt. H. C. Snyder, of Liverpool, 
late captain of Company B, Seventh Reserves. (Liverpool veterans.) 

Germania Band, Newport; Wm. A. Zinn, leader, 16 pieces. 

Company of Veterans, commanded by Capt. F. M. McKeehan, late cap- 
tain of Company E, 208th Regiment. (Probably Newport and Bloomfield 
veterans.) 

Duncannon Band, Joshua H. Gladden, leader. 

Company of Veterans, commanded by Capt. Wm. H. Sheibley, Landis- 
burg, late captain of Company G, 133 Regiment. (Upper Sherman's Valley 
contingent.) 

Charles H. Smiley, a veteran and then a rising young attorney, 
later a state senator from his native district, was the orator of the 
day. 

For the information of descendants of former or native Perry 
Countians it may be wise to state that the climate of Perry County 
is that variable one of the Northern Temperate zone, where the 
average summer heat is from seventy-five to ninety degrees, and 
where the temperature in winter sometimes reaches points below 
zero. Some winters are mild, with little snow, while others find 
snow lying from early December until the advent of April. Like- 
wise some summers are hot and dry and others cool and rainy. 
However, generally speaking, the climate of Pennsylvania com- 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 887 

pares very favorably with that of any other slate, and Perry lies 
not so far from its centre. The transition from the seaboard to 
the mountain districts has the effect of breaking the keenness ,,i 
the winds. As the years have passed odd conditions of the weather 
are worthy of notice. In 1821 it was so cool over the nation that 
it even snowed in July on Capitol Hill, Washington, D. C accord- 
ing to the press of that period. In 1827 cold weather gripped the 
very harvest time with high winds and even frost. On June 2?d 
of that year there was a severe frost. The Perry Forester tells of 
trees being uprooted, fences leveled and great coats being worn 
to put away hay." The winter following seems to have been the 
opposite, as the issue of January 31, 1828, tells of a "black snake 
two teet Jong, being killed in Toboyne Township, yesterday." The 
winter of 1847-48 was unusually severe, according to records. The 
winter of 1875 was very mild, no snow falling after January By 
the end of April clover was in bloom, while wheat was in head and 
potato stalks a foot high by the middle of May. Then on May 
13th a heavy frost froze the corn and potatoes and injured the 
wheat on the lowlands. The winter of 1885 was a severe one 
A regular blizzard raged four days around Washington's birthday 
On that day, Mrs. Edward Miller, of Lovsville, died, and before 
her remains could be interred her husband too, passed away They 
occupy one grave in the old Centre churchyard. The winter of 
1890 was so mild that farmers plowed during January A L 
Kmsely, a reputable citizen of Buffalo Township, while plowing 
found grasshoppers already jumping around. The early part of 
1921 found gardens being dug at Blain as early as February i S th 
but a later frost ruined the apple, cherry and peach crop 

The diary of Jacob Young, deceased, which began with records 
told him by people yet living, dates back to 1784. He refers to 
the winter of 1888-89 being a remarkable one, stating "No snow 
of any account fell until January 20th when we had first sleighing 
Farmers ploughed during December and first eighteen days of 
January. Shrubbery put forth buds and some days were mild 
and spnng-hke." He also refers to the summer of 1854 being 
very dry. The present summer (1921) has been the hottest and 
dryestsmce 1881, the year when President Garfield lay so lorn- at 
the point of death, according to local records 

The visitor to Perry County will find along the countryside 
many clean little homes, which stand refreshingly in contrast t<- 
the more stately mansions of the city. Most of them stand alone 
with here and there a cluster almost attaining the dignity of a vil- 
lage. Few of them will be found fashionably foolish or foolishly 
fashionable, but in many of them will be found that which many 
city houses often Iack-a real home and family life, the bulwark of 
the republic. Some will need paint, yet in the owner's desk in 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

place of a receipt from the painter there often is a receipt for 
board and tuition of a member of the family at a far-away normal 
school or college. At others the surroundings may appear un- 
kempt, but, there perchance, is where the occupants are aged or 
where the great reaper has gathered the father or the mother, and 
the other, aged and unable to keep the old home as it had been, 
only awaits the summons to join the departed. 

The one sad thing in connection with the last resting places of 
the dead is that, in some places, they are kept in such slov- 
enly condition that they are a discredit to their towns and 
townships. This is not applicable to Perry County alone, but 
to many counties. Towns which take great pride in their public 
squares and main streets neglect their old cemeteries, and many 
of their citizens would not for a minute think of conducting 
a visitor in that direction. Whether there is legislation in any 
state covering these old burial places, the writer is unable to state, 
but believes there should be some method devised whereby they 
would be kept in at least as respectable shape as the surrounding 
fields, instead of becoming a breeding place for noxious weeds 
and underbrush. The very names on the tumbling tombstones tell 
of a past day and generation when the parents evidently read much 
of the Bible. They were mostly of a generation following the 
pioneers and later, and are the ancestors of the present race. 
Several towns have already restored these historic old resting- 
places and others are about to do so, but in order to add per- 
manency to the movements some particular organization, such as 
the civic clubs, should have the matter in charge. The principal 
reason for neglect has been unorganized effort — "what is every- 
body's business seems to be nobody's business." 

The towns and boroughs of Perry County, during the past thirty 
years, have been intent upon getting modern water and lighting 
facilities. Prior to that time Blain Borough was the only town in 
Perry County with a water system. Since then Duncannon, 
Marysville, Millerstown, New Bloomfield and Newport have had 
water systems installed. Newport, Duncannon and Marysville had 
light plants, but they were privately owned, save in Duncannon, 
which is the only one still in existence of these three. The light 
plant installed for the Tressler Orphans' Home at Loysville, now 
(or will soon) lights up Blain, Loysville, Green Park and Landis- 
burg. Newport, New Bloomfield, Millerstown and Liverpool are 
lighted by the Juniata Public Service Company, whose plant is 
located upon Wiconisco Creek, one-half mile from Millersburg, 
towards Lykens. The voltage is carried across the Susquehanna 
River from Halifax, on a 22,000-volt high tension line, carried by 
steel towers. It then runs along the Susquehanna River to Mont- 
gomery's Ferry, where the line divides. The Liverpool extension 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 889 

also lights Middleburg, Paxtonville, Beavertown, Beaver Springs 
and McClure, in Snyder County. The Newport extension also 
lights Thompsontown, Port Royal, Mexico, Mifflin and Mifflin- 
town, in Juniata County. This corporation also lights Marysville, 
but leases the current from the United Electric Company at Le- 
moyne, Cumberland County. The Juniata Public Service Com- 
pany was organized in 1916, and completed the Newport and 
Mifflin extension in 1916, and the Liverpool extension in 1917. 

The assessments in different sections of Pennsylvania vary from 
full valuation to less than a third of the actual value. According 
to a statement in the public press those in Perry County are esti- 
mated at sixty per cent, but the assessment books show a wide 
variance. 

During the year 1906 the chestnut blight struck that part of the 
state which includes Perry County, and thousands of trees, in fact, 
all of them, were victims. The chestnut crop, long a noted one, 
has dwindled to nothing. Many of these trees were older than the 
oldest inhabitant. The largest one, yet standing on the farm of 
the W. A. Smiley estate, in Carroll Township, is thirty-three and 
one-half feet in circumference. Its location is about three miles 
east of Shermansdale, on the Sherman's Creek road. Experts 
quote its age as between 400 and 500 years. Until the blight it 
bore large crops of chestnuts annually. Another large tree, west 
of New Germantown, a willow, measured twenty-four feet, nine 
inches. 

Prior to the purchase of the lands by the state and the creation 
of the Tuscarora Forest, the farmers of western Perry, northern 
Franklin and Cumberland Counties turned their young" cattle into 
the mountains for pasture and forage during the summer months, 
and along the lower hills and in the lowlands often grazed large 
droves. Since 1907, when the grazing was forbidden by the state, 
those who formerly pastured their cattle there, have annually held 
a reunion which dates back to 1913, when it was held at "Camp 
Meetch," near Laurel Run, on the road between New German- 
town, Perry County, and Newburg, Cumberland County. 

That there were a considerable number of unpatented lands in 
Perry County territory, even when the first third of the last cen- 
tury had elapsed, is evidenced by a settlement at the office of the 
Auditor General of Pennsylvania, dated March 28, 1833. The 
payments were to William Wilson, Esq., Deputy Surveyor of 
Perry County, from the commonwealth, aggregating $179.50, for 
surveying twelve tracts of unpatented lands at $9 each, five tracts 
at $6 each, eight tracts at $5 each, and one tract at $1.50. Accord- 
ing to the public records at the State Capitol, the last lands in 
Perry County to be patented were on February 19, 191 8, when 
C. A. Baker patented three tracts, containing, respectively, 84, 84, 



8go HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

and 1 20 acres. The number of patents in the last fifty years have 
not been many. There are properties in Perry County for which 
there are no deeds, yet the title is as good as any title can be. The 
lands were warranted by the province, and have descended down 
through the generations without being sold. One such is the farm 
of C. A. Anderson, at Andersonburg, Jackson Township, whose 
father, Alexander Blaine Anderson, was a cousin of the late James 
G. Blaine, the grandfather, William Anderson, having married a 
daughter of James Blaine. The first wife of this old pioneer, Wil- 
liam Anderson, gave birth to a daughter, who became the mother 
of the celebrated A. K. McClure. 

Among the more prominent landowners the records show that 
a President of the United States once held title to Perry County 
soil. The lands owned by the Sterrett brothers, in the vicinity of 
Sterrett's Gap, passed to their descendants, and from them to Wil- 
liam Ramsey, once congressman from the district. In a mortgage 
dated June 26, 1830, the Ramsey property, in Rye Township, in- 
cluded 850 acres, two fulling mills, a woolen facory, three dwell- 
ing houses, one wagonmaker's shop, stable, shed and part of tavern 
house and orchard at Sterrett's Gap. Through a mortgage Presi- 
dent James Buchanan became owner, and in 1835 he is found on 
the assessment lists, being taxed for 150 acres and a fulling mill. 
This he sold to the Ramsey heirs. William Ramsey died, while 
absent on a foreign mission, and it became necessary to purchase 
the lands, following an execution for judgment. Thomas C. Lane 
was the purchaser, and his death followed. A special act of the 
legislature then made the Buchanan title secure. 

During the past century many political parties existed in the 
United States, and, oddly enough, one of them, called "The Light 
of the World" party, held its national convention in Pfoutz Valley, 
April 23, 1868, and nominated Dr. Robert A. Simpson, then a 
practicing physician from Liverpool, for the Presidency. It was 
based upon religious principles, and its double motto read: "1st, 
Our God ; 2d, Our Country." The convention is described as 
having been held by "laborers, farmers, mechanics, and ex-sol- 
diers." H. J. Heckard presided. After leaving Liverpool Dr. 
Simpson located at York, where he practiced until his death, about 
1904. People who knew him in York describe him as a top- 
notcher in the practice of medicine and a very learned and cul- 
tured gentleman. A daughter still resides there. Dr. Simpson's 
letter of acceptance is still, in existence. 

Probably the longest balloting contest of the old county conven- 
tions was that of the Republican nominating convention of August 
12, 1895, when Charles L. Johnson, the youngest candidate for 
sheriff, won over nine other candidates. Seventeen ballots were 
taken, consuming over three hours. 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 891 

Like many other counties of the state, Perry County does not 
have a hospital with its borders, the most of its cases being cared 
for at the Harrisburg Hospital. According to statistics of that 
institution during the past decade the following number of cases 
from Perry County have been treated there: 1912, 11 1 cases; 
1913, 114 cases; 1914, 160 cases; 191 5, 175 cases; 1916, 148 
casts; 1917, 159 cases; 1918, 164 cases; 1919, incases; 1920, 
151 cases; 1921, 204 cases. 

The State Health Department, however, since April, 1916, lias 
had stationed in the county a trained nurse, who devotes her time 
to the public health and child welfare work. Miss Kate Bern- 
heisel, of near Green Park, has filled the position since its begin- 
ning. 

Almost everybody knows that the mother of Abraham Lincoln 
was Nancy Hanks, yet few know that there has long resided in 
Perry County a family in whose veins coursed the same blood as 
that of the ancestry of the immortal Lincoln, probably the greatest 
of all Presidents. Ephraim Hanks, of Loudon County, Virginia, 
was the father of three daughters, Leah, Rachel, and Nancy, and 
two sons. Nancy Hanks married Thomas Lincoln and became the 
mother of the future President. Leah and Rachel Hanks married 
brothers by the name of Akers, who moved to Bedford County, 
Pennsylvania, Rachel becoming the wife of Ephraim Akers, and 
their daughter, Sarah, married Charles McLaughlin, to whom was 
born the late Ephraim McLaughlin, of Toboyne Township. His 
mother, accordingly was a first cousin of President Lincoln. Mr. 
McLaughlin was a resident of Toboyne Township, until the time 
of his death, December 23, 1907, having lived there since 1848, 
when he purchased 176 acres of land, then belonging to Roland 
Brown, but having been the property of his grandfather, James 
Campbell. Like his grandfather and like Abraham Lincoln, he 
split rails to fence the lands as they were taken from the forests. 
At the time of his death he was 86 years of age. His daughter, 
Miss Luella McLaughlin, long a Perry County teacher, still resides 
there. When yet in the possession of James Campbell he gave the 
lands for the location of the schoolbuilding, and the one there now 
is the third to occupy the location. 

At least one resident of Perry County was a direct descendant, 
though of the seventh generation, of that noble little band of Pil- 
grim Fathers which landed at Plymouth Rock, Massachusetts, in 
the midst of a blinding snowstorm, on a bleak December day, in 
1620. It was Reuben Carver, who was employed at the Duncan - 
non nail factory when that industry was flourishing, and who 
lived for many years at Duncannon. Among the little party land- 
ing at Plymouth Rock, was John Carver and his family, eight in 
number. He was elected the first governor of this pious band, but 



892 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

died soon thereafter. It is told that as late as 1755 a grandson of 
Governor Carver still lived in Massachusetts, aged 102 years. 
Reuben Carver, the Duncannon descendant, died in 1885, and in 
the Lutheran cemetery at Duncannon there is a Scotch granite 
tombstone bearing this legend : 



Reuben W. Carver, 

Son of 

Jabish Carver, 

Wbo was tbe son of Jabez, 

Son of Jonathan, son of 

Nathaniel, son of Eleazer, 

Son of Gov. John Carver, 

Who landed at Plymouth Rock, 

Dec. 21, 1620, 

was born at Taunton, Mass. 

Oct. 3, 1,807, 
and died at Duncannon, Pa., 

Oct. 25, 1885, 
Aged 78 years and 22 days. 



Susan McKean, a sister of Thomas McKean, one of the signers 
of the Declaration of Independence, and second governor of Penn- 
sylvania, was married to a Mr. Meminger, a pioneer Perry Coun- 
tian who settled near the Saville-Madison Township line, whose 
descendants reside in Perry and adjoining counties. 

Representatives of many other famous families live and have 
lived in Perry County. In the veins of some flows a strain of the 
same blood as that of General Anthony Wayne, in others (the 
Scotts) a strain of the same blood as coursed the veins of Francis 
Scott Key. 

Among long pastorates of the clergy in Perry County were Rev. 
John Linn, 42 years ; Rev. John William Heim, 35 years ; Rev. 
Jacob Scholl, 28 years ; Rev. W. D. E. Scott, 32 years, and 
Rev. W. R. H. Deatrich, 19 years. 

The first prohibitory liquor law ever offered in the Pennsylvania 
Legislature was offered by a Perry Countian, Rev. David Shaver, 
who represented the county in the session of 1853. He was chair- 
man of the Committee on Vice and Immorality, and in that capac- 
ity reported in favor of the adoption of a bill for a prohibitory 
liquor law. 

The Department of Labor and Industry of the State of Penn- 
sylvania, in its Industrial Directory for 1920, the centenary of 
Perry County's erection, states that the county's principal centers 
of population are Newport, Duncannon, New Bloomfield and 
Marysville," naming the towns in the order stated. There are no 
large manufacturing plants within the county, the Duncannon Iron 
& Steel Company's plant being the largest and employing the most 
men. The number at that time was 528 men. The Juniata Foun- 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 



893 



dry and Furnace Company, of Newport, ranked second, with 80 
employees. The Elk Tanning Company, of Newport, was a close 
third, with 77. Others following" in order were the Oak Extract 
Company, at Newport, with 52 ; Standard Novelty Works, at Dun- 
cannon, with 35 ; Newport planing mill, with 14, and the C. A. 
Rippmann's Sons' tannery, at Millerstown, with 12. 

In the textile lines the Romberger Hosiery Factory, at Newport, 
led with 32 males and 68 females, total 100. The J. Arthur Rife 
shirt factory, at Duncannon, was second, with 1 male and 53 fe- 
males. Others were the Page shirt factory, at Millerstown, with 
7 males and 43 females ; Darlington & Clouser's hosiery plant, at 
New Bloomfield, with 8 males and 42 females ; Newport shirt 
factory, with 2 males and 38 females ; Mexico Shirt Company, at 
Millerstown, with 4 males and 23 females, and the Smith hosiery 
mill, at Newport, with 5 males and 10 females. 

Population of Perry County. 




Blain 

Bloomfield 

Buffalo 

Carroll 

Centre 

Duncannon 

Greenwood 

Howe 

Jackson 

Juniata 

Landisburg 

Liverpool Boro. 

Liverpool Twp. 

Madison 

Marysville 

Miller .'. 

Millerstown 
New Buffalo 
New Germantown* 
Newport 

Oliver 

Penn 

Petersburgt 

Rye 1,704 

Saville 1,154 

Spring 
Toboyne . 
Tuscarora 

Tyrone | 2,236 

Watts .... 
Wheatfleld 



Totals 11,342 14,257 17,096 20,088 22,703 25,447 27,52-; j >6, 276 26,263 24.130 22,875 



*New Germantown's existence as a borough was of short duration. Prior to the 
census of 1S50 and thereafter its population is included in that of Toboyne township, 
within whose limits it is located. 

tThe name of Petersburg Borough was changed to Duncannon Borough in 1865. 

JFigures not given in United States Government reports. 

When the county was established, in 1820, the center of popu- 
lation of the United States was in West Virginia, just west of the 
Maryland line. For the last three decades it has been in slightly 
varying positions in Indiana, being now eight miles southeast of 
Spencer. The trend of population is toward the great cities, or 



894 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

ui( no especially toward means of employment, which are to be 
found cityward. When Perry County was formed from Cumber- 
land, in 1820, the population was 13,162. Its growth was slow 
and gradual until 1880, when it showed its largest population, 
27,522. In the next ten years it dropped over a thousand. Be- 
tween 1890 and 1900 it practically held its own, with a population 
in 1900 of 26,263. Ten years later, in 1910, its population had 
dwindled over two thousand, and was placed at 24,136. In 1920 
it was 22,875. There are several reasons for this. One reason is 
that families are of smaller size than in the far past. Another is 
that labor-saving machinery has cut the requirements of the farmer 
for help, and the tenant house on his farm and that of the laborer 
on the adjoining small place are a thing of the past, thus materially 
helping in the reduction of population in the townships. A third 
reason is the general trend cityward in search of employment, and 
still another reason is that the state has taken over thousands of 
acres for a forest resrevation, considerable of which was once 
populated. One of these sections, now devoted to forestry, is 
Horse Valley, located between Conococheague and Tuscarora 
Mountains, where once dwelt fifty or more families, and where 
once resided such substantial families as the Beers, Cooks, Emerys, 
Kellys, Lacys, Naugles, Scyocs, and others. It had two schools 
and a church, but to-day there are only seventy residents of that 
part of the valley lying in Perry County. Fifty to seventy-five 
years ago Henry's Valley, that very narrow section between Bow- 
ers' Mountain and the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain, in western 
Perry County, contained a hundred or more houses, a store, church, 
schoolhouse, etc. The tanning industry was then at its height, and 
the tannery people there owned from four to five thousand acres 
of land. A neat graveyard then in use is hardly discernible, and 
only two persons reside in the valley, practically all the lands hav- 
ing been added to the state forest. In what is Sheaffer's Valley, 
which merges into Henry's Valley, above the Doubling Gap road, 
once resided probably fifty families, yet to-day, including the Forest 
Reserve farm, only two persons have their habitation there. The 
location is in Tyrone Township. Then there is Liberty Valley, in 
Madison Township. Its story too, is the tale of many other sec- 
tions of Pennsylvania. Many years ago, before manufacturing 
had become general, several thousand acres, now growing in pines, 
had been cleared and was farmed in rye, the product being sold to 
distilleries. There is a story that this valley was once so poor that 
many could not pay their taxes, but with the advent of the moun- 
tain tannery once located there, the people became well-to-do. 
With the tannery gone and no means of employment the popula- 
tion is not a third of what it once was, numbering only about 
seventy-five. 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 895 

Another valley, once tilled and the site of many homes, is the 
Sugar Run Valley, in Tuscarora Township, now almost returned 
to the virgin state, the remaining houses being small, and growing 
less in number each year. 

At every prominent crossroads and village in the county there 
was once a blacksmith shop, at which frequently two men found 
employment, and whose families resided near by. To-day they are 
gone, with few exceptions. Old residents recollect the time when 
•there were twenty such shops from New Germantown to Sher- 
mansdale, including the ones in those towns. To-day there are but 
four. 

The story of the slow decrease of rural population in Perry 
County applies elsewhere. In 1890, according to the United States 
census, the rural and urban populations were about equally divided. 
In 1900, fifty-five per cent of the population was urban. By 1910 
sixty per cent were dwelling in cities and towns, and the last census 
showed over sixty-four per cent. 

During the decade between 1910 and 1920 all the districts of 
the county lost in population save the townships of Oliver, Penn 
and Tuscarora, and the boroughs of Bloomfield, Duncannon, 
Marysville and Millerstown. In all cases the townships which 
gained either surround or adjoin a borough which gained, which 
bears out the fact that people will drift townward. 

The population of 1920 places Perry as one of sixteen Pennsyl- 
vania counties which has neither Indian, Chinese or Japanese in- 
habitants. Of its population of 22,875, the number of males is 
11,465, and of females, 11,410. Of the total population only 156 
are foreign-born. Of the total, 22,107 were born of native par- 
entage, 263 of mixed parentage, and 249 of foreign parentage. 
The negro population is 80. The percentage of native white popu- 
lation is 98.5; foreign-born, 1.2, and negroes, .3. The number 
of families in the county was 5,683, residing in 5,530 dwellings. 
The number of farms is decreasing, as it is all over Pennsyl- 
vania. In 1900 the state had 224,248 farms; in 1910, 219,256, 
and in 1920, 202,256. In 1900 Perry County had 2,286 farms; 
in 1910 the number had however, increased to 2,409, and in 1920 
dropped to 2,105. The expanding Tuscarora State Forest is one 
of the reason for the decrease in Perry County farms, the high 
wages of industrial plants being another. The number of auto- 
mobiles in Perry County during 192 1 was 947, with 60 motor 
trucks, and 40 tractors. 

A history of a number of counties in several volumes, published 
a few years ago, was evidently written at "long distance" and with- 
out much consideration for correctness. As an example of some 
of the statements the population of various places is quoted as 
follows: Andersonburg, 180; Bixler, 180; Cisna's Run, 95; 



896 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Donnally's Mills, 104; Eshcol, 95; Green Park, 178; Ickesburg, 
430, and Loysville, 500. All wonderful exaggerations. 

According to the last year's births and deaths as taken from the 
reports of the registrars of vital statistics for 1920, the births ex- 
ceed the deaths to a large degree. During that year there were 
^^> births and 321 deaths. The deaths were over twenty-six per 
thousand of population. 

District. Registrar. Births. Deaths. 

Bloomfield, Carroll and Centre, ...D. C. Kell, 59 37 

Duncannon, Penn and Wheatfield, .W. Walter Branyan, . 97 59 

Liverpool and Liverpool Twp., . . . . Dr. Wra. G. McMorris, 26 18 

Saville Twp H. A. Johnston, 25 16 

Plain, Madison, Jackson and To- 

boyne R. H. Kell, 70 40 

Landisbnrg, Spring and Tyrone, ...D. B. Dromgold 48 25 

Marysville and Rye, Dr. E. Walt Snyder, . 59 32 

New Buffalo and Watts. Amos A. Ober, 19 17 

Newport, Miller, Oliver, Howe, Ju- 
niata, Frank H. Zinn, 90 47 

Millerstown, Greenwood and Tus- 

carora, James Rounsley, 66 30 



Totals, 559 321 

Pennsylvania legislation frequently deals with its various coun- 
ties upon a basis of population, and for that purpose passed a bill 
placing all the counties in eight different classes, according to popu- 
lation. Perry County is included in the Seventh Class, comprising 
counties of from 20,000 to 50,000 population. 

With the four tracks of a great trunk line crossing the county, 
it is not strange that occasionally a great train wreck should hap- 
pen within its borders, even on the best managed railroad in the 
world. Probably the worst one that has occurred happened at two 
o'clock a. m., of October 24, 1895, when an axle of a car on an 
east-bound freight train broke and threw several cars off the track 
and across the westbound passenger track of the Pennsylvania 
Railroad at Trimmer's Rock, below Newport, where there existed 
at that time a considerable bend in the road, since obviated. At 
that moment train No. 7, a fast westbound mail and passenger 
train from New York to Pittsburgh, had already entered the block 
not many rods away and crushed into the debris. The engineer 
had a bare instant to reverse his lever when the crash came and his 
engine toppled into the waters of the adjoining canal, carrying with 
it a working car in which mail was being distributed. Three other 
mail storage cars, out of a total of six, were demolished. The 
imprisoned mail distributors clambered from the broken cars just 
in time,, for in a few minutes the cars took fire and were con- 
sumed. Daniel Wolfkiel, the engineer, aged 51, and Joseph W. 
Haines, the fireman, aged 27, were killed. Mr. Haines, who had 
been with the railroad company for eight years, met death within 
sight of his birthplace, Newport. Mr. Wolfkeil, the engineer, was 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 897 

from McVeytown, and had been a soldier in the War between the 
States. Ten postal clerks were injured, but escaped with their 
lives: C. A. Chamberlain, John Zerbe, and B. I. Brand, of Harris- 
burg; E. L. Colville, of Pittsburgh; A. E. Woodruff, of Lewis- 
town ; S. Groff, of Mount Joy; A. T. Rowan, of Trenton ; George 
Gilmour, of Philadelphia; James Norris, of Hightstown, N. J., 
and John I. Campbell, of Gallitzin. Of those eight, Mr. Brand. 
Mr. Colville, Mr. Woodruff, Mr. Gilmour, and Mr. Campbell are 
yet in the service of the government, although a period of more 
than twenty-five years has elapsed. 
" From the time of the pioneers, when the Indians lurked about, 
ready to visit death upon the unsuspecting, there have been the 
usual accidental deaths by drowning in the two rivers and the 
canals, by grade crossing accidents on the railroads, by accidents 
in the manufacturing establishments, by hunting season errors, and 
by various other causes. Friends and those very near and dear 
to the writer have been left fatherless and have gone down the 
years mourning the demise of a loved one, lacking a father's care 
and support, and sometimes the home which they otherwise would 
have had. These things seem to be incidental to existence every- 
where, and Perry County has probably had far fewer than larger 
communities wherein are located huge industrial plants. 

Twice since the creation of the county have children strayed 
into the mountains never to return. The first instance was during 
July, 1871, when an eleven-year-old girl of the Crounce family, of 
Penn Township, became lost. Her remains were not found until 
in August, 1873, when they were discovered in the fastnesses of 
Cove Mountain, one and a half miles from Perdix Station. The 
other was the case of little Alice Arnold, who wandered away from 
her home in Tuscarora Township, May 22, 191 1, and whose re- 
mains were found many months later in a thicket near the top of 
Tuscarora Mountain, three miles east of Ickesburg. 

Fashions seem to pass in cycles. Wide comment in the public 
press since the advent of the World War as to the abbreviated 
dress of females seems to be the counterpart of "the thirties" of 
last century. The Perry Forester, of April 1. 1834, contained the 
following lines : 

"They've shortened their dresses a cuhit or more, 
Now scant in the rear, and scanter before ; 
Till at length they have got them so short and so small, 
That, by gracious, they seem like no garments at all." 

The males of the period, too, were afflicted with vanity, as their 
tight trousers, green eyeglasses and small headgear bears evidence. 

According to records and prints of the early and middle period 
of the past century the men generally dressed well, first in "pigeon 
tail" coats, and later in "Prince Alberts." The clothing in the 
.57 



8o8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

earlier period was tailor-made, and every village and town had its 
tailor shop. 

1 Hiring the first eighteen years of the existence of Perry County 
all the officers were Democrats. The first person, not a Democrat, 
to be successful at an election, was Joseph Shuler, who was elected 
sheriff upon the Whig ticket, in 1838. 

During the first century of Perry County's existence but one 
Perry County woman was elected at the general elections to fill a 
public office. Until women were granted the franchise by the pas- 
sage and adoption of the suffrage amendment in 1920, the only of- 
fice to which they were eligible in the State of Pennsylvania was 
that of school director, and throughout the many counties very 
few were elected even to that office. When Hugh W. Bell, a school 
director of Rye Township, died early in 1907, the school board 
appointed his widow, Mrs. Effie I. Bell, to fill the vacancy, she 
assuming the duties in the spring of that year. Two years later 
Mrs. Bell was nominated by the Democrats and elected at the 
general election, serving a full term and being in office when the 
present county superintendent, Prof. Daniel L. Kline, was elected 
for his first term. She thus attained distinction in three different 
ways. She was the first and only woman in the county during its 
first century to hold public office by appointment ; she was the 
first and only one to hold it by election, and she was the first and 
only one to attend a county convention and vote for the election of 
a county superintendent. Mrs. Bell is a daughter of H. F. and 
Katharine (Harter) Long, and was born April 11, 1866, at Mil- 
lerstown. She taught ten years in Liverpool, Greenwood and Rye 
townships and Millerstown Borough. She was educated at Mil- 
lersville State Normal School and with tutorage by Prof. Silas 
Wright. She was united in marriage in 1892 to Hugh W. Bell, 
a son of the late James Bell, of Rye Township. Left with five 
small children at his death, the youngest of whom was but six 
months old, she assumed the management of his mercantile busi- 
ness. Since the World War and the attendant scarcity of teach- 
ers, Mrs. Bell, like many other former Perry County teachers, has 
returned to the profession, and is teaching in the township (Rye) 
in which she once was a director. Two of her daughters teach — 
Effie O. Bell, the elder daughter, in Marysville, and Beatrice M. 
Bell, her second daughter, at Sandy, Utah. 

It was planned to include a number of additional poems by Perry 
Countians in this volume, but the size to which it has grown bars 
their insertion, with the result that they will possibly later be issued 
in a separate volume. The more notable writers of verse from 
among the natives includes Chief Justice John Bannister Gibson, 
Governor Stephen Miller, G. Cary Tharpe, Dr. Zenas J. Gray, 
Rev. J. D. Calhoun, W. Walter Branyan, J. Albert Lutz, W. W. 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 890 

Fuller and others. Mrs. Emma F. Carpenter, of Duncan's Island 
was also a weil-known writer of verse. The author of this volume 
will appreciate any information upon this subject. 

In the greatest undertaking since the World War. in May roig 
another Perry Countian figured, for while Lieut. David McCul- 
loch was born ,n Juniata County he was brought here when a small 
boy and is recognized as a Perry Countian. When the attempt 
was made by the United States government to send three sea- 
planes across the Atlantic Ocean, the NC- 3 had as one of its offi- 
cers Lieut. McCulloch, who was one of the most expert air men in 
the government service. He had previously been in the employ 
of Rodman Wanamaker in his air activities and was instructor 
tor the Italian government in aviation. During the World War 
he was chief of naval operations in aviation and had charge of the 
Liberty motor tests. & 

A real king visited Perry County in 1920, when the special train 
containing King Albert, of Belgium, was placed on the old railroad 
line in Newport, for several hours, awaiting the new day before 
proceeding to Harrisburg, where the royal party were entertained. 
Ex-Member of Assembly John S. Eby greeted'the visitor and in- 
troduced him to a small party who had gathered to see the train 
bearing the noted ruler. 

Perry County has also been the birthplace of some inventors 
among the more noted being W. A. Dromgold, whose agricultural 
implements cover the land, and J. L. McCaskey, whose electric 
program clock system is installed in many of the schools and col- 
eges of the country, and who invented a torpedo deflector during 
the \\ orld War. No list of these men and inventions are available 
but that of George H. Leonard, of Landisburg, who died as re- 
cently as 1915, deserves to be recorded. Years ago he invented a 
flymg machine," not unlike the earlier models of the recent pio- 
neer product of that line, but his expectation that it could be pro- 
pelled by human power was wrong. He also invented and had 
patented a hat with ventilators and a process for tanning leather 
He made little out of either, yet both are in use to-day under oth- 
ers patents, but the hat patent has never made any person wealthy 
the other is what is known to us as "patent leather" John H 
Noviock, of Buffalo Township, invented the first potato* separa- 
tor, now in general use. and exhibited it at the Grangers' Picnic 
a state-wide affair of two decades ago, with the result that some 
one took his idea, improved it, and made a snug fortune. Samuel 
Endslow, of Blain, years ago invented a fly trap which was anion, 
the very first of those machines, and which was built alon* the lines 
of those used by civic bodies and others in their campaign against 
the fly. b - 



9 oo HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The lines of two long distance telephone companies cross the 
county from East to West, entering over the Kittatinny Moun- 
tain at Sterrett's Gap, and disappearing through the Tuscarora 
Forest and over the Tuscarora Mountain. From Dauphin County 
to Perry County, spanning the Susquehanna River, stretch four 
great cables of the American Union Telegraph Company, the 
length of the span being 5,000 feet, with a 460-foot dip, from the 
jutting ends of Berry's Mountain, through which the river breaks. 
This is the second longest cable span in the world, it is said, and 
the longest in the United States. Pipe lines carrying oil cross the 
county from the oil fields to the seaboard. 

There is not within the county a public library, save in the 
schools, though in 1842 New Bloomfield opened a free library, 
known as the Young Men's Library, of which George A. Shu- 
man was secretary and librarian in 1844. Some day some native 
Perry Countian who has become well-to-do will donate or will to 
one of the important centers of the county a public library and 
become the benefactor of unborn generations. There are many 
school libraries of no mean proportions, however. This early 
library at the county seat was refused further use of the public 
school building in 1854, after which time there appears to be no 
records of it. 

The preserving of genealogical records and their compilation 
and publication in so far as Perry County is concerned, has been 
sadly neglected. Among the most extensive records are those of 
Mrs. Leila Dromgold Emig, now of Washington, D. C, and Dr. 
A. R. Johnston, of New Bloomfield. Mrs. Emig's volume, "Rec- 
ords of the Hench and Dromgold Reunion," first published in 
1913, would better be "Records of the Hench and Dromgold Fami- 
lies," as it is a very complete and comprehensive book of almost 
two hundred pages. It was a painstaking task, but one which any 
one would be proud to have consummated. Dr. Johnston's volume 
of almost a hundred pages shows a like degree of patience and 
leaves to posterity a record of the Johnston clan, which is invalu- 
able. In the beginning a number of pages are devoted to the early 
history of Sherman's Valley. A volume covering the Mahaffeys 
and allied families, very comprehensive also, was issued at the 
hands of Estelle Kinsport Davis and Mrs. Mary E. (Mahaffey) 
Carst, of Harrisburg, in 1914. In 1892 the "Family Record of 
the Ickes Family," from the pen of the late Susan A. (Ickes) 
Harding, of Monmouth, Illinois, wife of General Harding, left 
for future generations the record of that noted family. Mrs. 
I larding was a daughter of Dr. Jonas Ickes, who was an early 
practitioner at the new county seat, after the county's establishment. 

Others are on the way. Mrs. Laura T. (Willhide) Johnston, 
of New Bloomfield, assisted by her son, Frank Johnston, is com- 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 901 

piling the genealogy of the Sheibleys, her maternal ancestry which 

will put on record the line of that noted pioneer family. Harry 
G. Martin, of Millerstown, has the nucleus of the Wrights, a noted 
east-of-the-Juniata family, in good shape. Edward P. Lupfer, of 
Buffalo, New York, has valuable data pertaining to the Lupfer, 
McClure and Marshall families, from whom he is descended. Rev. 
R. E. Flickinger, a retired Presbyterian minister of Rockwell City, 
Iowa, has ready for the press "The Flickinger Ancestry," having 
devoted several years to pursuing the work. Mr. Flickinger is 
the author of many noted books. Mr. W. H. Graham, of Wash- 
ington, D. C. is preparing a work on the Graham and Rhinesmith 
and related families. Mr. Graham is a former Perry County 
teacher and also taught in Washington and Idaho. George W. 
Kbert, of Indianapolis, Indiana, has gathered much data pertain- 
ing to the Dunkelberger, Adam Smith and Heim families. Wm. 
T. Albert, of Pueblo, has gathered much data of the Albert, Smith, 
Thatcher and allied families, to which the writer has had access in 
the preparation of this book. Dr. Percy Edward Deckard, of Wil- 
liamsport, Pennsylvania, a son of Dr. J. W. Deckard, of Richfield, 
Juniata County, has almost completed a genealogy of the Deckard 
family, which will soon be published in book form. The little vol- 
ume, "A Long Road Home," by Miss Anna Froelich, is also a 
good one, briefly covering various families connected with the 
Duncannon Reformed Church. Mrs. Rachel Jones, of a Southern 
branch, and P. F. Barner, of Altoona, are compiling the Barner 
genealogy, and W. A. Brunner, of Harrisburg, is busy along the 
same line with the Brunner family. J. A. Leonard, now of Cleve- 
land, is at work on the Leonard records, and the late Prof: W. C. 
Shuman issued a fine genealogy of the Shuman family. These and 
many others, which it is hoped this book will inspire, will add 
much to the county's historical records, for all history is but a 
record of the doings of those who inhabit the territory. 

A County Historical Society. 

While Perry County has never had a historical society, yet 
there existed, during the winter of 1880-81, at the New Bloomfield 
Academy, a society known as the Philomathean Society of that 
institution, which did more during that year to preserve historical 
traditions than many historical societies have done in a decade. 
The Philomathean Literary Society of that institution was organ- 
ized in the early days of the academy's existence. At a meeting on 
November 15, 1880, the society decided to add to its exercises the 
preparation and presentation of articles along local historical lines. 
To John A. Baker, then editor of the Perry County Freeman, who 
offered the use of his columns for articles which had the approval 
of the society, posterity is indebted for much of real historical 



902 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

value. ( >n June' 17, 1881, the society held its last meeting and 
thus passed an organization which during its short life did more 
to preserve much that is of historical value than any organization 
since the foundation of the county. 

The presidents during its existence were: Prof. J. R. Flick- 
inger, James W. McKee, W. H. Sponsler, Clarence W. Baker, 
A. B. Grosh. and C. W. Rhinesmith. 

The historical committee was composed of W. H. Sponsler, 
Prof. J. R. Flickinger, Clarence W. Baker, J. C. Wallis, Rev. A. 
PI. Spangler, and Rev. John Edgar. The duties of this committee 
grew to such proportions that they asked that it be increased, 
which was done by adding the names of Wilson Lupfer, J. W. 
Beers, A. B. Grosh, J. W. McKee, George Rouse, C. W. Rhine- 
smith, William Orr, and R. H. Stewart. 

The members who were active'in the gathering of data in this 
old society were: W. H. Sponsler, Clarence W. Baker, Prof. J. R. 
Flickinger, who, according to a statement of R. H. Stewart, now 
an attorney in New York City, were indefatigable and ardent in 
the work; Rev. John Edgar, Rev. A. H. Spangler, Wilson Lupfer, 
A. B. Grosh. J. W. Beers, Lewis Potter, J. C. Wallis, William 
( )rr, C. W. Rhinesmith, George R. Barnett, Cloyd N. Rice, James 
W. Shull, Fillmore Maust, James W. McKee, William Mitchell, 
George A. Rouse, Joseph Arnold, William R. Pomeroy, L- E. 
Donnally, William R. Magee, J. L. Markel, and R. H. Stewart. 
There are many names on that list whose owners have appeared in 
legislative halls and who have been elevated to the bench. 

The honorary membership, too, is here reproduced : Dr. Wil- 
liam H. Egle, Harrisburg ; Ed. C. Johnston, New Germantown ; 
James Woods, Blain ; William E. Baker, Eshcol ; Frederick Watts, 
Carlisle ; F. W. Gibson, Falling Springs ; James L. Diven, Lan- 
disburg; W. A. Meminger, Donnally's Mills; A. L. Hench and 
Rev. J. J. Hamilton, Roseburg ; W T illiam W. McClure, Green 
Park; John A. Wilson, Landisburg; A. K. McClure, Philadel- 
phia; Dr. Alfred Creigh, Washington, Pa.; James B. Hackett, 
George S. Briner, John A. Baker, and William A. Sponsler, New 
Bloomfield. 

It is to be hoped that a historical society may soon be organized ; 
and that this book may, in a way, become of some little value as a 
basis for a systematic and thorough compilation of the county's his- 
torical, biographical, and genealogical records. However, if such a 
society is to be organized only to be a weak, inanimated one, merely 
holding an occasional session, the principal function being the elec- 
tion of officers, its organization w r ould be futile. At this time 
( ii)2i ) there are thirty-five of the sixty-seven counties which do 
not have historical societies, and an effort will be made to put one 
in every county. 



PKRRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 



903 



Perry County Societies Abroad. 

It is not an unusual thing for the native sons of a state to or- 
ganize a state society in their adopted state, such as the Pennsyl- 
vania Society of New York, but it is rather unusual for the native 
sons and daughters in other counties and states to organize a 
county society of their native county. What is being developed 
in many places and is known as a community spirit has always 
existed in Perry County and is so strongly inbred that Perry Coun- 
tians at various places have organized Perry County societies, some 
of which hold an annual banquet, others an annual outing or picnic, 
and some both. 

The Perry County Society of Chicago was organized September 
6, 1 91 3, in Lincoln Park. The following officers were elected and 
have been reelected each succeeding year: President, Grant 
Womer ; vice-president, Charles W. Singer ; secretary, Mrs. H. 
B. Raffensperger ; treasurer, Judge Sheridan E. Fry. 

The Pennsylvania Society of Chicago, to which some of the 
Perry County people belong, is an older organization than the 
Perry County Society, but probably not much better supported, 
as the members of the Perry County organization are in closer 
sympathy with each other, being from the same county. It has 
two meetings a year, one in June and the other in February, be- 
sides having frequent surprise parties during the winter months in 
the homes of the different members. The latter feature has made 
the society very popular and contributes much to the happiness of 
the members in their adopted homes, in the largest metropolis of 
the Middle West. As an example of the community spirit con- 
nected with this society, when Mrs. Mary Schiller Miller, a tal- 
ented and educated woman, died there during 192 1, the society 
"said with flowers" what was in the hearts of the members. On 
other occasions it is the same. 

The Perry County Society of Allegheny County was organized 
during the last decade, its principal feature being an annual picnic. 

For many years there has been a Perry County Society of Blair 
County, which has held its outings at the parks there. 

A movement is now on foot to organize a Perry County So- 
ciety in Philadelphia, Dr. O. L. Latchford, a native Perry Coun- 
tian, having the matter in charge. 

On June 19, 1920, the Perry Countians residing in Lancaster 
County met and organized a Perry County Society, with the fol- 
lowing officers: A. D. Garber, president; George S. Endslow, 
secretary, and S. H. Tressler, treasurer. At the same time they 
held a picnic. 

The residents about Buda, Illinois, who are native Pennsylva- 
nians, have an association and hold an annual picnic, but the larger 



9 04 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

part of the membership are native Perry Countians. At the elec- 
tion of [920, both the president. W. H. Stutzman, and the vice- 
president, Chas. Moretz, were native Perry Countians, as were 
two of the speakers, Rev. J. D. Calhoun, and H. B. Raffensperger. 

Picturesque; Perry. 

"Beyond the city's edge, where meadows lie 

And crooked fences are, and winding streams, 
Where remnants of old orchards linger, I 

Have found the gateway to the land of dreams. 
The sun, I think, shines with a friendlier glow 

Out there, where Nature still may have her way, 
Than in the city streets, with all their show 

And artificial glitter and display." — Selected. 

States and countries boast of their scenery, and why not a 
county? Especially Perry County, which, from a scenic stand- 
point, stands second to none in this grand old commonwealth! 
The scenery of many parts of the mountainous section of the 
state, particularly where the mountain ranges are either cut 
through or skirted by large streams, is noted abroad for its 
grandeur, wildness and beauty, and about Perry County it is at its 
best. The charm of Perry County lies in the beauty and variety 
of its scenery. 

Especial mention should be given to the marvelous breaks 
through the mountains by the Susquehanna River at Liverpool, 
Mt. Patrick, Duncannon and Marysville, to that of the Juniata 
through the Tuscarora Mountains at Millerstown, to the Conoco- 
cheague Mountain in western Perry, to the wonderful mountain 
scenery west of New Germantown, where the great Creator laid 
down a series of mountains in mighty folds as a dry goods clerk 
would lay ribbon upon a counter, to the beautiful view of Mt. 
Dempsey and its sister mountains at Landisburg, and to the meet- 
ing place of the two rivers — Juniata and Susquehanna — where 
they merge to go forward to the sea. Further descriptions of these 
mountains and rivers will be found in the chapters covering Moun- 
tain, River and State Forest. 

Of "the land between the rivers" I would write, not as a 
stranger, for there I first beheld the light of day; just where the 
watershed breaks the drainage, some flowing past Buck's Church 
— that old landmark of Christian influence in the community — to 
join the Susquehanna at Montgomery's Ferry; others crossing the 
farm, passing by "Finton's corner," Finton's woods, pretty glen 
and deep ravine — on past the old James Barkey gristmill, now 
Seiders' — to become a part of the Juniata at the old historic Pat- 
terson place, a relay point of stagecoach days on the Allegheny 
turn] like. That boyhood farm, remote and uninviting as it might 
appear to others, is to me by associations tender as heartstrings 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 905 

the one spot hallowed by treasured recollections of father, mother, 
home and childhood — a quartette of words which contain almost 
all that is near and dear to the human heart. Of the five town- 
ships forming that part of Perry County lying at the junction of 
the two rivers this was the heart. To the north lay Berry's Moun- 
tain, steep, beautiful with foliage and in respective seasons either 
green, golden or a crystal white hulk, glistening in the winter sun. 
To the south lay the broad and not so steep Half-Falls Mountain, 
which, like the Berry Mountain, ends abruptly at both rivers. 

THE LAND BETWEEN THE RIVERS. 

BY G. CARY THARPE. 

Let those who will as pilgrims go 

To climes across the ocean, — ■ 
I love the scenes which long ago 

Awaked my young emotion ; 
That bade my youthful thoughts arise. 

And manhood's high endeavors, — 
My native home, that smiling lies, — 

The land between the rivers. 

Though there no lordly castle throws, 

O'er moor, or plain its shadow ; 
From where the Susquehanna flows 

Through mountain gap and meadow, 
To where the Juniata's tide 

Its tribute wave delivers ; — 
The streams that bound on either side, — 

The land between the rivers. 

And spreads our river broad, a lake, 

With ceaseless currents fretting, 
A thousand islands green that break 

The crystal of their setting; 
And there the wild fowl gayly swim, 

And there the sunlight quivers, 
Till evening veils, with mantle dim 

The land between the rivers. 

The purple mists of early morn, 

With diadems of glory 
Our rugged mountain crests adorn, 

Unknown to song and story ; 
And monarch-rob'd in golden light, 

They look, where sways and quivers, 
The water lily's spotless white 

That grows beside the rivers. 

And soft in beauty sweetly lie 

Our fertile vales extended, 
Afar, where- golden clouds on high, 

And gold-green earth is blended ; 



go6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

No eye can trace the faint drawn line 

Which hill and sky dissevers; 
So close the heavens bend down to join 

The land between the rivers. 

And there, in sunset's dying day, 

Through evening sapphire portals, 
Bright forms angelic countless stray 

Unseen by eye of mortals; 
Charmed from their fair celestial home, 

Where death ne'er comes nor severs, 
To bless a second Eden's bloom 

In land between the rivers. 

The Susquehanna River, described elsewhere in this book, and 
famous its entire length for its scenic beauty and picturesqueness, 
is at the same time one of the most legendary and historic streams 
of the Atlantic slope. Entering Perry County from the North, 
over the famous Susquehanna Trail, that great highway which re- 
places the first trail of the red men as they followed its shores, the 
tourist is impressed by the vista of gently sloping farm lands to 
the right, while on the opposite shore from Liverpool, ending ab- 
ruptly at the river, is a huge mountain of great and mighty rocks 
heaved from the interior of the earth long geologic ages ago. A 
little farther down, at Mount Patrick, comes the first of the four 
celebrated Susquehanna water gaps of Perry County, through 
which ages ago the waters forced a passage, the others being at 
Duncannon, above Marysville, and at the Kittatinny Mountain, 
below Marysville. Almost from the waters' edge rise these rocky y 
wooded cliffs that stand like giant sentinels against the azure sky, 
seemingly guarding the winding river on its way toward the sea. 
These cliffs tower to great heights and their rugged ledges are gor- 
geous with the hues that shine through the trees which grow even 
between the crags and shelving rocks. Mount Patrick, several 
miles below Liverpool, is the local name of the jutting end of 
Berry's Mountain, which with Buffalo Mountain forms a cove 
(Hunter's Valley) which is the west end of the Wiconisco anthra- 
cite coal basin. (Claypole's Geology, pp. io-ii.) Crossing the 
Susquehanna at* Mount Patrick, it runs eastward, turns, and returns 
as the Peters (or Cove) Mountain, at Duncannon. There again a 
cove is formed which is the pointed ellipse of the Dauphin County 
anthracite coal basin, the east end of which is in Carbon County, 
beyond the Lehigh River. 

As early as 1806, Thomas Ashe, a traveler, thus records his im- 
pressions of the beautiful Susquehanna: "The breadth and beauty 
1 if the river, the heights and grandeur of its banks, the variety of 
scenery, the verdure of the forests, and the melody of the birds, 
all combined to fill my mind with vast and elevated thoughts." 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 



907 



From the "State Book of Pennsylvania," published by Thomas 
11. Burrowes, in 1851, we cull the following, which shows the im- 
portance of the junction of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers at 
that period : 

"The point on the Susquehanna, called Duncan's Island, or Clark's 
Ferry, is remarkable in many respects. The mountain and river scenerj 
of the vicinity is wild and beautiful. The Juniata and Susquehanna here 
meet, presenting in the boating season, even before the public works were 
constructed, a busy and interesting scene. But now that the state canals 
along the Susquehanna and the Juniata are in operation, and the VViconisco 
Canal certain of being completed, there are few points at which so many 
of the elements of the prosperity of the state are presented at a single 
glance. Down the Susquehanna are seen gliding, either on her broad bosom 
or on the canal along her margin, the lumber, the anthracite coal, and the 
other valuable articles found on her headwaters. Along with these are the 
grain, the bituminous coal, and the lumber of the West Branch. The Juni- 
ata, with the celebrated iron that bears her name, the bituminous coal of the 
great Allegheny, and the agricultural produce of her own banks, pours out 
the rich produce of the western counties and states; while the VViconisco 
Canal will add the available coal of the Lykens Valley. 

"On the other hand, hundreds of boats freighted with merchandise for 
the North and the West may be seen ascending the canals to supply the 
farmers, the lumbermen, the miners, and the ironmen along their banks. 
It is while contemplating a scene like this that the Pennsylvanian learns 
to confide in the internal resources of his native state, and to disregard 
what is called the diversion of her business into other routes." 

"The scenery along the Perry County bank of the Susquehanna and on 
the Juniata is grand and beautiful. At Duncan's Island and Liverpool, 
especially, the mountains and the river present views scarcely surpassed 
even by the storied localities of the Old World. The heights, it is true, 
are not crowned by ancient and picturesque ruins ; neither are the streams 
the dividing lines between princes whose past struggles for power have 
associated with them the legends of chivalry. But they remain in all 
their native beauty and grandeur, unchanged, except so far as human in- 
genuity has applied their resources to the promotion of human happiness. 
They remain a type of what our country's history should be, with no 
change recorded, except for the common good; no monument erected ex- 
cept to virtue." 

Even the vistas surrounding the towns and villages, and the very 
places themselves, present a panoramic scene of varied beauty. Of 
Liverpool, Charles W. Huggins, a Chicago business man, writes : 
"The most beautiful place in Pennsylvania!" Of Ickesburg, Prof. 
William C. Shuman, long a resident of the vicinity, wrote: "A 
bright little Heaven within my early memory!" Another spoke 
of "where the Cocolamus joins the Juniata (below Millerstown), 
the most beautiful country in the United States." The view from 
the top of the Tuscarora, at a point above Ickesburg, is beyond 
description. To the north lies Mifflintown, the beautiful county 
seat of Juniata County ; through the valley winds the picturesque 
Juniata River ; in the distance are the Black-log Mountains, while 
afar can be seen the ranges of the Shade Mountains. Looking 



9 o8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

southward the western part of Perry County nestles between 
ridges, while in the distance looms the long, straight Kittatinny 
Mountain of the Blue Ridge system. 

One of the features of the beautiful scenery throughout Perry 
County is the wooded lands — the trees. Everywhere we have trees, 
trees, trees ! True, the woodman has, here and there, for financial 
gain, destroyed the forests, but as a whole, the effect is slight, and 
Perry County is still a land of trees, even including the greater 
portion of a state forest. And what is more beautiful or lias 
taken a longer time to form than a full-grown tree? Can man 
fashion a tree, or can one be bought in the market place? Is a 
tire naught but firewood, or telegraph poles, or ties? It is a fine 
thing that many think otherwise, and that not only in the wooded 
sections, but by the roadside, there stand large and beautiful speci- 
mens. On a Perry Couny farm, by the roadside, once stood a great 
oak. from which a large number of ties could have been made and 
a considerable return have been received, but the man who owned 
and tilled that farm never even considered it, although probably 
the funds so secured may oft have been needed. To him that tree 
was a landmark, one of those left when the land was claimed from 
the forest for cultivation, and no money value would he have 
thought of placing upon it. That man was the father of the au- 
thor of this book, and when he passed away, that old oak still 
stood — a sentinel by the roadside. 

From the birth of the new county of Perry its scenery must 
have been a marked feature, for the newly established weekly 
paper, the Perry Forester, placed at its head and long carried the 
following lines : 

— Ye who love through woods and wilds to range, 
Who see new charms in each successive change ; 

Come roam with me Columbia's forests through, 
Where scenes sublime shall meet your wondering view." 

Spring, summer and fall in the mountains finds attraction from 
the earliest buds of the arbutus, through the laurel and rhododen- 
dron season until the last of the beautiful colored leaves have 
i alien from the trees. In the shady and cool recesses of the forest, 
winding trails, dating back even to the time of the red men, lead 
through mile after mile of oak, pine and hemlock, with the most 
beautiful ferns that are to be found anywhere, in many a ravine 
and glen. 

And there is summertime, with the glamour, the romance, the 
indescribable charm of summer days ! It is pleasant to recall from 
Harry Kemp's "Chatneys and Ballads": 



PERRY COUNTY FROM MANY VIEWPOINTS 909 

"Tell all the world that summer's here again, 

With song and joy; tell them, that they may know 
How, on the hillside, in the shining fields 
New clumps of violets and daisies grow. 

"Tell all the world that summer's here again. 

That white clouds voyage through a sky so still, 
With blue tranquility, it seems to hang 
One windless tapestry, from hill to hill." 

Summertime in Perry County, from the time when innumerable 
daisies grace the sides of the highways of the countryside, until 
long stretches of goldenrod make your pathway a veritable dream, 
is but the introduction to that later period of the year — Indian 
Summer — when the lazily drifting and fleecy clouds o'erhead, 
combined with the warm sun rays of the passing autumn, make 
this a veritable land of dreams. And there is beauty, even in the 
winter, with its myriad snowflakes, its forests garmented in white 
and its mountains, great white hills, glistening in the winter sun. 
Then, there is the feeling so minutely sensed by the great John 
Greenleaf Whittier, in "Snow-Bound," with which many persons 
native to Perry County are familiar. 

There is ever, also, the attraction of solitude known only to the 
very fastnesses of the forests, where for a time one may feel the 
vastness of the great out-door world, where, from the loftiest tree 
of the forest to the tender verdure clinging to the crevices in the 
rock, one may behold the handiwork of the great Creator. 

"When lights are low, and the day has died, 
I sit and dream of the countryside. 

"Where sky meets earth at the meadow's end, 

I dream of a clean and wind-swept space 

Where each tall tree is a staunch old friend, 

And each frail bud turns a trusting face. 

"A purling brook, with each purl a prayer, 
To the bending grass its secret tells ; 
While softly borne on the scented air, 
Comes the far-off chime of chapel bells. 

"A tiny cottage I seem to see, 

In its quaint old garden set apart; 
And a Sabbath calm steals over me, 
While peace dwells deep in my brooding heart." — Selected. 

In many large eastern cities and, in fact, at many widely scat- 
tered points, are Perry Countians whose names are writ high in 
the world of commerce and letters, and whose faces are familiar in 
the great marts of trade. When they left Perry County during 
their earlier years many registered a purpose to some day return 
and there spend the declining years of their lives. With the pass- 



9 I0 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

ing vcars their children have grown to manhood and womanhood 
in their adopted homes, and when the time came for them to ful- 
fill their cherished desires, they have found that it meant the leav- 
ing of their closest kin and the parting from friendships formed 
during a generation or two, to return to the home of their youth, 
only to find the scenes changed, with few, perhaps, remaining of 
those whom they knew in the old days. During the swiftly passing 
years many have fallen asleep and are resting in the cemetery upon 
the hill, while others, like themselves, have gone abroad and are 
scattered throughout many states. 

The city, with its bright lights, its teeming humanity, and its 
many amusements, beckons to the country lad and lass, and illu- 
sioned ofttimes, they leave a good home, a comfortable wage, and 
God's bright sunlight and open air, the very foundation of their 
health, for the beckoning paradise — often a lonesome hall-room 
and a stuffy office, with its many cares and worries. There is 
something about the open life of the countryside, or even that of 
the small town, with their freedom, community spirit and neigh- 
borliness, which the city denizen never knows ; and lucky is that 
boy or girl who is born where he or she can breathe pure air and 
revel in God's sunlight, 

"I sometimes catch my breath, remembering 
A picture that I love : 
A shining river running by a town 

With high, white cliffs above, 
And from the farthest heights a cedar tree 
Reaching forever its wide arms to me. 

"And I am often touched to brimming tears 
Recalling some old place: 
Exquisite purple twilight down a street, 

A maple's leafy grace, 
And like a far sweet star lit suddenly 
An open lighted window flames for me." 

— Grace Noll Crowell. 



CHAPTER XXXVIII. 

PERRY COUNTY'S BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND 
VILLAGES. 

WHEN the lands which now form Perry County were pur- 
chased by the Penns, from the Indians, in 1754, that part 
of the county lying west of the Juniata and generally termed 
Sherman's Valley, was formed into a single township, of Cumber- 
land County, called Tyrone. That part of the county lying between 
the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers was a part of Fermanagh 
Township, Cumberland County, from the latter part of 1754 or 
early in 1755, when that township was erected. Fermanagh Town- 
ship then was of large extent, including all the lands of the new 
purchase lying between the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers. It 
also included that part of Mifflin County lying south of the Juniata, 
to the Black Log Mountain, and parts of Snyder, Centre and 
Huntingdon Counties. That extensive and original township, Ty- 
rone, is to-day subdivided into six boroughs and fifteen townships. 
As settlement continued and the population demanded smaller units 
of self-government Fermanagh Township, lying northeast of Sher- 
man's Valley, also was subdivided, and all that part of Perry 
County, save the small section lying north and west of Cocolamus 
Creek, was made into a separate township, named Greenwood, in 
1767. That section lying between Cocolamus Creek and the pres- 
ent Juniata boundary, from "the middle of the long narrows, to 
the head of Cocolamus Creek," remained a part of Fermanagh 
Township until the creation of Mifflin County (which included 
present Juniata County), on September 19, 1787, when it was 
thrown into Perry County. This original township lying east of 
the Juniata, named Greenwood, is to-day divided into five town- 
ships and three boroughs. When the new county of Perry was 
erected, in 1820, there were already five townships west of the 
Juniata— Tyrone, Toboyne, Rye, Juniata and Saville, having been 
formed in the order named. The part east of the river at that 
time comprised but two townships. Greenwood and Buffalo. 



The author is indebted to hundreds for information, but especially so to the fol- 
lowing for help on many occasions: J. Earl Sheaffer, New Bloomfield. for assistance 
in searching files; W. Walter Branyan, Local Editor of the Record. Duncannon, for 
the use ot a number of privately owned cuts of scenery; H B Kell and Alton T 
Shumaker Blain; E. C. Dile, Landisburg; S. Maurice Shuler, Liverpool, and II (V 
Martin, Millerstown. ' " 



911 



9 12 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

By referring to the history of the various townships following 
it will be seen that certain farms and parcels of property have been 
an integral part of various different subdivisions. Take the Dun- 
cannon Iron Company property as an example. In 1755 it was 
located in Tyrone Township, Cumberland County. After 1766 it 
was in Rye Township, Cumberland County. After 1820 it was in 
Rye Township, Perry County; after 1826, in Wheatfield Town- 
ship, Perry County, and since 1840, in Penn Township, Perry 
County. 

While the facts relative to the formation of the various town- 
ships will be found in the chapters relating to their history, yet the 
following tables, compiled by the author, may be of service. For 
the convenience of the reader a map showing the townships, as at 
present constituted, can be found on page 6. By reference to it 
the following table will be more easily understood. 

Formation of Townships. 



Township 


Vk 


Formed From 


Line of Descent, Etc. 




= 754 


Original township . 


Comprised all of Perry county 
lying west of Juniata. 




1/63 




Originally included Jackson and 
Madison. 




Rye 


1766 




Originally included Penn, Wheat- 






field, Miller, Oliver, Juniata, 








Tuscarora, and parts of Centre 








and Carroll. Also sites of New- 








port and Bloomfield. 


Greenwood .... 


1767 




Fermanagh was an original town- 
ship of the Purchase of 1754, 
in Cumberland county. Green- 
wood included that part of 
Perry east of Juniata river and 
south of Cocolamus creek. See 
Greenwood township chapter. 




1793 


Rye 


Originally contained all of Tusca- 
rora and Oliver, and parts of 










Miller and Centre. Also sites 








of Newport and Bloomfield. 


Buffalo 


1799 




Originally included all of Howe 
and Watts, and site of New Buf- 
falo. 




1817 




Originally included a part of Cen- 
tre and a small strip of Madi- 












son. 



'Flu- seven townships named above were townships of Cumberland County, 
Ik fori.- Perry was formed, and became the original townships of the new County 
of Perry. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 



9*3 



Township 


Y'r Formed From 


Line of Descent, Etc. 


Liverpool T. . . . 


[823 




Includes Liverpool borough. 


Wheatfield 


1826 


Rye 


Included all of Penn and parts of 
Miller, Centre and Carroll. Also 












site of Duncannon. 




1831 


Saville, Juniata, 


Originally contained parts of Oli- 






Wheatfield and 


ver, Miller, Carroll and Spring. 






Tyrone 




Carroll 


1834 


Tyrone, Rye and 


Originally contained part of 






Wheatfield 


Spring. 




18.36 


Toboyne and a small 


Includes Sandy Hill District, 






strip from both Sa- 


sometimes termed N. E. Madi- 






ville and Tyrone 


son. 


Oliver 


'837 


Juniata, Centre and 


Originally included part of Miller 






Buffalo 


and all of *Howe. Also site of 
Newport. 


Penn 


1840 


Wheatfield 


Once part of Tyrone, then Rye, 
then Wheatfield. 








1844 










site of Blain. 


Spring 


1848 


Tyrone and a strip 




v 




of Centre 




Watts 


1849 


Buffalo 


Once part of Greenwood. New 
Buffalo within its confines. 






Miller 


1852 


Oliver and Wheat- 
field 






1859 


Greenwood and Ju- 
niata 


* 




1861 




Originally in Greenwood, then 
Buffalo, then *01iver. 









*In only two instances were lands from opposite sides of the Juniata combined in 
the same township. The first was in 1837, -when that part of Buffalo which later 
became Howe was attached to Oliver and so remained for twenty-four years, when it 
became Howe Township. The other was when a petition was presented to the Court 
January 4, 1854, asking that the lines of Greenwood Township be altered, to include 
a portion of Juniata Township lying west of and along the Juniata River, in the 
Raccoon Valley. The petition was granted and it was a part of Greenwood Town- 
ship until Tuscarora became a township, in 1859, when it became a part of Tuscarora. 

Laying Out of Towns. 



Town. 


Vk 


Then Located In. 


Township Adjoin- 
ing Now. 


Millerstown 


1790 
1792 

1793 
1804 

1808 
1816 
1816 

1820 
1823 
1840 
1846 
1861 






Petersburg (now Duncannon) 


Rye 








Tyrone. 


Reider's Ferry (now New- 




port) 








Liverpool. 

Toboyne. 


New Germantown 








Baughmanstown (now New 
Buffalo) 


Buffalo 

Tvrone 


Watts. 

Centre. 

Tyrone. 

Jackson. 

Rye and Penn. 


Bloomfield 

Andesville (now Lovsville) . 


Blain 


Rye 


Haley (Marysville) 



58 



(j l 4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 
[ncorporation of Boroughs. 



Nam iC. 



Y'r 



I.im VI ION W HEN 

Formed. 



Location Now — Other Data. 



1 il.i, imfield 

Landisburg 

Liverpool 

Newport 

Petersburg ( Duncan 

linn i 

New Buffalo 

Millerstown 

I [aley i Marysville) 

Blain 



iS.-ii Juniata 



N831 

[832 

1840 
,844 



1866 



1877 



Tyrone 



Liverpool 
Oliver . . . 
Perm 



Buffalo . . . 
Greenwood 
Rye 



Jackson 



Centre, which dates to Aug. 
4, 1 83 1. 

Tyrone. Temporary county 
seat. 

Liverpool. 

I )liver. 

Penn. Name changed to Dun- 
cannon and reincorporated 
in 1865. 

Watts, which dates to 1849. 

Greenwood. 

Rye, borders Penn also. 
Name changed to Marys- 
ville in 1867. 

Jackson. 



It is impossible, in a volume of this size, to include all of the 
warrants and patents for the lands which comprise Perry County, 
as that would take several volumes alone, but some of the earlier 
or more prominent are included. In the case of the history of the 
churches it has been almost impossible to get facts. Manuscript 
sent out to authorities was never returned, with the result that 
much of the work along that line had to be done twice. The rec- 
ords are not as complete for those reasons, as were anticipated in 
the beginning, but will form a foundation upon which to build. 
Some of the history of the early mills and industries has been lost 
forever, much of it appears under a chapter devoted to that topic, 
and some is in the following chapters. In fact, much of the gen- 
eral matter in this volume could have been included in the town- 
ship chapters, but had a more general bearing as county history. 

BloomfieXd Borough — The County Seat. 

The story of the long fight for the county seat and the manner of New 
Bloomfield's selection is dwelt upon at length in the chapter in this book 
devoted to "The Fight for the County Seat." There was no town there 
then ; it was on a farm formerly belonging to Thomas Barnett, from 
whom the Barnett families hailing from New Bloomfield have descended. 
Thomas Barnett had purchased the warrant rights to it in 1784 from David 
Mitchell, who had made some improvements upon it. The tradition is that 
Mitchell had settled there in 1743, but that is wrong, as the lands were not 
purchased from the Indians until 1754, and Mitchell's name is never men- 
tioned in the provincial records among the squatters who were driven from 
the county, and according to these records all persons who had then pre- 
sumed to settle north of the Kittatinny or Blue Mountain were driven out. 
There is evidence, however, that Mitchell did come in during the latter 



* March 14. 
TDecember 23. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 



915 



part of 1753, although the lands were not thrown open until Fehruary 3, 
1755, a full account appearing on page 191 of this book. While David 
Mitchell resided there his son Robert, who later became one of the first 
board of county commissioners, was born. The patent in possession of the 
Barnett family shows that four pounds, fourteen shillings and three pence 
was the price, and according to the old English custom of naming estates 
it is named on the patent "Bloom Field." When the borough was incor- 
porated it too was named Bloomfield, but the post office was named New 
Bloomfield, to distinguish it from an office named Bloomfield, already in 
existence. There is a pretty little story of the town's being laid out in the 
center of a clover field in full bloom, but the patent and other historical 
papers bear out the naming as stated above. 

Thomas Barnett, at the time he warranted the tract, lived at "The Cove," 
that section of Penn Township lying within "the horseshoe." It contained 
four hundred and eighteen acres. The warrant is dated December 19, 1785, 
and the patent, August 17, 1796. The title to the lands passed to a son,' 
George Barnett, on May 10, 1804. On Monday, June 2, 1823, the commis- 
sion appointed by Governor Heister, under the act of March 31, 1823, 
selected the site for the county seat upon the farm. The legislature con- 
firmed the report, and on April 12, 1823, George Barnett, for a considera- 
tion of one dollar, sold to the county cbmmissioners a tract of land on 
both sides of the road leading from Carlisle to Sunbury, comprising eight 
acres and one hundred and thirty-six perches, the tract being 564x684 feet 
in size. He also granted to the county the use forever of a spring, near 
the southwest boundary of the tract, free of all obstructions. To this day 
that spring is known as "the big spring." The deeds for surrounding prop- 
erties contain the same clause granting the privilege of the use of this 
spring. Shortly thereafter the county commissioners employed Robert 
Kelly to plot the town. There were to be three streets running from east 
to west: Main Street, sixty-six feet wide; McClure Street, sixty feet 
wide, and High Street, fifty feet wide. There was to be one street north 
to south, known as Carlisle Street, sixty-six feet wide. It was plotted 
into sixty-four lots. At the intersection of Main and Carlisle Streets a 
public scpiare was laid out, and four square lots abutting the public square 
were reserved for public use. 

The courthouse was erected on the northeast corner plot in 1826, and the 
opposite corner was planned for a market house, which, however, has 
never been built, but instead there is a beautiful shaded lawn, well kept by 
the municipality, and frequently the scene of local gay festivities. The 
trees were donated by public spirited citizens, their cost being $1.00 each. 
Later the lots on the other two corners were sold by the commissioners. 
One is owned by the Sheibley Brothers, on part of which stands the pub- 
lication offices of the Peoples' Advocate and Press, and on part of the 
other the famous old hostelry once known as the Perry House, but now 
as Rhinesmith's Hotel. The first jail was erected in 1825, on McClure 
Street. On June 23, 1824, the county commissioners offered twenty-six 
lots for sale at auction, nearly all of which were purchased, and deeded on 
August 3, 1824. 

There were no buildings on the plot when it was taken over by the 
county, but adjoining it on the north was a church building known as the 
Union Church. The first building was a two-and-a-half-story house, con- 
structed of sawed logs. It was at the southeast corner of Carlisle and 
McClure Streets, and was built by John Attick. The contract for building 
the jail was awarded to John Rice, who then went into business in the 
town and was so engaged until 1850. On May 13, 1824, George Barnett, 
for a consideration of sixty-eight cents, conveyed to the county commis- 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 917 

sioners a tract of five acres of woodland, "situate on the north side of the 
road leading from the Dutch meetinghouse, in Juniata Township, to the 
Blue Ball tavern." Evidently the fuel proposition was being looked after. 

In the sale of lots by the county commissioners, lot No. 1, at the north- 
east corner of the public square, was sold to Andrew Shuman. The state- 
ment sometimes made that "he owned the greater part of Bloomfield," is a 
gross error. The change of the county seat from Landisburg to New 
Bloomfield was accompanied by a change of location for a number of 
business men, among them being James Atchley and John Hippie, who 
kept taverns there ; Robert H. McClelland, a merchant ; Alexander Magee, 
publisher of the Perry Forester, and Charles B. Davis and John D. Creigh, 
attorneys. In the new county seat's early days Dr. Jonas Ickes, in 1826, 
built a tavern house, as they were then known, where the Mansion Hotel 
(until recently) stands. David Lupfer purchased the lot directly north of 
the courthouse, on Carlisle Street, and built a two-story brick tavern build- 
ing which still stands. In 1830 it was licensed as a public house and run 
by him until 1854, after which it passed to others by lease until 1866, when 
George Derick purchased the building and conducted it until his death. 
For a time thereafter Mrs. Derick conducted it as a temperance house. It 
passed through the hands of various men until recently, when it came into 
possession of Theodore K. Long, owner of the Carson Long Institute, who 
remodeled it into a hall for the use of students, it being known as the 
"Eaglerook" Hall. The next lot north was bought by John Hippie, who 
had kept hotel in Landisburg from 1819 until 1826, when he was elected 
sheriff. At the conclusion of his term as sheriff he bought the Warm 
Springs property and kept a tavern there for several years. Captain Wil- 
liam Power owned the next lot, corner of Carlisle and High Streets. 
Robert Kelly, for many years a school teacher and surveyor, bought the 
lot on which the First National Bank is now located. 

Among the early business men and manufacturers were Dr. Jonas Ickes, 
who practiced medicine, kept the post office, a drug store, and a tavern — 
a sort of a small monopoly ; Robert H. McClelland, a tavern and a store 
at different periods; David Deardorff, a tavern; William McCaskey, a 
tailor; Mrs. Jane Axe, millinery; Jeremiah Drexler, a tailor; John Dun- 
bar, cabinetmaker ; Thomas A. Godfrey, merchant ; John Dubbs, a mer- 
chant ; Thomas Black, a merchant, and George Arnold, a shoe shop, em- 
ploying a dozen men, for there were no shoe factories then. John Gotwalt 
was a chairmaker ; Adam M. Axe was a saddler and harness manufac- 
turer, and Robert R. Guthrie, a silversmith. Among the early settlers were 
John Crist, a weaver; Henry Fritz, a mason; Andrew Moyer, a printer; 
Joseph Johnston, a wagonmaker ; David Lupfer, a blacksmith, and James 
Marshall, a tanner. 

Logically, the legal talent followed the courthouse. John D. Creigh, an 
attorney, bought lots on the northwest corner of the square and erected a 
brick house. Charles B. Davis, an attorney, was admitted in 1821 and died 
in 1829. Benjamin Mclntire, an attorney admitted in 1825, located in the 
town soon after the transfer of the county seat and bought of Andrew 
Shuman lot No. 1, adjoining the courthouse, where he lived until the time 
of his death. Conrad Roth began keeping a tavern in 1831 and continued 
until his death, after which it was a temperance house until 1885. 

On September 21, 1824, William McClure, who was a son of William 
McClure I, wno located the lands on which the Perry County Home now 
stands, purchased two lots from George Barnett, upon which he erected a 
tannery. Mr. McClure owned and operated the tannery from 1825 until 
1842, when he sold to Henry S. Forry, who also purchased the Marshall 
tannery and opened a store. Among others who later owned this tannery 



9 i8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

were James McNeal, Wilson McKee, Joseph Page, Bucher & Simpson, and 
Daniel Bucher, Si"., who in 1865 sold it to Samuel A. Peale. Mr. Peale 
operated it until 1873, at which time the business was discontinued. 

In 1830 James Marshall purchased a lot of ground from George Barnett, 
on the south side of McClure Street, and erected a tannery. In 1851 it 
was owned by John Bowers, who sold it to William Peale. After his death 
in i860, it was continued by his son, Samuel A. Peale, until 1866, when it 
was destroyed by hre. It was in this tannery that young Alexander K. 
McClure learned the tanning business, and later gave it up to become a 
newspaper man, which for him was the opening door to national fame. 

The following from the Perry Forester of April 30, 1829, is a pen pic- 
ture of the new county seat : 

"There are now 29 dwelling housess, 21 shops and offices, a courthouse and 
jail, besides other out-houses in this town. There are 4 stores, 5 taverns, 1 
printing office, 2 shoemaker shops, 2 tailor shops, 1 saddler, 4 cabinet makers, 
1 hatter, 1 tinner, 2 blacksmith shops, 2 tanneries, 2 or 3 carpenters, more than 
half a dozen lawyers and half as many doctors. The population of the town 
is about 220. Little more than four years ago, the site upon which the town 
stands was an inclosed cloverfield, without a solitary building upon it." 

William Sponsler, a brewer by occupation, came over from Carlisle, and 
in 1833 purchased from George Barnett a plot of ground on the east side 
of Carlisle Street on which he erected a brew house, continuing in business 
until 1843. For many years thereafter this same building was occupied by 
a foundry. On the west side of Carlisle Street, in the southern section of 
the town, Jeremiah Madden, who had been an associate judge from the 
formation of the county until 1832, located a cooper shop, upon several 
acres of land purchased of Barnett, where he plied his trade. Later it 
was used as a foundry for a few years. 

The old foundry building, recently turned into a garage, was opened 
in 1852, being described by the erector as "at the south end of Carlisle 
Street." An early chair factory at New Bloomfield, operated by Samuel 
Dunbar, continuously employed three or four men. This was unusual, as 
in those days there were few employees in business, most of it being done 
by individuals in shops of their own. 

As early as November 25, 1830, a meeting was held to organize for bet- 
ter protection against fires, which later resulted in the organization of the 
"New Bloomfield Marine Fire Company," which purchased a hand engine 
and other necessary paraphernalia. There have been a number of suc- 
cessors to this early company, which was short-lived. 

Bloomfield was the first town in the county to be incorporated as a bor- 
ough, that act being dated March 14, 1831, and preceding that of Landis- 
burg by nine months. The preliminary meeting was held on November 25, 
1830, to consider the necessity and arrange for petitioning the legislature 
for a borough charter. This date is the same as the one which resulted in 
the organization of the fire company, which leads us to believe that these 
early citizens of the county seat were progressive. In fact, town meetings 
would be a mighty good thing to-day in many places, for frequently the 
one who holds office is not the logical man nor the one best fitted, but 
rather a result of our political system. Alexander Magee was the first 
burgess of the borough. The present town of Bloomfield also occupies a 
part of the 294-acre tract warranted by Jacob Lupfer, August 4, 1787. Mr. 
Lupfer was the ancestor of the numerous Lupfer families of succeeding 
generations, a sturdy strain of whom inhabit not only Pennsylvania, but 
many states of the Union. He was born in Germany, in 1721, emigrated to 
America in 1752, settling in Berks County. He removed to Perry County 
territory in 1776, settling on the claim which bordered his later possession 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 919 

on the west and which was warranted by James Cowan, February 4 I7SS 

-the very first day oi the opening of the land office for these lands This' 

Mer tract is named m the patent as "Rye." The sites of the Lutheran and 

K.-.urmed churches and the old graveyard were a part of this 2 94 -acre 

tract. In the latter burial grounds rest five generations of Lupfers 

I he big spring at New Bloomfield was excepted for general use of sur- 
rounding property owners, and the old deeds contain a clause which g ves 
the purchasers the right to secure water at this spring. The town citizln 
some years ago had it improved with cement surroundings, but of recent 
years the water has been condemned, having been contaminated 

fnor to 1833 two additional plots were laid out in town lot's, one by 
George Barnett, on the north side of High Street, and one by Matthew 
Shuman, bordering the western line. W 

The village for it then was a mere handful of houses, was granted a 
post office under the John Quincy Adams administration in May 18 ' 
with Dr Jonas ekes as postmaster. A list of the men who have held 
that position, with the dates of their assuming it: 

Dr. Jonas Ickes, ,8,5. tDr. Isaac Lefevre. 

Joseph Duncan, 1830. Jose h MiI1 lg6 

R e b X ertp er S e -' l8 « 3S - MrS - EHzabeth Dick -"> 1865. 

Robert R Guthrie, i8 4I . Samuel Roath, 1869. 

Samuel G Morrison, 1845. James B. Clark, 1885 

prances M. Watts. H . C. Shearer, 880 

f m R - cl Guthne - l8 49- A. B. Grosh, 1901. 

Isaac N. Shatto, 185,. William Clegg, 1913 

t Jacob Fenstemacher. y J ' 

The barn on the Barnett farm, now owned by George R. Barnett at- 
torney, was erected in the very year in which the county was formed and 
still stands. The late Frederick and Sarah Barnett, thn children of ' five 
and nine remembered the day of its raising and told of the occurrence 
and the large number of men there, as was the custom occurrence 

Like its sister town, Landisburg, the new county seat celebrated the 
fiftieth anniversary of American Independence, in 1826. Ralph Smiey 
presided and the Declaration of Independence was read by John Harper 
Charles B. Power was the orator for the occasion. A dinner was served 
Sun lJ>? SPnng " Dr ' JO " aS IckGS ' the " I)r0priet » r of ^ "Smg 

The New Bloomfield cemetery land was bought bv Alex- C R-|,'.,L- t«i 
Campbell, Daniel Gantt (later Chief Justice of ScSdO^^^ 
an, plotted in 1854, the lots being i 4 xi6. It is well kept. In 187" he 
southwest corner of the square was burned out, the principal building oe ng 
that of Samuel Wiggins, occupied by him as a residence and by the A"- 
Ples Advocate and Press. The fourth floor was finished for lodgl pur- 
poses and all the town orders then met there, including the Masons Odd 
Fel ows, American Mechanics, Red Med and Good Templars The DeJo 

wtJ" 5 P 1 U J hsh | f.V° r yCarS fr ° m " buiIding °" the ^ ester » ^d of he 
Wiggins plo , which was a present to Mrs. Wiggins from a relative, G Z- 
eral Dowdell, of York. Other buildings burned in this fire were a hotel 
on Carlisle Street a residence on the corner of Carlisle and Mam and a 
building in which there was a marble cutting establishment. In l8 88 th re 
was a fire which burned several residences on the west side of Carhs e 
Street, one of them being the home of the late Judge Junkin. It Joined the 
section burned in the earlier fire. J e(1 tle 

'Filled unexpired term of Morrison, who resigned. 
tSucceeded Shatto during Buchanan administration. 



,,_>,, HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

In [893 the New Bloomfield Water Company was organized, with Dr. 
A. R. Johnston as president and principal in the movement, and the fol- 
lowing year water was piped from the Garland springs, a point somewhat 
over a mile from town. The company supplies water for public and pri- 
vate purposes to the inhabitants. Its capital is $15,000. During 1898 the 
Newport Electric Company, of which Joshua S. Leiby was president, se- 
cured the franchise for lighting the streets and introducing electric lights 
into private residences and business places, the current being carried over- 
land from the plant at Newport. Since then that company and its suc- 
cessors have furnished the borough's electric current. 

Prior to the laying out of the county seat the physicians of Millerstown 
and Milford served the needs of this community. The first physician to 
locate in New Bloomfield, Dr. Jonas Ickes, moved there in 1825, the year 
before it became the county seat. He was born in Montgomery County, 
but his parents removed to Perry County when he was three years old. 
He began practice in Ickesburg in 1820, located in Duncannon in 1823. One 
of his daughters, Susan, was married to General Harding, an Illinois con- 
gressman. He practiced in New Bloomfield for thirty-one years. Dr. 
Vanderslice practiced here from 1827 to 1832, when he died of smallpox. 
Others for short periods were Dr. John H. Doling, 1830; Dr. T. L. Cath- 
cart, 1830, and Dr. Joseph Speck, about 1836, he having previously been at 
Duncannon and returned. From 1840 until his death, in 1849, Dr. John M. 
Laird practiced in New Bloomfield, having been in Millerstown from the 
time of his graduation in 1824 until then. In 1845 or '46 Dr. Miller was 
located here. Prior to 1853 Dr. J. P. Kimball practiced here for a half- 
dozen years. Dr. Joseph Ickes was a son of Dr. Jonas Ickes. He prac- 
ticed with his father here for a short time after his graduation in 1849, 
then located at Manheim, but moved to Duncan's Island, where he died in 
1851. Dr. David F. Fetter located there in 1852, practiced for several 
years, and then located in New York. Dr. Isaac Lefevre succeeded him, 
removing from Loysville in 1855. Dr. Burkley practiced several years 
prior to 1862, when he located in Harrisburg. Dr. E. W. Baily located 
here in i860, but did not remain long. 

Dr. M. B. Strickler, who was a native of Cumberland County, gradu- 
ated at the University of Pennsylvania in 1861. A year later he located at 
New Bloomfield. Dr. Thomas G. Morris, of Liverpool, practiced here 
during the period from 1865-67. After the War between the States Dr. 
David H. Sweeney was located here for a few years, removing to Clear- 
field. Dr. W. D. Ard, a native of Juniata County, graduated at the Uni- 
versity of the City of New York in 1869, and the next year located in New 
Bloomfield, where he practiced until 1881, when he died, aged only thirty- 
five years. He was succeeded by Dr. O. P. Bollinger, who had previously 
practiced at Newport and Milford and who removed to the West in 1885. 
Dr. A. R. Johnston, a native son of Perry County, graduated from the Jef- 
ferson Medical College in 1881 and located in New Bloomfield in 1884. 
He also conducted a drug store here for a long period. He is still in 
active practice. Dr. E. E. Moore graduated from Jefferson Medical Col- 
lege in 1887 and located at his home town, where he still conducts probably 
as wide a practice as any physician in Perry County. Dr. M. I. Stein, Uni- 
versity of Maryland, 1909, located here in 1915. 

A few years after the founding of the town there was a schoolhouse on 
the Barnett farm, south of the mill race, on the road leading to Duncannon, 
which sufficed for a time. It was the first school west of the Susquehanna 
River. (See School chapter.) Later George Barnett donated a lot on 
High Street, east of the present Lutheran Church, which is in use to this 
day for school purposes. Upon this land a small brick schoolhouse was 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 921 

built, but the exact date is a matter of conjecture, yet there is documentary 
evidence that it wasi probably about 1829, as "the stockholders of the 
schoolhouse" met December 26th of that year, at the tavern house of David 
Deardorff, at "early candlelight to attend to important business." On 
March 7, 1831, Alexander Magee, James Hill and Joseph Marshall were 
elected to sit with John Rice and Isaac Reiser as trustees of the school. 
John Heineman taught one term in the tavern house of John Rice in the 
year 1830-31. He also taught in the new school building when completed. 
Teachers following were a man named Lowell, Samuel Black, Samuel 
Ramsey and John L. Amoreaux. As conditions required more room an 
addition was built to the north end, and later a building was erected on the 
south side of McClure Street. The two buildings were in use until 1870, 
when the present building was erected on the old site at a cost of nine 
thousand dollars. 

The establishing of the New Bloomfield Academy, with its interesting 
history, and that of the Carson Long Institute, are a part of the annals of 
New Bloomfield Borough, but in this book belong more properly under the 
chapter devoted to Public Institutions and Academies, where it will be 
found. In 1837 this school was first opened in the corner room of the 
second story of the old Mansion House. In 1919 Theodore R. Long leased 
this building, which had been in use as a hostelry since 1831, and adapted 
it to office and dormitory uses for the Carson Long Institute, as the old 
academy is now known. 

The organization of Adams Lodge, No. 319, Free and Accepted Masons, 
took place at New Bloomfield, under a warrant dated March 1, 1858. It 
was the successor of Golden Rule Lodge, No. 76, organized at Landisburg, 
on June 26, 1825, but which ceased holding meetings about 1833, it having 
been the oldest Masonic Lodge in the Juniata Valley. The first officers of 
the New Bloomfield Lodge were Irvine J. Crane, master; Charles J. T. 
Mclntire, senior warden, and Alexander C. Kling, junior warden. 

Probably the women's club longest in existence in Perry County is the 
Women's Club of New Bloomfield, affiliated with the State Federation of 
Pennsylvania Women, and classed as a literary club with departments. It 
was organized in the fall of 1890, under the title, "Chautauqua Literary and 
Scientific Circle," which name was only changed when joining the State 
Federation, in 1908, for uniformity's sake. It organized with eleven mem- 
bers. Early officers were Mrs. A. R. Johnston, president, and Miss Char- 
lotte Barnett, secretary. As its name at first implied, it is devoted to liter- 
ary work. One of the first acts of this club was the purchase of a piano 
for use in the courthouse, where practically all entertainments of a public 
nature— save religious— take place. Churches are allowed its use free for 
all charitable objects, but others are charged a small fee. The Women's 
Community Club was organized December 6, 1920, with Mrs. J. T. Alter, 
president; Mrs. A. R. Johnston, vice-president; Miss Elizabeth H. Roth, 
secretary, and Miss M. Zulu Swartz, treasurer. Its object is "to create 
good fellowship, and cultivate social, intellectual and civic interest. The 
Community Club meets every two weeks in the chapel of the Carson Long 
Institute and has held several public meetings in the courthouse, its finances 
being so far principally devoted to those charities which are world-wide 
and which since the great war have been so pressing. 

The first Woman's Christian Temperance Union in New Bloomfield was 
organized in December, 1884. The first officers were : Mrs. Elizabeth W. Orr, 
president; Mrs. A. H. F. Fischer, vice-president; Mrs. Amanda Abrams, 
treasurer; Miss Charlotte Barnett, secretary. A bill requiring the teach- 
ing of physiology, with special reference to the effects of narcotics on the 
human body was at that time before the legislature, and the first work of 



I )-'-' 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



the newly organized union was the securing of signers to petitions favoring 
the passage of the bill. The union continued its work, holding meetings at 
the homes of the members, and doing various kinds of work, among which 
was the presentation of remonstrances to the license court. The first re- 
monstrance was presented in 1888. After some years of work, the union 
lapsed, but was reorganized during the winter of 1910-11. 

New Bloomfield is not a manufacturing town, but has a planing mill and 
a hosiery mill. The hosiery mill was established in 1903, by W. H. Dar- 
lington and H. E. Clouser, trading as Darlington & Clouser. In 1917 Mr. 
Darlington purchased the other interest and now operates the plant. 

With the stopping of the sale of intoxicants most of the hotels in the 
county went out of business, but this was not the case with Hotel Rhine- 
smith, in New Bloomfield. This was long known as the Perry House, but 
was purchased by the late D. M. Rhinesmith in 1889, and conducted by him 
from 1890 to 1895, when it was rebuilt by the present proprietor, H. B. 
Rhinesmith. 

According to the report of the mercantile appraiser the following per- 
sons are engaged in business in Bloomfield Borough, the date following 
their names being the date when they began business : 

General Stores, G. W. Garber, G. W. Keller. 

Groceries, C. O. Davis (1918), Amos Sheaffer. 

Notions, Clarence Askins (1911). 

Lumber, Chas. h. Darlington (1912), Hoffman & Tressler. 

Auto Supplies, D. Boyd Alter (1914). 

Stoves and tinware, J. A. Spahr (1883), established by George Spahr in 
[848. This is the oldest established business in Bloomfield. 

Implements, B. F. Keller (191 9). 

Perry Mercantile Co. (James L. Butz), clothing; Thomas Bender, cigars; 
H. B. Rhinesmith, hotel ; H. Earl Book, drugs ; Frank Eckerd, meat market ; 
W. J. Grenoble, jewelry (1917) ; Robert A. McClure, grain and feed (1920) ; 
Hoffman & McClure (1918), established by W. H. F. Garber in Nepwort in 
1878, and in 1889 at Bloomfield; J. C. Motter, lumber; Nickel Furniture Co. 
(1920), established by Jacob Fenstemacher, whose successor was A. P. Nickel 
(1870); Harry Shellehamer, meat market; Charles Rouse, furniture, estab- 
lished by George A. Rouse & Bro. (1873) ; Harriet Nickel, millinery; W. H. 
Cupp & Son, vehicles ; Bretz & Tressler, Sheller Bretz, Gutshall's Garage & 
Machine Co., garages. 

The Old Union Church. On Saturday, June 19, 1798, the first church in 
New Bloomfield, the Old Union log church, was raised. It was erected 
jointly by the Lutheran and German Reformed congregations, and was 
36x30 feet in size. Each parishioner who was able to do so brought one 
or more logs of white pine, oak or poplar, as his contribution towards its 
erection. Heavy crossbeams were inserted for the support of a gallery, 
but that was not added until twenty-two years later. Soon after its erec- 
tion Andrew Shuman covered it with a substantial roof and thus it stood, 
il is said, doorless, windowless and without a floor, until 1802. It con- 
tained no stove and was used only in summer. The seats were of slabs 
and the preacher stook back of a rough wooden table. During the winter 
the meetings were held in private dwellings, when held at all, they being 
few and far between. The minister resided at Carlisle and the roads were 
only roads in name at that time. 

The church was built on an acre and a half of land which Jacob Lupfer 
sold to them for twelve dollars. He had located it in 1787, according to 
the land office. It was surveyed for church purposes in 1802 and deeded to 
the two congregations, May 14, 1804. The graveyard was laid out soon 
thereafter and the first interment was that of Peter Moses. The site is 
the old High Street site in the borough, and at that time was surrounded 
by woods, the nearest homes being those of Thomas Barnett and David 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 923 

Lupfer. Where the schoolhouse now stands was a frog pond, and between 
it and the big spring was a lowland covered with green briar and other 
underbrush. 

In 1820 it was completed, seats being constructed on the board floor and 
a high pulpit similar in design to a wine glass was erected. The ceiling 
was arched, the gallery built and windows put in. It was plastered and 
the woodwork painted white, and was then called Christ's Church. 

On October 4, 1857, Rev. D. H. Focht preached at the last service held 
in the old log church, and from his discourse are gathered many facts in- 
cluded in this article. As it had long been uncomfortable an effort had 
been begun in 1855 looking to the erection of a new church. The German 
Reformed and Lutheran churches then divided equally the ground and on 
it to-day are located well-kept brick churches in which each have their 
exclusive title. Even the timbers of the old edifice were equally and 
amicably divided. The new Lutheran Church was erected under the super- 
vision of a building committee composed of Samuel Comp, Dr. Jonas 
Ickes, Henry Rice, John Beaver, Sr., and Jacob Stouffer. It was dedicated 
October 22, 1857, and cost three thousand dollars, a mere fraction of what 
the cost would be now. It was remodeled in 1885. 

Christ's Lutheran Church. The Lutheran congregation had its begin- 
ning in the old log church as stated above, which came to known as Christ's 
Church in 1820, the year of the county's formation. Of some of the orig- 
inal Lutheran families to worship at the log church were the Comp and 
Shover families, who settled there about 1780; the Cless family, in 1785; 
the Clark, Fritz and Myers families, about 1790; the Westfall, Slough, 
Smith, Crist and Sweger families, between then and 1800, and the Roth 
family, in 1803. These were among those who formed the nucleus of this 
congregation. When a minister came they gathered from distances as far 
apart as twelve miles to hear the gospel. Private dwellings, barns, school- 
houses and the forests themselves were the scenes of their devotions. 
Tradition says (probably) Rev. John G. Butler, of Carlisle, came over 
occasionally to preach between 1780 and 1788. 

About that time Rev. John T. Kuhl commenced visiting and preaching 
throughout the Sherman's Valley. In 1790 he located near Loysville, and 
between 1788 and 1795 he preached also to the scattered members of the 
little congregation at what is now New Bloomfield. Rev. John Herbst, of 
Carlisle, in 1796 began serving the congregations of Sherman's Valley, and 
to him is likely due the credit for organizing the congregation here. In 
1801 Rev. Herbst resigned the Carlisle charge and then there was no regu- 
lar pastor until 1809, when Rev. John Frederick Osterloh assumed charge 
of the congregations of Sherman's Valley, serving until 1816. In June, 
1816, Rev. John William Heim, that famous old circuit rider, became the 
leader of the Lutherans of the valley and served New Bloomfield until 
his death in December, 1849. He preached once every four weeks, and 
only in the German language. 

In September, 1842, the West Pennsylvania Synod of the Lutheran 
Church was held at New Bloomfield, and some of the ministers preached 
in the English language, with the result that some of the membership de- 
sired Mr. Heim to associate with himself a pastor who could use the Eng- 
lish language, which he either would not or did not do. Rev. A. H. Loch- 
man, then president of the Western Pennsylvania Synod, sent Rev. Levi T. 
Williams, who was stationed at Petersburg (Duncannon), to preach a trial 
sermon. He was also to preach in German, but finding friction with the 
German-speaking membership, induced Rev. Jacob Scholl, a German Re- 
formed minister, to fill those appointments for him. Finding all efforts in 
vain to reconcile them it was decided to organize an entirely separate con- 



9 2 A 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



gregation of English Lutherans. It was effected Friday, June 14, 1844, the 
officers being Jacob Crist, Sr., and David Deardorff, elders, and H. C. 
Hickok, and George Attick, deacons. Their first services were held in 
the schoolhouse, but the Presbyterians then invited them to use their 
church edifice. Rev. Williams resigned in 1845. In 1848 the German Lu- 
therans had again invited the English membership to use its building as a 
place of worship. Rev. Lloyd Knight, a resident, then became pastor until 
1849. He was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Martin, under whose pastorate the 
two congregations became one. 

In July, 1849, when he became pastor, the charge comprised New Bloom- 
field, Petersburg, Billow's (St. David's), Mt. Pisgah, Newport, Buffalo 
(near Ickesburg), and New Buffalo. With the close of 1849 Father Heim 
passed away and a convention of the Lutheran churches of Perry County 
met in New Bloomfield during February, 1850, and divided the field 
into three pastorates, called the Loysville, the New Bloomfield and the 
Petersburg charges. Rev. Martin was assigned to the New Bloomfield 
pastorate, which included the churches at Newport, Shuman's or St. An- 
drew's, St. John's, near Markelville, and Buffalo, near Ickesburg. As Rev. 
Martin could preach in both languages he was logically made the pastor of 
the New Bloomfield charge and thus also became the regular successor 
of Father Heim as the pastor of the German-speaking branch. He 
preached once every three weeks there, alternately in English and German. 
He resigned in June, 1853. Since that time the pastors of this congrega- 
tion have been : 

1854 — Rev. Adam T. Height. 1889-95 — Rev. Chas. Fickinger. 

1855-63— Rev. D. H. Focht. 1895-00— Rev. A. J. Rudisill. 

1863-65 — Rev. P. P. Lane. 1900-01 — Rev. Geo. A. Greiss. 

1866-68— Rev. G. F. Schaffer. 1901-05— Rev. Chas. M. Nicholas. 

1869-72 — Rev. S. A. Hedges. 1906-13 — Rev. W. J. Wagner. 

1873-78— Rev. R. Sheeder. 1913 — Rev. A. R. Longenecker. 

1879-82 — Rev. A. H. Spangler. 1914-20 — Rev. Jno. W. Weeter. 

1883-89 — Rev. A. H. F. Fisher. 1921- — Rev. S. M. Kornman. 

Trinity Reformed Church. Uniting with the Lutherans of the vicinity, 
as recorded on the foregoing page, the members of the Reformed faith in 
the vicinity helped build the Old Union church, a log structure, in 1798. 
All the Reformed people of Sherman's Valley then comprised one charge. 
Just who the first pastor of that faith at New Bloomfield was will for- 
ever be a mystery, but it is believed to have been Rev. Ulrich Heininger, 
an itinerant preacher of the word, who preached throughout the territory 
from 1789 to 1802. Succeeding ministers in the territory were: Rev. 
Samuel Dubbendorf, 1790-95; Rev. Anthony Hautz, 1798-1804; Rev. Jona- 
than Helfenstein, 1805-11; Rev. Albert Helfenstein, 1811-19. In 1819 Rev. 
Jacob Scholl was made pastor of the entire charge, which of course, in- 
cluded Trinity church. He continued in charge until his death, September 
4, 1847. 

In 1855, coincident with the similar effort of the Lutheran Church, a 
movement was started for the erection of a new church, not however until 
overtures had been made to the Lutheran congregation, with a view of 
building a new Union church. The Lutheran Synod, however, had 
frowned upon further building of union churches generally and so the ef- 
fort failed. David Lupfer, John McKeehan, George W. Meek, Charles 
Bo vies and Jacob Mogel were appointed a building committee. On Sep- 
tember 20, 1857, the new church was dedicated. 

As early as 1838 an effort was made to divide the Sherman's Valley 
charge into two, and a year later it was consummated. The matter of 
language was also producing friction in this denomination, similar to that 
of the Lutherans. After this division the New Bloomfield charge consisted 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 925 

of six congregations: Trinity, New Bloomfield ; Christ's, Newport; St. 
John's, Markelville; St. Andrew's, Shuman's (now Eshcol) ; St. David's, 
Fio Forge; and Zion's, Fishing Creek. After Rev. Scholl's death, in 1847, 
Rev. Daniel Ganz was pastor until 1851, when Rev. Samuel Kuhn suc- 
ceeded him, serving eleven and a half years. It was then decided to reduce 
the number of churches to four by uniting Zion's with St. David's, and St. 
Andrew's to the Blain charge. Succeeding pastors were : 

1863-67— Rev. David W. Kelly. 1876-81— Rev. John Kretzing. 

1867-70— Rev. Wm. F. Colliflower. 1881-00— Rev. W. R. H. Deatrich. 

i< s 7i-75 — Rev. James Crawford. 1901-21 — Rev. J. T. Fox (still there). 

During 191 1 the church was remodeled, the repairs including memorial 
windows, etc. 

Bloomfield Presbyterian Church. When the new town of Bloomfield 
was laid out the members of the Presbyterian faith residing in the vicinity 
had been attendants at either the Middle Ridge or Limestone Ridge, some- 
times known as "Sam Fisher's Church," both of which were distant points. 
Among these were the Maddens, the Barnetts, the McKees, the Neilsons, 
and others. Just as Limestone Ridge had been abandoned, ten years be- 
fore, being weakened by the organization of Landisburg and Buffalo, so 
did the organization of the New Bloomfield church and the subsequent 
withdrawal of many of the communicants to unite with it and the church 
at Millerstown, weaken and forecast the end of the old Middle Ridge 
Church. Rev. John Niblock, who was the pastor of the churches at the 
mouth of the Juniata, Sherman's Creek and Middle Ridge from 1826 to 
1830, lived for a short time in Juniata Township, but chose to reside at the 
new county seat. Occasionally he conducted services in the courthouse, 
with the result that early in 1831, other data makes certain, a congregation 
was organized. While no such record is available, yet an advertisement of 
Benjamin Mclntire, secretary of the trustees, dated April 21, 1831, invited 
proposals for building a brick church, 43x45, with a height of twenty-two 
feet, and including a gallery, at Carlisle and High Streets. Rev. Niblock 
died in August, 1831, at New Bloomfield, and the erection of the church 
lagged. The three churches over which Rev. Niblock presided were then 
without a pastor until 1833, when Rev. Matthew B. Patterson was sent by 
the Presbytery as a supply. David Lupfer had the contract, and early in 
the summer had completed the excavation and had the walls almost up 
when a continuous soaking rain, followed by a high wind, toppled them. 
The resultant delay retarded completion until 1835. It was in use until 
1870, when it was succeeded by the present brick church, which was built 
at a cost of seven thousand dollars. 

On October 2, 1833, the church asked Presbytery for recognition, and on 
November 30, 1833, it was perfected. Bloomfield, Ickesburg and Landis- 
burg was formed into a charge, and Rev. John Dickey called December 23, 
1834. He is described as a man of gentleness, but great firmness. Rev. 
Dickey remained until 1854, when he resigned. He died during the next 
year. Supplies then served for a time, and in 1857 the Bloomfield church 
united with those at Petersburg (Duncannon) ' and Sherman's Creek. 
Rev. William B. Craig served then from 1857 to 1867, when Bloomfield 
decided to become a separate charge and called a pastor. The pastors since 
then have been 

1868-70 — Rev. P. H. K. McComb. 1894-02— Rev. Frank T. Wheeler. 

1870-83 — Rev. John Edgar. 1902- — Rev. I. Potter Hays. 

1884-92 — Rev. Robert F. McClean. 

Since 1885 the Shermansdale (formerly Sherman's Creek Church) 
church has been served by the New Bloomfield pastors. In 1907 the church 
was improved by being frescoed and the replacing of the ten windows with 



926 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



memorial windows. At the same time Mr. Ward Rice, of Los Angeles, 
California, presented to the church a very fine pipe organ, as a memorial to 
his parents, William and Caroline Milligan Rice. 

Jn connection with the membership of the old Middle Ridge Church, 
who desired transfer to the New Bloomfield Presbyterian Church, the fact 
might be noted that the original petition is in the possession of the session 
of the church here, and with it are several old envelopes addressed to Rev. 
Matthew B. Patterson, bearing the Mercersburg postmark. The following 

is a copy: 

"We, the undersigned, members of the Middle Ridge church, wishing to 
join the church about to be organized at Bloomfield, respectfully ask for cer- 
tificates of dismission for that purpose: 

"Absalom Martin, Win. M. McClure, Ann Martin, Sarah Roth, Mary Hill, 
I aims McKee, Jonas Ickes, Mary L. Ickes, Susan A. Ickes, Jeremiah Madden, 
Tames Madden* Susannah Madden, Matilda A. Madden, Joseph Duncan, B. 
Mclntire, Sarah Beatty, Mary McKee, Phebe McClure. 

"Joseph Johnston, George Barnett, Jane Barnett, Sarah Barnett, Mary Fritz, 
Eliza Power, G. W. Power, Mary Marshall, James Humes, Molly Humes, 
Julianna Humes, James McCafferty, Emilia McCarferty, Gowdy Boyd, Mary 
Scrog.ys, Mary Harshey, William Neilson, Rebecca Neilson." 

From this church there entered the ministry Rev. William A. West, D.D., 
Rev. S. B. Neilson, Rev. Harris G. Rice, Rev. J. S. Roddy, Rev. Donald 
McCleur, who went to Siam as a missionary, but was obliged to return on 
account of his health, and the martyr missionary, John R. Peale. 

Methodist Episcopal Church. The first services held by the Methodists 
in New Bloomfield was on June 18, 1829, in the courthouse, "at early 
candlelight," by Rev. Tarring. An organization was formed shortly after- 
wards and John Gotwalt, Adam M. Axe, Noah Hedden, Samuel Hedden 
and William McCroskey were named as trustees. On October 29, 1830, 
the trustees purchased a lot from George Barnett, on High Street, and in 
1831 erected a church. Unlike many other churches, the Methodist Epis- 
copal Church assigns its pastors through a conference committee, and fre- 
quent changes often occur. Accordingly the list of pastors is lengthy, as 
follows : 



Rev. Daniel Hartman. 

Rev. Lanahan. 

Rev. Elisha Butler. 

Rev. David Shover. 

Rev. Alexander McClay. 

Rev. Parker. 

Rev. James Brady. 

Rev. Geo. A. Stephenson. 

Rev. Cornelius. 

Rev. Enos. 

Dr. Coffin. 

Rev. G. W. Elliot. 
1848 — Rev. W. A. McKee. 
1851-52 — Rev. J. W. Haughawout. 
1853 — Rev. David C. Castleman. 

1855 — Rev. D. S. Monroe. 

1856 — Rev. Gideon H. Day. 

1 857-58 — Rev. Cambridge Graham. 

Rev. W. H. Keith. 
1850-60 — Rev. J. Y. Rothrock. 

— Rev. j. B. Mann. 
[861-62 — Rev. M. S. Mendenhall. 
-Rev. M. K. Foster. 
-Rev. F. B. Riddle. 
Rev. S. A. Creveling. 
1866-67— Rev. Franklin Gerhart. 
Rev. J. C. Heagy. 



^67 —Rev. G. W. Izer. 
1868-70 — Rev. George W. Bause. 
1869-70 — Rev. William Schreiber. 
1 87 1 — Rev. E. Shoemaker. 
1872-74 — Rev. A. W. Decker. 

Rev. L. F. Smith. 
1875-76 — Rev. George W. Dunlap. 

Rev. W. H. Bowen. 

Rev. J. H. S. Clark. 
1877-79 — R ev - John H. Cleaver. 
1880-82 — Rev. James M. Johnston. 
[883-84 — Rev. j. A. McKendless 
1884-86— Rev. Thomas M. Griflth. 
1886-89— Rev. R- H. Wharton. 
1889-93— Rev. R. H. Stine. 
1893-95 — Rev. J. K. Knisely. 
1895-98— Rev. W. H. Stevens. 
1898-01— Rev. H. K. Ash. 
1901-02 — Rev. T. S. Stansfield. 
1002-04 — Rev. J. R. Shipe. 
1904-06 — Rev. Walter G. Steele. 
1906-09 — Rev. H. C.. Burkholder. 
1909-13 — Rev. E. C. Keboch. 
1913-15 — Rev. W. G. Mcllnay. 
191 5- 1 9 — Rev. H. C. Knox. 
1919-20 — Rev. Roy S. Cuddy. 
1920- — Rev. L. L. Owens. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 927 

On December 4, 1910, a new church was dedicated, its location being a 
Main and Church Streets, its cost having been over $16,000. It is 50x90 
feet in size, and is built of cement blocks. The trustees at the time of its 
building were: W. C. Lebo, J. A. McCroskey, J. J. Rice, P. S. Dunbar, 
George Kling, F. D. Parson, James M. Burd and W. H. Cupp. The build- 
ing committee was Rev. E. C. Keboch, P. S. Dunbar, J. J. Rice and W. 
C. Lebo. 

U. B. Church. The New Bloomfield United Brethren Church is the re- 
sult of meetings having been held at Jericho schoolhouse, in Centre Town- 
ship, for many years, by the Shermansdale pastor. The church, a well 
built brick structure, stands on Barnett Street, having been built in 1896. 
The building committee was composed of Andrew Clouser, George Kerr, 
Daniel Garlin, David Sweger, I. G. Brunner, John Owens and Rev. Barn- 
hart. The Shermansdale pastors fill the pulpit. See Carroll Township. 

Blain Borough. 

The borough of Blain nestles in the famous Sherman's Valley, near the 
western end of the county, the center of a veritable garden spot. It is a 
neat, well-kept town and the smallest borough in Pennsylvania to own its 
own water plant and electric street lighting system. Jacob Wentz was 
largely instrumental in the construction of the first water plant, which 
was built about 1869 or 1870, and was incorporated in 1877, when the bor- 
ough water bonds were issued. 

By an order of the Perry County court dated November 3, 1877, Blain 
Borough, the last of the townships and boroughs in the county to be or- 
ganized, was incorporated. The order of the court gave the boundaries 
thus : 

"Beginning at a post on the lands of James Woods, Esq. ; thence by lands 
of D. Gutshall, James F. McNeal and Samuel Woods, north twenty-seven de- 
grees west, two hundred and twenty-four perches to a post ; thence by lands 
of William Hall and others, south fifty-one and a half degrees west, one hun- 
dred and sixty-six perches to a post : thence by lands of W. W. Woods and 
Isaac Buttorf, south twenty-six and a half degrees east, one hundred and 
eighty perches to a post ; thence by lands of Isaac Buttorf and Isaac Stokes 
and James Woods, Esq., north sixty-seven degrees east, one hundred and 
sixty-four perches to a post and place of beginning. The annual borough elec- 
tion shall be held at the public schoolhouse in said borough on the third Tues- 
day in February, in accordance with and subject to all the provisions of the 
laws regulating municipal elections, and said borough shall be a separate elec- 
tion and school district ; the court further decree and fix the first election for 
said borough for the election of the officers provided for by law, to be held at 
the public schoolhouse in said borough on the third Tuesday in February, A. D. 
1878, between the hours of 7 o'clock a. m. and 7 p. m. of said day; and desig- 
nate George H. Martin, Esq., to give notice of said election and the manner 
thereof ; and the court further decree that Wilson Messimer be the judge and 
Samuel Woods and James B. Moreland be the inspectors of said elections." 

Blain had its beginning in the early settlement which grew up about the 
mill erected by James Blaine in 1778, after whom the town took its name. 
The final "e" has been dropped, but from what date or why it is impossible 
to state. County newspaper files use the "e" in the town name in 1856 
and during the intervening period from then to 1868. Early in the last 
century this mill came into the possession of William Douglas, although 
David Moreland is assessed with it in 1814. Douglas succeeeded in get- 
ting a post office located there named Douglas' Mills. This is the mill 
known as the Stokes' mill to the present generation. Anthony Black, 
named as an early schoolmaster, purchased the "McNeal" farm and the 
Stokes mill from David Moreland, successor to Douglas, and had the name 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 929 

of the post office changed from Douglas' Mill to *Multicaulisville, in honor 
of the moras multicauUs, or Italian mulberry tree in which he was finan- 
cially interested. According to Hazard's U. S. Register, 1839, there was 
a widespread speculation in these trees, the prices varying from ten cents 
to a dollar each. The number of trees changing hands in Pennsylvania 
alone amounted to over 300,000. The business seems to have been con- 
ducted somewhat upon the principle of many of the stock-selling schemes 
of the present day. Extensive preparations were made for the enterprise 
and many trees were planted, but in 1841 Mr. Black died. By 1842 most 
of the trees were dug up. As early as 1839, three years before his death, 
Hazard's Register exposed the whole business. He had been a merchant 
and was well-to-do. He called his store the "Multicaulisville Emporium," 
the sign being distinctly remembered by Wilson Morrison. The location 
was the Solomon Gutshall place. 

Dr. William Hays purchased three acres from Francis Wayne Woods in 
1846 and divided it into twelve lots, this being a part of the land war- 
ranted by James Blaine in 1765. Solomon Bower I, built a house and 
blacksmith shop early in the last century, and John Seager and William 
Sheibley built houses in 1846. When the lots were laid out in 1846, James 
and Francis Wayne Woods got the name of the post office changed to 
Blain. The present school building was erected as an Odd Fellows' hall 
in the early seventies, and was purchased a few years later and remodeled 
for a schoolhouse. Among the early merchants were Anthony Black, John 
Stockton, David Wentzell and A. B. Grosh. Mr. Grosh, in 1919, told of 
remembering when it had but three houses, upon his first visit in 1846, as a 
boy of six. The Blain hotel was a licensed house until 1884, and at vari- 
ous times after that before the county "went dry" it was licensed. Among 
the proprietors were John Sheibley, who later became sheriff, and D. M. 
Rhinesmith, who had previously been sheriff. 

In 1852 Arnold Faughs built a tannery which he operated by steam. He 
sold to James F. McNeal in i860. It gave employment to many men until 
September, 1878, when it was destroyed by fire. It was never rebuilt. 
Harry Hall now owns the farm on which it was located. 

The first schoolhouse was on church hill, where the Presbyterian Church 
is located. Just when it was erected there is no way of knowing, but it 
was still standing in 1815. William Smiley was one of the early teachers, 
as was also Miss Gainor Harris, whom he married. As far as can be 
ascertained she was probably the first female teacher in the county. This 
building was replaced by a stone schoolhouse,. which the older people can 
yet recall. There was another building near the "German meetinghouse" 
(the Lutheran and Reformed church) at which Mrs. Gainor Harris Smiley 
taught while her husband taught on church hill. S. G. Smith, yet living 
(1920) and now over eighty years of age, attended the stone building and 
recollects when the enrollment was as high as 116 pupils. The first build- 
ing was a log one with but three windows, each having three window lights 
8x10 inches in size. An act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, dated Febru- 
ary 19, 1845, made the church hill schoolhouse the voting place for Jack- 
son Township. See School chapter for facts about the Vocational School's 
beginning. 

Postmasters at Blain have included William Douglas, Anthony Black, 
Capt. David Moreland, Thomas Seager, J. C. Rickard, Wilson Messimer, 
A. D. Garber and D. P. Stokes. 

The oldest lodge there is Blain Lodge, No. 706, I. O. of O. F., chartered 



*A. B. Grosh, born in 1846, who died during the past year, remembered seeing this 
name on a sign there in 1852, 

59 



yp HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

April 25, 1870, with John M. Evril, noble grand, and W. D. Messimer, 
secretary. 

The Plain business men, according to the report of the mercantile ap- 
praiser, are as follows, the date being the year of beginning the business: 

General stores, J. C. Rickard, Smith & Stine, S. M. Woods, the latter being 
the former Garber stand — an old one. 

1). W. Sheaffer (1808). groceries; S. L. Rickard (1873, saddlery; W. H. 
Book, flour and feed; Israel Lupfer, coal and feed; M. L. Wentzell, Wentzell 
& Stambaugh, lumber ; W. H. Sheaffer, machinery ; Paul Shreffler, meat mar- 
ket ; S. L. Bistline, confectionery : Henry & Smith, hardware ; H. B. Kell, 
jewelry: J. A. Snyder, confectionery; S. L. Bistline, cigars; C. R. Hench & 
Bro., George Stokes, oils; M. L. Smith, millinery; G. D. Flickinger, stoves. 
Isaac Stokes was in business from 1857 to 1907, when he was succeeded by 
David P. Stokes. 

Dr. G. Milton Bradfield located at Blain in 1865, remaining a decade, and 
being succeeded by Dr. F. A. Gutshall, a graduate of the University of 
Pennsylvania, 1866, who had been located previously at New Germantown. 
Others to locate there were Dr. Chas. E. Gregg, a graduate of the Medico- 
Clti., '93, and Dr. H. W. Woods, a graduate of the Baltimore University 
School of Medicine, '98, and of Maryland Medical College, '99. Dr. E. C. 
Kistler has long been located there. 

Zion Lutheran Church. The Zion Lutheran Church, located in Blain, 
was erected jointly by the Lutheran and Reformed congregations. It was 
located on the original Abraham Mitchell tract, which James Adams owned 
in 1800. January 10, 1801, he deeded two acres for church and burial pur- 
poses to Henry Zimmerman, Adam Hubler, Christopher Bower, and Peter 
Brown, trustees, "for building a German meetinghouse." The price was 
twenty-five pounds Pennsylvania currency. In the possession of Clark 
Bower, Member of Assembly from Perry County, and himself a member 
of the Blain Lutheran Church, is the old agreement for the purchase of 
the cemetery plot. It follows : 

Articles of an agreement made and concluded this 13th day of December, 
1800, by and between James Adams, Junior, of Toboyne Township, Cumberland 
County, and Henry Simmerman, Adam Hoobler, Christopher Bower, and Peter 
Brown, "trustees for a certain piece of land undermentioned to build a meet- 
ing house on." 

For two acres of land off the northeast corner of his land, adjoining James 
Morrison's land; "and said trustees do obligate ourselves to pay twenty-five 
pound specie upon the first day of January next." Adams "is to give privilege 
of a road from the Great Road to said land. 

One of the witnesses is James Blaine. 

Prior to this time Rev. John Herbst had been holding services at the 
homes of members. In the meantime Reverends Sanno and Osterloh 
preached here, there being no regular organization. In 1815 came Rev. 
John William Heim, who organized the Lutheran congregation and re- 
mained its pastor until 1849. The first officers were: John Seager, Henry 
Zimmerman, elders ; Abraham Bower, Solomon Bower, John Stambaugh, 
deacons. 

Not until 1816 was an effort made to erect the church. It was dedicated 
July, 1817, and named Zion Church. The building was of stone, with a 
high gallery at three sides, its dimensions being 40x50. It seated over six 
hundred. It had a cupola and bell, and an altar balustrade. The pulpit 
was a high one reached by a flight of steps, and had a sounding board sus- 
pended above. The building cost about five thousand dollars, which in that 
day was much money to be expended on a rural church, and was considered 
strictly modern. From the advent of Rev. Heim until its division from the 
Loysville charge in October, 1858, its pastors were the same as those of 



BOROUGHS, TOWNvSHIPS AND VILLAGES 931 

Lebanon Church at Loysville: Rev. Frederick Ruthrauff, 1850-52; Rev. 
Reuben Weiser, 1853-55; Rev. Philip Willard, 1856-58. 

In i860 a parsonage was erected. In 1859 Rev. John T. Williams be- 
came pastor of the Blain charge, which included St. Paul's and the church 
at Buffalo Mills. He remained until 1865. His successors have been : 

1865-67— Rev. W. I. Cutter. 1891-94— Rev. W. H. Dale. 

1867-72— Rev. T. K. Secrist. 1894-03— Rev. J. B. Lau. 

1872-73— Rev. R. H. Clark. 1903-05 — Rev. J. W. Weeter. 

1873-81 — Rev. J. R. Frazer. 1906-07 — Rev. R. T. Vorberg. 

1882-83— Rev. M. L. Heisler. 1907-18— Rev. J. C. Reighard. 

1883-90 — Rev. I. P. Neff. 1919- — Rev. G. Robert Heini. 

During the pastorate of Rev. W. D. Rodrick, of the Reformed Church, 
and of Rev. W. I. Cutter, of the Lutheran Church, in 1866, a large brick 
church was erected to take the place of the old one, being again built as a 
joint building for both congregations. 

These two congregations — the Lutherans and Reformed — continued to 
worship in the same building until March, 1898, when the Lutherans pur- 
chased the interest of the Reformed people in the building and plot and 
erected a new church at a cost of $10,000, which was dedicated in March, 
1899. A few years later a pipe organ was installed at a further cost of 
over $1,000. 

In 1919 the old stone parsonage, built in i860, was renovated and par- 
tially rebuilt. The firm old stone walls were left standing, only re- 
pointed. The whole property was beautified and repaired at a cost of 
about $4,300. The present pastor, who occupies it, is a great-grandson of 
the original organizer of the congregation, Rev. John William Heim, who 
came on horseback and preached while his horse was being fed so that he 
could leave at once for his next church, having a large charge. The latter 
statement is made by Solomon Gutshall, born in 1839, who remembers the 
occurrence. 

The shingles for this first Lutheran church at Blain were brought from 
Horse Valley, over the Conococheague Mountain, near New Germantown, 
on horseback and on the backs of men, Rev. Heim himself joining in the 
work. The singing and services were in German, and the collections were 
taken in a small receptacle attached to a long pole, the pews being deep. 

Blain M. E. Church. About 1830, the Methodists of Blain were first or- 
ganized, David Moreland and William Sheibley being principally interested. 
The first services were held in homes and schoolhouses. In 1855 a brick 
church was built on lands purchased of David M. Black, by the congrega- 
tion. This church belonged to the New Bloomfield Circuit (where the pas- 
tors' names will be found) until 1877, when Blain was made a separate 
charge. The pastors of the Blain charge have been as follows : 

,877-70— Rev. M. C. Piper. 1899 —Rev. W. C. Charlton. 

1880-81 - Rev. J. W. Ely. 1900-03— Rev. John T. Bell. 

1882-83 — Rev. J. L. Leilich. 1904 — Rev. W. W. Sholl. 

1884-85 — Rev. Jas. F. Pennington. 1905 — Rev. M. C. Flegal. 

,886-87— Rev. W. W. Picken. 1906 —Rev. W. S. Rose. 

1888 — Uv\. I. Bruner Graham. 1907 — Rev. W. H. Norcross. 

1889-90 — Rev. J. ,S. Souser. 1908-13 — Rev. G. P. Sarvis. 

1891-92 — Rev. J. R. Shipe. [914-16 — Rev. Thomas R. Gibson. 

1893-95 — R ev - J- S. Souser. 1 01 6- 17 — Rev. G. H. Knox. 

1896-98— Rev. L. I). Ott. [918-22— Rev. L. D. VVible. 

The new church was erected in 1898, and the old one sold to L. M. 
Wentzel, who used it as a planing mill until it burned. The- Blain Circuit 
also includes the churches at Fairview, New Germantown and Emory 
Chapel, in Madison Township. 



93 2 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



Zion Reformed Church. The history of Zion Reformed Church, in so 
far as the original buildings are concerned, is identical with that of Zion 
Lutheran Church, immediately preceding. During its early days it was 
known as "Toboyne" or "Toboine" Church. The two congregations jointly 
built and worshiped in the same church from 1816 to 1898, almost a cen- 
tury. In that year the Lutherans bought the interest of the Reformed 
congregation, which purchased a lot and erected a fine brick church at a 
cost of $10,000. Just when the first meetings were held will probably never 
be known, but Rev. Groh's valuable historical sketch on "The Sherman's 
Valley Charge," places the date as 1790, and names Rev. Samuel Dubben- 
dorff as the pastor from then to 1795. Other works give the date as 1798 
or 1799, and name a Rev. Koutz as pastor, under whom the congregation 
was organized. Personally the writer believes the former to be authorita- 
tive, but, as the congregation was then unorganized, no records were kept. 
Meetings were held in houses and barns. It was a part of the Sherman's 
Valley charge until 1858, when, with Buffalo Church, in Saville Township, 
it became a separate charge. The record of pastors was as follows: 

1 790-95 — Rev. Samuel Dubbendorff. 1868-72 — Rev. Samuel E. Herring. 

1798-04 — Rev. Anthony Koutz. 1872-86 — Rev. E. S. Lindaman. 

1805-11 — Rev. Jonathon Helfenstein. 1887-92 — Rev. Silas L. Messinger. 

1811-19 — Rev. Albert Helfenstein. 1892-95 — Rev. S. P. Stauffer. 

1819-40 — Rev. Jacob Scholl. 1896-02— Rev. T. C. Strock. 

1842-59 — Rev. C. H. Leinbach. 1902-07 — Rev. Charles A. Waltman. 

1859-61 — Rev. J. M. Mickley. 1907-14 — Rev. P. H. Hoover. 

1862-65 — Rev. David E. Klopp. 191 4- 17 — Rev. John W. Keener. 

1866-68— Rev. W. D. C. Ridrick. 191 7- —Rev. Edw. V. Strasbaugh. 

For many years this congregation was the largest numerically of the 
entire Carlisle Classis of the Reformed Church. 

Buffalo Township. 

Buffalo Township, named after the massive animal which once roamed 
its hills as they later did the plains of the great West, was the sixth town- 
ship to be formed of territory which now comprises Perry County, being 
made a township in 1799, the same year that George Washington, the first 
President of the United States, breathed his last. This comparison is 
made here to show the fact that the history of the township is almost as 
old as that of the country itself. 

Buffalo was formed from Greenwood and originally included all of 
Howe and Watts Townships. Upon petition of many inhabitants of Green- 
wood Township who resided south of Buffalo Hill, to the Cumberland 
County courts, in October, 1799, setting forth that "the petitioners were 
subjected to many and great inconveniences, occasioned by the largeness 
and irregular shape of the said township of Greenwood, which compre- 
hended all the country between the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers, as 
far as twenty miles up each river; that the said tract of country was 
nearly equally divided by the said Buffalo Hill, which begins at the Juniata, 
about one mile below Wildcat Run, and continues to the Susquehanna, be- 
low the house of David Derickson, and praying the court that that part of 
said township of Greenwood, contained between the rivers Juniata and 
Susquehanna and lying south of Buffalo Hill, may be erected into a new 
township." 

The order of the court granted the prayer of the petitioners forthwith 
and adjudged the same thereafter to be two townships, the division line to 
be Buffalo Hill, and the new township to be known as Buffalo Township. 
Its size was diminished by the creation of Watts Township, in 1849, and 
by that of Oliver Township, in 1837, when the present territory comprising 
Howe Township was made a part of Oliver. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 933 

Buffalo Township as at present constituted is bounded on the north by 
Greenwood and Liverpool Townships, on the east by the Susquehanna 
River, on the south by Watts Township, and on the west by a small stretch 
of the Juniata River and by Howe Township. It is composed of two val- 
leys, Buck's and Hunter's, the former being two miles in width, and the 
latter being virtually a cove, tapering from considerable breadth at the 
east to almost a point at the west. The mountain separating the two val- 
leys is known as Berry's Mountain. 

The first settlers of that part of the township comprised in Buck's Val- 
ley were Reuben Earl, John Law, George Albright, Samuel Rankin and 
Martin Wain, who took up lands along the Susquehanna River. In the 
body of the valley were Jacob Buck, Henry Alspach and Nicholas Lid- 
dick. These eight settlers took up their lands probably before 1772, as 
they were surveyed June 1, 1772. The Henry Alspach place is still in the 
hands of a descendant, Joseph Deckard. 

George Albright located on the farm long owned by John Bair, while 
president of the Peoples' Bank of Newport (now the First National), and 
now in possession of Harry Shutt. Other early settlers locating in the 
same vicinity were John Rutherford, who warranted 320 acres in January, 
1768, southwest of Albright ; John Purviance, to the south ; west of this 
Andrew Berryhill, 165 acres in May, 1774; adjoining Berryhill Joseph 
Swift had 296 acres warranted at the same time; adjoining this place on 
the east and next to Berry's Mountain Zachariah Spangler and M. Copp 
had tracts of 174 acres; adjoining them on the east was George Fetter- 
man's claim, which also adjoined George Albright's place. 

George Albright, here spoken of, was a Revolutionary patriot, whose 
remains lie buried in the valley which he helped grasp from the primeval 
forest. See the chapter, "Perry County in the Revolutionary War." 

John Taylor warranted 208 acres of land in August, 1789, located at a 
place locally known as "Girty's Notch," along the Susquehanna River at 
the township's southern boundary. There is a cave there, in the end of the 
mountain, where it juts out to the edge of the river and where tradition 
would have Simon Girty, the younger, hide while acting in the capacity of 
a spy for the Wyandotte Indians. Tradition in this case, however, is most 
probably only tradition, as the record of Girty in the vicinity of Ohio is 
well established. The author of this volume has seen fit to delve rather 
deeply into the career of this renegade, the result appearing earlier in the 
book, under the title, "Simon Girty, the Renegade." 

In October, 1776, Samuel Rankin took up 200 acres of land, which 
stretched over a mile along the Susquehanna River and included the site 
of the present village of Montgomery's Ferry, which was a post office for 
many years until 1919, when it was finally discontinued, the business having 
practically all been diverted to the rural delivery service. North of the 
Rankin tract was Martin Wain's thirty acres, which extended to the base 
of Berry's Mountain, and which was warranted in May, 1772, but passed 
to Reuben Hains by survey two years later. 

The George Barner farm at Mt. Patrick was known as the "Garden 
Tract," and was early owned by a man named Brubaker. Later it was in 
possession of Peter Ritner, a brother of Governor Ritner. It was after- 
wards sold at sheriff's sale to the Lyken's Valley Coal Company, who built 
a small railroad from the river shore to the canal basin, by which they 
transferred their coal from river flats to canal boats. George Blattenber- 
ger, who later became an associate judge of the county, owned it later for 
many years, having purchased it in 1841. 

A special act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, dated March 7, 1856, pro- 
vided "that a certain island lying in the Susquehanna River, in Upper 



934 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Paxton Township, Dauphin County, and known by the name of Crow's 
Island, be and the same is hereby declared to be attached to, and there- 
after become a part of Perry County." Michael Crow, a well-to-do citizen, 
was an early citizen in Hunter's Valley, owning a tract of over 300 acres. 
When the new county of Perry came into existence, in 1820, the assess- 
ment list of the township of Buffalo was as follows, Watts and Howe 
Townships still being a part of the township: 

Michael Horting, 98 acres; Samuel Hominy, 77 acres; Jacob Huggins, 60 
acres ; Jacob Kumler, 270 acres ; John Kline, 78 acres and sawmill ; Michael 
Krouse, 250 acres, sawmill and ferry; John Kinch, 154 acres; Peter Liddick, 
200 acres; John Low (weaver), 100 acres; Peter Liddick (weaver) 50 acres; 
John Lowden (carpenter), 84 acres; William Linton, 106 acres; Samuel 
Leedy; Jacob Livingston, 100 acres; Daniel Liddick, 148 acres; Christian 
and Daniel Livingston, 135 acres; John Liddick, 148 acres; William Mont- 
gomery, 282 acres, sawmill and ferry; Jacob Liddick, 60 acres; Robert Moody, 

153 acres; Daniel McKinzy, 163 acres; McKee, 100 acres; John Mc- 

Ginnes, 100 acres and distillery; Joseph Morris, 50 acres; Susannah Moore, 
40 acres; James Person, 100 acres; James Porter, 97 acres; James Reed, 
150 acres: Philip Reamer, 200 acres : Jacob Reamer, 70 acres ; Philip Reamer, 
100 acres; Philip Rodenbaugh, 36 acres; Joseph Steele, 200 acres; Abraham 
Steele (blacksmith), 10 acres; Paul Still, 200 acres; Henry Stevens, 170 
acres; John Stevens, 56 acres; Christian Siders, 124 acres; Margaret Steele 
338 acres; Andrew Trimmer, 112 acres; Robert Thompson, 210 acres; Sam- 
uel Thompson, 167 acres; Samuel Wright, 200 acres; Andrew Watts, 30 acres 
and grist mill ; Michael Wiland, 80 acres ; Henry Yungst, 90 acres ; heirs of 
Jacob Buck, Jr., 100 acres; heirs of Jacob Buck, Sr., 113 acres; John Brady, 
300 acres; heirs of Thomas Hulings, 445 acres and. ferry; George Thomas, 
300 acres; Samuel Albright, 156 acres; John Albright (weaver), 135 acres; 
Peter Arnold, 100 acres: George Arnold (carpenter), 35 acres; Peter Arnold. 
Jr., 3 lots and sawmill; Christian Alsdorf, 160 acres; George Albright, 100 
acres ; Frederick Albright ; Robert Baskins' heirs, 60 acres and fulling mill ; 
George Bander, 85 acres; Jacob Bander (blacksmith); John Bare, 40 acres; 
Jacob Bauder (weaver), 14 acres; Samuel Bare's heirs 60 acres; David Bru- 
baker, 187 acres and sawmill: Robert Buchanan, 200 acres; Jacob Baughman, 
77 acres; grist and sawmill, distillery and ferry; Henry Bowman, 160 acres; 
John Bowman, 260 acres; Jacob Bixler, 20 acres; Richard Baird, 100 acres, 
sawmill and distillery; John Boner (weaver), 80 acres; Thomas Boyd, 
(weaver), 14 acres; Malcolm Campbell, 200 acres; George Charles, 130 
acres; Christian Charles, 140 acres; Jacob Charles, 100 acres; Richard 
Cochran, 109 acres; Frederick Diehl, 133 acres; Philip Deckard, 100 acres. 

The Rankin tract, where Montgomery's Ferry is located, passed to Jos- 
eph Clark in December, 1776. His daughter married John Black, of Juni- 
ata Township, who subsequently acquired title, and in November, 1827, 
sold it (then 282 acres) for $4,822, to William Montgomery, whose name 
the village and community bears, although the ferry has been out of ex- 
istence for generations. On the Dauphin County side this ferry was known 
as Morehead's, as the landing was made on lands belonging to a family of 
that name. Z. T. Shuler has long kept a general store at Montgomery's 

Ferry. 

The first schoolhouse in Buffalo Township was a log one, built for that 
purpose in 1808, and located on the Richard Baird place, its location being 
at the forks of the road, near the Richard Callin residence. Mrs. William 
Kumler, born in 1842 (then Mary Buck), who is still living, remembers 
when this building still stood and was in use as a schoolhouse, she having 
attended there, when it was again used for a few terms after Centre school- 
house burned. She describes it as being weatherboarded, but never plas- 
tered. Teachers at tins school were George Baird, Benjamin Elliot, Mary 
Mc Mullen and James Denniston, the latter being the last one. The building 
was abandoned for school purposes after 1824. In that year (1824) the 
first Sunday school in Buck's Valley, and the first one in the county east 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 935 

of the Juniata of which there is record, was organized. It was also one 
of the first few in the county. 

In 1824 a log schoolhouse was built near where Buck's Church now stands. 
It was also used as a church. Teachers at this school were Joseph Foster, 
Ann McGinnes, Francis Laird, David Mitchell and Samuel Stephens. An- 
other early schoolhouse was at Montgomery's Ferry. 

A schoolhouse known as Centre" early stood near where the present 
Centre schoolhouse stands, being built in 1850. It was subsequently moved 
about a mile east on lands of Jacob Bucke. It was used for school pur- 
poses until 1857, when it burned down. The Baird schoolhouse was then 
used for five or six terms, when another was built at the present site. It 
in turn was succeeded by the present building in 1879. Two other noted 
teachers of an early period were John C. McGinnes, Sr., and John 
Stephens, Sr. 

The oldest schoolhouse in Hunter's Valley was erected on lands of Jos- 
eph Hunter (later the Abram Crow place). It was a roughly built log 
house covered with slab roof. It accommodated the children of all the 
families — probably a dozen — within a radius of two or three miles. 

When the question of accepting or rejecting the free school act of 1834 
came up at a public meeting on December 6, 1834, forty-six voted to re- 
ject it and one voted for it. On November 5, 1835, a meeting to examine 
teachers was held at Patterson's tavern (then Juniata Falls post office). 
Four directors, Joseph Foster, George Baird, George Arnold and William 
Howe, were present. In 1840 the schools were not in session, the funds 
being used for the erection of schoolbuildings. 

It is with considerable pride that it is here recorded that the first free 
school in Pennsylvania, under the free school act, was opened in Buffalo 
Township, but it was in the part which is now Watts Township. In the 
chapter on "The Public Schools," elsewhere in this book, it will be noted 
that the late Chief Justice Daniel Gantt, of the State of Nebraska, is au- 
thority for that statement. He was the teacher and the school was located 
"at Thompson's Crossroads," near the present farm buildings of Allen R. 
Thompson. 

When the assessment of 1820 was made there were four ferries assessed 
within the limits of Buffalo Township, which then included Watts and 
Howe. They were those of Michael Krouse (Crow), William Montgom- 
ery, Jacob Baughman and Thomas Hulings. Coming down the river they 
were, in order, Crow's Ferry, Montgomery's Ferry, New Buffalo and that 
at the Junction. 

According to Claypole's Geology the ridge through central Buck's Val- 
ley, extending almost to Montgomery's Ferry, is but an extension of Mid- 
dle Ridge, of Juniata Township. 

A gristmill of the burr type was erected near the Juniata River by James 
Barkey. It later descended to a mill of the chopping type, and was long 
owned by Mrs. Jacob Seiders, still being in possession cf her heirs. 

Buck's Valley was so named for the first settler by that name, Jacob 
Buck, the head of the clan of that name. Hunters' Valley takes its name 
from the many persons of that name that resided there. In the early days 
when Scotch-Irish settled there, with attendant Presbyterianism, there 
dwelt there at least four James Hunters, who were thus distinguished: 
One who had a defect in his speech, wherein he repeated the letter "C" 
frequently, was known as "C Jimmie"; then there was "Oxen Jimmie," 
"Long Jimmie," and "Short Jimmie." 

John Bair, later president of the People's Bank of Newport, when a 
young man built a hotel at Girty's Notch, where he proposed to entertain 
raftsmen and lumbermen. He conducted it for eight years. 



936 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Just when the Montgomery's Ferry Hotel was built is not known, but 
the date sometimes given, 1817, is evidently wrong, as it was built by 
William Montgomery, and he did not purchase the lands, as previously 
stated in this chapter, until 1827. He built the hotel and conducted it, as 
well as operated the ferry, but sold the hostelry and a considerable area of 
land to John A. Hilbish, in 1845. On his death, in 1872, the heirs, John A., 
Zachary T. and Sarah C, the latter the wife of Prof. William Moyer, of 
Freeburg, divided the property, the hotel going to the latter. It was kept 
by various proprietors, some of whose morals had a wide range, until 
1913, when Elmer E. Stephens purchased the building, and may it ever be 
said to his credit, refused to lease it for the sale of liquor, although to do 
so would have meant considerable financial gain. Mr. Stephens also had 
previously purchased the other acreage from the other two Hilbish heirs. 
He and his family have since resided in the old road house and have con- 
ducted it as a public house, save that liquor has never been sold. 

The village of Mt. Patrick, important in boating days, has dwindled to 
a mere shadow of its former self. In the old boating days David Deckard 
had erected a store and warehouse there, about 1848, and which he con- 
ducted until about 1910. He always employed a number of clerks, as 
there the boatmen replenished their needs while their boats were being- 
passed through the canal locks. He dealt largely in grain, which they used 
in large quantities. From them he got his goods from the city for the 
trade of the countryside. The mill there, which is fully described in our 
chapter relating to Old Landmarks, Mills, etc., did a big business from 
much of the territory east of the Juniata, and there a blacksmith plied his 
trade with few idle moments. Mr. Deckard had erected there for his 
residence a fine home, which in 1913 was rented by Samuel F. Seal, who 
has conducted a road house there since, known as the "Mountain Springs 
Hotel." Mt. Patrick has had no licensed hotel since 1848. 

Dr. Joseph Foster was located in Buffalo Township in 1834, but records 
fail to tell where and when he began practice, or the time of its termination. 

According to the report of the mercantile appraiser the other business 
places of the township are as follows: 

Z. T. Shuler, general store at Montgomery's Ferry, since 1883. Located in 
the store-stand built by John H. Noviock in 1865, and where he kept until 
1873. Mr. Shuler was postmaster there from 1883 to 1920, when the office was 
discontinued. 

H. C. Zaring, near Liverpool, groceries. 

J. W. Knuth, Mountain Hall Park, 1910. 

Centre Lutheran Church. Rev. D. H. Focht, in his "Churches Between 
the Mountains," says that "some of the earliest settlers of this beautiful 
and fertile valley were Lutherans." Prior to 1833 Rev. John W. Heim 
preached an occasional sermon to those at the eastern end of the valley. 
In 1833, Rev. C. G. Erlenmeyer took charge of the Liverpool Circuit, and 
until 1842 preached sometimes at Buck's schoolhouse. In 1842, Rev. An- 
drew Berg, in connection with Petersburg (Duncannon), Liverpool and 
other places, preached at Buck's schoolhouse regularly. On June 24, 1843, 
he confirmed a class of twelve persons there. Six months later he re- 
signed and the membership had no preached word from their own church 
in many years. They naturally drifted to other denominations. Then 
Rev. William Weaver, from 1847 to 1851, preached occasionally at different 
places in the valley. Then, until 1859, they were again left without serv- 
ices, which had on all occasions been held in schoolhouses. Other Lu- 
theran families had located in the western part of the valley, and Rev. D. 
H. Focht, of the Bloomfield charge, began visiting the valley. On May 7, 
1859, Lewis Acker and John Gunderman, on behalf of those interested, 
met the other church councils at New Bloomfield and asked to be made a 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 937 

part of that charge. On June 5, 1859, Rev. Focht organized the congrega- 
tion after his sermon in Huggins' schoolhouse, with twenty-one members. 
The officers elected were John Moretz, elder; Lewis Acker and Jacob 
Harris, deacons. Services were then held every three weeks at Huggins' 
schoolhouse, and occasionally at Patterson's (now the Lewis Steckley 
place). It required an occasional sermon in the German language. The 
meeting to consider building a church was held at the home of George W. 
Huggins, March 26, i860. At that meeting were Lewis Acker, John 
Bowers, Adam Hetrick, George W. Huggins, Jacob E. Zeigler, Jacob Har- 
ris, Philip Peters, John Gunderman, Peter K. Lehr (Lahr) and Win. H. 
Mowry. It was decided to locate it near the Buffalo-Howe Township line, 
and to call it Centre Lutheran Church. It was built on the corner of Mr. 
Harris' field (now B. B. M. Bair's), adjoining the private road, and the 
farm of John Potter, during i860. The trustees were John Moretz, Lewis 
Acker and Jacob Harris. The contract was let to Philip Peters, for $550. 
It was dedicated October 21, i860. The Bloomfield charge having been 
large, this church was transferred to the Millerstown charge in November, 
1861.' As that charge at best was a weak one, it later passed to the New- 
port charge, but, about 1880 to 1885, with the older members passing away, 
with removals and the more spirited United Brethren meetings close by, 
regular services were no longer held. A decade later an attempt to revive 
it was discontinued after a short time. 

Centre Union Church. Prior to the building of this church the members 
of the Evangelical faith held services in Huggins' schoolhouse nearby, 
later holding them in the church. During almost half a century, however, 
the United Brethren denomination is the only one that has held services 
there. Among the Evangelical ministers who served the charge, were Rev. 
Harris, Rev. Young, Rev. Graham and Rev. S. W. Seibert. The U. B. 
pastors have been the same as those of the Liverpool church, which may 
be found in the chapter relating to that borough. The church was built in 
i860, the trustees and building committee being John Bretz, John Hain and 
John Potter, to whom Geo. W. Bretz deeded the ground, for $25. Jacob 
Bretz was the builder. It is named Centre Union Church in the deed. It was 
destroyed by a probable incendiary fire on the night of February 21, 1902, 
and rebuilt in 1913. It was dedicated February 22, 1914. There was a cer- 
tain something in the outline and construction of this old church which 
lingers through the years in the memory of those who were boys and girls 
in the community and attended there. A lady in a far western city, who 
was one of them, aptly put it thus: "If I could put on paper the picture I 
carry in my memory, I could give you a perfect reproduction in every de- 
tail ; even to the wasps' nests, built along under the window frames, and 
the curly-cue cornice that adorned the deep roof's edge." 

The rebuilding of the church, after a period of eleven years had elapsed 
since it burned, came about largely through the efforts of Mrs. Alice 
(Hain) Callin, whose people of several generations lie sleeping in that 
little churchyard, and who with a subscription paper raised practically all 
the money besides that received for the insurance on the old church, and 
that raised at its dedication. The trustees at the time of its building were 
Ruben Seiders, Ed. Deckard and G. B. M. Bair, who were also the building 
committee. 

Buck's Union Church. The inhabitants of Buck's Valley, Buffalo Town- 
ship, and present Watts Township, worshiped early in a primitive church 
situated on the top of Half-Falls Mountain, which runs parallel between 
the two communities. Tradition says it burned down in 1800. The log 
schoolhouse that once stood at the corner of the graveyard at Buck's 
Church, was later used by those who resided in Buck's Valley. In it Rev. 
William Behel, of the United Brethren denomination, held a protracted 



938 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

meeting in [843. Largely through the results of that meeting was the 
building of Buck's Church, in 1848, the late Jacob Buck being one of the 
trustees and a member of the building committee. One result of this 
revival was the conversion of Isaiah Potter, the most able theologian the 
-( immunity produced, who later was one of the organizers of the Alle- 
gheny Conference of the U. B. Church. On January 7, 1848, the lands 
connected with the church were conveyed to Philip Deckard, Jacob Buck, 
John Potter and John Bair. The church was rebuilt in 1892, the trustees 
being J. R. Buck, Wm. Kumler, Josiah Bair and James B. Stephens. 
William Kumler, James B. Stephens, Isaiah E. Stephens, Lawrence L. 
Kumler and J. Wesley Bair, are named as incorporators of the cemetery. 
The Evangelical denomination used it for a time in the earlier years, but 
for almost half a century it has been used exclusively by the United Breth- 
ren, being a part of the Liverpool charge, the names of the pastors appear- 
ing under the chapter devoted to Liverpool. 

New Jerusalem Church. The chapel of the New Jerusalem Church, 
near Montgomery's Ferry, was dedicated June 19, 1898. Its building came 
about through the efforts of Rev. John Edgar Smith, a missionary of that 
denomination. 

Messiah Union Church. Messiah Union Church is located in Hunter's 
Valley, and was erected in 1865. Among those interested in its erection 
were Jacob Charles, John W. Charles, G. W. Kepner, Michael Seiler and 
Abraham Crow. The Lutherans, Evangelicals, Methodists and Reformed 
peoples held services there at different times. When it was remodeled, in 
1883, it was done as a union church of the Lutherans, Evangelicals and 
Methodists. This was the first church built in the valley, being constructed 
of stone. Prior to its construction services were held in the schoolhouses. 
It is in regular use, and is supplied by the pastors from Liverpool. See 
Liverpool chapter. 

Carroll Township. 

Carroll was the eleventh township to be formed, the petition being pre- 
sented to the courts at the April session of 1834. The petition, signed by 
one hundred and sixty-eight citizens of the district, follows : 

"The petition of divers inhabitants of the townships of Tyrone, Rye and 
Wheatfield, in the said county, humbly sheweth that your petitioners labor 
under great inconveniences for want of a new township, to be composed as 
follows, that is to say: Beginning at Sterrett's Gap; thence through Rye 
Township, along the great road leading to Clark's Ferry, to a certain field of 
Henry Sender's ; thence to a sawmill belonging to the heirs of Robert Wallace 
in Wheatfield Township ; thence along the great road leading to Bloomfield, 
until it intersects the division line of the townships of Wheatfield and Centre : 
thence along the said line to a corner of Centre Township; thence along said 
line to a point from whence a south course to the Cumberland line at Long's 
Gap; thence down the Cumberland line to the place of beginning." 

Robert Elliott, James Black and John Johnston were appointed as view- 
ers and presented their report to the court which confirmed it on Novem- 
ber 5, 1834, naming it Carroll. It was formed in accordance with the re- 
port of the viewers and so remained until the creation of Spring Township, 
when it contributed a share of its territory towards the formation of that 
township. Carroll Township is bounded on the north by Centre, on the 
east by Wheatfield and Rye, on the south by Cumberland county, and on 
the west by Spring Township. Carroll is touched by no railroad, and is 
drained entirely by Sherman's Creek. 

It was in what is now Carroll Township that the old Indian trail crossed 
Croghan's (now Sterrett's) Gap and wended its way westward along Sher- 
man's Creek, past Gibson's Rock and across the county and Tuscarora 
Mountain to the West. The Crane's Gap road was a footpath across the 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 939 

mountains at an early day, and in [848 it was made into a road. About 
a mile west of Crane's Gap was another known as Sharon's Gap, after the 
man who originally warranted lands through which it was located. There 
was a road there once, but it was abandoned long ago. 

Among the pioneers who took up lands was William West, who, April 7, 
1755, patented 322 acres, some of it lying in Spring Township, where it is 
further described. On the maternal side Chief Justice John Bannister 
Gibson was a descendant of the Wests. Among other early warrants for 
land were those of Francis West, 79 acres in 1762; George Smiley, 212 
acres, February 3, 1755; William Smiley, 241 acres, February 3, 1755, this 
tract being bottom land, along Sherman's Creek, upon a part of which 
Shermansdale is located ; Thomas Smiley, an ensign in the Revolution who 
was in New York when the British evacuated it, 424 acres, March 12, 
1755, and March 21, 1768, 250 acres lying northeast of Shermansdale, part 
of which was later the James Gibney tract; John Downey, 150 acres in 
1769, he having previously, in 1766, taken up 400 acres; Robert Bunting, 
562 acres in 1768; John Moore, 300 acres in 1794; John White, no acres 
in 1788, and 100 in 1792; Thomas White, 150 acres in 1788, and 50 acres in 
1792; Anne Campbell, 408 acres in two tracts in 1793; William Rogers, 
120 acres in 1787; David Lindsay, 300 acres in 1786; James Sharon, 200 
acres in 1769, and 150 acres in 1786; Rev. William Thompson, 152 acres in 
1768; William Wallace, 369 acres in 1785; and in 1793 the following: 
James Louther, 50 acres; Stephen Duncan, 311 acres; William Boyd, 105 
acres, on which he later ran a nail factory ; Andrew Porter, 300 acres ; 
John Lawshe, 200 acres; Enoch Lewis, in acres; Lewis at one time 
owned almost 1,000 acres, and he and John Rinehart owned practically 
all that district known as "Sandy Hollow" ; Ephraim Blaine, of the famous 
Blaine family, 200 acres, and Ralph Sterrett and brother, several tracts. 
This is the family of Sterretts whose name was given to Croghan's Gap. 
Thomas Sutch, Hugh Ferguson, Obadiah Garwood and Thomas Mehaffie 
were other early pioneers who located lands. 

On September 6, 1793, William Boyd, a blacksmith, warranted 105 acres 
in the eastern part of the township. He was a brother of Rhoda Boyd, 
who was an Indian captive for a period of eight years, and who later mar- 
ried Ensign Thomas Smiley. He erected several forges at Boyd's fording 
and began the manufacture of nails. His iron was brought over the moun- 
tain from Carlisle on horseback. Here he slit it into rods and manufac- 
tured handmade nails, for which there was then a great demand. His sons, 
Matthew, Goudie and William, were all interested in the business later on, 
each working a fire, and so continued until after the creation of the new 
county. The black ash — remnant of the charcoal forges — is well remem- 
bered by the present generations as showing the site. 

George West patented a large tract on March 12, 1793, which passed to 
Melchor Miller, whose son David became the father of Stephen Miller, 
war-time governor of Minnesota. Another son, Daniel, was the father of 
John T. Miller, sheriff of Perry County from 1865-68. On April 14, 1788, 
Thomas White warranted 150 acres, and on May 7, 1792, fifty acres. Along 
a mountain stream located on these lands the Whites built a sawmill and a 
fulling mill about 1802. At the time of the erection of the county, in 1820, 
John White, Sr., was assessed with 200 acres; John White, Jr., 200 acres 
and a sawmill, and another son, James White, with 280 acres and a fulling 
mill. The mill properties were later owned by James S. Sykes. - Adam 
Nace later owned the sawmill. Prior to 1820 Anthony Kimmel had pur- 
chased land on Fishing Creek, being assessed in that year with a grist and 
sawmill. He died in 1823, and his son, Peter Kimmel, succeeded him, build- 
ing also an oil mill, manufacturing linseed oil, in which he used large 



94Q 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



quantities of flaxseed. About 1827 Jacob Stouffer purchased five acres 
of ground along Sherman's Creek, near where Shermansdale is located, 
and built a grist and sawmill. He sold it to Jacob Billow, from whom it 
took its name. Others who possessed it at different times were William 
Welsh, Samuel Rebert, Henry Brown, Jeremiah Smith and others. Jere- 
miah Smith purchased it in 1881 and rebuilt it. In 1899 he changed it into 
a roller process mill. A cider mill and sawmill are also operated in con- 
nection with the flouring business. This Jacob Stouffer was a practical 
mill man and before this, in fact, before the erection of the county — as he 
was then assessed with it — he had erected a gristmill, which later came to 
be known as the Loucks' mill, a sawmill and a distillery. He was also 
assessed with 200 acres of land in that year. He sold the mill property to 
William Ramsey. It later passed to Adam Fisher, John Grier, John 
Loucks (from whom it took its name), George Albright and others. Fred 
Albright was the last owner. Loucks' Mill was a post office until the estab- 
lishment of the Shermansdale office. 

Obadiah Garwood, in 1767, owned 125 acres of land, and June 12, 1770, 
he warranted others. It was probably on these lands that Robert Garwood 
built the mill with which he was assessed in 1782. T. M. Dromgold built 
a tannery in Carroll Township, where the Bloomfield road joins the Car- 
lisle-Landisburg road, in 1874, and conducted business there for twenty 
years. Prior to the institution of rural delivery service there was a post 
office there for ten years, known as Dromgold, Mr. Dromgold being the 
postmaster. 

The early tavern history is somewhat obscure. George Croghan is cred- 
ited with having a tavern "about twenty miles west of Harris' Ferry," in 
various official documents. Tradition has it that he was located at Ster- 
rett's Gap, which is approximately that distance. A man named Buller is 
also said to have kept there. The father of Dr. J. A. Sheibley, of Sher- 
mansdale, also once kept the hotel at the gap. At a very early date a man 
named Thomas Norton kept a tavern somewhere in the township. He lived 
in Ohio until the middle of last century, being then almost one hundred 
years of age. He remembered well the Gibsons, Wests and Smileys of the 
preceding century. 

The Smileys were the largest owners of land in the township in the 
early days. They were prominent in the civil affairs of the district when 
it was a part of Cumberland County and have been since it became Perry 
County. William Smiley, who warranted lands February 3, 1755, was the 
father of Samuel, Thomas, John, George and William, all of whom took 
up or purchased lands in the vicinity. The elder Smiley came from Hope- 
well Township, Cumberland County, and earlier from a location along 
Swatara Creek. 

Probably the first schoolhouse built in the township was Sutch's (Reib- 
er's), located about two miles west of Shermansdale, its erection dating 
prior to 1780. Thomas Sutch had located this land about 1775. It was of 
logs and was also used as a place of worship. It was in use when the county 
was formed, and after being remodeled was in use until 1850, and stood until 
1857. Wolf's school succeeded it. Another early school was known as 
Smiley's, and was built of logs. Its location was just across the road from 
the location where Wilson Smiley later built his blacksmith shop and 
foundry, being near Sherman's Creek and upon lands warranted by the 
Smileys. It had the usual clap-board roof of the pioneer schoolhouse, and 
on the sides of the building a log was omitted, making windows unneces- 
sary. Greased paper was used to cover these openings, thus admitting the 
light. Back of the teacher's desk was a window frame with places for six 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 941 

eight-by-ten panes of glass, but greased paper was also used there. Tbe 
seats were of slabs. 

There was a school known as Shortess' school, on the banks of Fishing 
Creek, another known as Kimmel's, farther down the valley. Prior to the 
acceptance of the common school act of 1834 Samuel McCord had a select 
school in his spring house, the milk crocks standing along one side and the 
spring in a corner being covered over with a board platform, to keep 
the pupils from falling in. Carroll Township accepted the provisions of the 
act of 1834 in 1836, and reports show that $58.23 was received from the 
state. The schools were kept open two months and the salary was $11.00 
per month. The following year the term was increased to five months. 
In 1843, by a vote, the free school system was set aside and only two 
schools were open, but the following year this action was gladly rescinded. 
Among the early teachers in Carroll Township were Matthew Adams, 
David G. Reed, James McCafferty, Hugh Porter, Henry T. Wilson and 
George R. Wolf. 

When Hodgden Henderson married Nancy White, of Fishing Creek 
Valley, during the earlier period, they had a wedding party and went into 
the woods and built their home — a log house — in one day. The location 
is now the farm of John Steineberger, Jr. Many Perry Countians and 
former Perry Countians are descendants of this couple. 

The early name for the gap through the mountain on the Carlisle road 
was Croghan's, after George Croghan, the trader. Later the property was 
warranted by the Sterretts, and their home was upon the mountain's crest, 
as a letter from Thomas Craighead, Jr., of White Hill, dated December 16, 
1845, and printed in Rupp's History, will prove. It tells of having in his 
possession a copy of the Westminster Confession of Faith, which had de- 
scended to the fifth generation. "It properly belongs to my better-half," 
he says, "who, though of the 'blue-stocking order' is of high birth." He 
further adds that his wife was Mary Sterrett, who was born on the heights 
of the Blue Mountain, at Sterrett's Gap. When the Indian school was 
first established at Carlisle, the late Captain Pratt had an encampment of 
over 150 Indians on the mountain's crest, near the gap. 

The mercantile appraiser's report shows the following business firms in 
Carroll Township. Figures following show date of entry into the business : 

General stores, George T. Adams, A. R. Dromgold, H. L. Jones, George K. 
Shearer, Jacob Weldon. 

O. F. Stoufter, hotel; J. N. Crum, groceries; J. C. Smith (1910), grain 
and feed. 

In 1851 Dr. John W. Crooks located at Shermansdale and practiced sev- 
eral years. Then came Dr. Longsdorf, who succeeded him and who re- 
mained until 1856. In 1857 Dr. A. E. Linn located there and practiced for 
several years, coming from Loysville. After Dr. Linn left came Dr. 
Fuget, then Dr. Agnew. In 1879, the year of his graduation from the 
University of New York, Dr. James P. Sheeder located there, practicing 
for a number of years. Dr. J. A. Sheibley, University of Pennsylvania, '91, 
has been located there since that time. About the middle of the last cen- 
tury Dr. A. J. Herman, later of Carlisle, practiced on the Perry County 
side of Sterrett's Gap. 

Shermansdale. The village of Shermansdale is located on lands warranted 
by William Smiley, February 3, 1755, and was originally known as "Smiley- 
town." The post office known as Sterrett's Gap was removed to this location 
about 1850, and as there was already a post office named Smileytown, the 
name was changed to Shermansdale. Prior to that time the settlers in the 
community had received their mail at Loucks' Mill (later known as Al- 
bright's mill), located farther down the creek, being carried from Carlisle, a 



942 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



distance of fourteen miles, via Sterrett's Gap. The local storekeeper at 
first was also the postmaster. The postmasters have been: Rev. John M. 
Smiley, William Shatto, Samuel Robert, Mrs. Jane McCaskey, 1877 to 1909, 
and her daughter (Anna McCaskey), Mrs. Robert E. Flickinger, from 1909 
to the present. There are two mail delivery routes, the carriers being 
Harry C. Gutshall and Charles S. Henderson. The original store passed 
from Rev. John M. Smiley to William Shatto, Samuel Rebert, George 
Gibson and G. T. Adams in turn. The hotel at the south end of the bridge 
has been kept by O. F. -Stouffer for the past twenty-eight years. Earlier 
owners were Frederick Smiley, David Smiley, Daniel Gallatin, Levi Hair, 
Lewis A. Mickey, and Wm. T. Dewalt. It burned during the Dewalt 
regime. Daniel Gallatin kept the first store in the hotel, from 1827 to 1830, 
when he was succeeded as merchant by Michael Egolf. 

Throughout Perry County there 
have been occasions where the post- 
master or postmistress was long 
continued in office. Shermansdale 
was one of these, and Mrs. Jane R. 
(Smiley) McCaskey, the widow of 
Jos. A. McCaskey, a soldier of the 
158th Regt., Pa. Volunteers, filled 
the office for twenty-seven years. 
She was a descendant of the pio- 
neers and was a talented and noble 
woman, rearing and educating her 
children, which had been bereft of 
a father through the Sectional War. 
She was interested in community 
betterment, even in that day, and 
through her thoughtfulness the vil- 
lage was often afforded advantages 
which it otherwise would not have 
had. Since her death the post of- 
fice has been in charge of her 
daughter, Mrs. Anna (McCaskey) 
Flickinger. Mrs. McCaskey was the 
mother of J. L. and Joseph A. Mc- 
Caskey. 

Wilson Smiley built a blacksmith shop in 1844 and a foundry in 1850. 
Here he manufactured kettles, stoves, plows, plowshares and bells. He 
was a good mechanic and lived until 1900. He did the mechanical work on 
a town clock of many years ago, which was mounted on the foundry and 
was designed by John L. McCaskey, then a young fellow, but later the in- 
vuitor of the electric call bell system. In 1903 Peter Kell transformed 
the foundry into a dwelling. The first bridge over Sherman's Creek at 
this point was erected in 1832, by Matthews, Brailley & Company, one of 
the company being Cornelius Baskins, a descendant of the famous pioneer 
family of that name. The first schoolhouse was built in the village in 1836. 
Through Shermansdale leads the main highway across Sterrett's Gap, 
and in bygone years it was much traveled by teams from Newport, New 
Bloomfield, Landisburg and even Duncannon, on their way to Carlisle. 
The building of the canal and Pennsylvania Railroad cut off the eastern 
traffic, and the building of the Perry County Railroad and the Newport & 
Sherman's Valley Railroad cut off much of the others, but the coming of 
the automobile and motor truck has again brought much traffic through 
the village. 




AIRS. JANE (SMILEY) McCASKEY. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 943 

The River Brethren were organized in Carroll and other townships about 
1859, but built no churches, conducting worship in the homes of the mem- 
bership. 

A church once stood opposite the Jeremiah Smith mill dam, on an ele- 
vation about fifteen feet above the level of the dam, and about five hun- 
dred feet to the rear of its breast. It was known as the Methodist Prot- 
estant Church. It was built of logs, in 1838, on lands donated for that 
purpose by George Smiley, to Lawrence Hippie, John Kennedy, Thomas 
J. Stevens, William Murray and William McClintock. The building stood 
until 1868, although no services were held long prior to that. In that year 
it was sold to William A. Smiley, who dismantled it, selling the hard yel- 
low pine pews to residents for use as benches. Rev. James W. Smiley 
preached there at times. Among the regular pastors were Reverends Jor- 
dan. Holmes, Wright, Swengler, Hamilton, Thompson and White, accord- 
ing to the Evarts-Peck History of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys. 

Mt. Zion Union Church. As early as 1763, located immediately north 
of the Kittatinny Mountains, in the southeastern part of Carroll Township, 
were a number of families, some of which crossed the mountains to wor- 
ship at Carlisle, traveling the rugged Indian trail. Among these families 
were the Foulks, Ensmingers, Reibers, Kimmels, Sloops, Fenicles, Hinkels 
and Billows. And from Carlisle occasionally came ministers, who preached 
in the various homes, until the Loysville Lutheran charge was organized; 
after which the minister of that congregation preached in this territory 
once every four weeks. On August 14, 1816, the Union Church in Carroll 
Township, was dedicated. It was of hewed logs and 35x40 feet in size. 
Its capacity was almost doubled, however, by a gallery around three sides. 
It had a highly elevated pulpit at the fourth side. The galleries were re- 
moved in 1854, and in 1878 it was rededicated, after improvements, as a 
Union (Reformed and Lutheran) Church. The organization of St. David's 
Church, in 1846, and of Mt. Pisgah, in 1839, drew largely upon the mem- 
bership and the territory of this church. About 1870 regular services 
ceased to be held. The Reformed pastors were : Rev. Helfenstein, until 
1847; Rev. Daniel Gans, 1849, and Rev. Samuel Kuhn, 1851-63. In 1863 
this congregation united with St. David's, at Dellville. The Lutheran pas- 
tors were : 

1780-88 — Rev. John G. Butler. 1850-53 — Rev. John P. Heister. 

1788-96— Rev. Timothy Kuhl. 1854-58— Rev. George A. Nixdorf. 

1796-01 — Rev. John Herbst. 1858-62 — Rev. Wm. H. Diven. 
180.2-09 — Rev. Frederick Sanno. Rev. Kinsel, 6 months. 

1809-15 — Rev. F. Osterloh. 1863-64 — Rev. Samuel Aughey. 

1 81 6-27 — Rev. Benjamin Keller. 1865-66— Rev. M. L. Kuller. 

1828 — Rev. L. H. Meyer. 1867-70 — Rev. J. E. Honeycutt. 
1829-49 — Rev. John W. Heim. 

Mount Pisgah Lutheran Church. The Mount Pisgah Lutheran Church 
was erected on the site of Sutch's schoolhouse, in Carroll Township, which 
was built some time between 1775 and 1780, and in which the early resi- 
dents of that community first worshiped. It was located on the southeast 
side of Sherman's Creek, not far from what was known as Billow's mill. 
As the regular services of the other Lutheran churches in Sherman's Val- 
ley were in German, the residents of this community (who spoke English) 
attended the English church at Carlisle. Rev. John Ulrich, the Carlisle 
pastor, then organized the Mount Pisgah congregation, and names, in a 
letter, Richard Adams, Joseph Egolf and John Henderson as the most 
prominent and active members of that period. They were the first trustees, 
to whom the ground was deeded. Of Mr. Adams he said : "Richard 
Adams was a true Israelite — one of the excellent of the earth. He was 



944 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

loved and respected by all who knew him. No man in that section of the 
country had more influence as a Christian than he. In those days all 
looked up to him for counsel in spiritual matters. Others were indeed 
active, but they had not the influence he had, as he was the oldest of the 
English-speaking members of our church in the whole valley." Rev. Ulrich 
began preaching there once every four weeks, on Friday evenings and 
Saturday mornings, in 1838. The congregation was organized in 1839 with 
Richard Adams and John Henderson as elders, and Joseph Egolf and 
John Losh as deacons. Abraham Jacobs deeded the lands, on February 12, 
1842, and on September 26, 1842, the church was dedicated. The pastors 
have been : 

1838-42 — Rev. John Ulrich. 1854-58 — Rev. George A. Nixdorff. 

1843 — Rev. Jacob Kempfer. 1858-62 — Rev. Wm. H. Diven. 

1 844-45 — Rev. Levi T. Williams. 1863 —Rev. Kinsel. 

1845-49 — R ev - Lloyd Knight. 1863-64 — Rev. Samuel Aughey. 

1849-50 — Rev. Jacob Martin. 1865-66 — Rev. M. L. Culler. 

1850-53 — Rev. John P. Heister. 1867-70 — Rev. J. E. Honeycutt. 

From that time on the church was without a pastor, and as a natural 
result the organization disintegrated, and the church has only been in occa- 
sional use. At the same location is one of the oldest burial grounds in the 
county, where sleep many of the pioneers. 

Mt. Gilead Methodist Church. Before the congregation became an 
organization in 1838, the Methodists had held meetings for years at the 
home of Henry Lackey. They then began holding their services in Lackey's 
schoolhouse, which was built near-by. Until 1870 they continued to meet 
in the various schoolhouses. In that year they built a church and named 
it Mt. Gilead. The list of earlier pastors follows: 

1836 - — Rev. Geo. Bergstresser. 1859-60 — Rev. J. Y. Rothrock. 

1848 — Rev. W. A. McKee. 1861-62 — Rev. H. S. Mendenhall. 

1851-52 — Rev. J. W. Houghawout. 1863-65 — Rev. F. B. Riddle. 

1853 ■ — Rev. D. Casselman. 1866-67 — -Rev. Franklin Gerhart. 

1854-55 — Rev. Plummer Waters. 1868-70 — Rev. Geo. W. Bouse. 

1856 — Rev. Gideon H. Day. 1871-72 — Rev. E. Shoemaker. 
'857-58 — Rev. Cambridge Graham. 

From 1871 the pastors were the same as those at New Bloomfield, to 
which charge it was attached. 

Shermansdale U. B. Church. The earliest services by the people of the 
United Brethren faith in Carroll Township, were held at the home^of 
Henry Young, by Rev. John Schneider (Snyder). In 1835, the first organi- 
zation was made by Rev. Peter Harman, many being added by a revival in 
1840. Work upon the first church was begun in 1841, and in June, 1842, 
it was occupied ; its dedication, however, having been postponed until 
October 2, 1842. It was known as Young's Church. Then, in 1863, an- 
other location — Shermansdale — was deemed a fertile field, and services 
were started in the schoolhouse there, until 1878, when, during the min- 
istry of Rev. G. W. Kiracofe, a church was built near the village, with a 
parsonage on the same lot. Until 1845 these people were served by Car- 
lisle pastors, but at that time it was made a charge. A list of the ministers 
follows, in part : 

Rev. John Schneider (until 1834 — Rev. Peter Hoffman. 

1831). Rev. Fzekiel Boring. 

Rev. Wm. Sholty (until 1831). 1835 — Rev. Jacob Ritter. 

— Rev. Jacob Schneider. Rev. Jacob Shoop. 

Rev. Andrew Ringer. 1 836 — Rev. Jacob Ritter. 

— Rev. Jacob Schneider. 1837 — Rev. Frederick Gilbert, Eng- 

Rev. Francis Wilson. lish pastor. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 945 

Rev.* Daniel Funkhouser, Ger- Rev. Enoch Hoffman, 

man pastor. 1841 — Rev. Wm. Waggoner. 

1838 — Rev. Frederick Gilbert. Rev. Jacob Sholes. 

Rev. John G. Schneider. [842 — Rev. Alexander Owen. 

1839-40 — Rev. John Hirsh. Rev. Jacob Sholes. 

From then on there appears to have been but one pastor, the ministry in 
two languages having drifted into English altogether. Prior to that one 
pastor spoke German, and one English. 

1843 — Rev. Wm. Waggoner. 1868-69 — Rev. Geo. W. Lightner. 

,844 — Rev. Simon Dressback. 1870-72 — Rev. W. J. Beanu-r. 

[845 — Rev. James Bishop. '^73-74 — Rev. D. R. Burkholder. 

1846 — Rev. John Dickson. i*75-7'> -Rev. John Garman. 

,S|7 — Rev. Geo. W. Showman. 1877-78 — Rev. J. B. Jones. 

1848 . — Rev. Geo. Schneider. 1879-80 — Rev. G. W. Kiracofe. 

1849 — Rev. B. Waggoner. 1881-83— Rev. A. R. Ayers. 
^50 —Rev. Augustus Bickley (Sue- 1884-85— Rev. S. N. Moyer. 

ceeded by Rev. J. F. Seiler). 1886-87— Rev. Wm. Hesse. 

1851-52— Rev. Wm. Raber. 1888-90 — Rev. Wm. Quigley. 

1853 — Rev. D. A. Tawney. 1891-93 — Rev. J. W. Houseman. 

1854-55 — Rev - Alex. Tripner. 1895 — Rev. J. D. Killain. 
1856-57— Rev. Wm. Humberger. (Resigned, October.) 

1858 — Rev. Isaac Coombs. 1895-97 — Rev. D. Barnhart. 

1859 — Rev. Hiram Fetterhoff. 1898-01 — Rev. T. Wagner. 
i860 — Rev. James Bratton. 1902-05 — Rev. A. L. House. 

1 86 1 — Rev. Jacob Wentz. 1906-07 — Rev. N. A. Kiracofe. 

Rev. Hiram Schlichter. 1908-15 — -Rev. Harry Boyer. 

1862 — Rev. Jacob Wentz. 1916-18 — Rev. R. R. Zeigler. 
1863-65 — Rev. Henry Brown. 1919-20 — Rev. Geo. A. Hiess. 
1866-67 — Rev. Jacob Clem. 1921 — Rev. H. P. Baker. 

Sandy Hollow Church of God. About 1830 to 1833 residents of this 
faith residing in Carrol Township met at the house of John Soule, in 
Sandy Hollow, where they organized. For many years services were held 
in his home, but in 1850 a church was built on land donated by him. It 
was replaced by another church in 1878. Mr. Soule had two sons, Henry 
L. and Jacob B., and both entered the ministry. The church was not regu- 
larly organized until after 1840, in which year a revival was held. At its 
organization John Soule and George Kintner were chosen elders, and Peter 
Kintner, deacon. Rev. M. F. Snavely was then the pastor. The pastors 
of this congregation have been the same as those of the church at Lan- 
disburg, in which chapter they appear. 

Centre Township. 

Centre was the tenth township to be formed from the lands which em- 
brace Perry County, Saville, Juniata, Wheatfield and Tyrone each con- 
tributing a share of the territory of the new township. It was at the No- 
vember sessions of the Perry County courts, in 1830, that a petition asking 
the creation of a new township and signed by about ninety residents of the 
sections named above was presented. Robert Elliot, James Black and 
William Wilson were appointed viewers, and at the April sessions their 
report was presented, as follows : 

"After being severally sworn and affirmed according to law, we proceeded 
to the discharge of the duties assigned us by the annexed order. That we did 
view the townships out of which the proposed new township is to be erected. 
That we made inquiry into the propriety of granting the prayers of the peti- 
tioners. That we have made a plot or draft of the several townships out of 
which the proposed new township is to be erected. That we are of opinion that 
a new township is necessary for the convenience of the inhabitants and that 
the prayer of the petitioners ought to be granted ; that we have designated in 
the same plot or draft the boundaries of the new township prepared to be 
60 



946 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

erected by natural boundaries and courses and distances, all of which will 
fullj appear by the annexed plot or draft." 

The report has the signature of William Irvine, who was appointed in 
place of James Black (who was a member of the legislature and ineligible 
to serve), Robert Elliott and William Wilson. On August 4, 1831, the re- 
port was confirmed by the court and the township was named Centre, 
owing to its central location. Since its erection it has been reduced by 
contributing parts of Oliver, Miller, Carroll and Spring Townships. It is 
bounded on the north by Saville and Juniata, on the east by Oliver and 
Miller, on the south by Wheatfield, Carroll and Spring, and on the west by 
Spring and Saville. When the township was formed it had 361 taxables. 
New Bloomfield, the county seat, is located almost in the center of the 
township. 

Among the first settlers, and probably the first, was William Stewart, 
who came from Newry, Ireland, in October, 1752, with his parents, Archi- 
bald and Margaret Stewart, and his brother John. The family came to 
Cumberland (now Perry) County and stopped in September, 1753, at Dun- 
can's Island, where some pioneers had already located. Learning of some 
lands on Little Juniata Creek they found a bark cabin of a trader who 
dispensed "fire water" to the Indians in exchange for furs. Archibald 
Stewart became the owner by purchase. The passing of the father and 
mother is unrecorded, also anything further of the brother, John. They 
were driven off by the Indians, but returned, as there is evidence that Wil- 
liam Stewart was active in the location and clearing of lands. In litigation 
early in the last century one tract is described as the "Bark Tavern" tract 
and contained 348 acres. While he had settled here a year before the 
Albany purchase, which location adjoined these lands, he did not warrant 
the claim until 1765. The original claim, when surveyed in 1769, contained 
105 acres, instead of 150, as he had supposed. 

The lands are described as "beginning at the mouth of Stewart's Branch 
of Little Juniata Creek, then northerly, to a gap in the Mahonoi Mountain, 
and not to cross said mountain, which line was agreed to by John Mitchell, 
who assisted Stewart in building a house on said tract some time in the 
fall of 1753." Stewart moved in with his family the next spring, cleared 
ground and raised a crop that season. 

It is not known when the old "Bark Tavern" was built, but prior to 1820 
Jacob Fritz was the innkeeper. On the formation of the county in that 
year he was appointed the first register and recorder of Perry County. 
Its successor, the new "Bark Tavern," was built in 1830, opposite the An- 
drew Comp stone house, on the Duncannon road. The Fritz property was 
advertised for sale by Israel and Richard Fritz, February 16, 1832, and 
then embraced 350 acres of land. 

Naming of properties, according to the old English custom, was then in 
vogue. In 1755 James Dixson warranted fifty-five acres which later be- 
came the Neilson lands. The stone house on this property was built in 
1767. In 1788 he warranted 220 acres, fifty-five acres which he named 
"Dixson's Park," and 220 acres shown on the title as "St. James." The 
Neilsons came into possession of most of these lands. William Neilson 
came from Chester County and kept a tavern a few years at Sterrett's 
Gap. He warranted 250 acres in 1786, and 241 acres in 1793. William 
Power warranted 225 acres in 1763, and two tracts of 597 acres in 1775. 
He was a saddler and also warranted other lands and purchased many. 
He was at one time the largest landowner in the county. 

An early resident of the county was Thomas Barnett, who emigrated 
from Germany before 1767, in which year he was a resident of Rye Town- 
ship, Cumberland (now Perry) County, and assessed with fifty acres of 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 947 

land, which was within the confines of what is now Penn Township, and 
in the part then known as Barnett's Cove, but since termed Allen's Cove, 
The Cove, etc. Until 1785 he warranted no lands, but then he war- 
ranted 400 acres in the Cove section (evidently under the right of George 
Allen), and in the same year 418 acres at and adjoining the present county 
seat, bordering the lands of William Long and Alexander Stewart. The 
right to the latter tract he purchased of David Mitchell, who had erected 
a house there. The stone house on this property was built in 1795. He 
had it patented in 1796 and named it "Bloomfield." Shortly after the pur- 
chase a sawmill and a gristmill were erected. Thomas Barnett died in 
1814, leaving two sons, George and Frederick, the latter settling at The 
Cove, in Penn Township, where his descendants resided until recently. 
The other son, George Barnett, purchased the "Bloomfield" tract and mar- 
ried Jane Smiley, from whom descended three sons, Frederick, George and 
Charles A. The latter was president judge of the Perry-Juniata district 
from 1881 to 1891, and his son, James M. Barnett, was elected to the same 
position in the fall of 1919, and assumed the office on January 1, 1920, on 
the one hundredth anniversary of the county's formation. Of the descend- 
ants of George, two have entered the professions, George R. Barnett being 
an attorney with offices in New Bloomfield and Harrisburg, and Dr. Rob- 
ert T. Barnett, practicing at Lewistown, Pa. 

Matthew McBride warranted lands about 1780 and purchased others of 
Rev. Hugh Magill. He had a blacksmith shop, a distillery and a tilt 
hammer, manufacturing sickels. Rev. Hugh Magill warranted lands in 
1758 and 1762. Matthew McBride, in 1774, took up two tracts. The tract 
adjoining the western border of New Bloomfield was warranted by James 
Cowen, on February 4, 1755, just one day after the opening of the land to 
settlers. In 1794 he warranted 294 acres. In 1762 John Darlington war- 
ranted 345 acres. In 1766 tracts of 107 and 193 acres were warranted to 
James McConaghy, but surveyed to William Power, Jr. 

John and Margaret Clouser had settled and made improvements upon a 
tract but failed to patent it until after his death, when, in 1794, Margaret, 
the widow, took out the warrant in favor of his heirs. The Oliver Rice 
farm was warranted by Francis McCown, who was for years a justice of 
the peace. It was later owned by Finlaw McCown. Joseph Whelan war- 
ranted the 247-acre farm lying east, which later passed to the hands of 
Congressman Joseph Bailey, and was owned recently by Charles L. John- 
son. The lands later owned by Andrew Comp, Wesley Soule and others 
was warranted in 1793 to Robert McClay. The warrant called for 436 
acres. Other warrants were: John Parks, 50 acres in 1767; Adam Slack, 
265 acres in 1784; Enoch Lewis, 110 acres in 1788; Joseph and Michael 
Marshall, 263 in 1769; Edward Irvin, 130 acres in t 773 ; John Moore, 284 
acres in 1793, and Robert Hamilton, 330 acres in 1767. 

The first gristmill was built upon the Barnett tract very early, being 
demolished in 1841. It stood a short distance west of the site of the pres- 
ent mill, where a mill was built in 1838, but destroyed by fire, March 30, 
1840. It was rebuilt in 1841 and still stands. 

There is record of a sawmill being located above the gristmill's present 
location as early as 1795. There was a mill known as the Lupfer mill, 
which was purchased by George Barnett and dismantled, the lumber being 
used in the erection of the Barnett barn in 1820. 

Matthew McBride, a son of the first Matthew, who had located the land, 
sold a plot of twelve acres, in 1831, to Matthew Shuman, who erected a 
stone gristmill, later known as Clark's mill. The mill passed to Joseph 
Kline in 1833, to George Loy in 1836, and to Edwin and David Clark in 
1839, from whom it took its name. The Clarks were in possession of the 



948 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

plant until 1884, when it passed to Leonard & Baker. William Shoaff 
owned it later, and sold it to Silas Baker, each of whom operated it. In 
1916 it was purchased by William Zeigler, a Schwenksville merchant, who 
converted it into a cold storage plant. 

About 1835 James McKee built a sawmill farther down the stream, and 
the ruins of another still farther down are remembered by old residents. 
These mills were built on a stream which flows into Little Buffalo Creek. 
In 1808 David Watts, of Carlisle, became part owner of a tract warranted 
to James McConaghy in 1766, and surveyed to William Power, Jr., and 
with others erected Juniata furnace. William Shoaff was later in posses- 
sion, and the property is now owned by Ellis Shoaff. This mill was built 
by John McKeehan and James McGowan, about 1840. It has long been 
out of use as a gristmill. 

Less than two miles east of Bloomfield there flows a number of streams 
which join and form Trout Run — one of many streams of that same name 
in Perry County. Upon that stream, in 1833, Absalom Martin erected a 
woolen, carding and fulling mill. In 1836 he sold to Jacob Billow, who 
operated it until 1838, when he sold to John Witherow and Thomas Pat- 
terson. Mr. Witherow rebuilt the mill on a larger scale and added a saw- 
mill and cider press. The fulling mill was operated for many years. 
Farther down the stream Ralph Smiley had purchased forty acres of land 
from William Gardner, in 1823, and erected a gristmill. It was destroyed 
by fire, Sunday, March 21, 1830, with 1,500 bushels of wheat, 600 bushels of 
rye and corn, and about eighty barrels of flour. The mill had then been 
in operation less than two years. It was an old stone mill and was rebuilt 
by Daniel Gallatin, who purchased the property in 1833. As early as 1849 
Atkinson, John and William Bergstresser milled there, selling to Samuel 
Comp, who in turn sold to Samuel Fravel. These two mills were in opera- 
tion until 1890 to 1900, but the old race and dam alone remain at the 
former, and a crumbling stone wall alone remains of the latter. The 
Fravel mill burned down and the property is now owned by Phares D. 
Rover. 

In 1891, D. P. Clark and J. M. Gilliland, trading as Clark & Gilliland, 
erected a steam mill a half mile west of New Bloomfield, and operated it 
until 1898, when it was sold to C. N. Reeder. During the same year it 
burned to the ground, but was rebuilt by Mr. Reeder. Later it went out of 
business and was dismantled and torn down. 

Mannsville is a village situated at the northern boundary of the town- 
ship, near the Saville Township line. It was first known by the name of 
Phcenixville. Daniel Swartz owned all the land in the vicinity, and in 
1850 sold a small tract to Adam Doren, who erected and operated a tan- 
nery there for many years. He later sold it to John Bower, who continued 
the business until his death in 1870, when it ceased operation. William Burd 
opened the first store, and shortly after a post office was located there and 
named Mannsville. 

On the Barnett farm, at New Bloomfield, the first schoolhouse of which 
there is any record, was located. It was south of the mill race and was 
built of logs. The site was in use until 1838. There is a tradition that 
the pupils were required to stand on a near-by rock as punishment. Among 
the early teachers were Messrs. Elliot, Ferguson and Robert Kelly. From 
1832 to 1840 there was a building on the old McBride farm. Laurel Grove, 
a short distance away, replaced it. John, James and Joshua Triplett were 
teachers. George Barnett (a son of Thomas Barnett), on whose lands this 
building was located, not only erected the building but hired the teacher, 
paying therefor from his own private funds and allowing all the children 
of the community to attend. While it was the first free school in Perry 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 949 

County, it still had a greater distinction, as it was the first public free 
school in the State of Pennsylvania, west of the Susquehanna River. 

The lands long owned by Wesley Soule, Andrew Comp and others was 
warranted by Robert McClay, in March, 1793, the Soule tract being noted 
as the location of the "box huckleberry," one of the most rare species to 
be found in the United States. See "Features of Distinction," page 31. 

Centre Township was the early location of both Juniata and Perry fur- 
naces, their history appearing under the chapter devoted to "Old Land- 
marks, Mills and Industries." It was also the location of Ferguson post 
office, at the McKeehan place, in later years. Annie L. McKeehan, and 
later Ada C. McKeehan, were the postmistresses. 

The business places in Centre Township, according to the report of the 
mercantile appraiser, are as follows, the year being the date of entering 
the business: 

George R. Lightner (1919), established by Lightner Bros. (1913), Cornelius 
Clouser (1914), general stores; J. F. Rudy, groceries; George Eckerd, meat 
market ; Myers Bros., cigars ; Chas. S. Bruner, fertilizers ; Tyson Reeder, 
wall paper; J. Arden Rice, George B. Coller, oils; Jacob S. Kitner, grocery. 

There was once a United Brethren Church at Mannsville, which be- 
longed to the Eshcol Circuit, long since out of existence. The church was 
sold on August 15, 191 1, to the Maccabee Lodge, located in that village. 

Mansville Lutheran Church. The residents of Mannsville and vicinity- 
first attended church at Loysville and New Bloomfield, later at Eshcol, 
Markelville, and "Little Germany." The first services were held in the 
old log schoolhouse in 1856, in both German and English. During the 
same year this congregation was admitted as part of the New Bloomfield 
charge, to which it still belongs. The church was built in 1864, on lands 
of Daniel Swartz, donated for that purpose. The trustees at that time 
were Daniel Swartz, George Swartz and John Lepperd. The pastors have 
been the same as those at the New Bloomfield church and will be found 
in that chapter. 

Duncannon Borough. 

Duncannon Borough is located on the western bank of the Susquehanna 
River, at the very farthest point westward of that noted river in its long 
course, for while it flows in a southwesterly direction that far, at the very 
heart of Duncannon its trend starts southeastward. Duncannon is a long 
town, extending all the way from the point where the Juniata's waters 
join those of the Susquehanna to Juniata Creek, which flows into the Sus- 
quehanna not many rods above where Sherman's Creek empties into the 
river. It is within the limits of Penn Township, to which it belonged 
until 1844, when it became the Borough of Petersburg. It was a part of 
Rye Township from 1766 until 1826, when Wheatfield was formed, which 
included it. When Penn Township was formed in 1840, it was a part of 
Penn until it became a borough. In 1865 the name was changed to Dun- 
cannon, it being incorporated as a borough under that name. 

Here the Susquehanna's break through the mountains creates as mar- 
velous mountain scenery as can be seen anywhere in the state. Southwest 
of the town is Duncannon Hill, a veritable mountain, yet cleared and once 
tilled, its grassy slopes being used for grazing to this day. The view from 
this hill includes the junction of the two rivers, the hundreds of acres of 
■ cultivated homelands, the water gaps both here and above Marysville, 
where the Susquehanna breaks through, the famous and historic Duncan's 
and Haldeman's Islands nestled in the rivers above, and the broad valley 
of the Susquehanna stretching away among the mountains. 

The present town of Duncannon was long known as Petersburg (being 
incorporated as Petersburg Borough in 1844), and the adjoining village of 



<SpBBR 




Jdird'e &ye* l/iew? of JDvtrxca. i\r\pr\j 




Juniafa Creek /dosed 



TWO VIEWS OF THE DUNCANNON SECTION'. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 951 

Lower Duncannon, lying between Juniata and Sherman's Creek, was known 
as Duncannon. Petersburg only extended to Ann Street, Dr. Ebert owning 
the field lying north of that. The original borough only extended from 
Juniata Creek to an alley, where the present electric light plant is located, 
but in 1900 it was extended to include the western end, which had been 
known as Baskinsville, and the Carver's Hill section, both of which bear 
the name of pioneers. 

While these two outlying sections were made a part of the borough there 
are yet several outlying settlements which contain considerable population. 
These are Lower Duncannon, the settlement south of Sherman's Creek 
known as Boston, and another at some distance known as Stewartsville, 
named after William J. Stewart, a son of Richard Stewart, one of the 
first merchants of the town. The name Duncannon was derived by con- 
tracting the names of Duncan & Morgan, which* firm operated the iron 
works. The changing of the name of the borough from Petersburg to 
Duncannon was done to avoid confusion in the mails and in other ship- 
ments, as there were towns and post offices named Petersburg in Somerset, 
Huntingdon and Adams Counties, the latter county having had two places 
known by that name. 

The tract of land on which the original Borough of Duncannon was 
located was warranted by John Brown, on June 3, 1762, and contained 267 
acres of land. It was purchased in 1777 by Robert McHassy, who died a 
few years afterwards, and his administrator, Samuel Goudy, gained pos- 
session. Marshall Stanly, assignee of John Brown, obtained judgment 
against Goudy, as administrator of McHassy, and the property was sold 
by the high sheriff of Cumberland County, to Samuel Postlethwaite. He 
sold it to Robert Armstrong in 1786, and in 1792 Armstrong sold a part 
to Christian Miller, who at once laid out lots and named it Petersburg. 
There was a driveway along the river shown on the plot as Water Street, 
now largely occupied by the Pennsylvania Railroad tracks. Lot No. 2 was 
purchased by James Beatty, on February 20, 1793, and is at this time in the 
possession of Frank Harper, who has resided there and used it as a busi- 
ness place for over thirty years. It is located on the plot and described 
as "the corner of Water and Cumberland Streets, extending back to Mar- 
ket," and lies to the left going from the new Pennsylvania Railroad station. 

On December 20, 1792, Alexander McLaughlin purchased the lot owned 
in recent generations by Joseph Mayall, at the southeast corner of Market 
and Ann Streets. In 1823 Robert Stewart purchased it and conducted there 
for many years a general store. In 1795 the lot owners were Robert Arm- 
strong, Christian Miller, Dr. McNaughton, William Beatty, James Beatty, 
Levi Owen, Isaac Jones, James Mehaffy, James Brown, Peter Kipp, Samuel 
Harvies, Philip Swisher, George Glass, John Elliot, Robert Wallace, 
Thomas Eccles, Thomas Tweedy and Alfred Snider. 

Christian Miller, who laid out the town, died before 1820, when the 
county was created, and his wife and children moved to New Berlin, 
Union County. In that year the property holders were : Daniel Baker, a 
shoemaker; Robert Clark, David Carnes, heirs of Maximilian Haines; 
George Jones, a blacksmith ; William Irwin, a merchant ; James Kirk- 
patrick, John Leedy, heirs of Christian Miller; Nathan VanFossen and 
Samuel McKenzie, blacksmith. In addition to the above, in 1828, lots were 
owned by Samuel Alexander, Robert Bonner, heirs of Alexander Bonner; 
William Hunter, John Ashbel, Lewis Gryan, a hatter; David McCoy, Rich- 
ard Stewart, a merchant; Philip Swisher, John Steel and Nathan Van- 
Fossen, the latter having several lots and a tanyard. 

According to tradition, in 1830 there were only eight houses from the 



952 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

cabins surrounding the rolling mill to the Clark's Ferry post office (then 
at Clark's Run), and they were rough and crude. In 1794 Christian Miller 
built a log house at the lower end of Market Street, near where the iron 
bridge crosses Juniata Creek, which stood until the latter part of the last 
century. Jacob Young's dwelling was where the building yet known as the 
Stevenson building is located. The lot then ran clear black to the creek 
and was fenced in. Nathan VanFossen's dwelling was on the square. An 
old log building stood where Joseph Michener later was in business for 
so many years, and was owned by Adam Mell, the grandfather of Mrs. 
Michener. It stood until 1883. The lot of John Heffly, now occupied by 
the Photoplay theater, was occupied by Polly Reed. Margaret Harmon 
owned the northwest corner of High and Ann Streets, known as the Lewis 
property more recently. Her daughter was Mrs. Oliver Cummings, who 
lived on High Street where Miss Margaret Cummings resided until her 
death in 1921. Mrs. Harmon kept a candy shop, and her daughter often 
related how a bear, smelling the sweets, tried to get in the window one 
night. Mrs. Harmon raised an alarm and John Boden, who lived at Broad 
and Front Streets, now owned by Adam Keel, came to her relief. From 
this point to the house at the ferry where John Courier kept the post office, 
there was but one dwelling. 

The history of Penn Township contains so much that is coincident with 
that of Duncannon that the reader is referred there, also to the chapter on 
Old Industries, where the Duncannon Iron Company's history will be 




Photo by N. R. Zeigler. 
SHERMAN'S CREEK 
As it nears the Susquehanna at Duncannon. 

found. The chapters on the Indians and the one on Duncan's and Halde- 
man's Islands contain much that is closely related to the early history of 
the vicinity. 

Just when the first schoolhouse was erected in Duncannon is unknown, 
but as early as 1797 there was one, as an act of the State Legislature of 
that year designated the Union schoolhouse at Petersburg (now Duncan- 
non) as a voting place for Rye Township. This building was in use until 
1840, when it was succeeded by a frame building. This original school- 
house stood where the Duncannon National Bank now stands. It was built 
of logs and "chinked" with clay, being covered with boards on the outside. 
It was about twenty-five feet square and had a broad fireplace at one side. 
The tables and seats were of slabs, and the seats were without backs. 

According to Wright there was a schoolhouse in Penn even older than 
this one, near Young's mill. Joseph Mclntire was its first teacher and it 
was attended by pupils from a radius of four miles, some coming from 
Fishing Creek Valley, in Rye Township. Wright, in one of his historical 
articles, also tells of a school building in Duncannon, near the site of the 
present one, burning down in 1814. If that be a fact it probably was the 
one which stood where the Duncannon National Bank now stands, and its 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 953 

successor would then have been the one which was in use until 1840. The 
next schoolhouse was erected upon the site of the present building and was 
in use until 1873, when it was moved to Ann Street and was remodeled for 
residential purposes. In that year the present building was erected, in 
1857 Petersburg had three schools, two being designated as "high schools." 
The teachers were Lewis B. Kerr, with 32 pupils; Lydia A. Fenstymaker, 
20, and Henry Hall, 25. 

During the "early seventies" the Susquehanna Building and Loan Asso- 
ciation was in existence at Duncannon. The late John Wister, president 
of the Duncannon Iron Company, was also its president. The section 
known as Baskinsville was laid out in 1869, by Dr. Joseph Swartz, John 
Shively and Wm. C. King. Geo. Kinter's store was blown up with powder, 
on March 8, 1852. 

Duncannon has the unique experience of having had one of its streets 
extended by an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature. An act was passed 
011 March 29, 1849, extending Ann Street, in the Borough of Petersburg, 
"so as to connect with the great road leading to New Bloomfield." 

The western landing of Clark's ferry was in Duncannon, on lands war- 
ranted to Samuel Goudy, in 1766, consisting of 215 acres. Goudy lived 
upon it and later sold it to John Clark, whose father had established the 
ferry, and who later conducted it himself, as also did Robert Clark, of the 
third' generation. The Indians had a fording here which they called 
"Queenaskowakee." John Clark built a tavern building (now occupied by 
Joseph Smith), and kept the first tavern there. It was later kept by his 
widow, by her son, Robert Clark, John Boden, Henry Lemon and William 
Wilson, in turn. Jacob Keiser was postmaster at one time when the 
Clark's Ferry post office was located in this stone tavern building, and a 
Mr. Keesberry was the first postmaster after the town became known as 
Petersburg. The large shade trees about Duncannon were largely planted 
by William Lindley, who came to the place with Fisher & Morgan, in 1834, 
and who died in 1881. He was a benefactor and trees planted by him still 
cast their shade upon the wayfarer and cool the brow of the toiler. One 
of the merchants of the middle of last century was George Kinter. On 
April 2, 1851, a boy who slept in his store was tied in the second story 
and the building set on fire by burglars who got away with over $500. On 
March 9, 1852, his store was blown up with powder. The first fire com- 
pany in the town was the Spry Fire Company, which existed in "the early 
fifties." 

The first news stand located in Perry County was opened in Duncannon 
in November, 1881, by Harry H. Sieg, now a justice of the peace. In those 
days only four Sunday papers came to Duncannon, two on order and two 
extras to be put on sale. During the Spanish-American War, seventeen 
years later, his standing order was for over a thousand copies. 

Joseph M. Hawley, who died in 1889, was a prominent business man and 
left his mark on the community. 

The oldest lodge in Duncannon is Evergreen Lodge, No. 205, I. O. of 
O. F., instituted October 10, 1846, with Wm. Stewart, noble grand ; Win. 
Allison, vice grand ; Jos. D. Simpson, secretary, and John Shearer, 
treasurer. 

The stone gristmill, owned by the Duncannon Flouring Mill Company, 
was begun in 1814, and put in operation July 4, 1817, by Ramsey, Clark & 
Boden. John Chisholm, a native of Scotland, did the building and for a 
number of years was the miller. About 1839 it came into possession of 
Amos Jones, and from him to Griffith Jones. Later it was owned and 
operated by Stewart, Young & Rife, and later by Stewart & Young. In 
1885 it was purchased by George Morris, who in 1889 conveyed it to Jos- 



954 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



eph M. Hawley, John Sheibley, William Grier, and James Elliott. From 
them it passed to W. F. H. Garber, in 1895. In 1909 Mr. Garber sold a 
two-thirds interest to E. S. Heckendorn and W. G. Wagner. It is a three- 
story stone mill doing a good milling business. 

In 1883, S. K. Sankey & Company erected the Duncannon planing mill, 
which has had a varied experience. William Bothwell was later associated 
with Mr. Sankey, and on. his withdrawal it was operated by Sankey & Son. 
Their successors were Dr. R. H. Moffitt and William Bothwell, who in 
turn sold to the Duncannon Planing Mill Company, limited, of which E. 
B. Hartman was manager, the owners being non-residents. Since about 
1900 the plant, now owned by Duncan & Wills, has lain dormant. 

Jn 1894, through a newly formed Board of Trade, Duncannon citizens 
obligated themselves for the erection of a fine brick building to be used 
in the manufacturing of brass specialties, but it was operated less than a 
year by those for whom it was built. This building, ownership of which 
rested in the Duncannon Improvement Company, a limited partnership, of 
which P. F. Duncan was president, and W. A. Laird, secretary, was sold 
to the Standard Novelty Works, and became their main workshop. Sev- 
eral small knitting mills and another shirt factory were operated for short 
periods at various times, but have passed out of existence. 

The Trout Run Water Company was incorporated August 20, 1894, by 
John Wister, president; W. L. Coover, secretary; P. F. Duncan, treas- 
urer ; George Pennell, William Wills and J. C. Hawley. The reservoir 
was constructed on the northern side of Cove Mountain, and on December 
10, 1894, the first water passed through the pipes. Later, in 1907, an addi- 
tional supply was piped into the reservoir from the Washington Fritz 
lands at "the Loop." The system is entirely by gravity and the water un- 
excelled. P. F. Duncan is president of the company, and B. Stiles Duncan, 
secretary. 

The Good Intent Shirt Factory dates back to 1899, when citizens of Dun- 
cannon donated the ground and furnished an additional $500 towards secur- 
ing the industry. Emanuel Jenkyn, of Tremont, was the projector and 
owner, and successfully managed the business until 191 1, when it was pur- 
chased by J. Arthur Rife. In October, 1919, it was purchased by S. Rosen- 
bloom, of Baltimore, Mr. Rife remaining as manager. This industry has 
been operated continuously with from forty to sixty employees. 

The Standard Novelty Works, incorporated, began business in 1904, in 
the brick manufacturing plant, formerly the brass works, purchased from 
the Duncannon Improvement Company. The business began in a small 
way, with the manufacture of children's sleds, and while that still is the 
principal product, the line now includes porch swings, porch gates, maga- 
zine racks, roller coasters and other novelties. During the past year (1920) 
more children's sleds were made there than in any other plant in the world, 
and the substantially constructed little "Lightning Guider" makes happy 
the lives of children in every land where snow abounds. The capacity 
is from 1,600 to 7,800 sleds a day. The first officers of the Standard Nov- 
elty Works were: William Wills, president; C. A. Walter, secretary and 
manager, and P. F. Duncan, treasurer. The present officers are : William 
Wills, president; P. F. Duncan, secretary and treasurer, and C. H. Mane- 
val, manager. A large additional building, used as a planing mill, was 
erected in 1910. The old Duncannon planing mill building is also about to 
become a part of the plant. About sixty persons find employment at this 
plant. 

I hiring 1920 William Wills presented to the borough a plot of ground 
on Carver's Hill for park purposes, and during 1921 P. F. Duncan donated 
the use of grounds in the upper end for the same purpose. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 955 

Duncannon people keep up two organizations having as their object re- 
lief in case of death. The first, known as the Duncannon Workingmen's 
Burial Association, was at first confined to employees of the Duncannon 
Iron Company, and came about through the "passing of the hat" in many 
instances after a death had visited a family. After its organization $50 
was paid in case of death. In later years the G. A. R. Burial Association 
was organized along the same lines, paying the same amounts. These 
organizations have large memberships and are a distinct aid to the com- 
munity. A Community League was organized in 1920. 

The first physician of which there is record who located at Duncannon 
—then "Clark's Ferry" — was Dr. John W. Armstrong, who practiced from 
181 8 to 1824, when he changed his location to Liverpool, in whose list of 
physicians he is spoken of again. Dr. Armstrong's successor was Dr. 
Joseph Speck, who was a graduate of Dickinson College as well as a 
medical college. He practiced in Duncannon until 1834, when he moved to 
New Bloomfield, where he remained two years. He then moved back to 
Duncannon, and later went West. In May, 1834, Philip Ebert, of York 
County, according to records, located at "Clark's Ferry" (now Duncan- 
non). He was a graduate of the University of Maryland. He practiced 
until 1865, when he removed to Runyan, Ohio. He was once an associate 
judge of Perry County. About 1850 Dr. A. J. Werner, of Reading, a 
graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, located and practiced until 
his death, in 1881, which occurred while on a professional call to the coun- 
try, his body being found in his carriage. Dr. Joseph Swartz graduated at 
Jefferson Medical College in 1857, and located at Grier's Point, Perry 
County, where he succeeded Dr. Kaechline. In i860 he located in Duncan- 
non, and in the War between the States he was a surgeon of a Pennsyl- 
vania regiment. He conducted a drug store in connection with his medical 
practice. He was married to a daughter of Dr. Philip Ebert. He died in 
1887. In i860 Dr. W. W. Culver and Dr. Frederick Nockel were located 
in Duncannon, and in 1862 Dr. H. A. Boteler located and practiced a few 
years. 

In 1859 Dr. N. C. McMorris graduated at the Pennsylvania Medical Col- 
lege and practiced on several different occasions at Duncannon. He died 
in 1905. Dr. Thomas L. Johnston, of Lebanon, graduated at the Univer- 
sity of Pennsylvania in 1868, and after a brief practice elsewhere located 
in Duncannon in 1871, where he remained in practice until 1896. , Dr. Al- 
fred L. Shearer, a native of the county, graduated at the University of 
New York in 1883, and located in Duncannon, where he also conducted a 
drug store for many years in connection with his practice. He practiced 
here until 1905, when he located in Harrisburg. Dr. Harry D. Reutter, a 
son of Dr. George N. Reutter, graduated from Jefferson Medical College 
in 1884, and located in Duncannon, where he practiced until his death in 
1915. Dr. H. W. McKenzie graduated from Dickinson College in 1886 
and from Hahnemann College in 1889. He immediately located in Dun- 
cannon, his home town, and became the first homeopathic physician to 
practice in the county. Dr. Frank C. McMorris, University of Pennsyl- 
vania, '93, practiced for about ten years thereafter, until his health failed. 
Dr. B. F. Beale located here in 1905, succeeding to the practice of Dr. A. L. 
Shearer. He and Dr. McKenzie are the only physicians now, while several 
decades ago there were seven for a time. 

Dr. Jerome Sunday, educated at the medical department of the Univer- 
sity of Hudson, Ohio; Dr. Sylvanus H. Green; Dr. John U. Hobach, now 
of Philadelphia ; Dr. Robert T. Barnett, who later located at Lewistown ; 
Wr. Winfred J. Wright, who later located at Skippack, Pennsylvania, and 
several others practiced for a number of years. 



9 s6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Dr. Joseph B. D. Ickes practiced on Duncan's Island until his death in 
1851. He also practiced in territory of Perry County contiguous to that 
island. 

When the state passed a law, recently, authorizing boroughs to appoint 
Park and Shade Tree Commissions, Duncannon was the first borough to 
appoint one, the members of which were B. Stiles Duncan, Abram Dearolf 
and Joseph N. Wolpert. 

The mercantile appraiser reports the following in business in Duncan- 
non, the date following the name specifying the time of their beginning 
business in that line: 

General stores. Samuel Sheller (1905), established by Samuel Sheller, Sr. 
(1852); George B. Noss, established by Samuel Noss ; W. O. Miller, L. W. 
Miller, A. S. Hays (1890), Duncannon Merchandise Company, John S. Ken- 
nedy (1896), C. F. Mutzabaugh. 

Groceries, Wm. E. Bender (1916), George E. Boyer (1905), C. A. Hunter, 
George Hemperly, W. D. Owens, F. E. Wase, E. F. White (1906), Oscar 
Wagner. 

Notions, etc., Mrs. L. F. Gintzer, Mrs. E. G. Gladden, Mrs. N. M. Miller, 
Mrs. Carrie Fenstemacher (1914). 

J. A. Martin, jewelry and saddlery (1906), established (1874) at New 
Bloomfield by J. A. Martin and removed to Duncannon (1893). 

A lander & Bolden, Theodore Noye, meat markets. 

Sylvester Sheller (1905), established by Samuel Sheller (1882), coal, grain 
and lumber. 

C. N. Reed, coal and feed; C. F. Gelbach (1900), fertilizer and lime. 
J. Y. Wills & Son (1890), George M. Zerfing (1917), hardware. 

W. H. Zeigler (1904), Nickel Furniture Co. (1920), established by S. H. 
Moses (1853), furniture and undertaking. 

Toseph E. Lestz, Wm. D. Kline Estate (1895), clothing. 

D. W. Bell, W. H. Heffley, Chas. Mager, cigars. 

Miscellaneous: E. S. Glass, bakery (1908); Charles J. Wagner, news 
stand; E. C. Smith, drugs (1913); Central Garage Company (John S. Ken- 
nedy and Robert E. Owen, 1917); Frank Snyder, marble works; Elmer S. 
Loy, jewelry; Ed. Michener, restaurant; M. J. Derick, musical instruments; 
O. S. Ebersole & Co., feed ; Abram Roth, wallpaper ; Miss Ida Kline, millinery. 

Frank Snyder, marble works, long operated by Lupfer & Flickinger, and 
later by F. E. Flickinger. 

*Dwncawnon Presbyterian Church. Almost with the first settlers came 
Presbyterianism. The early records tell of the establishment of churches 
in the west end of the county, but are mute as to the very first efforts to 
establish a congregation at what is now Duncannon. In October, 1793, 
Presbytery appointed supplies for Sherman's Creek, Dick's Gap and "at 
the mouth of the Juniata," a Sabbath to be spent at each place. This is 
the first mention of the place, yet the fact that no mention of it is made 
as a new place signifies that it was already a place where services had been 
held and where a people awaited the gospel. 

In conjunction with Middle Ridge and the Sherman's Creek Church the 
people of that faith residing here issued a call, March 10, 1803, to Rev. 
James Brady, of Carlisle, to become pastor. The services were then held 
in a stone house, above William Irwin's store. During the next year a log 
church, 25x30 feet in size, was built on the bluff, above Duncannon, on 
lands purchased of Cornelius Baskins — the location occupied by the Pres- 
byterian cemetery. On October 3, 1804, Rev. Brady was installed as pastor 
of these three churches. 

Rev. Brady located on a farm, where he opened an academy and in con- 
junction with his work for the Master gave attention to the great need for 

*The author is indebted to the Duncannon Presbyterian Church for a number of the 
electrotypes used in this book. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 957 

education. He died April 24, 1821, and his remains are interred in the 
cemetery started by the church he loved. Shortly after this what was 
probably the first Sunday school in the county was started, the exact date 
being unknown. It has been stated as being in 1816, but no official record can 
be found substantiating that date. Mrs. Campbell and her daughter, Sarah 
and Julianna, and her sister, Miss Harriet Miller, of Carlisle, were the 
factors to whom posterity gives credit for its organization. It had about 
forty pupils, who walked, as the roads were few and the vehicles fewer. 
This school, however, must have failed to continue, as there is record of 
its reorganization by Mrs. William Irwin, the wife of a ruling elder of the 
church, in her home. Mrs. Irwin personally purchased all of the supplies, 
Bibles, Testaments, etc., in Harrisburg, making the trip in a small boat 
which was poled there and hack by a man named John Harris, the ancestor 
of the Harris family which resided in the vicinity of Duncannon, until 
recently. 

After Rev. Brady's death Rev. Cornelius Loughran filled the pulpit for 
a short time. November 1, 1826, Rev. John Niblock was called. He 
served until his death, August 30, 1830. His remains lie in the Middle 
Ridge graveyard. From January, 1831, until October, 1844, Rev. Matthew 
Patterson was pastor. He was a pioneer in the cause of temperance. In 
the meantime the town, then known as Petersburg, had grown from the 
small settlement to a village of considerable size, and a new church had 
been built on High Street and w-as dedicated in August, 1841. It was a 
frame church, 40x50 feet in size, and on the site of the present church. 
The Sunday school was held for a time in the old building on the heights, 
hut was soon transferred to the new school building, where it met until 
the church was erected. Occasional services were also held in the old 
church until April 12, 1866, when a storm laid it in ruins. 

From 1844 until 1847 the pulpit was filled by supplies, Rev. Charles B. 
McClay being installed in 1847 and serving during 1848-49. From 1849 
to 1853 Rev. Hezekiah Hanson was a supply, and from then until 1856 
the regular pastpr, being installed as such. In 1856 Rev. William B. Craig 
was called, and remained until June, 1867. He also served the New Bloom- 
field church, which paid half his salary. He resided in New Bloomfield 
until 1863, when he purchased a farm near Duncannon and removed there. 
He conducted an academy at Duncannon, but its life was brief, owing to 
lack of support. Rev. Craig established a congregational library in the 
church during his pastorate. Rev. Craig was then a young man and lived 
for many long years thereafter. When the writer was editor of the Dun- 
cannon Record, during the period from 1891 to the end of the century, 
Rev. Craig was a frequent visitor to his office, and while half a century 
of difference existed in their ages, a friendship sprang up which lasted 
until the death of Rev. Craig. The New Bloomfield church had become 
self-sustaining, and after the pastorate of Rev. Craig it became a separate 
pastorate. The successive ministers since then have been : 
1868-73 — Rev. Wm. B. Thompson. 1884-85 — * 

1874-77 — R ev - George Robinson. 1886-99 — Rev. O. B. McCurdy. 

1877-80 — Rev. W. W. Downey. 1901-08 — Rev. J. N. Wagenhurst. 

■ 881-84 — Rev. James W. Gilland. 1908-21 — Rev. George H. Johnson. 

1 92 1- — Rev. Raymond Wilson. 

A new brick edifice was erected upon the same site at a cost of over 
$10,000, being dedicated April 27, 1888. In 1901 the old parsonage was sold 
and a new and commodious one erected on Market Street. 

A local tradition connected with the building of this first church at its 
elevated location at the mouth of the Juniata appears faulty. The state- 
ment is made (hat it was built there so that Indians could be seen even 

*During 1884-85 Rev. McClurkin filled the pulpit, but was not installed as pastor. 



1809 


—Rev. 


Michael Borge, 


1820 




Rev. 


Allen Green. 


1821 


r 8 1 o 


—Rev. 


Tohn Thomas. 


1822 


1S11 


—Rev. 


John Gill Watt. 




I 8 1 2 


—Rev. 


Nathan Lodge. 


1823 


iSi.i- 


14 — Rev. 


John Thomas. 




1815 


—Rev. 


David Stevens. 


1824 


1816 


—Rev. 


Wm. Butler, 






Rev. 


Morris Hoes. 


1S25 


1817 


—Rev. 


John Everhart. 




1818 


—Rev. 


James Moor. 


1826 


r8ig 


— Rev. 


Robert Cadden. 





958 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

at far-away points. As it was not built until 1803 and as the Indians had 
gone even before the Revolution, that is hardly plausible. However, the 
graveyard may have been located there for that reason, as it dates farther 
back. 

Duncannon Methodist Church. The farm one-fourth of a mile west of 
Duncannon, on the New Bloomfield road, long owned by William Mor- 
rison, and now by J. W. Mumper, was the scene of the first meetings 
of members of the Methodist faith. It was then owned by Abraham 
Young, who was a pioneer in the district, and who gave the use of his 
home for services, which date as far back as 1809. Methodism was then 
a comparatively new faith and attracted people from long distances. The 
congregation was known as Young's and was one of four appointments 
of the Juniata Circuit, the original Methodist charge of what is now Perry 
County. The others were Alexander Shortess' home, near Shermansdale ; 
Liverpool and Pfoutz Valley. The preachers at that time and following were : 

— Rev. John Henry. 
— Rev. Israel Cook. 
— Rev. Thomas Magee, 

Rev. N. B. Mills. 
—Rev. N. B. Mills, 

Rev. Jacob B. Shepherd. 
— Rev. Thos. Magee, 

Rev. John Gier. 
— Rev. Jacob R. Shepherd, 

Rev. J. Wm. Pool. 
— Rev. Jacob R. Shepherd, 

Rev. Jonathan Munroe. 

The adjoining farm to the north, long known as the Godcharles farm, 
now in the possession of Samuel B. Sheller, was then owned by Christian 
Young (a nephew of Abraham, in whose house the meetings had been 
conducted all these years). On a level plateau, at the top of the hill, 
Christian Young gave the ground for burial place and the erection of a 
meeting house. The pastors then were Rev. John Smith and Rev. Oliver 
Ege, who with the first official board, soon had a church erected. The 
members of this board were Christian Young, John L. Morgan, John 
Young, Sr., and Henry Branyan. The building, 20x20 in size, was dedi- 
cated in 1827. It faced the highway and had a rough, high pulpit and slab 
seats. The only thing left to show the site is the old burying ground, often 
sadly neglected, at the top of the hill. 

At the time of the erection of this old church, long known as Young's 
Church, this congregation was a part of the Concord Circuit, which ex- 
tended from Concord, Franklin County, through western Perry to the 
Juniata and along that river as far as Mifflintown. 

This church was in use until 1840, when it was sold to the school board 
for use as a school building, being in use only a few years however. In 
the meantime Petersburg (Duncannon) had grown to be a considerable 
town, and it was decided to build the new church there. A lot was pur- 
chased from Jacob Clay for $100, its location being on the corner of High 
Street and an alley. It is the site of the church to this day. On New 
Year's Day, 1841, it was dedicated. The official board at the time of its 
building was composed of Jacob Bruner, Sr., Jonathan Beck, Henry 
Branyan, Abner VanFossen, and George Bruner. In order to help defray 
the expense of building two lots were cut from the church property and 
were sold to Robert Jones and John Glass. 

In 1882 the present substantial brick parsonage, one of the finest homes 
in Duncannon to this day, was built. The Duncannon organization also 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 



959 



owns Pennell's Church, in Whcatfield Township, in the history of which an 
account of that church appears. The appointment on Duncan's Island, the 
result of Rebecca Duncan's efforts towards having services held there, 
were supplied by the Duncannon charge. See Duncan's Island chapter. 
The pastors, since the building of Young's Church in 1827, have been as 
follows : 



1827 — Rev. John Smith. 
Rev. Oliver Ege. 
1828 — Rev. John Smith. 

Rev. John Forrish. 
i82g — Rev. Jonathan Munroe, 

Rev. Henry Tarring, 
1830 — Rev. Edward Allen, 
Rev. Allen Britten. 
^31 — Rev. Thomas Taneyhill, 
Rev. Zachariah Jordan. 
1832 — Rev. David Thomas, 

Rev. Daniel Hartman. 
1833 — Rev. David Thomas, 
Rev. Wesley Howe. 
1834 — Rev. Jacob McEnaly, 
Rev. John Wosborn. 
1835— Rev. Thos. S. Harding, 

Rev. Robert T. Nixon. 
1836 — Rev. John Hodge, 

Rev. Geo. Berkstresser. 
1837 — Rev. David Shaver, 

Rev. Jesse Stanbury. 
1838 — Rev. David Shaver, 

Rev. John M. Green. 
^39 — Rev. Peter McEnally, 

Rev. John Lanahan. 
1840 — Rev. Peter McEnally, 
Rev. Joseph S. Morris. 
1 841 — Rev. Joseph Parker, 



1842 — Rev. Joseph Parker, 

Rev. Charles McClay. 
1S43 — Rev. Wm. H. Enos, 

Rev. E. Teal. 
(844 — Rev. Wm. H. Enos, 
Rev. Wm. F. Pentz. 
1845 — Rev. F. Dyson, 

Rev. John Ewing. 
1846 — Rev. F. Dyson, 

Rev. W. W. Meminger. 
1847 — Rev. Robert T. Nixon, 

Rev. John Thrush. 
x 848 — Rev. Geo. Berkstresser. 

Rev. Wm. Harden. 
1849 — Rev. Geo. Berkstresser, 

Rev. John Lloyd. 
1850 — Rev. Oliver Ege. 

Rev. W. Champion. 
1851 — Rev. Oliver Ege. 

Rev. James Beatty. 
1852 — Rev. Wesley Howe, 

Rev. David C. Wertz. 
1853 — Rev. Wesley Howe, 

Rev. H. C. Westwood. 
1854— Rev. W. R. Mills, 

Rev. Job Price. 
,855— Rev. W. R. Mills, 

Rev. R. E. Wilson. 
1856 — Rev. G. Stevenson, 
Rev. W. F. Keith. 



Rev. John McClay. 

In the meantime Duncannon and Newport had been formed into a charge, 
which was separated after 1856 and each made a separate pastorate. The 
pastors, from then : 



1857-58- 

1859-60- 

1861-62- 

1863 

1864-65- 

1866-68- 

1869-70- 

1871-73- 

1874 - 

1875-77- 

1878-79- 

1880 - 

1881-82- 

1883-85- 

1886-87- 



-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 
-Rev. 



T. D. Gotwalt. 
John Stine. 
Daniel Hartman. 
S. L. M. Conser. 
Tames Brads. 

A. W. Gibson. 
G. T. Gray. 

C. Graham. 
G. Leidy. 
W. H. Keith. 
Wm. Rink. 
J. H. McCord. 
J. Ellis Bell. 

B. F. Stevens. 
J. T. Wilson. 



1888-89- 

1890-94- 

1895-97- 

1898-99- 

1900-03- 

1904-05- 

1906 

1907 - 

1908-09- 

1910-11- 

1 91 2-16- 

1017 

1 91 8-19- 

1920-22- 



-Rev. J. A. DeMoyer. 
-Rev. George M. Hoke. 
-Rev. John B. Mann. 
-Rev. John Horning. 
-Rev. W. H. Stevens. 
-Rev. J. Emory Weeks. 
-Rev. Edgar R. Heckman. 
-Rev. Wilbur H. Norcross. 
-Rev. George L. Comp. 
-Rev. Ellsworth M. Aller. 
-Rev. W. W. Shod. 
-Rev. H. L. Schnchart. 
-Rev. Samuel Fox. 
-Rev. L. Elbert Wilson. 



Christ's Lutheran Church. When the settlement below the mouth of the 
Juniata grew to some size and was called Petersburg, there had come into 
the community a number of families of the Lutheran faith. The nearest 
churches of the denomination were at New Buffalo and at Fishing Creek. 
To Dr. Philip Ebert is largely due the establishing of the church here. 



960 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

He appeared at the sessions of the West Pennsylvania Synod, held in New 
Bloomfield in 1842, and presented the necessity of such a move. In No- 
vember, 1842, Rev. Andrew Berg held the first Lutheran service in the 
Methodist Church, after which such services were conducted there every 
four weeks. At the close of the following month, December, 1842, an 
organization was effected by electing George Keim, elder, and Jonathan 
Michener and Dr. Philip Ebert, deacons. In the following January it had 
seventeen members, and admitted eighteen more in June. After this Rev. 
Berg resigned and was succeeded in October, 1843, by Rev. L. T. Wil- 
liams. On November 10, 1844, the new church was dedicated, the building 
committee being Andrew Hantz, Dr. Philip Ebert and Edward Miller. 

On October 1, 1845, Rev. Lloyd Knight succeeded to the pastorate, and 
was in turn succeeded by Rev. Jacob Martin, in July, 1849. In February, 
1850, the Petersburg congregation with Mt. Pisgah and Mt. Zion, in Fish- 
ing Creek Valley; St. David's (formerly Billow's), at Dellville, and the 
church at New Buffalo were formed into one charge. Rev. Martin re- 
signed in June, and Rev. John P. Heister became pastor of the new charge. 
A list of the later pastors follows: 

i8so-53 — Rev. John P. Heister. 1875-78 — Rev. J. J. Kerr. 

1854-58 — Rev. George A. Nixdorff. 1 879-8.2 — Rev. G. W. Crist. 

1858-62 — Rev. W. H. Diven. Rev. A. F. Yeager (supply). 

1863 —Rev. Kinsel. 18S4-87— Rev. H. F. Long. 

1863-64 — Rev. S. Aughe. 1887-92 — Rev. F. L. Bergstresser. 

1865-66— Rev. M. L. Culler. iS.,2-,,.3 -Rev. G. W. Leisher. 

1867-69 — Rev. J. E. Honeycutt. i v "4-05 — Rev. W. C. Dunlap. 

1S70 — Rev. M. L. Heisler (supply). 1S96-00 — Rev. Jerome M. Guss. 
[871-73 — Rev. P. B. Sherk. 1900-02 — Rev. George W. Engler. 

1874 — Rev. S. E. Herring (supply). 1903-05 — Rev. E. E. Dietterieh. 

Then, from 1900, for a period of several years the Marysville church 
was separated from the Duncannon church, each having its own pastor 
until October 1, 1905. After again uniting, as the Marysville charge, the 
pastors have been : 

1905 — Rev. J. G. Langham. 1912-18 — Rev. S. L. Rice. 

1806-11 — Rev. H. L. Gerstmyer. 1918- - — Rev. J. C. Reighard. 

The old church, a stone edifice, was torn away in 1885, and on the site 
was built the present white church, a frame structure, 34x55 feet in size. 
It was dedicated November 25th. The building committee was composed 
of S. H. Moses, John Shively and B. F. Wert, the latter also being the 
contractor. It is mounted by a large steeple, and its entire cost was but 
$2,600. That was a remarkably low figure for a church of such sub- 
stantial construction and modern finish, even in those days. The church 
was incorporated as "Christ's Lutheran Church of Duncannon," on April 
6, 1865. 

Duncannon U. B. Church. The United Brethren Church at Duncannon 
was organized in 1845, and up to 1870 constituted a part of what is known 
as the Perry Circuit, and was served by the pastors serving that charge. 
In 1870 it was detached from Perry Circuit and with Marysville, Duncan's 
Island, and the Hill Church near New Buffalo, became a circuit, known as 
Duncannon Mission Charge. It remained that way one year, under Rev. 
G. W. Lightner. In 1871 Marysville church was detached from Duncan- 
non, and attached to that at West Fairview. Duncannon, Duncan's Island 
and Hill Church continued in their relationship under the pastorate of 
Rev. G. W. Lightner, succeeded by Rev. J. R. Hutchinson, until 1874, when 
the Hill Church was detached and attached to the Allegheny Conference, 
it being in the bounds of the Allegheny Conference territory. The church 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 961 

in Duncannon, and the Duncan Island class remained in relationship as 
such until about the year 1886 or 1887, when the members of the latter 
class united with the church at Duncannon. From then on the church at 
Duncannon has been a station. The new church, built in [903, is a brick 
structure of modern design, valued at $8,000 to $10,000. A new parsonage 
was recently purchased at a cost of $4,500. An incomplete record of the 
pastors follows: 

'873-75 — Rev. Jos. Hutchinson. 1903-05 Rev. (.'has. |. Gardner. 

1884-86— Rev. A. R. Ayres. 1905 —Rev. McDanie'ls (died). 

1 89 1 — Rev. Chas. J. Gardner. 1906-09 — Rev. Oyer. 

Rev. A. A. Long. [909-11 — Rev. Samuel G. Zeigler. 

[891-94 — Rev. J. A. Gohn. 1911-13 — Rev. John [. Green. 
[894-96 — Rev. E. H. Hianmelbaugh. 1913-17 — Rev. Fillmore T. Kohler. 

1896-99 — Rev. John W. Owen. 1917-20 — Rev. Marks. 

1899 — Rev. Schlichter (died). 1920-21 — Rev. W. L. Murray. 

1900-03 — Rev. J. E. Kleffman. 1921 —Rev. B. P. S. Busey. 

German Reformed Church. The Duncannon Reformed Church is, in a 
way, an outgrowth of the St. David's congregation at Dellville. On May 
16, 1858, it was organized, and the majority of the membership were those 
transferred from St. David's. The organization took place in the United 
Presbyterian Church, which had been erected in 1852, and which the con- 
gregation afterwards purchased. Lewis Harling and John Achenbach 
were the first trustees; Frederick Wahl, Sr., and George F. Moyer, elders, 
and Lewis Sommers and John Achenbach, deacons. 

This church was in use until 1913, when it was sold to the Duncannon 
School Board and used for school purposes until it was destroyed 
by fire. The congregation erected a fine new church building on High 
Street, at a cost of $7,000, which was dedicated December 16, 1913. The 
building committee was composed of Rev. S. L. Flickinger, Dr. B. F. 
Beale, G. W. Reeder, W. A. Aughinbaugh, Charles F. Gelbach, L. F. 
Smith and W. G. Wagner. 

The Duncannon, Marysville and Dellville churches comprise one pas- 
torate, the list of pastors being under the Marysville chapter. 

Duncannon Church of God. The first meetings of members of this faith 
were held in May, 1871, in the Lower Duncannon school building. Rev. J. 
M. Speece and Elder G. W. Selheimer conducted services alternately the 
first year. In 1872, under Elder J. Cooper, an organization was effected, 
Edgar Graybill and Henry Clay being chosen elders, and Christian Keene, 
John Keene, Win. Mutzabaugh and Josiah Manning, deacons. A plot of 
ground fronting on Lincoln Street was purchased and the present church 
erected, being dedicated in January, 1873. The preachers who have served 
the church have been : 

1874-76 — Rev. John Hunter. 1898-01 — Rev. J. Pease. 

1876 —Rev. R. M. Pine. 1901-02— Rev." S. T. Stouffer. 

1877-79— Rev. J. M. Grissinger, 1902-03 — Rev. G. W. Getz. 

Rev. I. M. Still. 1 903-05— Rev. T. W. Miller. 

1879-81— Rev. G. W. Coulter. 1905-07— Rev. J. W. Gable. 
1881-82 — Rev. C. I. Behney. Rev. E. Myers, last half year 

1882 — Rev. J. W. Grissinger. of Gable's pastorate. 

1883-85— Rev. J. W. Miller. 1908-09— Rev. G. H. Huston. 

1886-87— Rev. O. E. Huston. 1909-11— Rev. L. C. Sollenberger. 

1887-89— Rev. S. E. Herman. 1911-14 — Rev. S. T. Stonesifer. 

1890-92— Rev. J. T. Fleegal. 1914-17— Rev. W. N. Wright. 

1892-93 — Rev. J. F. Meixel. 1918-19 — Rev. E. T. Sheets. 
i893-95 — Rev. F. Y. Weidenhammer. 1920-21 — Rev. S. T. Stouffer. 

1896-98 — Rev. H. E. Reever. 1922- — Rev. C. W. Peters 
6l 



962 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Greenwood Township. 

Greenwood Township at one time comprised all of the present territory 
of Perry County lying east of the Juniata River, which includes its present 
territory as well as that of the townships of Liverpool, Buffalo, Howe and 
Watts. In 1763 Stephen Munce took out a warrant for land in Greenwood 
Township, but which is located in what is now Watts Township. He was 
made the first tax collector upon the erection of the township in 1767. 
Others on the assessment roll of that year were Joseph Greenwood, after 
whom the township was named, and John Foughts (Pfoutz). Joseph 
Greenwood is mentioned by Marcus Hidings, who owned Duncan's Island 
and who resided at the Dr. George N. Reutter farm — now known as 
Amity Hall, and the present owner being McClellan Cox — as one of his 
closest neighbors. John Foughts (Pfoutz) lived in Pfoutz Valley, which 
bears his name, most of which lies within the confines of Greenwood 
Township, as at present constituted. The name Pfoutz is now extinct here. 

Greenwood was formed from a part of the territory of Fermanagh 
Township, an original township of Cumberland County, on March 25, 
1767, being the fourth township formed of the territory now comprising 
Perry Couty. At the July sessions of the courts of that year the bound- 
aries of Fermanagh Township were fixed as follows: "Beginning at the 
mouth of Cocolamus Creek, up the north side of the Juniata, and to 
terminate at the middle of the Long Narrows; thence (along the moun- 
tain) to the head of Cocolamus Creek; thence down the said creek to the 
place of beginning." Hence it will be noted by the above boundaries that 
that part of Greenwood Township north of the Cocolamus Creek, includ- 
ing the Borough of Millerstown, was in Fermanagh Township and so re- 
mained until the organization of Mifflin County (which included the pres- 
ent county of Juniata), on September 19, 1789. 

At the same session of the Cumberland County courts in July, 1767, 
the boundaries of Greenwood Township were defined thus : "Beginning at 
McKee's path, on the Susquehanna River; thence down the said river to 
the mouth of the Juniata River ; thence up the Juniata River to the mouth 
of the Cocolamus; thence up the same to the crossing of McKee's path; 
thence by the said path to the place of beginning." McKee's path, men- 
tioned therein, began at the mouth of Mahantango Creek, a short distance 
below the residence of Thomas McKee, on the Susquehanna River. It 
followed the line of the present public road which runs through Green- 
wood Township, Juniata County, westward to the mouth of Delaware Run, 
at Thompsontown. 

Then, when Mifflin County was organized, in 1789, the territory that lay 
between the present county line and McKee's path became a part of 
Greenwood Township, in Mifflin County (now Juniata), and the territory 
that lay between the present county line and Cocolamus Creek became a 
part of Greenwood Township, Perry County. In 1799 Buffalo Township 
was created and took off the territory now comprised in Buffalo, Howe 
and Watts Townships. In 1823 it was again divided by the erection of 
Liverpool Township. January 4, 1854, a petition was presented to the 
Perry County courts asking that the lines and boundaries of Greenwood 
Township be altered and a portion of Juniata (now in Tuscarora) Town- 
ship, lying in the Raccoon Valley, bordering the river, become a part and 
so remained until the erection of Tuscarora Township, in 1859, when it 
became a part of that township. 

As now constituted Greenwood Township is bounded on the north by 
Juniata County, on the east by Liverpool Township, on the south by Buffalo 
and Howe Townships, and on the west by the Juniata River. The town- 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 963 

ship is composed of two valleys— Pfoutz and Perry— the former being of 
limestone soil, and the most fertile section of the county lying east of the 
Juniata River, and the equal of the best lying west of it. Perry Vallej 
was once known as Wildcat Valley, but an organization formed in 1884, 
and known as the Farmers' Mutual Protection Association, was instru- 
mental in having it changed to Perry Valley. This organization was 
formed for mutual improvement' and to protect its members from the 
impositions of traveling agents who then infested the country. The valley 
is ten miles long and four miles in width. 

Located in Perry Valley there is a small village known as Reward- 
formerly Liberty Hall— which was laid out in 1847 by John Reifsnyder, on 
lands of Samuel Grubb. The first store there was kept by Keck & Good- 
year. In 1882 Mrs. C. A. Long opened a store. Reward was made a post 
office in 1883, and so remained until 1905, when rural delivery superceded 
it. The mail was first carried twice a week, later three times, and still 
later, daily. H. F. Long was in business there for over thirty years. 
The assessment of 1768 contained the following names: 
Thomas Allen, 50 acres; Peter Ash, 300; Robert Brightwell, 50; Nathaniel 
Barber, too; Henry Bentley, 100; John Bingam, 200; Hawkins Boon, 200; 
William Collins, 200; Robert Crane, 150; Craft Coast, 100; Philip Donnally, 
100; Thomas Desar, 200; Francis Ellis, 200; Andrew Every, 300; Richard 
Irwin, 150; William and Matthew English, 100; David English, 1,100; Joshua 
Elder, 100; John Pfoutz, 700; Joseph Greenwood, 500; John George, 300; 
Marcus Hewlin (Hulings), 400; Philip Hover, 300; Abraham Jones, 100; 
William Loudon, 100; Everhart Leedich (Liddick), 100; Stophel Muncc, 
200: William McLeavy, 100; James McCoy, 200; John McBride, 200; John 
Montgomery, 200 ; Alexander McKee, 300 ; Samuel Purviance, Jr., 300 ; Ed- 
ward I'hysick, 100; George Ross, 350; John Sturgeon, 100; Jacob Secrist, 
500; Andrew Ulsh, 100; Frederick Wahl, 100. 

Of those on the above list the following were on the assessment list of 
Fermanagh Township, in 1763: Stophel Munce, Robert Brightwell, Joseph 
Greenwood, John McBride, William and Matthew English. 

In the assessment of 1805 the following industries were listed: Joseph 
Bonar, tanyard; Daniel Lewis, forge; Catharine North, sawmill; John 
Sherman, grist and sawmill; Jacob Ultz (Ulsh), sawmill. 

Prior to the organization of the new county (in 18 14) the assessment 
list was as follows : 

William Arbogast, 250 acres and distillery; Jacob Bonsai, 100 acres and tan- 
yard; Peter Beaver, tanyard; Joseph Fry, Sr., 100 acres and distillery; 
Harter*s estate, 400 acres and grist and sawmill; Henry Grubb, Sr., 150 
acres and distillery; Henry Grubb, Jr., 150 acres and sawmill; George Hoff- 
man, 140 acres and fulling mill; Jacob Long, 150 acres and sawmill; George 
Mitchell, 900 acres and sawmill ; Jacob Myer, Sr., 50 acres and sawmill ; John 
Rafter, Jr., 190 acres and sawmill; Michael Rowe, sawmill; Catharine Shoe- 
man (Shuman), [80 acres, grist and sawmill; John Staily, Sr., grist and saw- 
mill, and distillery; John Sweezey, 700 acres and sawmill; Jacob Ultz (Ulsh), 
200 acres and sawmill: Adam Wilt, too acres and sawmill; Henry Wilt. 2jy 
acres and distillery. 

The fertile lands in Pfoutz Valley were evidently known of very early. 
The land office had no authority to grant warrants prior to February 3, 
1755, yet there is record of a grant dated July 28, 1839, for five hundred 
acres, in this valley, to Thomas Kirton, of Speen, Bates County, Great 
Britain, evidently a personal acquaintance of some one connected with the 
proprietary government. There is no evidence, however, of his having 
taken possession of it, but a part called "Rose in the Garden" was sur- 
veyed in November. 1774, to John Pfoutz, assignee of Thomas Kirton, by 
William McClay, deputy surveyor. On the first day of the opening of the 
land office John Pfoutz had located 329 acres in the valley which bears 



964 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

his name, and the fifty acres mentioned above adjoined his claim. These 
lands remained in the Pfoutz family name until i860, when they were sold 
as the property of the heirs of Isaac Pfoutz. 

On the same date, February 3, 1755, John Pfoutz warranted 142 acres in 
what is now Liverpool Township, located along the Susquehanna River, 
below the Borough of Liverpool. 

Fifty-six acres adjoining Pfoutz were warranted to William Patterson 
in 1773. Philip Shoover had 247 acres, the re-survey being dated 1810. 
Adjoining James Gallagher's (site of Millerstown) tract was John Mc- 
Bride's large tract, warranted in 1755 and 1767. Henry Ulsh warranted 
150 acres in 1791 and 160 acres in 1795. John Jones warranted 300 acres 
in April, 1767. 

Conrad Stigers took up a tract in 1790 containing 172 acres, part of 
which was owned by Henry Martin in the last generation, and is now 
owned by H. G. Martin. Joseph Elder warranted 147 acres in 1766. later 
known as the Joseph Wert farm. Christopher Ulsh warranted 200 acres 
in January, 1798. A survey called "Old Town," on the west side of the 
Cocolamus, was made to James Murray in 1765, but passed at once to 
John Pfoutz. 

The stone bridge, on the William Perm highway, below the Everhart 
mill, was erected by the commissioners of Cumberland County in 1816, 
when the Perry County territory was still a part of its domain. The 
bmlders were Jacob Hoffman and Henry Lemon. 

George Mitchell was a prominent early settler of Perry Valley, having 
purchased 1,500 acres of land between Buffalo Mountain and the Rope 
ferry. The father of eleven children, five sons married and remained in 
the township, viz: John, Isaac, David, Joseph and Samuel. With one 
exception their descendants occupy the old homesteads. George Mitchell 
died April 3, 1817, aged fifty-six, his remains being interred in the old 
Mitchell graveyard. He was of the old type of country gentlemen, and 
at the foot of his grave lies his faithful body servant, John Anderson, who 
accompanied him to this country, and who, tradition says, died of grief, 
August 2d, four months after the death of his master. George Mitchell 
was married to Mrs. Hannah Taylor-Wright, mother of Charles Wright, 
in Philadelphia, before locating in Greenwood, his wife thus becoming the 
ancestor of two noted families of the township. 

There was once a powder mill on the Edward Rippman farm, above 
Everhart's mill. This property and that of Randolph Wright are parts of 
an original grant known as "The Hermitage," upon which also stood the 
Lewis forge, described in the chapter on "Old Landmarks, Mills and In- 
dustries." This tract was warranted February 13, 1796, to David Miller, 
and contained 180 acres. 

Shrenk's gristmill, four miles east of Millerstown, on Cocolamus Creek, 
was built prior to 1805, by William Stahl, in whose name it is assessed in 
that year. It passed through many hands until 1876, when Henry Shrenk 
purchased it. After Mr. Shrenk's death it ceased to do business as a 
gristmill, but was turned into a planing mill. The owners are Mrs. Eliza- 
beth and William A. Treaster. 

Hart's gristmill was located over two miles from Millerstown, on a 
branch of the Cocolamus. It was erected by Frederick Harter, a resident 
of Millerstown. In the assessment of 1805 he is assessed with 400 acres 
of land, a gristmill and a sawmill. Michael Wenner purchased it and 
sold it to Joseph Hart, at whose death it descended to his only heir, Mrs. 
William Fitzgerald. She ran it for a time, employing a miller, but it 
eventually ceased operations. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 965 

A fulling mill is assessed to George Hoffman, in 1N05, hence ii must 
have been built prior to that time. It was subsequent!} owned by Beaver 
& Hoffman. Anthony Brandl and William J. Williams. Mr. Williams pur- 
chased it about [865, built a dwelling house and put in new machinery. 
He sold the machinery in 1882 and discontinued business. He is still living. 

The school connected with St. Michael's Church, in Pfoutz Valley, ac- 
cording to Prof. Wright, was the only one in the territory comprising 
present Greenwood Township prior to the free school law of 1834. It was 
also attended by children from Perry Valley. Wright's, at the site of 
Wright's Church, and Grubb's, were erected in 1836. John Wright, the 
father of Prof. Silas Wright, and Christian Heisey were teachers at 
Wright's school. Mrs. Henry Martin (then Lucrissa Ann Wright) was 
one of the attendants at this school, the first free school in the township, 
being interviewed by the writer in 1920. About 1855 schoolhouses were 
built near the present Randolph Wright farm, near J. R. Satzler's, and on 
the Jesse Bonsall farm, now Andrew McGowan's. This latter one was 
torn down in 1861, and one erected to replace it at Calvin Casner's. There 
was also a school building not far from Mitchell's' Gap. A summer school 
was conducted about i860 at the Wright schoolhouse. County Supt. 
Height's report of 1856 designates these buildings as Juniata, Kramer's, 
Brandt's, Bonsall's, Mitchell's and Rope Ferry. 

According to the report of the mercantile appraiser there are but two 
business places in the township, the general stores of Jacob Markel and 
Howard E. Zaring (1919). 

Reward U. B. Church. Before the building of the United Brethren 
Church there was a union church located at Reward, where all denomi- 
nations were permitted to worship. The Church of God principally occu- 
pied this church, but the congregation dwindled and finally it was torn 
down. It stood on the opposite side of the street from the present church, 
which the United Brethren built and dedicated about 1850, on lands do- 
nated by Cyrus Douty. It was rebuilt in 1878, and again in 1893. The 
Liverpool pastors of the same faith preach there, as it is a part of that 
charge. 

Wright's Church. This church replaces a schoolhouse which formerly 
stood at this site. It is a Presbyterian church and the services are held 
by the Presbyterian minister from Millerstown; the list of ministers being 
the same. (See Millerstown.) It received the name Wright's Church 
through a bequest of Charles Wright, Sr., of one acre of adjoining ground 
for a cemetery, which is plotted and well kept. It was built in 1890, and 
was dedicated May 24, 1891. The schoolhouse which the church replaced 
was bought from the township by Mr. Wright and any denomination privi- 
leged to use it. It was used at different times by the Lutherans, Evan- 
gelicals, Methodists and Presbyterians. That resulted in the building of 
this church. 

Howe Township. 

Howe Township was the last of the townships to be formed in Perry 
County, being made such in 1861. It is also one of the smallest townships 
in the county, its territory comprising less than ten square miles. It was 
originally a part of Greenwood Township, and when Buffalo Township 
was formed in 1799, it became a part. Then, in 1837, when Oliver was 
created it became a part of Oliver, where it remained until attaining the 
distinction of a separate township. In i860 petitions were circulated ask- 
ing that that part of Oliver Township lying east of the Juniata River be 
made a separate township. They were presented to the courts and at the 
April sessions, in 1861, the following decree was issued : 



966 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Decree of the court, in the matter of dividing Oliver Township: "And 
now, 6th of April, 1861, the court order and decree that the township of 
Oliver be divided into two parts agreeably to the report of the viewers. 
That part west of the river to retain the name of Oliver, and the part east 
of the river to be called Howe Township." 

Howe Township is bounded on the north by Greenwood, on ihe east 
by Buffalo, and on the south and west by the Juniata River. Of the 
early settlers of the territory comprising Howe was Robert Brison, who 
warranted 200 acres of land almost opposite Newport, in June, 1762. 
When the new township was formed this claim was in possession of Chris- 
tian and Abram Horting. Below this William McElroy took up ?/7 acres 
under warrant dated June, 1762. This tract was later owned by John 
Hopple and John Freeland, and is now in the possession of Samuel Sharon 
and Harry Freeland. 

The next property below comprised 306 acres, and was warranted in 
June, 1768, by Thomas Elliott. It bordered the river, and the next in suc- 
cession was William Howe's 300-acre tract, warranted in June, 1813, but 
not patented until 1839. It was after this Mr. Howe that the township was 
named. John Sweezy had made "an improvement" on this tract as early 
as 1791. Farther down the river Frederick Stoner took up a long narrow 
strip, over a mile in length, which he sold to Robert Brightwell between 
1763 and 1767, who in turn sold it to Samuel Martin, who erected a grist- 
mill and a sawmill on the upper end of it before 1769, as in his will, dated 
that year, they are bequeathed to his son Joseph. It then passed through 
several hands, as told in the chapter, "Old Landmarks, Mills, etc., under 
the caption, "The Martin Mill," until a part of it reached John Patterson, 
August 19, 1803, and his son John, July 25, 1863. There John Patterson 
ran a tavern and there was located a post office first known as Fahter's 
Falls, and later as Juniata Falls. That tavern was a noted stopping place 
and relay station during stagecoach days. In the past several decades this 
original tract has been in the possession of Lewis Steckley and Emanuel 
Kraft, the Steckley homestead occupying the site of the old tavern. The 
Kraft property is now in the possession of Charles Kraft. 

North of the Stoner tract Samuel Martin took up 341 acres in November, 
1768. Adjoining this property on the north was the claim of John Whit- 
more, containing 335 acres, and that of Abraham Whitmore, containing 319 
acres, warranted in September, 1774. Among the lands lying along the 
Berry Mountain warrants were issued to Messrs. Awl, Welch, Wert, Daw- 
son, Ritter, Gibson, Smith and Clay. Along the north township line, bor- 
dering the Juniata River, Jacob Awl and John W^elch warranted 400 acres 
in February, 1794. Part of it was later the Alfred Wright farm. Next 
below this tract was one of 321 acres, warranted by John Sturgeon, in 
January, 1767. Below this and adjoining the Brison claim — opposite New- 
port — Andrew Lee warranted 124 acres in February, 1767. 

At a meeting of the Oliver Township school board on September 7, 
1839, the board decreed "that there shall be six schools on the district (this 
included Howe Township), provided a schoolroom can be got at A. Zeig- 
ler's, to commence about the first of December, and to continue three 
months, and that the salaries shall be eighteen dollars per month for each, 
except at Newport, which shall be twenty-two dollars." On December 21, 
[839, the board met and decided to divide the township into seven districts, 
as follows: "That part of the district formerly belonging to Buffalo 
Township to lie divided into two subdistricts by a line running from Beel- 
en's ferry (below Fetterman's ferry) to Buffalo Mountain, leaving Jacob 
Harman to the lower or eastern subdistrict." In this lower district no 



BOROUi '.US, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES « >( \ 

school was held that year on account of erecting a schoolhouse, which 
absorbed all the funds available. The upper schoolhouse was called 
Kmnhler's, and the lower one Howe's. The teachers were George Taylor 
and John C. Lindsay. 

In May, 1843, the school board (that of Oliver Township, to which it 
belonged) "voted down" the free school system, but a year later, in March, 
1844, at a general election the public voted it back by a vote of sixty three 
to seven. The officers of the board who thereupon assumed the duty of 
enforcing the wishes of the voters were: John Allison, president; Henry 
Troup, secretary; William Kumbler, treasurer; William Howe, collector. 
The teachers that term were John Wright and Solomon Bingham. In 1846 
it was agreed to divide that part of the township which now is Howe 
Township into three subdistricts and to have no school that year, or until 
the schoolhouses were completed. At the August meeting of the school 
board that vear a contract to build a schoolhouse on lands of John Pat- 
terson was "let to Philip Peters for $108. At the October meeting of the 
same year it was decided to build two others, one on lands of Jesse Oren, 
and oiie on lands of Abraham Howe. In 1846 the salaries of teachers in 
the schools were $16 per month, and in 1884 they were $25.60. 

The lands which now comprise Howe Township once had the landings 
of three old-time ferries within their borders. At Newport Reider's ferry 
crossed the Juniata. Where the Red Hill road leaves the William Penn 
highway (not yet taken over), was Fetterman's ferry landing, and opposite 
Bailey's Station was the landing of Beelen's ferry. 

Where the back Buck's Valley road turns from the river route, Jacob 
Miller built a pottery in 1847, which was operated by him and his kin 
until after the flood of 1889. 

Three old-time taverns, "the Fahter Falls," at Lewis Steckley's ; the 
"Fetterman's Ferry," at Wright's, where the Red Hill road diverges, and 
"The Red Hill," at the old Alfred Wright farm, now owned by C. S. 
Wright, did a big business during the old turnpike days, between 1822 and 
1857, when it was abandoned as a turnpike. Before the days of free de- 
livery of mail over rural routes, Lewis Acker, in 1867, established a store 
at his farm, almost against the Buffalo-Howe Township line, on the middle 
road. Later the post office known as Acker was established there and con- 
tinued until the advent of rural delivery. The petition asked that it be 
named Oak Tree, but as there was an office by that name the government 
named it Acker. The store passed from him to his son, D. R. Acker, in 
1887, and on his death, in 1889, to his widow, Mrs. Emma R. Acker, who 
still conducts it. Henry Stone opened a small store near by and during 
the two Cleveland administrations was postmaster. It has long since 
ceased to exist. Mrs. Acker and C. E. Kraft, designated as a flour and 
feed dealer, are the only two in the township named in the report of the 
mercantile appraiser. 

Red Hill Church. The Church of God located a mile east of Newport, 
in Howe Township, is known as the Red Hill Church. It was erected in 
1856, and is a frame building, its original size being 24x26 feet. It has 
since been remodeled and an addition erected. It is the only church lo- 
cated within the limits of Howe Township. Rev. Howard organized the 
congregation, and the leading persons in the organization were Jesse Oren, 
Samuel Glaze (who served as a local preacher for many years), George 
Varnes, Jacob Frank and others residing in the neighborhood. The pas- 
tors who have served this people have been the same as those which 
served the Pine Grove Church of God in Miller Township, to be found 
elsewhere in this book. 



9 68 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Jackson Township. 

At the November, 1843, sessions of the Perry County courts citizens of 
Toboyne Township petitioned for the appointment of commissioners or 
viewers to lay out a new township. At the August, 1844, sessions two of 
the three viewers, W. B. Anderson and Jacob Bernheisel, filed their favor- 
able report and the court confirmed it and named the township Jackson, 
after the seventh President of the United States. This was the fifteenth 
township created. The viewers' report designated the boundaries as fol- 
lows : 

"Beginning at the county line on top of the Tuscarora mountain ; thence 
smith thirty degrees east, nine miles, one hundred and twenty perches through 
mountain land of Peter Shively, John Baker, David Kern, Jacob Kreamer, 
Peter Smith, John Long and others to the Cumberland County line: thence 
alimg said county line on the top of the Blue mountain to the Madison Town- 
ship line ; thence along the said township line to the top of the Tuscarora 
mountain and Juniata County line; thence along the county line and on top 
of Tuscarora mountain to the place of beginning." 

Accordingly it extends from Juniata to Cumberland County, those coun- 
ties being its northern and southern boundaries. On the west it joins To- 
boyne, and on the east, Madison. Much of the land in this township is 
like a garden spot, which accounts for those early pioneers warranting it 
as soon as the land office opened. The soil is underlaid with limestone. 
Of it the late Prof. J. R. Flickinger said : "The even crests of the Conoco- 
cheague on the north and west, and Bowers' Mountain on the south, in- 
close as rich and prosperous a vale as can be found in the state," and be 
it remembered that Mr. Flickinger had traveled Pennsylvania extensively 
and knew whereof he spoke. 

The early settlers, mostly Scotch-Irish, began coming in as soon as lands 
were made available by the land office; later the newcomers were mostly 
of German origin. Of course, the opening of the lands to settlement had 
been anticipated, as many of the warrants were taken out on the very day 
the land office opened, February 3, 1755. As the old Indian trail, which 
later became the pioneer highway, led through this part of the county, it 
is natural to suppose that those who came and went knew of these lands 
long before. Ross and James Mitchell each took up over 100 acres in 1755; 
Robert Pollock and Ludwig Laird each took up over 200. The Endslow 
mill is located on one of these tracts, the first mill being built prior to 
1778, in which year it was assessed in the name of James Miller. Its his- 
tory is covered in the chapter relating to "Old Landmarks, Mills and In- 
dustries." William Croncleton took up 145 acres in 1755; Abraham 
Mitchell, 244 acres in 1762; James Morrison, 194 acres in 1766, on which 
stands the northwestern section of Blain ; the homestead now being in the 
possession of Harry Hall. Others who took up lands were Alexander 
Murray, Robert Murray, William Huston, John Montgomery, John and 
William Nesbit, William Forrest, Andrew Moore, John Whiting and Adam 
Boal, Peter Grove, John Rhea, Anthony Morrison, Ann Boal, Thomas 
Hamilton, Robert Miller, Allen Nesbit, Robert Adams, Alexander Rogers, 
George Kerscadden, William Harkness, and in Henry's Valley David 
Deihl, Philip Christian and others. 

A chapter of this book is devoted to "The Famous Blaine Family," per- 
taining chiefly to the strain from which James G. Blaine, the statesman, 
sprung. These early Blaines took up much land in what was then Toboyne 
Township, but which is within the present limits of Jackson Township. 
Of the father's (James Blaine's) earliest holdings all the records are not 
available, but all that portion of Blain Borough lying west of Main Street 
and adjoining the part later taken from the Hall farm, once belonged to 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 



969 



him. He also had owned the two farms owned in recent years by Samuel 
Woods. In 1756 he took up two additional tracts, one of 407 acres and 
one of 173. From him the Woods "mansion farm" passed to his son, James 
L., by will, who sold it to Captain David Moreland, in 1815. Moreland's 
sons in turn sold it to Francis Wayne Woods, the ancestor of the present 
generation. In 1778 James Blaine was assessed with a gristmill, a still 
and a negro. 

As the elder Blaine's sons began life for themselves they too took up 
lands in the vicinity. Among those were Ephraim, Alexander, William 
and James. James Blaine was one of the owners of the farm owned at 
present by Clark Bower, at this time Perry County's representative in the 
General Assembly. In Mr. Bower's possession are deeds, etc., showing 
warrants for 272 acres in Toboyne Township surveyed and warranted to 
James Blaine and James Adams on February 3, 1755, and May 12, 1790. 
"The said James Blaine" later conveyed his share in the part first war- 
ranted to James Adams, thus giving Adams ownership to the whole tract. 
In 1800 James Adams conveyed it to John and Thomas Adams "free and 
clear of all restrictions and reservations as to mines, royalties, quit rents 
and otherwise, excepting and reserving only the fifth part of the gold and 
silver ore for the use of the com- 
monwealth to be delivered at the 
pit's mouth free of all charges." 
The deeds bear the dates of Janu- 
ary 17th and 20th, the latter trans- 
ferring that part to John Adams 
"for the sum of fifty pounds Penn- 
sylvania currency to him in hand 
paid." On June 1, 1816, Solomon 
Bower, grandfather of the present 
owner, purchased it, and for over 
a hundred years it has been in the 
possession of these three genera- 
tions of that family. James Blaine, 
one of the original owners of this 
farm, was a lieutenant in Colo- 
nel Frederick Watts' Cumberland 
County Militia in the Revolution, 
his brother, William Blaine, being 
a captain. In 1778 he was as- 
sessed with a still, which shows 
an actual residence. He died in 
the winter of 1792-93. 

( )ne James Blaine, who was a 
resident of that part of Toboyne 
Township which later became 
Jackson Township, married a 
daughter of General William 
Lewis, an iron master of Berks 
County, and in connection with his 
father-in-law he built Hope fur- 
nace, in Mifflin County. In 1804 

they built Mount Vernon forge, in Perry County, and as late as 1817 it 
was operated by Blaine, Walker & Company. He was also a member of 
the famous Blaine family. 

Ephraim, who later became Commissary General of the Colonies, took 
up 119 acres in 1763, which is now in the possession of Harry D. Stokes 




ChARK M. BOWER. 



970 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

and others. It is from Ephraim that the line of descent passes down to 
James G. Blaine. Alexander Blaine warranted 131 acres in 1766, which is 
now owned by Lewis Stambaugh. In 1793 he warranted an additional tract. 

From the date of the township's birth, in 1844, until 1880, the elections 
were held in the schoolhouse on Church hill. They were then changed 
to the present location. 

Robert Robinson, in his narrative, mentions the killing of a daughter of 
Robert Miller, just outside their fort, in harvest time, 1756. Robert Miller, 
who took up 300 acres of land in what is now Jackson Township, in 1766, 
is probably the same man. 

The large steam tannery, in Henry's Valley, was erected about 1850, by 
I. J. McFarland. He sold it to James Marshall, who owned it for many 
years. In 1859 Samuel and Joseph M. Lupfer purchased it. They operated 
it for ten years, when they sold to Ahl Brothers. This firm operated it 
until 1877, when operations ceased. It is located about ten miles south of 
Blain. In 1814 Bailey Long is assessed with a gristmill, but by 1820 it had 
passed to Joseph Woods. The Endslow mill's history appears in the 
chapter devoted to "Old Landmarks, Mills and Industries." The erection 
of the Beaver tannery was before 1835, a description of which will be 
found on page 269. In 1857 a foundry was started by John Baltosser and 
Win. Hollenbaugh, and was operated until 1863. It was located along 
Houston's Run, and manufactured stoves. Some of the stoves are still 
in use, thus showing skilled workmanship. 

As early as 1790 there was an old schoolhouse back of the orchard on 
the George Trdstle farm, now owned by Foster Dimm. It was still stand- 
ing in 1810, and is spoken of as one of the most primitive in the county. 
William Shields, John Morrison and James McCulloch were among its 
teachers. On the Peter Brown farm, now owned by Thomas Adams, on 
the bank of Sherman's Creek, near the mouth of Brown's Run, stood an 
old log schoolhouse, part of the chimney yet remaining. This building was 
in use before 1820, when Perry County yet was a part of Cumberland. 
To it came pupils from above New Germantown and from points as far 
as the foot of Bowers' Mountain. There was another on the Black farm, 
at Mount Pleasant, dating back to before 1800, the lands being donated by 
George Black. This farm is now owned by George Anderson. The pres- 
ent building is at the same site. (See cut on page 322.) This school had 
over fifty pupils and two of the teachers were Anthony Black and a Mr. 
Johnston. Two of the schoolhouses of this township were named Bull 
Run and Manasses Gap. Their names came about through a contention as 
the proper location for a school building, which was finally decided by 
building two buildings instead of one. This was about the time of the 
Second Battle of Bull Run, and as the one building was close to a natural 
gap in Chestnut Ridge at Manassas, a wag suggested that the buildings be 
named Manassas Gap and Bull Run, and the school board adopted the 
names. There is a small settlement south of Blain known as Beavertown. 
According to the mercantile appraiser there are but two business places 
in Jackson Township, Ernest Eberhardt, general store, and S. W. Gut- 
shall, oils. 

Henry's Valley, although once well populated, never had a church, al- 
though there was a Lutheran organization there and regular services held 
in the schoolhouse for a long time. It was organized November 24, i860. 
There were about forty members. Christian Henry and John Snyder were 
the first elders, and Henry Snyder and Daniel Henry, the first deacons. 
It was connected with the Blain charge. Before its organization Rev. J. 
Evans, of Newville; Rev. I. J. Stine and Rev. Philip Willard, of Loysville, 
preached occasionally. The old graveyard still remains, surrounded by the 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 971 

Tuscarora State Forest, the signs of a former occupation gradually dis- 
appearing. 

Church of the Brethren. This church was formerly known as the Ger- 
man Baptist Church. The building is known as the Three Springs Church, 
because of there being three springs near it, and the congregation is known 
as Perry Congregation. There is but one other congregation of this faith 
in Perry County, Mt. Olivet, in ( diver Township. The congregation at 
Three Springs was organized by Elders Peter Long and John Eby, both of 
whom located west of New Germantown, in 1843. The former came from 
Huntingdon County, and the latter from Cumberland. They became the 
first elders. About the same time Jacob Swartz moved from Juniata 
Township, where there were some people of the same faith, and became 
the first deacon. The first services were held in the homes of the mem- 
bers, and the communion services, which are known as Love Feasts were 
held in the barns, using the barn floors for that purpose, while the com- 
municants sat on the mows. The first one was held at the barn of Elder 
Long, in September, 1843. They worshiped thus until schoolhouses became 
more plentiful, when the services were held in them, but the communion 
services was still held in barns until the church was built. The pastorate 
at that time embraced all the territory west of the Juniata River, and the 
different ministers, who served without pay, were chosen from among their 
own congregation by vote. They were Peter Long, John Eby, Jacob Span- 
ogle, David Poole, Abraham Bowman, Jacob Harnish, Daniel P. Long, Isaac 
Eby, Edmund Book, Josiah Eby and David Roth. The elder is the highest 
office in the church. Edmund Book served from 1892 until his death in 
1914. The present resident minister is David Roth, and Charles Steerman 
is the pastor. The pastors are paid a salary, but the resident ministers, 
very rarely, if ever, are paid. The church house was built in 1876 on land 
donated by Samuel Book. Later his son, Edmund Book, enlarged the 
grounds by donation. The building committee was Edmund Book, B. F. 
Shoemaker and Isaac Eby. Andrew Trostle was treasurer of the fund. 

Manassas Union Church. . Manassas Union Church is located on the 
Newville road, about two and a half miles south of Blain. After much 
consideration as to whether a union church should be built or not, a final 
community meeting was called for December 1, 1870, at Manassas school- 
house. At this meeting all five denominations who had members living in 
the vicinity agreed to assume their share of the debt incurred in building 
a union church. The site chosen was near the old "still house" on lands 
then owned by David Rowe. The building committee was William A. 
Boyd (Lutheran), John Wilt (German Reformed), James A. Woods 
(Presbyterian), David Rowe (Methodist) and Barnet Roth (German Bap- 
tist). The committee began work at once, and the church was dedicated 
the following spring. The five denominations continued to worship there 
at intervals until 1901, when the building needed a new roof and other 
repairs. The Presbyterians, then having no members in that vicinity, do- 
nated their share to the other denominations, who repaired it. 

Jackson Township surrounds Blain Borough, where most of its citizens 
worship. 

Juniata Township. 

Juniata Township, as originally formed, contained all of Tuscarora and 
Oliver Townships and parts of Miller and Centre. It was the fifth town- 
ship to be formed in the territory now comprising Perry County. It was 
taken from Rye Township, which then extended clear across the county 
from the Cumberland to the Juniata County line. 

At the present time its boundaries are as follows : On the north by 
Tuscarora, on the east of Oliver, on the south by Centre, and on the west 



9/2 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



by Saville. Through it flows Buffalo Creek, and on the south Little Buf- 
falo Creek divides it from Centre Township, its lauds being drained by 
both creeks. The most conspicuous physical feature of the township is 
Middle Ridge, whose gentle slopes are everywhere under cultivation and 
dotted with prosperous farm buildings and homes. Along its very top 
westward for many miles runs the Middle Ridge road. 

Juniata Township was formed in 1793, or twenty-seven years before the 
creation of Perry County. At the January sessions of the Cumberland 
County courts, in 1793, two petitions were presented, signed by a large 
number of citizens of Rye Township, stating that they "labored under 
many and great disadvantages by reason of the great extent of said town- 
ship, and praying the court that the said township may be divided by a 
line along the top of Mahanoy Mountain from the line of Tyrone Town- 
ship to the Juniata River." The court granted the request of the peti- 
tioners and named the township Juniata, by reason of its bordering the 
Juniata River. Bloomfield Borough was taken from Juniata before Centre 
Township was formed. 

In the western end of the township, extending into Saville, are lands 
early patented by the pioneers, one of 329 acres being granted to John D. 
Creigh, in August, 1791, who sold it to Jacob Miller in 1812. In 1788 Job 
Stretch owned the land of the Tressler farm ; Robert Garrett, the lands on 
Buffalo Creek below Milford, later owned by B. F. Miller and George 
Campbell; James Keenan, near the old Middle Ridge Presbyterian Church, 
a farm on which he kept a small store, and Alexander Stuart, the farm 
known in the community as the James Stephens farm. 

The village known as Milford was first known as Jonestown, and was 
laid out about 1814-1816. It then became Milford, later Juniata, and now 
Wila, the post office known as Juniata being discontinued for a very short 
time and then reestablished with the name of Wila, as a suburb of Altoona, 
which had long wanted to use the name of Juniata, immediately pre- 
empted it when it was discontinued. Many consider the temporary closing 
of the post office at this point to have been a ruse to use the name Juniata 
elsewhere. The little village is romantically located on the banks of Buf- 
falo Creek, two miles from Newport, on lands warranted to William Park- 
inson, in 1755. The tract comprised 161 acres, on which was located a 
sawmill and pond. To present and past generations this site is known as 
Toomey's mill. Edward Riggins was the owner of the Toomey gristmill 
at Milford, in 1841, when Emanuel Toomey entered it to learn the mill- 
ing business. In after years he leased the mill for a three-year period, 
but never owned it. His son, Jerome Toomey, one of the best millers in 
the county in his day, purchased it in 1880, and operated it until 1896, when 
his son, Thomas L. Toomey, the present owner, purchased it. The founder 
of Milford was Joseph Jones, great-grandfather of D. Meredith and Alvin 
Jones, late of Newport; also of John A. Jones, a cavalryman under Fitz- 
patrick, and a law student at New Bloomfield, who was killed in action at 
Solemn Grove, North Carolina. The farm known as the Jacob Fleisher 
place was taken up by Job Stretch, who was loyal to the mother country 
in the Revolutionary War, and who suddenly left for Canada when things 
got "too warm." 

Milford was one of the earliest settlements in the county. Prior to 
[823 Dr. John Eckert was already practicing medicine there, he having died 
in that year. He was a German, said to have been very successful, and 
was probably the first physician located there. Then for ten years there is 
no record of there being any physician there. About 1834 Dr. John H. 
Doling moved from Newport to Milford, where he practiced until his 
death in 1857, excepting for a short period when he got the "gold fever" 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 973 

and went to California. Of powerful physique lie has left a record for 
wonderful strength. Prior to 1841 for a few years Dr. Ward practiced 
there, and then removed to Carlisle. Before 1847 Dr. Philip Whitesides 
practiced there. In that year he removed to Newport, where he practice! 
until 1856. The Drs. Simonton, who had practiced at Ickesburg, also 
practiced at Milford for a time prior to their removel to Illinois. In 1857 
Dr. Joseph Khy settled there, but removed to Newport in i860. During 
the early years of the War between the States Dr. Fetzer was located there. 
From then on, excepting for a short period in 1881, when Dr. ( ). P. Bol- 
linger located there, Milford has ceased to be the location for a physician. 

One of the oldest schoolhouses in this township as now constituted was 
on a line running from the upper part of Middle Ridge to Saville Town- 
ship. Another was on the Jefferson Super farm, now owned by George 
H. Super, and was known as "the Eight-Square schoolhouse," by reason 
of its being built in octagon shape. Its location was two miles southeast 
of Donnally's Mills, where the road to Newport crosses the road to Markel- 
ville. The contract was let May 12, 1838, to Jacob Swartz, who built it for 
$140. The directors were to haul the sand and stone and Mr. Swartz was 
"to build of stone in a good and substantial manner of an eight-square fig- 
ure, ten feet in the story, and each square to be ten feet in the inside, from 
corner to corner, to be eighteen inches in thickness, a twelve-light window 
in each square, to be well floored, and well nailed with brads." It was a 
noted meeting place, but was torn down almost a half-century ago. Lydia 
Stewart was the first teacher in 1839. Dr. Super, one of the two Perry 
County boys who became college presidents, first went to school in this 
building. The farm on which it stood was warranted by Squire Monroe. 

Less than a mile south of Milford, at the top of Middle Ridge, on the 
road leading from Carlisle to Sunbury, was an old tavern known as the 
"White Ball Tavern," which was kept by Philip Clouser in 1812. Clouser 
at that time owned a large tract of land adjoining. This hostelry was dis- 
continued about 1840. South of it, on Little Buffalo Creek, John Koch 
(Kough) kept the "Blue Ball Tavern," which was a popular resort for 
"shooting matches." From the "Blue Ball" tavern a horn notified the 
"White Ball" tavern, during the Second War with Great Britain, that a 
mounted messenger or dispatch rider from Washington was passing, so 
that on his arrival at the top of the ridge a fresh mount was saddled and 
waiting. Springing from one horse to the other he proceeded to Reider's 
Ferry (now Newport), where a ferry flat awaited his arrival. There being 
no telegraph or telephone lines in those days, messages were relayed from 
the War Department at the National Capital to the army at Niagara by 
speedy horses. The route from what is now New Bloomfield seems an odd 
one to have taken, but it must be remembered that Newport and New 
Bloomfield were nonexistent and the highway connecting those towns was 
then not even dreamed of. 

William Fosselman built a tannery near St. Samuel's Church, in 1866. 
Robert Stephens, who lived on Hominy Ridge, occupied a stone house and 
operated a tannery, but the trend citywards and the modern tanning oper- 
ations on a huge scale have left the once busy place deserted and almost 
a ruin. 

Juniata Township was the home of James Stephens, a brother of An- 
drew, who was the father of the noted Alexander H. Stephens, Vice- 
President of the Confederacy. Their father, Capt. Alexander Stephens, 
had taken the two boys, James and Andrew, along to Georgia, when he 
emigrated there in 1794, but James returned to Perry County and settled 
in Juniata Township, where he owned 300 acres of land in 1820, the year of 
the county's erection. He married Elizabeth Garrett and was the father 



974 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

of nine children, and his brother, Andrew, in the South, was the father of 
eight. The sons of James, tall, and erect, are remembered by many of 
the present generation. They were full cousins of the noted Alexander H., 
but were loyal Northerners. The noted Southern commoner, when a young 
man, visited his uncle, James Stephens, in Juniata Township, an account of 
which appears in the chapter devoted to Alexander H. Stephens, elsewhere 
in this book. Descendants of James Stephens yet reside in New Bloom- 
field. From James, who returned North, descended Prof. James A. 
Stephens, a noted earlier educator, and his son, Robert Neilson Stephens, 
the famous author. 

Markelville. In February, 1763, the lands on which Markelville is lo- 
cated were warranted to Edward Elliott, and named in the warrant as 
"Pretty Meadow." In April, 1769, the adjoining tract was warranted to 
Tohn Peden, who came from Lancaster County, and was named "Down 
Patrick." The "Pretty Meadow" tract contained i_»o acres, and the "Down 
Patrick" 142 acres. The "Pretty Meadow" tract was sold to William Wal- 
lace, an innkeeper of Carlisle, in 1782, and he came into possession of the 
other tract through the will of his sister, Martha Peden. In John Peden's 
will, dated August 1, 1775, is this clause: "And I allow, in case my child 
dies', that my wife, Martha, shall have that plantation lying in Sherman's 
Valley, known as 'Down Patrick,' she to pay twenty pounds to the other 
executor, to be put to use for the support of a minister in Donegal." By 
her wiH, dated a year later, it passed to the innkeeper. There is no record 
of any improvements until 1775, when part of it was under cultivation by 
some squatters who had been driven off by hostile Indians. Not until 1776 
or 1777 did Elliot and Peden clear and cultivate land there. Tradition says 
these lands were settled earlier but there records do not bear it out. 

Wallace transferred the lands to James McNamara in 1793, and he 
erected the first house in the place, and later a mill, and it came to be 
known as "McNamara's Mill." McNamara sold the tract to Valentine 
Smith, from whom his son, John Smith, acquired twenty-two acres, in- 
cluding the grist and sawmill, and the lands upon which Markelville is 
located. From Smith it passed to John Weary, and from him to William 
Bosserman, in 1834. It then came to be known as Bosserman's Mill, and 
a post office was established bearing that name. Then the property was 
sold in two parcels, the lands principally going to John Leiby, who, in 1853 
sold to George Markle, whose building operations and public spirit gave 
his name to the town. The mill, on the other hand, passed to George 
Leonard, who, in 1868, sold to David Bixler. The next owners were A. 
S. Whitekettle, whose title dates to 1886; Henry K. Frymoyer, 1894; 
Yearick & Dock, 1898, Mr. Yearick later becoming sole owner; Gordon 
Brothers, 1900; J. T. Alter, 1909, selling almost at once to Linn H. Boyer; 
Win. A. Patton, 191 1, and Lloyd D. Stambaugh, the present owner, in 1915. 
Jonas Lesh kept the first store there. Other early storekeepers were 
Thomas Black, Peter Ouran, William Bosserman, George Leiby, George 
Markel, Jr., Daniel Sutman, and later A. S. Whitekettle and Miller E. 
Flickinger. The present Markelville includes the site of "Little Vienna," 
which was patented by Alexander Myers in 1809, and contained 365 acres. 
In 1815 he planned and laid out the "future city" on lands just south of 
the Lutheran Church. In March of that year he had public auction of lots 
and succeeded in selling eighteen, each of which contained thirty-one 
perches. But three houses were built upon them, as follows: One by a 
tailor named John Smith, another by George Folk, and the third by Isaac 
Frantz. A right-of-way was reserved to Buffalo Creek for the residents 
and a public road provided, but with the death of Myers also died the 
dream of the great city to be located there. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 975 

The Markelville Academy was opened in 1855, but its history is more 
property part of the chapter on Public Institutions, elsewhere in this book. 

Markelville has been the location of a number of physicians. Among 
them wire Dr. J. E. VanCamp, 1869-71; Dr. J. D. Shull, 1887-96; Dr. 
Geo. W. Lupfer, alter 1881, and Dr. Chas. J. Manning, after 1889. 

According to the report of the mercantile appraiser the following are 
the business firms oi Juniata Township, the year following names being 
the date of beginning business : 

M. E. Flickinger (1898), general store and postmaster at Markelville. 
Opened by Geo. MTarkel I 1856), whose successor was A. S. Whitekettle. 

C. A. Scott and A. !•'. \\ alkmeyer, general stores. 

L. D. Stambaugh and T. L Toomey, grain, flour and feed. 

Middle Ridge Presbyterian Church. Among the earlier churches located 
in Juniata Township, Middle Ridge Church stood first. Many yet living can 
remember its individual pews, with gates hung on forged hinges with brass 
screws. It stood on the Adam Sheaffer farm (formerly W. E. Raffens- 
berger's), in the Middle Ridge road, and was used by the Reformed 
Presbyterians, known as "the seceders," after it had been abandoned by the 
Presbyterians. A full description appears under the chapter, "The Earliest 
Churches." 

Sulphur Springs Church. This is now Rodenbaugh's Church, earlier 
known as Kough's Church, located near the former Henry Fickes farm, 
close to Little Buffalo Creek, opposite Shoaff's mill. It is now known 
locally as the Sulphur Springs Church. Its erection must have been prior 
to 1824, as in that year New Bloomfield's location is named as "on the road 
leading from the Dutch Meeting House in Juniata Township." 

Markelville Churches. The residents of this territory practically all 
attended the Middle Ridge Presbyterian Church until about 1840, when 
Marx Bealor deeded a half-acre of ground to the Lutheran and German 
Presbyterian congregations. They erected a union church the same year. 
German Lutherans in the community included the Beistleins, Lenigs, 
Swartzs, Smiths, Crists, Burrells and others. This church was sometimes 
known as Bealor's Church. In 1839 Rev. John William Heim began hold- 
ing services at the hill schoolhouse, near Bosserman's mill. Simultaneously 
a Sunday school was organized. This was the nucleus of this church. 
Daniel Swartz and John Bealor were the building'committee. It was a log 
building 30x35 feet in size, had high galleries on three sides, supported 
by heavy posts and crossbeams, a high pulpit and high seats. Of it Rev. 
D. H. Focht said : "It seems to have been adapted to make preaching go 
hard." The first officers were John Beistlein, elder, and Daniel Swartz, 
deacon. It was dedicated in 1841, and was named St. John's Church. Rev. 
Heim preached every four weeks in German until his death in December, 
1849. He was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Martin, who preached every third 
time in English, which enraged the German-speaking members, who even 
refused to attend the sacramental service. He resigned in March, 1852, 
and was followed by Rev. William Gerhardt, who served until June, 1853. 
Rev. A. R. Height followed in March, 1854. He became the first super- 
intendent of schools of Perry County the same year. 

On June 1, 1855, this church became a part of the New Bloomfield 
charge, and on the same date Rev. D. H. Focht became the pastor. The 
ministers from then on have been the same. See chapter on New Bloom- 
field. The new brick church was built in 1882. It is 40x60 feet in size. 
The building committee was composed of Joseph Flickinger, Thomas 
Lenig, Samuel Carl and A. S. Whitekettle. The Reformed Church was 
built about 1888. It is served by the New Bloomfield pastors. 



976 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

St. Samuel's Lutheran Church* The early history of this church seems 
to he somewhat obscured. Rev. Focht, in his Churches Between the 
Mountains, tells of the organization of a congregation at Millerstown in 
March, 1850, by Rev. William Weaver, with "upwards of forty persons." 
He also tells of a Mr. John Kinter donating a plot for the erection of a 
church "near Millerstown" and of the laying of the corner stone on Sep- 
tember 26, 1861. His book was printed in 1862, and in it he says: "It is 
expected the new church will be ready in August of this year." It ap- 
pears to have heen built upon the lands of William Rice, in Tuscarora 
Township, about two miles from Millerstown. Rev. J. J. Kerr was instru- 
mental in having it torn down and removed from that location to lands of 
Andrew T. Brown, in Juniata Township, later owned by Isaiah Mitchell, 
and now by Harvey Ulsh. Since it has been located in Juniata Township 
the Newport Lutheran pastors have supplied it. See Newport chapter. 

Walnut Grove Methodist Church. Prior to the building of the Walnut 
Grove Methodist Church the meetings or services were held in the school 
building, which was later destroyed by fire. Rev. John B. Mann was one 
of the first pastors. The church was built in 1880-81, being dedicated in the 
spring of 1881. It was remodeled in 191 1. Its membership is about 120, 
with a Sunday school of over 100 members. It is a part of the New Bloom- 
field charge, where the pastors' names appear. 

Mil ford United Evangelical Church. The Milford United Evangelical 
Church is located at Milford (Wila). The first services in this vicinity 
were held at the home of Henry Toomey (now Mr. Kinzer's), about one 
mile west of Milford, in or near 1840. In 1844 a church was built, of 
which George Houtz, Frederic Dum and Daniel Lesh were trustees. While 
they were raising the frame a storm blew it down, so the size was made 
somewhat smaller (35x40), so that the same lumber could be used. It was 
at first a pebble dashed church, but about 1885 was weatherboarded and 
new windows and shutters placed thereon. Samuel Tressler, Peter E. 
Smith and John Fosselman were then trustees. In 1902 modern pews re- 
placed the old seats. In 1913 a belfry and bell were added. It has always 
been a part of the Perry Circuit, the ministers being the same as those 
found under the Elhottsburg church in the chapter relating to Spring 
Township. 

Landisburg Borough. 

Landisburg is ten miles southwest of New Bloomfield, the county seat, 
and fourteen miles from Carlisle. By air line it is within twenty-five miles 
of the State Capital. It is located near the eastern line of Tyrone Town- 
ship, not far from Spring, and opposite Mount Dempsey, a magnificent 
mountain peak, a spur of the Blue or Kittatinny Mountain, which stands 
there in all its grandeur through the ages, a piece of God's handiwork. 

Landisburg was designated as the first county seat of Perry County, 
pending a choice by the citizens, and remained so from the date of the 
formation of the county until the beginning of 1827, when it was changed 
to New Bloomfield. As that matter is covered fully in the chapter entitled 
"Perry County Established," it is not repeated here. 

These business men were located at Landisburg when it was the county 
seat : H. W. Peterson and Alexander Magee, who published the Ferry 
forester, the first paper published in Perry County, a more extensive ac- 
count appearing under the chapter devoted to "The Press" ; Samuel Maus, 
watchmaker ; Robert H. McClellan, general store ; Alexander & Hays, 
harnessmakers ; John D. Creigh, Charles B. Davis and F. M. Wadsworth, 
attorneys; Valentine Miller and William Dalton, apothecaries. 



*To Levi Smith, aged 81 in 1920, the author is indebted for facts in reference to 
this church. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 977 

Long before Perry County was created, in fact, in [793, what is now llic 
Borough of Landisburg was laid out in lots by Abraham Landis, a residenl 
of Cocalico Township, Lancaster County, who had on May 25, 1787, taken 
out a warrant for 116 acres of land lying along Montour's Run. Landis- 
burg was a part of the tract. A man named John McClure made the sur- 
vey. The size of the lots was 60x150, and they were disposed of by lot- 
tery. Originally each lot was subject to a "quit rent" of seven shillings 
and six pence, with a requirement to build a two-story house within three 
years. The earliest deed on record was made to George Wolf, a wheel- 
wright, and was dated December 1, 1795. The town was incorporated as 
a borough on December 23, 1831. Some of the original houses, over one 
hundred years old, still stand. 

On the town plot of 1793 a lot was set aside for school purposes, on which 
a log schoolhouse was built, which was continued in use until 1837, when 
it was replaced with a stone building, which was in use until 1894. A large 
frame building was then erected, but it was destroyed by fire in T919. 
Since that time the school board has purchased the former Presbyterian 
and Methodist church buildings and transformed them into school build- 
ings. In 1831, in response to a petition of the people, an act was passed 
by the state legislature, providing for the appointment of trustees of the 
public schoolhouse of the town of Landisburg, and empowering these 
trustees to examine teachers for said school, to visit same once a month, 
and to dismiss the teacher for misconduct, want of capacity, or negli- 
gence. John McClure, a surveyor, was an early teacher, teaching at vari- 
ous times and being the first teacher in the new school building in 1837. 
Jonathan Ross and Alexander Roddy were teachers in the first building, 
and a Mr. Anderson and Edward Dromgold among those in its successor. 
In November, 1827, James B. Cooper began a night school, but how long 
continued we can find no record. In 1835 W. P. Johnson had a select 
school. The first school was managed by a board of trustees chosen by 
the citizens in accordance with the act of 1831, for Landisburg Borough. 
John Kibler, Henry Fetter and John Diven were made trustees of the 
school. The public school act of 1834 was accepted in 1836, and the board 
of trustees gave way to a board of directors. 

Mount Dempsey Academy was located here, an account of which ap- 
pears in the chapter headed "Public Institutions and Academies." 

James Diven purchased lot 20, on which he erected a dwelling. The 
Diven tannery was located on lots purchased by J. Scroggs and John Big- 
ler, Scroggs building it and selling it to the younger James Diven, who 
died in 1816. It was then rented by the heirs until 1840, when it was pur- 
chased by James A. Diven, a son and one of the heirs. In 1853 it passed 
to John D. Diven, who died in 1872. The tannery was then sold to Wil- 
liam W. McClure, who in 1880 sold to D. Moffitt & Co., of New York. 

In 1831 another tannery was erected upon lot No. 1 by James Diven. 
Upon his death, in 1840, the tannery passed to Parkinson Hench and 
Samuel Black, who were in possession until 1859, when William B. Diven, 
a son of the former owner, purchased it. In 1867 he sold to James Mur- 
ray, who operated it until 1870, when it came into possession of the Perry 
County Bank, who in turn sold it to R. H. Middleton & Co. Peter A. 
Ahl & Co. purchased it from them. 

Albert Nesbit had a small tannery at the rear of the old courthouse lot, 
which he operated from 1818 to 1829. 

The first tavern was kept by Jacob Bigler, at Carlisle and Water Streets, 

and was known as the Bigler House. In 1820 David Heckendorn was the 

proprietor. The next tavern was on High Street, on lot y^, which in 1807 

passed from James Wilson to Christian Bigler, then Jacob Fritz, who 

62 



978 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

built a log tavern and kept it a few years, when he sold it to Abram Ful- 
weiler. Mr. Fulweiler built an addition and added a store, which he kept 
until 1825, when he built a stone house on Main Street and moved there. 
The third tavern was on lot 48, later owned by John A. Wilson, before 
the county was organized. In 1820 it was kept by John Creigh. Another 
tavern was in the James L. Diven building, which was used by John 
Wingert as a store until 1803. It was then equipped for a tavern and 
first kept by Michael Sypher. Thomas Craighead kept it during the period 
when the town was the county seat. In 1821 one tavern was known as 
"The Spread Eagle." 

Jacob Eritz built the building now known as Hotel Dempsey, oper- 
ated by Robert Shuman (1920). In 1820 it was kept by John Hackett. In 
the following years it was kept by a variety of proprietors, until 1834, 
when Jacob Evinger purchased and ran it until his death in 1845. Major 
George A. Shuman, father of Robert Shuman, kept it for many years 
after 1868. On lot 47 there was once a hotel run by James Atchley, and 
on lot 45 one run by John Hippie, who became sheriff. 

In 181 1, Henry Wingert, a hatmaker, located in the town and built on 
lot 33 a house, later owned by his son, Dr. J. F. Wingert. During Wing- 
ert's time he purchased a lot which he paid for entirely with hats of his 
own manufacture. 

The first Masonic lodge in the county, as well as in the Juniata Valley, 
was organized at Landisburg, Monday, June 26, 1825, and was known as 
Golden^Rule Lodge, No. 208. Its first officers were : Robert H. McGellan, 
worthy master; Jacob Stroop, senior warden, and John Dunbar Creigh, 
junior warden. It was disbanded about 1833. The day of its organization 
there was a parade led by detachments from the two volunteer military 
companies. 

The oldest lodge in Landisburg is Mt. Dempsey Lodge, No. 707, I. O. 
of O. F., which was organized April 20, 1846, with Wm. R. Fetter, noble 
grand; David A. Clugston, secretary, and Frederick Sheaffer, treasurer. 
During the same year the lodge purchased the Stambaugh building, on 
Main Street, and fitted up the top story as a hall, selling the lot and the 
first story, a rather unusual transaction. They met there until 1863, when 
they purchased the Landisburg Hotel building, where they still meet. 

The Landisburg Civic Club was organized during August, 1920, with 
Airs. A. L. Dum, president; Alice Cooper, secretary, and Mrs. James R. 
Wilson, treasurer. 

About 1829 a fire company was established and a hand engine purchased, 
but the life of the company was short and the engine was finally sold. On 
August 16 and T7, 182 1, a fair and stock show was held in Landisburg, 
which was the first attempt to hold a public exhibition of that character 
in the county. 

Landisburg celebrated officially the fiftieth anniversary of American 
Independence. On July 4, 1826, the Landisburg Artillery Corps, under 
Captain Henry Fetter, the Landisburg Guards, under Captain Robert Mc- 
Clellan, and the citizens formed in Centre Square and marched to the 
courthouse, where an address was delivered by James Butterfield, after 
which all marched to the farm of William Power, where a dinner was 
served and toasts drank. 

When the first post office was established in Landisburg is a matter of 
conjecture, but in 1820 Samuel Anderson was postmaster. He died in 1823, 
and Henry Fetter was appointed. A list of postmasters since that time, with 
the dates of their induction, follows: Jonas Butterfield, 1825; John Kib- 
ler, 1826- Francis Kelly, 1828; John Burtnett, 1834; William Blaine, 184 1 ; 
Jesse Hippie, 1844; George Shaffer, 1848; John Burtnett, 1852; Mary 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 979 

Sheibley, 1861 ; Mary Hutchinson, 1866; R. H. Preisler, 1868; Nancy 
Connor^ 1877; James C. Preisler, 1885; Dr. J. F. Wingert, 1889; Win. B. 
Burtnett, 1893; Katharine Eaton, 1898; A. H. Billman, 1913; Nora Light- 
ner, 1920. 

In 1821 Joseph H. Kennedy operated a nail factory, manufacturing nails 
by hand. It was located on Water Street, in the rear part of a building 
started in 1794, but not completed until 1800, now the property of Mrs. 
Robert Shuman. The front part of the building is of stone, but the rear, 
which was used in the manufacture of nails, was built of logs. 

Dr. John Creigh was the first physician to locate on what is now Perry 
County soil. He was a son of Judge John Creigh, of Carlisle, born in 
1773. He graduated at Dickinson College in 179-', and completed his 
medical course at the University of Pennsylvania in 1795. He first prac- 
ticed at Pittsburgh, then at Lewistown, and located at Landisburg in 1799. 
He practiced there until 1819, when he removed to Carlisle to educate his 
children. He died in 1848. He was rated as very successful. Dr. John 
Parshall succeeded him and remained until 1825. Dr. James T. Oliver, 
of Silver Springs, Cumberland County, practiced five years, and then re- 
turned to his home location. Dr. Samuel A. Moore, who studied with Dr. 
Ely, of Shippensburg, had a large practice from 1825 to 1843. Dr. Samuel 
Edwards located in Landisburg in 1838. After practicing here for six 
years he moved to Newport, and later to Blain, after which he moved out 
of the county. Dr. David A. Clugston came to Landisburg from Franklin 
County in 1841, practiced here for eleven years, then removed to Duncan- 
non, and later went West. Dr. James Galbraith, who was born in York 
County in 1709, but who had gone to Ohio with his parents when a mere 
boy, graduated at Jefferson Medical College in 1826. He located in Lan- 
disburg in 1843 and practiced there until his death in 1872. He was re- 
puted to be a good physician and a broad-minded man. 

Dr. William Niblock, a native of Ireland, graduated at the University of 
Glasgow, in 1813. He migrated to this country in 1821, and settled in 
Landisburg in 1827, where he practiced until his death in 1859. His son, 
William G. Niblock, read medicine with his father and graduated at the Jef- 
ferson Medical College in 1847. He practiced in Landisburg for five years, 
when he died. Both Niblocks were learned men and good doctors. Dr. 
John F. Wingert was a native of Landisburg, and read medicine with Dr. 
David A. Clugston. He practiced from 1851 to 1872, when he retired from 
practice. 

Dr. David B. Milliken, who was born in Juniata County in 1833, gradu- 
ated from the University of the City of New York in 1854, and at once 
located in Landisburg, where he practiced until his death in 1918. He was 
a successful physician, a shrewd business man, and at one time represented 
the county in the state legislature. Dr. James P. Sheibley, a son of Bern- 
ard Sheibley, was a native of Landisburg, and graduated at the University 
of Pennsylvania in 1868. He located in Landisburg in 1870, where he 
practiced until 1905. Dr. H. M. Smiley practiced here for a short time. 
Dr. W. J. Allen, after leaving Blain, practiced here several years before 
his death. 

According to the report of the mercantile appraiser the following busi- 
ness houses are located in Landisburg, the date following being the time 
of entering the business: 

General stores. J. L. Garman, in the old James Diven stand (1905 till his 
death, 1921), Chas. H. Delancey, D. W. Wertz. 

Charles Burtnett 11898), furniture; J. M. Kennedy, clothing; Z. K Rice 
(1889"), jewelry; S. L. Patterson, meat market; E. S. Rice, Mt. Dempsey 
garage (1918), oil; Nancy Clouse, confections; D. B. Dromgold, machinery. 



980 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Landisburg Presbyterian Church. Prior to the organization of Perry 
County the members of the Presbyterian faith residing about Landisburg 
attended Limestone Ridge, sometimes known as Sam Fisher's Church, and 
Centre Church. With the organization of the new county and Landisburg 
becoming the county seat, it was naturally supposed that the population 
would increase and that it would be a good location for a church. Rev. 
John Linn had died a short time before, and Rev. Nathan Harned, who 
was supplying his pulpits, quickly arrived at such conclusion, and thirty- 
two persons withdrew from Limestone Ridge and Centre and formed a 
new congregation at Landisburg, in 1823, Limestone Ridge furnishing far 
the larger number. At the same time Buffalo Church, near Ickesburg, was 
organized, and that part of the membership of Limestone Ridge which did 
not go to the new charge at Landisburg went to Centre and Buffalo, thus 
abandoning Limestone Ridge for a location considered more favorable. 
It might practically be said that the Landisburg church was the successor 
of Limestone Ridge. 

In several historical works the statement is made that "Rev. James M. 
McClintock was installed as pastor and continued until 1834, when Rev. 
John Dickey became pastor of the New Bloomfield charge." According 
to the records of Presbytery taken from the Centennial Memorial, that is 
wrong, as will be seen in the list of ministers following. The congrega- 
tion worshiped at first in the building used as a courthouse during the time 
Landisburg was the county seat. In 1829 the congregation erected a sub- 
stantial frame building on Main Street. 

Rev. James M. Olmstead became pastor in 1825, and remained until 1832. 
In 1834 Rev. John Dickey became pastor at New Bloomfield, and the 
churches at Landisburg and Ickesburg were added to that pastorate. He 
preached here until 1854, .when Centre, Upper and Landisburg churches 
called Rev. Lewis Williams, who served until his death in 1857. He was 
succeeded by John H. Clark, 1857-62, followed by Rev. James S. Ram- 
sey, D.D., 1864-67. 

Blain then withdrew and united with Ickesburg. Centre and Landisburg 
then called Robert McPherson. He preached at Landisburg from 1869-76. 
From 1878 to 1880 Rev. Silas A. Davenport served; 1883-84, Rev. J. C. 
Garver, and 1884-85, Rev. John H. Cooper. Then from 1887 to 1895 Rev. 
Wm. M. Burchfield was pastor of the four churches, Landisburg, Blain, 
Centre and Buffalo (near Ickesburg). In the latter year the charge was 
again divided, Rev. Burchfield remaining at Centre. Landisburg was then 
served by the following: 1896-97, Rev. Hugh G. Moody; 1898-1902, Rev. 
A. F. Lott ; 1904-1909, Rev. Will H. Dyer. 

Following Rev. Dyer's pastorate the Landisburg church was again united 
with the pastorate at Centre, and Rev. George H. Miksch was the pastor 
until the beginning of 1914. 

The first services of this people were held in the building used as a 
courthouse, when the county seat was temporarily at Landisburg. In 1830 
a frame church was built, the trustees being Samuel Linn, Jacob Stambaugh 
and William Cook. The membership having largely died or migrated the 
residue transferred their membership elsewhere, and during the summer 
of 1920 the church property was sold to the school board and is now used 
for high school purposes. 

The Church of God. The organization of this church almost parallels 
the organization of the new county. The founder of this faith, Rev. John 
Winebrenner, visited Landisburg and preached April 10, 1821, which is the 
earliest record. During 1828 services were held by Henry Wingert, of 
Landisburg, who began preaching as a teaching elder, serving until 1832, 
when the congregation was organized under supervision of the East Penn- 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 981 

sylvania Eldership. Until 1836 the services were held in the old log school- 
house, Elder Wingert then building a small log bethel adjoining his resi- 
dence on Main Street. In 1832 a lot was purchased on a corner, fronting 
on Water Street, and a brick church erected, which was in use until 1873, 
when the present brick church took its place. 

The elders who have officiated since then, from incomplete records, so 
that no dates can be given before 1855, follow: 

Edward West, Michael Suavely, Solomon Bighani, 

David Kyle, Carlton Price, A. Fenton, 

|olm li. Porter, William Mulnex, Josiah Hurley, 

Win. McFadden, Joseph Hazlett, Wilson Coulter, 

William Mooney, A. Swartz, Henry Clay, 

Geo. McCartney, William Miller, J. F. Weishampel, 

roseph Bumbarger, Thomas Desbaree, Thomas Steel. 

1855-56— Samuel Crawford. [880-83— J. F. Meixel. 

1856-57— Wiliam Johnston 1883-85— J T. Fleegal. 

1857-59— Simon Fleegal. 1885-87— W. J. Grissinger. 

1859-61— J. C. Seabrooks. 1887-89— Jesse Berkstresser. 

1861-63— B." F. Beck. 1889-94— William Palmer. 

1863-64— J. F. Weishample. [894-97— S. C. Stonesifer. 

1864-66 — A. J. Fenton. iS.,7-99— J. A Staub. 

Solomon Bingham. [899-00 — J. C. Pease. 

,866-67— D. Rockafellow. 1900-03— F. Y. Weidenhammer. 

, 867-69— H. E. Reever. 1903-05— J- H. Esterline. 

S. S. Richmond. 1905-08— W. S. Sturgen. 

,869-70— S. S. Richmond. 1908-09— H. P. Aston. 

J. M. Speece. 1909-10— H W. Long. 

1870-74— G. W. Seilhamer. [910-12— G. B. M. Reidell. 

,874-75— W. L Jones. 191 2-14— J. O. Weigle. 

1875-77— W. P. Winbigler. 1914-17— J. W. Gable. 

1877-79 — F. L. Nicodemus. 1917-20 — E. E. Fackler. 

,879-80— J. A. McDannald. 1921- — W. F. Johnson. 

W. Sanborn. 
The Landisburg Church of God is one of seven churches which com- 
prise the charge. The others are Little Germany, Sandy Hollow, Sheaf- 
fer's Valley, Kennedy's Valley, Oak Grove and Centre Squajre, the latter in 
Toboyne Township. 

Trinity Reformed Church. The organization of Trinity Reformed 
Church in Landisburg, came about through a portion of the membership 
of Lebanon Church at Loysville desiring a church in closer proximity to 
their homes. It was organized in 1850, Rev. Charles H. Leinbach becom- 
ing pastor. Prior to its "organization Rev. Jacob Scholl had preached here 
occasionally, he having charge of the churches of that faith in Sherman's 
Valley. A lot was purchased on Carlisle Street and the present brick 
church erected. Its pastors have been: 

1850-59— Rev. C. H. Leinbach. 1891-99— Rev. Geo. House. 

1860-64 — Rev. Henry Musser. 1899-01 — Rev. C. H. Brandt. 

,865-67— Rev. James A. Shultz. 1901-03— Rev. G. W. Shellenberger. 

1868-72— Rev. T. F. Hoffmeier. 1904-11 — Rev. Roy Leinbaugh. 

[872-73— Rev. D. L. Steckel. 1911-14— Rev. T. H. Materness. 

,874-80— Rev. W. H. Herbert. 1 01 5-1 7— Rev. A. N. Brubaker. 

,880-84— Rev. H. T. Spangler. 1918-20— Rev. Seward Kresge. 

1884-88— Rev. M. H. Groh. 1920- —Rev. O. W. Moyer. 

1888-91 — Rev. A. B. Stoner. 

It was located upon a plot of ground offered gratuitously by Henry 
Fetter. The local members built the first story masonry and let the con- 
tract for finishing the building to Henry Myers, of Carlisle, for $1,500, 
brick to be furnished. The lower story was divided into two parts, in one 
of which Mt. Dempsey Academy was conducted from 1856 to 1864, when 



<,X_< HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

it closed. The other became the Sunday school room. The building com- 
mittee was composed of Henry Snyder, Rev. C. H. Leinbach, George Wet- 
zel, George Wagner and Jeremiah Rice. The corner stone was laid at a 
height of ten feet from the ground. It was dedicated April 17, 1853. The 
first officers were George Wetzel and Jesse Hippie, elders ; A. B. Albert 
and David Rhodes, deacons, and John Burtnett and Jeremiah Rice, trustees. 
St. Peter's, Landisburg and ElHottsburg constitute one charge, hence the 
same ministers. 

M. B. Church. First services of this denomination were held in Landis- 
burg prior to 183 1, by Rev. Sheperd, Rev. Tannehill, Rev. Finicle and 
others. In that year an organization was effected and the Landisburg 
church built. It has always been a part of the New Bloomfield charge, but 
the membership gradually dwindled away until 1921, when the church 
building was sold to the Landisburg school board for $400. The pastors 
will be found under the chapter relating to New Bloomfield. 

Liverpool Borough. 

The plot on which Liverpool was originally laid out was warranted by 
John Staily. On October 25, 1808, he and his wife (Eve) gave deed to 
John Huggins for 121 acres, reserving therefrom one and a half acres for 
a graveyard. John Huggins had it surveyed and plotted by Peter William- 
sou. This old plot shows it as extending from Strawberry Street to North 
Alley. It was incorporated by an act of the legislature of May 4, 1832. 
The Huggins and Staily families, who were relatives, were very numerous 
then. 

Adjoining it, in 1818, the town of Northern Liberties was laid out by 
Samuel Haas. When it was decided to embrace the new town with 
Liverpool a new plot was made by Dr. J. H. Case and William Mitchell, 
the latter at the time being a school teacher there. Northern Liberties 
began at North Alley — the northern limit of Liverpool — and extended north 
along the river to the property of Dr. Case. This section, until then known 
as Northern Liberties, was included in the Borough of Liverpool when 
incorporated in 1832. The limits were later on extended still further north 
to include an outlying section known as Perryville, and south to include 
the Lenhart sawmill and village surrounding it, and west to include the 
steam flouring mill. The part of the borough known as Perryville was on 
the George Wilt farm, which passed to Anthony Rhoades in 1812. 

On the same day in which he got his deed from Staily, John Huggins 
sold his first lot — number 4 — to Jacob Snyder. In all his deeds he re- 
served "to himself, his heirs, and assigns forever, all ferries and ferry 
rights, now made or hereafter to be made or erected, which shall remain 
in the undisputed possession of the said John Huggins, his heirs and as- 
signs, anything in this present plot, poll or plan of said town, to the con- 
trary, in anywise notwithstanding." John Huggins, having reserved all 
rights to the ferries, on March 24, 1824, sold half, or the west side of the 
Liverpool ferry to Richard and Robert B. Rodgers, who had leased it as 
early as December, 1819. They sold it in 1834 to Daniel Bogar, and be in- 
turn sold it to Isaac Meek, in 1838. The old tavern at the west end of the 
ferry was first kept by John K. Boyer. 

The Calder & Wilson stage line, later the Calder, Copp & Company line, 
came up the east side of the river and crossed this ferry, continuing on to 
Selinsgrove. This was a mail route. The first mail was carried on horse- 
back, then with a two-horse stage, and later with a four-horse stage. 

When the town of Liverpool was laid out there was in the river an 
island extending its entire length, with a channel about fifty feet wide be- 
tween it and the shore. It was then farmed and a considerable part of it 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 983 

lay above high-water mark. It was fringed with a row of willow trees, 
and in their shade was a favorite washing place for the housewives to do 
their weekly wash. No vestige of it remains, and the present population 
have no knowledge of its existence, except in so far as it has been handed 
down from one generation to the next. 

Before the advent of the canal there was a long, wide "commons" lying 
between Front Street and the Susquehanna River, which was covered with 
grass during the entire summer. Here it was the custom to hold the games 
and sports of those early days, horse races even having taken place there. 
However, when the Pennsylvania Canal was cut through, it took a wide 
strip for its erection, but it was a good thing for Liverpool, and until the 
advent of the railroads Liverpool was one of, if not the principal business 
town of the county. Almost its entire population became boatmen, and 
to this day no other town in the state has exceeded its reputation as the 




SKCTION OF LIVERPOOL, LOOKING SOUTH. 

home of so many boatmen whose craft carried the public traffic from farm 
and mine to sea and mart. 

Thomas Gallagher owned and operated a distillery. George Tharp also 
operated a distillery, and afterwards a chopping mill, and later in the same 
building Tharp Brothers operated a mill for grinding plaster. In this same 
building G. Gary Tharp ran a sumac mill. The chopping business having 
outgrown the small mill, George Tharp erected the large steam mill which 
was in operation as a flour mill until 1914, when it burned down. It was 
then owned by Mrs. Mary Williamson. 

Daniel Rohrbach operated the first foundry. Frederick and John Keagle 
ran the first foundry operated by water-power. Peter Oliphant built one, 
but it burned, and was rebuilt by A. D. Vandling & Son in 1865. He 
sold it to P. M. Reifsnyder, who owned it until its destruction by fire. A 
brick building was then erected by G. Cary Tharp in its place. There was 
a fourth foundry started by Bear & Reifsnyder, and finished by Reifsnyder 
& Holman. It was later destroyed by fire. John Keagle built one in 1876. 

S. R. Deckard and Isaac Lutz ran large cabinetmaker shops during the 
latter part of the last century. The leading business men during this pe- 
riod were George C. Snyder, M. H. Grubb, Isaac Williamson, S. M. Shuler, 
J. Holman & Son. 

A tannery was built by John Speece in 1829, and passed, respectively, to 
Hilbish, Montgomery, Gohn, John C. Reifsnyder, *William C. Brown and 
his son, Frank Brown. It was operated until 1900. Through this William 
C. Brown tannery runs the meridian of Washington, D. C. The Snyder 
steam tannery was built in 1868, by George Snyder, and operated until 
1877, its owner having 'died two years previously. There was a tannery 
older than either of these, which was last owned by George Snyder. 

*William C. Brown had a fine collection of Indian relics, which are now a part of 
the exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution at the National Capital. 



984 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

John Roush erected a gristmill, which was long run by Rowe and Wil- 
liamson. It burned in 1912 and was never rebuilt. 

Pioneer business men were Thomas Gallagher, who kept a store and 
later became a contractor on the canal; George Tharp, before 1820; a 
man named Dupes; Henry Walters, who afterwards became cashier of 
the Harrisburg National Bank; James Jackman and Henry W. Shuman. 
John Huggins erected a large house and kept the first tavern, which occu- 
pied the site of the hotel later kept by Robert Wallis, and now in the pos- 
session of Blanton Blattenberger. It burned and he then erected one on 
the opposite corner, where he lived until 1824. Richard Knight kept the 
first tavern in the stone house which was replaced by the present brick 
building known as Hotel Mitchell, it having been built by David Owens, 
who owned the property at one time and ran the hotel for some years. 

Liverpool early had a fire engine, it having been purchased about 1835. 
It was in use until 1873, when it was destroyed in a ravaging fire, which 
reduced to ashes six residences, two belonging to the John Huggins' heirs, 
one to John Reifsnyder and including the stores of G. Cary Tharp and D. 
Wagner. Twenty-two years later another devastating fire destroyed the 
Wallis Hotel, Winters' drug store, Jesse Coffman's tinshop, and dwellings 
belonging to Lewis Grubb, J. W. Williamson and Mrs. Cummins. 

The first schoolhouse was built on the one-and-a-half-acre lot reserved 
by Staily when he sold to Huggins. It was a log building, afterwards 
being weatherboarded and was about twenty-five feet square. This house 
was in existence in 1810, . according to the diary of Rev. George Heim, 
which says "that in 1810 he organized the Lutheran congregation at Liver- 
pool in the old schoolhouse." It will be noted that he calls it old even then, 
which implies that it must have been one of the first school buildings in 
the county. Teachers in this building were men named Mitchell, Rouse, 
Brink, John B. Porter and others. When this building became too crowded 
another was built and the town divided into two wards for school purposes, 
the pupils north of Race Street going to the new frame building, and those 
south going to the old log building. It so continued until about 1847, 
when a frame building with two rooms below and one above was erected, 
the upper floor later being divided into two rooms. This building was in 
use until 1878, when a new two-story, four-roomed building was erected. 
The first class to be graduated in the Liverpool High School was in 1884, 
under the principalship of Prof. E. Walt Snyder, who later became one 
of the county's leading physicians. The class was composed of Mattie 
Thompson, William Hamilton, Mary Charles, Lena Snyder, Sarah Wil- 
liamson and Henry Williamson. 

William Wallis, an early settler, was a cooper, and the ancestor of the 
present Wallis families. Christian Weirick, ancestor of the Weiricks, came 
about 1 810. He was a cabinetmaker and had a large family, all of whom 
located in the West, except his son Henry. Michael Shank, a ship car- 
penter who built the first canal boat north of Harrisburg, located here in 
1820. An early family was the Shulers, Samuel, John and Joseph, the 
latter becoming a prominent officeholder in the county. The late S. M. 
Shuler was a son of Samuel. Another early settler was John George Lutz, 
a German tailor. Peter Musselman came from Lancaster and erected a 
public house. Among early hotelkeepers were Richard and Abner Knight. 
The Walters' store was later owned by Jackson & English, and still later 
by Freeds. A family named Ellmaker, cabinetmakers and millwrights, 
resided at Liverpool at the time of the county's organization. Rev. David 
Grubb, an early United Brethren minister and cabinetmaker, was one of 
four brothers who moved to Perry County from Chester, and settled on a 
farm near Liverpool. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 985 

An act of the Pennsylvania Legislature of March 21, 1865, granted to 
William Inch, Sr., the right to ferry from the Borough of Liverpool to 
Liverpool Station. 

When the canal was in course of construction, Rev. John A. Gear, from 
his pulpit in Liverpool, discoursed upon the evils of intemperance, with 
special emphasis upon drinking. In the audience was "a big Irishman," 
who stood up and retorted "Enough of that." George Tharp, a business 
man and himself from the Emerald Isle, arose and led him out. Tharp 
always stood for law and order, and at that period such men were price- 
less in a community. At that time liquor flowed pretty freely, there being 
nine taverns in the town. As the larger number of the workmen employed 
in building the canal were Irish Catholics, and as the hardships to which 
their employment subjected them took a heavy toll the Catholic Church 
purchased a plot of ground along the hillside and opened a cemetery. 
Tradition tells of their gay life and says there was always a frolic after 
a funeral. 

The public square at Liverpool is sodded and occupied by rows of beau- 
tiful shade trees, planted there in 1876, the centenary of American Inde- 
pendence, commemorative of that event. 

There was once a Knights of Pythias Lodge in Liverpool, its number 
being 386. On Odd Fellow Lodge, No. 259, was organized there in 1847. 
Neither are in existence. 

John Staily entered the liquor business in Liverpool, and in 1865 erected 
a large brick building to extend accommodations to the traveling public, 
but in 1866, without even announcing his purpose to his family, he emptied 
all his liquors and closed the bar for good. It may seem strange to many 
that P. T. Barnum, the famous circus man, once exhibited at Liverpool, 
but such is the case. The circus troupe were entertained at Mr. Staily's 
hotel, and among them were a number of strong and rough men. A fight 
ensued between local roughs and these fellows, who threatened to turn 
loose the elephant. The town boys produced an old cannon which they 
loaded with scrap iron and told the management to "trot out its elephant." 
Mr. H. B. Staily, a son of John Staily's, establishes these facts. 

When the large timber tracts in northern Pennsylvania were just starting 
to be cut, the logs were shipped down the river in rafts, and opposite Liver- 
pool were three mills under one roof, according to Newton Williamson, an 
octogenarian. 

The postmasters at Liverpool have been as follows : 

1826-33 — Henry Walters. 1866-69 — William Staily. 

1833-45 — James J. Jackman. 1869-73 — John D. Monroe. 

1845-49 — Henry W. Shuman. 1873-81 — M. B. Holman. 

1849-61 — Joseph Shuler. 1881-85 — Jacob E. Bonsall. 

1862-63 — Jacob Holman. 1885-96 — Mrs. Laura J. Snyder. 

1864-66— Abraham Grubb. 1896- —Geo. J. Tharp. 

The first regular physician to locate at Liverpool was Dr. John W. Arm- 
strong, who removed there from Petersburg (Duncannon) in 1824, having 
previously practiced at Duncannon. He was in Liverpool several years. 
He was a grandson of General John Armstrong, who commanded the 
expedition against the Indian town of Kittanning, which ended disas- 
trously for the red skins, and who helped lay out the town of Carlisle, was 
a member of the Provincial Congress, and had command of the Pennsyl- 
vania troops at the Battle of the Brandywine in the Revolution. Dr. Arm- 
strong's successor was Dr. James H. Case, who was born in the Wyoming 
Valley in 1801. He located in Liverpool in 1827 and practiced there until 
his death in 1882. He was a public-spirited citizen and a good doctor. 



986 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

From 1828 to 1831 three different physicians located and stayed but short 
periods. They were Dr. Fitzpatrick, Dr. Sheedle and Dr. French. 

About 1830 Dr. William Cummins, who was born in Belfast, Ireland, in 
1804, and educated in Edinburgh, Scotland, located in Liverpool. He was 
educated for the ministry, but while teaching school read medicine with 
Dr. Mealy, of Millerstown, and later graduated at Jefferson Medical Col- 
lege. He practiced here until his death in 1846. He was twice married, 
hisi son, Hugh Hart Cummins, becoming president judge of Lycoming 
County. In 1846 Dr. Thomas G. Morris, a native of Sunbury, located at 
Liverpool. He was a surgeon of a Pennsylvania regiment in the War be- 
tween the States, after which he practiced and conducted a drug store in 
New Bloomfield for two years, then resuming his Liverpool practice. He 
practiced there until his death in 1887. Dr. John Wright, a native of Juni- 
ata County, located in Liverpool in 1847, where he practiced until 1854, 
when he removed to Halifax. He was run down and killed by a train 
there in 1859. He was married to a daughter of George Blattenberger, 
one of the associate judges of Perry County. 

Others who remained but short periods were Dr. John Rose, 1848; Dr. 
R. A. Simpson, 1857 ; Dr. A. A. Murray, 1876 to 1883 ; Dr. George Motter, 
1866, and Dr. George Barlow, 1875. The latter sold his practice to Dr. 
James F. Thompson, of Centre County, who located in Liverpool in 1878. 
He graduated at the Jefferson Medical College in 1864. He served in the 
Sectional War as surgeon of a regiment of Ohio sharpshooters. He was 
one of the leading doctors of the county during the end of the last cen- 
tury. He practiced at Liverpool until his death, which occurred in 1913. 
His brother, Henry Adams Thompson, was once the nominee for the Vice- 
Presidency on the Prohibition ticket. Dr. H. F. Womer located at Liver- 
pool in 1884. He was a graduate of the Jefferson Medical College, 1878. 
Dr. E. Walt Snyder, a Liverpool native, graduated from Jefferson Medical 
College in 1889, and located in Liverpool, where he practiced until 1899, 
when he located at Marysville. Dr. George Henry Bogar, Medico-Chi., 
1910, and Dr. Win. G. Morris are the present physicians, Dr. Morris locat- 
ing here in 1899, and Dr. Bogar in 1915. 

Hoover & Knisely started a shirt factory in the old U. B. church build- 
ing, in 1905. H. F. Zaring and Park Holman purchased it in 1907, and 
operated it until 1913, when they sold to Chas. H. Snyder, who had built 
a new factory building in 1912. In 1914, Mr. Snyder sold it to Chas. E. 
Deckard, H. F. Zaring and James A. Wright, who operated it until 1917, 
when they sold the business and building to Jouvand & Lavigne, who had 
erected a silk mill here in that year. They discontinued the business and 
turned the building into a moving picture theater, known as the "Silk Mill 
Movies." The silk mill of this firm began operations in October, 1918. 
It employs over fifty persons. 

The mercantile appraiser's report shows the following business places, 
the year being the date of connection with the business: 

A. M. Shuler (1919), general store. This business was established in 1842 
by Samuel and Joseph Shuler; in 1865 Samuel Shuler became proprietor and 
later it was Samuel Shuler & Son; in 1872 S. M. Shuler, and after his death 
S. M. Shuler estate. 

J. Holman & Sons — Park and Willard Holman, proprietors, general store. 
Established over fifty years ago by Jacob Holman. 

General stores, Wesley Coffman, H. M. Freed, J. A. Geist, A. E. Kerstetter 
-,, J. VV. I.utz. G. V. Miller, F. E. Shuler, Long & Miller. 

Miscellaneous: J. H. Kepner, groceries; R. F. Stailey, cigars; B. F 
Blattenberger, Chas. O. Mitchell, hotels; T. A. Stailey, John D. Miller, con- 
fectionery; J. J. Hamilton, shoes; John L. Ritter, baker; John D. Snyder, 
coal; Thomas Weirick & Co., meat market; J. L. Erlenmeyer, fertilizers; 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 987 

O. C. Knisely, H. G. Long, Frank Potter, \. C. Tharp, auto supplies; George 
C. Hoffman (1895), succeeding Samuel R. Deckard (1875), furniture and 
undertaking; J. X. Kilter, paper and iron in hulk; K. C. Mengle, fertilizer; 
J. P. Deckard, oil. 

When the county was organized in 1820, there was no church in Liver- 
pool, the schoolhouse answering that purpose, as well as a little log house, 
privately owned and standing near the site of the present Lutheran Church. 
In 1827 the citizens of the village cut and hewed logs for a church. It 
was used by the German Reformed and Presbyterian people, but there 
was no settled ministry for a time. A minister from New Bloomfield and 
another from Millersburg, Rev. Isaac Gerhart, preached occasionally, ac- 
cording to tradition. Rev. William Cochran, a Millerstown boy who en- 
tered the ministry, was the first Presbyterian pastor. Rev. James 1 rvin and 
Rev. Britton Collins were his successors in turn, according to a historical 
article in the Liverpool Sun of October 6, 1881, probably compiled from 
local information from people then living. According to the Centennial 
Memorial of the Presbytery of Carlisle (1889) prepared by a committee, 
the Liverpool congregation was organized in 1818, by Rev. Nathaniel K. 
Snowden, who preached until 1820, after which it became vacant until 1828, 
when Rev. James F. Irvine was installed. Probably both statements are 
correct. Rev. Cochran was then studying for the ministry under the direc- 
tion of Rev. Snowden, and it is probable that the young student frequently 
filled the pulpit at Liverpool. As most of his people had emigrated west- 
ward Rev. Irvine's appeal to the Presbytery to be relieved of the appoint- 
ment was granted. Collins may then have gone over from his station at 
Millerstown and held occasional services, which practically makes the two 
statements dovetail, while at a glance they seem widely at variance. Rev. 
Gerhart was a Reformed minister, and the Reformed denomination held 
services at Barner's Church and various other points at that time, but time 
has effaced any records telling of the date of organization or other facts. 

Liverpool Lfitheran Church. There were early settlers who were Lu- 
therans who had located between the two rivers, the itinerant ministers 
having appeared among them as early as 1764, the year after the last Indian 
invasion. The congregation at St. Michael's Church, in Pfoutz Valley, 
was organized in the early seventies, and the ministers on their way there 
held services at Liverpool, after the settlement there was begun. When 
John Huggins laid out the town he had reserved a plot for church and 
school purposes and a schoolhouse had been erected thereon. While on 
his way to Pfoutz Valley to preach at St. Michael's, Rev. Conrad Walter 
held services in the school building. That was between 1804 an d 1809, 
according to Rev. Focht's "Churches Between the Mountains." 

The second pastor was Rev. George Heim, whose charge included terri- 
tory lying in the Tuscarora Valley west of Port Royal (then Perryville), 
in the vicinity of Mifflintown, Lewistown, and across the country to Lewis- 
burg, and down to Liverpool. He had twelve places at which to preach, 
some of them forty to fifty miles apart. In 1810 the congregation at Liver- 
pool was organized by Mr. Heim. He was succedeed by his brother, Rev. 
John William Heim, in June, 1814. The charge was so large that the 
Liverpool folks only heard him five times a year for several years. 

The building of a church was not begun, however, until 1828, when the 
log frame was put up. It then stood in an unfinished condition until 1831, 
when it was put under roof. It had high galleries on three sides and a 
high bell-shaped pulpit, mounted on a post. It was painted white and had 
a cupola, bell and steeple. It was 35x40 feet in size, and the men most 
interested in its erection were George Lutz, George Barner, George Tharp, 
David Stewart, Christian Weirick and John Roush. 



988 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The Liverpool church was detached from the old charge in 1829, and 
with several other churches was supplied by visiting pastors. In 1833 it 
became a separate charge, with the following ministers since: 

1833-42 — Rev. Chas. G Erlenmeyer. 1870-72 — Rev. Elias Studebaker. 

1843 — Rev. Andrew Berg (6 mos.). 1874-81 — Rev. D. S. Lentz. 

Vacant until 1847. 1881-83— Rev. Herring. 

I,S 4~-S I — Rev. Wm. Weaver. 1883-87 — Rev. Mumma. 

Vacant until October, 1856. 1888-91 — Rev. M. S. Romig. 

1856-59 — Rev. Josiah Zimmerman. 1891-93 — Rev. W. H. Minnemyer. 

1859-61 — Rev. Jacob A. Hackenberger. 1896-00 — Rev. J. M. Stover. 

1862-65 — Rev. John H. Davidson. 1901-04 — Rev. W. H. Stahl. 

1865-66 — Rev. J. C. Hackenberger. 1904-15 — Rev. M. S. Romig. 

1866 — Rev. Kerr (supply). 191 6-21 — Rev. Clyde W. Shearrer. 

1867-70— Rev. W. H. Diven. [922- —Rev. E. E. Gilbert. 

The charge varied with the years, but latterly has included the White 
Church in Perry Valley. St. Michael's in Pfoutz Valley, and the church in 
Hunter's Valley. In 1882 a new brick church was erected on Front Street, 
costing $5,000. It is known as Trinity Church, and is 40x65 feet in size. 

Liverpool M. B. Church. The first services in Liverpool by the Meth- 
odists were those held in the schoolhouse on the hill, between 1825 and 
1830. For some years the organization was not effected, but the meetings 
were continued. On January 17, 1858, the first church was dedicated, being 
located at the corner of Market and Strawberry Streets. It was in use 
until 1877, when it was replaced with a more commodious structure, dedi- 
cated in 1878. M. B. Holman was largely instrumental for the building of 
the new structure. Until the year 1870 it was a part of the Newport 
charge, under which chapter are the ministers' names. Since that time the 
pastors have been : 

1870-71— Rev. A. H. Mench. 1894-95— Rev. T. A. Elliott. 

1872-74 — Rev. J. W. Feight. .1896-99 — Rev. E. L. Eslinger. 

1875-76— Rev. T. S. Wilcox. 1900-01— Rev. F. C. Byers. 

1877-78— Rev. B. H. Crever. 1902 —Rev. H. M. Ash. 

1879-80— Rev. T. M. Griffeth. 1903-04— Rev. A. D. McCloskey. 

1 88 1 — Rev. J. W. Feight. 1905-07 — Rev. J. E. Brenneman. 

1882-83— Rev. J. R. Dunkerly. 1908-12— Rev. H. W. Hartsock. 

1884 — Rev. Daniel Hartman. 11113-15 — Rev. W. C. Robbins. 

1885-86 — Rev. Samuel Ham. 191 6-17 — Rev. Percy Boughey. 

1887 —Rev. A. C. Forscht. 191 8 —Rev. G. H. Knox. 

1888-89— Rev. J. W. Forrest. 1919-20— Rev. A. E. Fleck. 

1890-91 — Rev. Edmund White. 1920-22 — Rev. C. W. Rishell. 

1892-93— Rev. J. P. Benford. 

Liverpool Evangelical Church. The Evangelical congregation at Liver- 
pool erected its first church in 1867, being called St. Mary's Church. Rev. 
D. W. Miller was pastor when the church was built. Until 1873 it was a 
part of the Juniata Circuit, and the pastors' names until that time are not 
contained in the church records. It has since been remodeled on several 
occasions. With it, comprising the charge, is the Hunter's Valley church 
and two churches of Juniata County. The pastors since it became a sepa- 
rate appointment, have been : 

1873-75— Rev. J. M. Price. 1891-93— Rev. D. P. Scheaffer. 

1875-76— Rev. J. M. Ettinger. 1893-95— Rev. J- H. Welch. 

1876-79 — Rev. A. W. Kreamer. 1895-98 — Rev. H. T. Searle. 

1879-82— Rev. W. H. Lilly. 1898-00— Rev. E. W. Koontz. 

[882-84— Rev. J. M. Dick. 1900-03— Rev. Walter J. Dice. 

1884-86— Rev. H. A. Benfer. 1903-05— Rev. T. W. Bentz. 

1886-88— Rev. E. D. Keen. 1905-09— Rev. F. H. Foss. 

[888 89— Rev. P. F. Jarrett. 1909-11— Rev. A. S. Baumgardner. 

1889-91— Rev. W. C. Bierly. 1911-13— Rev. J. H. Kohler. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 989 

£9 i 3 -i5_Rev. R. S. Daubert. [917-1?— Rev. A. B. Coleman. 

191 s Rev. E. P. Markel (March [918-19— Rev. G. C. Cramer. 

to September). 1919-20— Rev. M. W. Dayton. 

1915-17— Rev. C. A. Fray. [.,-'0-22— Rev. J. E. Newcomer. 

Liverpool U. B. Church. According to a historical article in the Liver- 
pool Sim, many years ago, the entry of the United Brethren faith to 
Liverpool was soon after that of the Methodists, which is stated to have 
been between 1825 and 1830. The first church was erected at Pine St net 
and was 40x65 feet in size. This chinch was in use until 1004, having 
been remodeled several times. In 1904 it was replaced by a new church 
on Market Street. Among the ministers were Rev. Wm Behel (1843), 

Rev. Geo. Wagner, Rev. Rankin, Rev. Samuel Snyder, Rev. Snyder, 

Rev. J. L. Baker, Rev. Jacob Ritter, Rev. Sitman, Rev. Joshua Walker, 
Rev. Scott, Rev. Hartsock, Rev. Kirkpatrick, Rev. G. W. Miles Rigor, 
Rev. Wm. T. Ritchey, Rev. Shimp, Rev. Jackson, Rev. Woodward, Rev. 
A. E. Fulton, Rev. John Landis, J. F. Tallhelm, Rev. A. H. Spangler, 
Rev. Isaiah Potter, Rev. John A. Clemm, Rev. C. W. Raber, Rev. E. A. 
Zeek, Rev. C. B. Gruber, Rev. Keedy, Rev. A. W. Maxwell, Rev. B. C. 
Shaw, Rev. W. H. Mingle, Rev. W. H. Blackburn, Rev. C. C. Bingham, 
Rev R. Jamieson, Rev. J. F. Kelly, Rev. G. A. Sparks, Rev. Wm. Beach, 
Rev. J. E. Ott, Rev. T. H. McLeod, Rev. G. W. Rothermel, Rev. J. S. 
Emenheiser, Rev. J. C. Erb, Rev. H. B. Ritter and Rev. B. H. Arndt. 
Rev. David Grubb was not the regular pastor at any time, but was a 
local U. B. minister. 

The official records with the dates were unobtainable and this list of 
ministers was compiled from information furnished by four members of 
long standing from the two Buck's Valley churches of the same charge, 
and, of course the names are not in consecutive order. 
Liverpool Township. 
At the extreme northeastern section of the county is Liverpool Town- 
ship, the eighth in order of formation and the first to be created after the 
establishment of the new county. It is bounded on the north by Juniata 
County, on the east by the Susquehanna River, on the south by Buffalo 
Township, and on the west by Greenwood Township, from which it was 
taken when formed in 1823. The eastern end of Perry Valley comprises 
a large part of the township. A small part of Pfoutz Valley lies within its 
borders, as also does Liverpool Borough, from which it took its name. 

On the first Monday of December, 1822, to the Perry County courts con- 
vened in Landisburg, then the county seat, there was presented a petition 
signed by residents of Greenwood Township, stating that the township's 
boundaries were so extensive that it was inconvenient for the inhabitants 
thereof to attend to township affairs and praying for the court to appoint 
viewers to report on the advisability of erecting a new township. The 
viewers named were Meredith Darlington, George Monroe and George 
Elliott. The court records show that they were continued at the session 
of February 3, 1823. Further records are vague, but on the records of 
September 5, 1823, David Dechert (Deckard) was appointed constable of 
Liverpool Township, gave bond and was sworn in. The town of Liverpool 
had been laid out fifteen years prior, and from it the township took its 
name. Its boundaries have never changed, as have so many of the older 
townships. 

On the Susquehanna River, below Liverpool, John Pfoutz took up 142 
acres, March 3, 1755. It was a long, narrow strip joined on the south by 
Alexander McKee, who had warranted two tracts of 290 acres each on 
September 5 and 20, 1762. Prior to November, 1795, John and Jacob 
Huggins had located lands north of the present Borough of Liverpool. 



99° 



HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



The land on which part of the town of Liverpool is located was owned by 
John Staily, who sold it to John Huggins, October 25, 1808. The tract ad- 
joining Staily on the north, bordering the river, was owned by Anthony 
Rhoades in 1820, and is now within the borough limits. 

About 1790 Henry Grubb, the ancestor of the large and influential Grubb 
clan, located in Perry Valley. His descendants reside in many states. 
Among the first settlers was Henry Ulsh, who came from Germany and 
located during primitive times, when wild animals and Indians still infested 
the territory. John Hoffman, who was born in Germany, and came to 
America in early boyhood, was a United Brethren minister in Liverpool 
and Greenwood Townships, traveling the circuit on horseback. The Cauff- 
mans were early residents. Henry Cauffman, born in Liverpool Township, 
August 14, 1796, is quoted as an example of early piety. He was a farmer, 
but found time to read the German Bible through five times and the Eng- 
lish Bible, seven, during his long life. He was a great student and was 
married to Elizabeth Long. George Barner had located in the territory 
before the formation of the county in 1820. The Shumans came in about 
1825. Many of these early residents budded well. The substantial stone 
farmhouse on the J. L. Kline farm was built in 1778. 

An act of the Pennsylvania Legislature of March 7, 1841, provided "that 
the small island in the Susquehanna River, in Upper Paxton Township, 
Dauphin County, about four miles above Liverpool, in the county of Perry, 
he and the same is hereby attached to and declared to be a part of the 
common school district of Liverpool Township." This is known as Shu- 
man's Island, and is now owned by Rev. B. H. Hart. The provision quoted 
was repealed on February 12, 1862. It will be noted that it was only for 
school purposes. 

The McKenzie mill, known to many people of the present day, was 
erected upon lands warranted to Charles and James Dilworth in 1785, and 
conveyed by them in 1824 to Thomas Gallagher, who subsequently erected 
a gristmill, as in 1833 he conveyed the property "with gristmill and distil- 
lery thereon erected," to Elijah Leonard. In 1837 it passed to Abner C. 
Harding, of New Bloomfield, who in the same year sold it to David Mc- 
Kenzie, who died in 1856. His son, Daniel McKenzie, then became the 
owner, and it was in his possession until his death, after which, in 1902, 
his administrator conveyed it to Harry B. Ulsh. In 1912 Joseph M. Wal- 
born bought it, and in 1918 sold it to Arthur E. Aucker, the present owner, 
who dismantled it. It was in the hands of the McKenzies, father and son, 
for sixty-five years, and as the McKenzie mill it was known to all. Its 
removal takes away another old landmark of eastern Perry. 

At Dry Sawmill George W. Barner kept a feed and provision store, 
doing a large business with the passing boatmen in the old canal days. A 
small village in the township is locally known as Centreville. There was 
once a post office located there known as Berlee. The first store was kept 
there by Samuel and Fred Reen. Just below this village in earlier times 
there was a sawmill known as Wagner's, which had a large custom trade. 
During the middle of the past century there was a fulling mill located on 
the same stream. The post office known as Pfoutz Valley was established 
in 1884, in a storeroom located at the crossroads at that point. When the 
lime burning business was a leading industry in this community the high- 
way from that point towards the Susquehanna River was dotted with 
homes, giving it the appearance of a village, the residents being employed 
in the kilns. At another crossroads, about two miles from this location, 
there is an old graveyard connected with the schoolhouse, which would 
imply that religious services were once held there. 



BOR( >UGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 991 

Above Dry Sawmill, along the "Susquehanna Trail," the houses are 
close together and resemble a village street. The Kline Brothers con- 
ducted a steam sawmill there for a long time, doing a large business. 

The oldest schoolhouse in the territory of Liverpool Township and 
borough was located where the Lutheran Church was located later, in the 
borough. Its usefulness had passed by 1828, when the church was built. 
According to the journal of Rev. J. W. Heim, he preached in a school- 
house, which he called Stollenberger's, December 17, 1814. This building- 
is supposed to have stood north of the schoolhouse later known as Bar- 
rier's, at the foot of the hill. Among early teachers were John Buchanan, 
Abner Knight, George Grubb and John C. Lindsay. The late Abraham 
Cauffman, born in [822, told of attending subscription schools in this dis- 
trict. His first teacher he named as "Ann Watts, who afterwards became 
a preacher." In the early forties of last century an old log schoolhouse 
still stood on the farm of Jacob Ulsh. 

E. W. Lyter keeps a general store, which is the only place of business 
in the township. 

Burner's Church. Maimer's Church was once known as Dupes' Church, 
according to a historical sketch by Rev. M. H. Groh, once Reformed pastor 
at Landisburg, who also credits its building as early as 1786, and the or- 
ganization of the congregation even before that. He names as its earliest 
ministers: Rev. George Geistweit, 1794-1804; Rev. John Dietrich Adams, 
1808-12, and Rev. Isaac Gerhart, 1813-19. The more generally accepted 
history is that the church was organized by Rev. Gerhart, which would 
place "its beginning between 1 813-19. Had it been at the earlier period it 
would have been mentioned by many historians, among them Rev. Focht 
and Prof. Wright, as among the first churches. 

Christ's Lutheran Church. Some of the residents of eastern Perry Val- 
ley who were of the Lutheran faith belonged to St. Michael's, a few were 
members of Newport and other churches. They were occasionally visited 
by the Rev. Mr. Heim and other ministers who held services in Grubb's 
schoolhouse. During the summer of 1844 they erected a church, which was 
dedicated June 8, 1845. It was a fine frame building and was painted 
white, which often caused it to be designated as "The White Church," 
while others called it Grubb's Church. The congregation remained unor- 
ganized and had no regular pastor until 1847, when the Liverpool pastor 
assumed charge, and it has been under that charge since, the pastors' 
names appearing in the Liverpool chapter. 

As Liverpool Township surrounds Liverpool many of its citizens wor- 
ship in the borough churches. 

Madison Township— I ncluding Sandy Hiu District. 

Madison Township, which was later divided into two districts, known as 
Northeast and Southwest Madison, is treated here as one district, as its 
history is practically identical, up until the division, which even then is 
only partial. 

Madison, the twelfth township to be formed in the new county, was 
made so by an order of the courts in 1836, in response to a petition signed 
by George Rice, Solomon Haskel, John Hackett, George Rouse, Daniel 
Shaffer, William Miller, John Wormly, George Hench, William Owings, 
Samuel Ickes, Jr., Samuel Loy, Atchison Laughlin, Daniel Hall, Casper 
Wolf, Jacob Arnold, John Arnold, Daniel Ernest, Henry Ernest, James 
Hackett, Samuel Xesbitt, Henry C. Hackett, David Grove, John Urie, 
John S. McClintock, R. Hackett, Thomas Martin, Michael J. Loy, Abram 
Bower, John Zimmerman, William B. Anderson, John Garber and John 
Reed. 



992 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Madison Township was formed from territory principally taken from 
Toboyne Township, although Saville contributed a tract about a mile 
wide, extending from the Waggoner mill property to the Tuscarora Moun- 
tain, and Tyrone a small strip. The court appointed William West, Samuel 
Darlington and Alexander Magee as viewers. It was the intention to 
name the new township Marion, as that name appears on the draft of the 
survey of the viewers, but is crossed off. This report is dated August 25, 
1835, but was not confirmed, owing to a remonstrance of interested land- 
owners. Then, on November 5, 1835, the court appointed Jacob Smith, 
F. McCown and George Monroe to re-view the matter, and on July 8, 1836, 
they reported, the boundaries being designated as follows : 

"Beginning at the line between Toboyne and Tyrone Townships, near Wil- 
liam Miller's mill ; thence adapting the line made by the first view and taking 
in a small part of Tyrone and a part of Saville Township, north 30M degrees, 
due west seven miles and fourteen perches to a pine on the Juniata County line 
on the top of Tuscarora Mountain ; thence along said line and along the top 
of said mountain to Bailie's Narrows; thence by Toboyne township 31 degrees 
east eight miles and one hundred and eighty perches to a stone heap on the 
top of the Blue Mountain on the Cumberland County line (throwing off a 
space of one mile and eighty perches in breadth to the township of Toboyne, 
more than had been done by the former view) ; thence along said line to the 
intersection of the line between the townships of Tyrone and Toboyne ; thence 
along said division line to place of beginning, which is hereby designated as a 
new township." 

This second view changed but one thing, the locating of the western 
boundary of the new township one mile and eighty-four perches farther 
east. On their draft also appeared the name Marion, but the court in the 
decree, dated August 1, 1836, sagaciously changed it to Madison, in honor 
of former President of the United States James Madison, the fourth man 
to fill that exalted office, and the last to fill it before Perry became a 
county, and whose death had just occurred about five weeks previous to 
the court's session, on June 28th. 

The shape of Madison Township is almost that of a parallelogram, its 
greatest length being from north to south. The main part of the township 
is comprised in Sherman's Valley, but to the north, lying between the 
Conococheague Mountain and the Tuscarora Mountain, is Liberty Valley, 
and on the south, between Bower's Mountain and the Blue or Kittatinny 
Mountain, is Sheaffer's Valley. Including the Sandy Hill section, later 
fully described, the township contains nearly sixty square miles, with 
dimensions of seven by ten miles. 

Across this township ran the earliest highway leading from Harris' 
Ferry (now Harrisburg) to the West, and in it stood the old frontier fort, 
known as Fort Robinson, and the first gristmill, that advance agent of 
civilization, first known as Roddy's mill, but for nearly a century as the 
Waggoner mill, in which family title still rests. However these are of 
such historical significance that they are fully covered in other chapters 
devoted to trails, landmarks, Indian history, etc. 

The Robinsons, after whom Fort Robinson was named, as it was located 
on their farm, settled in this territory early. Three of the brothers were 
William, Robert and Thomas. To Robert posterity is indebted for the 
history pertaining to those early days when the red skins roamed the for- 
ests and made life for the pioneers a veritable land of affliction, grief and 
agony. The family resided in that vicinity at least nine years before war- 
ranting any lands, the first record being that of George Robinson, in May, 
1763, who took up 209 acres, including his improvements, adjoining lands 
of Hugh Alexander, John Byers, James Wilson, and Alexander Roddy. 
This farm was for years in the name of Captain Andrew Loy, and is now 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 993 

owned by E. R. Loy. These Robinson brothers were interested in prac- 
tically all the Indian troubles in what is now western Perry County and in 
many across the Tuscarora Mountain, in what is now Juniata County. 
George Robinson, who took up the land, was their father. In an engage- 
ment with the Indians along Buffalo Creek, in 1763, William and Thomas 
were killed, and Robert severely wounded. They were with a band of a 
dozen brave settlers and were ambushed at that point. In 1820 Nicholas 
Loy was assessed with 300 acres in Toboyne, of which this was a part. 
Andrew Loy, who owned it later, was his son, as also was George M., a 
prominent citizen of the vicinity of Andersonburg. 

Alexander Roddy had settled in this vicinity before the Albany pur- 
chase, and was among those evicted by the provincial authorities. In 1755 
he evidently was in possession of this mill property, as an adjoining war- 
rant on the east is described as being bounded by lands of his on the west. 
He did not, however, warrant it until May, 1763, it being described as for 
"one hundred and forty-three acres, including his improvements, and ad- 
joining John Byards (Byers), George Robinson, Roger Clarke, James 
Thorn and William Officier, in the Sherman's Valley." John Armstrong, 
the first surveyor of Cumberland County, surveyed it in 1765. 

The farm just west of the Robinson farm was warranted by James Wil- 
son, in August, 1766, originally containing two hundred acres. His wife, 
while making her way to the fort for protection, it being within sound of 
the human voice, was killed by the Indians. This property was owned 
from 1820 to 1824 by Alexander McClure, and was the birthplace of his 
son, A. K. McClure, the noted editor and close -friend of Lincoln, to whom 
a chapter of this book is devoted. It was once owned by George Hench, 
and now by John Freeman. His mother was Isabella, a daughter of Wil- 
liam Anderson, Esq., a noted citizen of the county's early days. She was 
a daughter of Isabella (Blaine) Anderson, who was a niece of James 
Blaine, grandfather of James G. Blaine. 

The John Byers tract of 310 acres was warranted in July, 1762. About 
1777, Rev. John Linn, one of the county's pioneer divines, purchased it. 
He preached at Centre Presbyterian Church from 1777 until 1820. His 
wife was Mary Gettys, daughter of the founder of Gettysburg. At Linn's 
death he owned large tracts of land. 

What was later to become the Bixler mill tract was warranted by Hugh 
Alexander in 1755. It then comprised 344 acres. Whether he made his 
residence in the country before 1757 is now known, yet there is a tradition 
that his oldest child, Margaret, was born in Sherman's Valley in 1754, and 
that in her childhood her parents fled several times from Indian raids into 
the Sherman's Valley to their old home on the eastern shore of Maryland, 
returning to find their habitations burned. In 1752 he had married Martha 
Edmiston, who evidently was a daughter of David Edmiston, who took 
up a tract of three hundred acres adjoining Hugh Alexander, and on 
which the latter took up his residence, as Edmiston never located in the 
county. Hugh Alexander was a man of note, representing Cumberland 
County, which then also comprised Perry, in the Provincial Conference at 
Philadelphia in 1776. of the first Constitutional Convention necessitated 
thereby and of the first legislative assembly thus created. Margaret, this 
first-born of Hugh Alexander and his wife, later married John Hamilton, 
whose descendants to this day are among the prominent citizens of Harris- 
burg, where they had located and where he died in 1793. (See Bixler Mill, 
in "Old Landmarks, Mills and Industries"). 

George McCord is mentioned by Robert Robinson as living in the neigh- 
borhood of Alexander Logan's in 1863. He relates that "John Logan, 
Charles Coyle, William Hamilton and Bartholomew Davis followed the 
63 



994 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Indians to George McCord's, where they were in the barn; Logan and all 
those with him were killed, except Davis, who made his escape." Davis 
warranted 187 acres in 1766 in the same township. 

Three tracts lying south of Cisna's Run were taken up in 1762, 1767 and 
1792, by Hugh Gibson, who was taken prisoner by the Indians in_i756. At 
the time of the attack on Fort Robinson, when his mother, the widow Gib- 
son, the wife of James Wilson, and several others were killed and scalped. 
Adopted by the tribe, kept a prisoner for some time, he eventually effected 
an escape. John Byers, in 1767, took up 200 acres; in 1794 another one of 
500 acres, and also a tract at Sandy Hill. Evidently he is the same man 
who was presiding justice of the Cumberland County court in 1763, when 
Toboyne Township was formed. Much of the land lying along the ridge 
north of Cisna's Run were taken up by Stephen Cessna, who resided here 
for a long time and whose name has been given to the locality. The Jos- 
eph B. Garber farm was warranted by Cessna and Henry Zimmerman. 
Dr. Reed Cisna and Captain G. C. Palm were descendants. The farm 
south of Centre post office was warranted in May, 1787, by James Max- 
well. It contained 200 acres, and there was a "fulling mill and power mill" 
erected there. In 1835 it had passed to Joseph Eaton, who was assessed 
with a fulling mill, a carding machine and a still. 

The Henry Bear mill is located on a tract warranted by John Scouller, 
in February, 1787, containing 200 acres. Englehart Wormley owned this 
property in 1814, being assessed with a mill and sawmill. The old mill 
was replaced by a brick mill in 1841, being built by John Wormley, who 
came into possession around 1835. In 1915 this mill was purchased by 
the Tressler Orphans' Home for its water rights for electric power. It 
had, however, ceased operations some years previous. 

The Weaver mill was built by Rev. John William Heim, on lands taken 
up by John Dunbar, Jr., April 22, 1763, along Laurel Run, where his father 
had previously taken up a tract and later another. Its erection was about 
1830. It is a stone structure, and at the death of Mr. Heim passed in turn 
to Joseph Bixler (in 1856), Anthony Firman and George Weaver. On 
January 1, 1919, it passed to the Tressler Orphans' Home, for $5,000, the 
power to be used in connection with that of the Bear mill plant to run the 
electric plant connected with that institution. The home also operates the 
mill both for custom work and as a manufacturing flour plant. 

Robert Clark, a young fellow living in Carlisle, was among those who 
came over during the Indian depredations to help protect the pioneers and 
became familiar with the fine lands and excellent water in this part of 
the county. When the land office was opened he was not old enough to 
warrant land, but his father, Thomas Clark, performed that service and 
warranted for him in 1766. Robert married Mary Alexander, a daughter 
of Hugh Alexander, spoken of above, and became the progenitor of one 
branch of the numerous Clark family of what is now Perry County. W. 
S. Clark, now living near Everett, Bedford County, but a native Perry 
Countian, is the only one of the fourth generation still living. Mrs. E. R. 
Loy and Robert Morris Clark are also direct descendants. Of the three 
members of the first Provincial Assembly from Cumberland County, Hugh 
\K\ander, Wm. Clark and John Brown, the first two were their ancestors. 

In June, 1773, Abraham Lachta located 192 acres, and in May 1775, an- 
other claim. In February, 1755, Alexander Logan patented 549 acres, and 
in February, 1763, his son, John Logan, patented 150 acres. These lands 
are in the vicinity of the village of Kistler. After John Logan's death the 
three surviving sons of ^Alexander Logan, George, Anthony and William, 



*Alexander Logan, mentioned in this chapter, was murdered by the Indians, the same 
being fully described in "The French and Indian War." 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 995 

created therefrom three farms of 150 acres each, which they owned until 
1785, when the middle farm was sold to George McMillen, who had ar- 
rived from Dauphin County, but was a native of Ireland. The substantial 
McMillen families of the present and last generations are his descendants. 
The McMillens now own most of the Logan lands quoted above. These 
lands are already in the possession of the fifth generation of McMillens. 

Adjoining the Alexander Logan tract on the west was located the lands 
■ t William Townsley, warranted September, 1755. During August, 1767, 
John McElheny warranted 73 acres, which later was owned by John Mil- 
ligan, who settled there in 1770, from whom the Perry County Milligans 
are descended, among them being merchants and scholars of note. David 
Coyle, the progenitor of the well-known Coyles of Philadelphia, Carlisle 
and Newville, was a near neighbor of the Milligans. John Hamilton, in 
June, 1762, warranted a place, and Roger Clark, in August, 1766, warranted 
251 acres. Where the old Indian trail crossed the Conococheague Moun- 
tain's end George Welch, in November, 1768, patented 124 acres. Other early 
warrants taken out were by Robert Potts, John Potts, James Toy, Henry 
Lewis, Jacob Grove, James and Alexander Watts, Lancelot Harrison, James 
Vardell, William McCord, Samuel McCord, John Brubaker, Henry Lewis, 
Samuel Lyons, Alexander Blaine, Alexander Murray, John McNeere (Mc- 
Aneer), Alexander McNeere, John Douglass, Robert Morrow, William 
Hamilton's widow, James Morrow, John Irvin, John Murray, John Nel- 
son, John Blair, Bartholomew Davis, John Crawford, Robert Nelson, 
William Krwin, Christopher Bower, John Garner (Gardner), Hugh Gib- 
son, James Brown, William McFarland, Stephen Cessna (Cisna), Henry 
Zimmerman, Jane McCreary, Joseph Neeper, William Neeper, William 
Dalzell, James Maxwell, John Baxter, James Baxter, William Baxter, 
Henry Lewis, James Dixon, John Scouller, William McClelland and Wil- 
liam Hunter. 

One of the earliest settlers in the township was William Anderson, the 
lands being patented in September, 1766, and May, 1757, the two tracts 
comprising 150 acres. He also purchased other lands, and one property is 
yet occupied by an Anderson descendant, Arthur Anderson, at Anderson- 
burg, the village having taken the name of the Andersons. Each genera- 
tion of Andersons has been represented in the civil affairs of the county. 
The 100-acre property is described as "including his improvements, ad- 
joining the Limestone Ridge on the south, and Conococheague Mountain 
on the north, and a place called Crosses' Cabins on the west." William 
Anderson died in 1802. One of his children, Margaret, married James 
Johnston, of Toboyne Township, and became the mother of John Johnston, 
who attained considerable prominence as a member of the General Assem- 
bly of Pennsylvania, Another, his son, William Anderson, married Isabella 
Blaine, of the famous Blaine family, and was a member of the General 
Assembly before the creation of Perry County. Their daughter Isabella 
became the mother of Col. A. K. McClure, the noted editor, as previously 
stated. When Perry became a county, William Anderson was made an asso- 
ciate judge, which office he held until his death, in 1832. He was the Ander- 
son after whom the village was named. In the year in which the county was 
created he was assessed with more property than any one in the township, 
and the only one assessed with a "negro slave." He had five children, two 
of whom became prominent. William B. was a member of the General As- 
sembly and of the State Senate, and A. B. Anderson was an associate judge 
of the county. The stone house on the Anderson farm was erected in 
[821, and the barn a year earlier. There is no deed to the Anderson farm, 
as it has remained in the Anderson family since warranted. 



996 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

There are several villages within the confines of Madison Township, 
among them Andersonburg, Centre, Cisna's Run and Kistler. 

Andersonburg was long known as Zimmerman, after the proprietor of 
a well-known old road house or tavern at that point, as early as 1822, and 
which was in operation until about 1875. When the township of Toboyne 
was still intact it was the lower voting place. When William Anderson, II, 
became a man of prominence the name was changed to Andersonburg. The 
first store was in an old log building known as "the barracks," on the 
Anderson farm. It was kept by William B. Anderson, who was succeeded 
by Bryner & Ernest, who in 1863 built the present store building. In 1869 
Joseph B. Garber purchased this store. It is now kept by Wm. C. Garber, 
who succeeded his father in 1904. Andersonburg is one of the oldest post 
offices in Perry County, having been a post office already when the mail 
was carried on horseback from Landisburg to New Germantown. A 
marble works was once located there. Andersonburg was long an impor- 
tant centre, and Dr. B. F. Grosh practiced his profession there from 1844 
until his death, in 1857. He was the father of the late Alexander Blaine 
Grosh. In 1861 Dr. G. W. Mitchell located there and practiced until 1902, 
since which time it has not been the headquarters of any physician. When 
the Newport & Sherman's Valley Railroad was built, Andersonburg was 
made a station. J. C. Martin conducts a large undertaking business there 
since 1889. 

In 1801 James Gray settled in what is now called the Sandy Hill District. 
He did a weaving business and operated a still. He was the paternal an- 
cestor of James A. Gray, who was sheriff in 1878, and of William B. Gray, 
who was a member of the board of county commissioners, 1891-93. 

The old Hench tannery, located at Centre, was one of the most impor- 
tant in the county. It was located upon a part of the tract of 168 acres 
warranted by Jane McCreary and sons, on June 2, 1762. This tannery was 
erected before 1820, when Perry became a county, as Nicholas Loy was 
assessed with a tanyard in Toboyne Township (to which Madison then be- 
longed) in that year. On December 17, 1825, John Loy purchased it from 
his father. It then consisted of a "log building, two stories high, contain- 
ing two limes, one bate, beam house and currying shop." The bark was 
ground in an adjoining shed. "One pool, one leach and sixteen vats 
comprised the whole establishment." April 19, 1832, Atchison Laughlin 
purchased it, and on August 10, 1832, admitted George Hench into partner- 
ship, which lasted until 1837, when Mr. Hench became the entire owner 
upon the payment of $1,500 to Mr. Laughlin. Energetic, and a born tanner 
and business man, he began improving the plant. In 1842 he erected a large 
main building, and in 185 1 put in steam, using the used tan as a fuel. In 
i860 a sawmill was added. April 1, 1865, Atchison L. Hench, a son, was 
admitted into partnership, with a one-third interest. This lasted until 
April 1, 1872, when by mutual consent the son withdrew. At that time the 
assets of the firm had grown to $90,000. A few years later Mr. Hench 
removed to Carlisle, but continued in control of the tannery, which was 
operated until 1885. It passed to Henry Metz, and in 1894 the grounds 
and buildings were purchased by Robert Hench, who removed the vats. 
The original log mansion of Mr. Hench still stands, but has been remod- 
eled by Mr. Robert Hench into what is one of the modern country homes 
of Perry County. 

The 266-acre tract of Jacob Grove was warranted by him June 10, 1762, 
later having been owned by David Kistler, George I. Rice and Henry Kep- 
ner. The old Grove homestead was near the George I. Rice residence of 
recent years. As early as 1778, Jacob Grove had erected a gristmill and 
two stills on this property. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 997 

The James M. Moose mill, smith of Cisna's Run, on Sherman's Creek, 
passed from Win. Owings, in 184(1, to James Marshall, who in turn sold to 
J. Graham McFarlane, in 1850. Daniel Hall owned it from 1854(0 1851;, 
when it was owned for a year by Amos Stouffer. In i860, it passed t° 
Andrew Trostle, who was in possession until 1884. David Metz then pur- 
chased it, and in IQ00 sold to James M. Moose. This mill is on lands taken 
up in 17(17, bj John Byers. The mill was erected by William Owings, 
in [842. 

The Bistline mill is located along Sherman's Creek, on the south hank, 
about a mile south of Cisna's Run. This tract was warranted by James 
Maxwell, May 7, 17S7, and was originally 200 acres. Col. John Maxwell, 
who was county commissioner in 1824, and was a son of John Maxwell, 
was asses-ed with "a fulling mill and a power mill" in [820, when the 
county was formed. In [835, the assessment reads, "including a fulling 
mill, a carding machine and a still." From his heirs, in 1873, it was con- 
veyed to Abraham Bistline, and it is now owned by Newton Flickinger. 
Just when the mill became a gristmill is problematical. This property 
later passed to Thomas Adams, by whose name the mill was long known. 

Centre is a village and post office on the Newport & Sherman's Valley 
Railroad, and was the location of the once famous old Hench tan- 
nery, just described. William Welch had a store and was postmaster 
here as early as 1835. Robert Dunbar succeeded him, but sold in 1840 to 
James McNeal, who ran it until i860, when he died. George Hench then 
bought the building, and his son, Atchison L., William Grier and William 
Hollenbaugh carried on business under the firm name of William Grier & 
Co., in 1863. Hollenbaugh and Grier sold their interest to J. L. Evinger, 
and the firm of Hench & Evinger continued for some years. John T. 
Robinson, John Wolf, George J. Hench and John J. Rice followed in turn. 
Edward Hull was postmaster for a long time. He was a blacksmith and 
became a county commissioner. George Barclay carried on wagonmaking. 
John E. Waggoner has been the merchant and postmaster there for the 
past fifteen years. 

Cisna's Run, which once aspired to be the county seat, is another small 
village and a station on the Newport & Sherman's Valley Railroad. On 
the old land warrants issued in 1755, it is known as Cedar Spring, being the 
location of a large spring, probably five feet deep, on the property of Win. 
H. Loy. The lands lying around Cisna's Run were among the first to be 
warranted in the township. John Garner (Gardner) patented "two hun- 
dred acres, including his improvement on Cedar Spring, a branch of Sher- 
man's Creek," in February, 1755, and 100 acres in 1767. As early as 1830 
there was a store in the George Bryner house, kept by John Reed. Later 
merchants have been Daniel Garber, John H. Bryner and George Ernest, 
David Ernest, Elias Snyder and Samuel K. Morrow. R. A. Clarke started 
a store about i860. George Bryner and sons for many years conducted a 
wagonmaker and blacksmithing business there. 

Kistler is a village lying several miles from the Newport & Sherman's 
Valley Railroad, on the road to Juniata County, where it intersects with 
the road from Ickesburg to Blain. The village was named Kistler in 
honor of David Kistler, who was instrumental in getting a post office there 
in 1884. The post office was abandoned after rural free delivery was insti- 
tuted. There were two stores there at one time. Henry Koppenheffer was 
the first merchant; starting about 1875. 

In 1884 a post office was established at Bixler's mill and named Bixler, 
which also was discontinued with the advent of the rural free delivery 
system. Sandy Hill was also a post office and was discontinued for the 
same reason. Samuel Milligan built and kept the first store at Sandy Hill. 



998 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The first schoolhouses of which there was any knowledge were at Sandy 
Hill, Centre Church and Clark's. The Clark schoolhouse was a very old 
one, but its early history is veiled in obscurity. The Centre school was 
also a very old one and was located on the tract of the Centre Presbyterian 
Church. There is reason to believe that even before it was established 
that it had a predecessor on the lower Linn farm near the Waggoner mill. 
The Sandy Hill school was established before 1800, and tradition places 
the location as south of the store, near the spring at the edge of the old 
"camp meeting" grounds. In his report to the State Superintendent of 
Public Instruction, in 1877, Prof. Silas Wright, then county superintendent 
of schools, said of this school: "It is related that pupils attending this 
school from the west end of Liberty Valley, traveled across Conococheague 
Hill, in a path which is even to this day occasionally crossed by a bear. 
These pupils, in the short days of winter had to take their breakfast before 
daylight and the supper table awaited their return until long after dark." 
Before the free school act there was a "charity school" in the Anderson 
orchard at Andersonburg. 

Madison Township was early the location of many mills, stills and tan- 
neries. In 1762 Jacob Grove warranted 266 acres of land, near the village 
of Kistler. As early as 1778 he had erected a gristmill and two stills upon 
this property. This was one of the earliest mills to be built in the county 
and was found in all the assessments until 1820, when it was likely aban- 
doned. In 1778 William McCord was assessed with a tanyard, and in the 
assessment of 1814 it is in the name of Samuel McCord. 

In that part of Madison Township known as Liberty Valley, Wm. L. 
Beale and Samuel Milligan erected a large steam tannery in 1847. It 
burned in May, 1849, but was rebuilt at once. In 1858 it passed to Beale 
& Swearingen, who operated it until 1865, when they sold to Hollenbaugh & 
Lurtz, who later admitted Samuel Brickley as a partner. Ten months 
later, at sheriff's sale, it was purchased by Beale & Swearingen, who sold 
to George Cook. He formed a partnership with George Mohler and James 
Emory. In 1875 George Mohler & Son became the owners and operated 
it until "the eighties," when it was discontinued. 

An early physician who resided midway between Sandy Hill and Centre 
Church was Dr. S. M. Tudor. He kept a colored slave who had escaped 
from the South, and caused no little trouble to those who condoned slavery. 
His practice covered forty years, including the third quarter of the last 
century. He was succeeded by Dr. Lewis Rodgers. a graduate of Cleve- 
land Medical College, '70. Dr. J. Wesley Rowe, Jefferson Medical Col- 
lege, '71, was located at Centre for a short time. 

There was once an old road house or tavern at the head of Waggoner's 
dam. It was owned and conducted by Daniel Shaffer. Dr. Theodore Mem- 
inger, a practicing physician of Philadelphia, desiring to retire, located in 
Liberty Valley in 1815. He was a member of the Society of Friends. 

The business places of Madison Township, according to the mercantile 
appraiser, are as follows, the date being the time of entering business. 
Owing to the township being divided into two districts, known as South- 
west Madison and Northeast Madison (or Sandy Hill District), the names 
are listed in their respective districts. They follow: 

Southwest Madison— A. W. Clouse, R. A. Smith, W. C. Garber, D. Roy 
Moose, J. E. Waggoner, general stores; J. C. Martin, furniture; W. H. Wag- 
goner, grain and feed; Moose & Junkin, flour and feed. 

Northeast Madison — E. S. Adair, H. L. Bender, J. W. Heckendorn (1910), 
general stores ; G. E. Beck & Sons, tobacco and feed. 

St. Paul's Lutheran Church. There were many families of Lutheran 
people residing between Loysville and Blain, and in 1855 they decided to 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 999 

organize a new congregation in the vicinity of Andersonburg. Its officers 
were: Jacob Arnold, Jacob Kunkle, elders; J. B. Zimmerman, Samuel 
Arnold, deacons; George Hohenshilt, Henry Wolf, trustees. During the 
same year a church was built. Rev. Reuben Weiser resigned as pastor 
during its period of construction. On December 22, 1855, it was dedicated. 
It is built of brick, the size being 40x50 feet. From May, 1856 to 1858, 
Rev. Philip Willard as pastor. In 1858 it and Blain withdrew from the 
Loysville charge to unite and form the Blain charge. Its pastors, accord- 
ingly, have been the same as those of the Blain church. (See Blain 
chapter.) 

Madison Township is usually listed for statistical purposes as Northeast 
and Southwest Madison Township, and is locally spoken of as Madison 
Township and Sandy Hill District. Twenty-one years after the erection 
of Madison Township the Court of Common Pleas, upon petition, divided 
it into two election districts — Madison. District and Sandy Hill District. 
Then for some years matters moved along satisfactorily, both districts 
having but one set of township officers, but in 1866 an effort was made to 
divide the township. The petition praying for the division was presented 
to the court at the April session of 1866. The court appointed viewers 
and they reported on August 6th favoring two townships, whereupon the 
court ordered an election to be held on November 24, 1866. On December 
3, 1866, the returns were presented to the court and showed a majority of 
thirty-three against the separation, opposition having developed. 

Not content with the result, those who desired the division had a bill 
presented to the State Legislature which passed and was signed by Gover- 
nor John W. Geary, on February 26, 1867. Considering the matter at issue 
the bill is more or less of a compromise, as no provision was made in the 
act for the election of justices of the peace. This fact, whether an over- 
sight or not, withholds one essential of an independent township. That the 
act still holds it as one township is designated by the following language: 
"Provided, that the said township shall be and remain divided into two 
election districts, whilst it continues as one township." Those practically 
insignificant matters are the slight ties that bind Sandy Hill District to 
Madison Township, for while they otherwise elect two sets of officials, 
yet both districts vote for the same candidates for justice of the peace. 
It is a matter of conjecture whether or not there is in the whole State of 
Pennsylvania a similar example. The voting place of the Sandy Hill Dis- 
trict, or Northeast Madison, is at the Sandy Hill store, and that of Madi- 
son Township, or the Southwest District, at Andersonburg. 

Sandy Hill Reformed Church. This church was organized by Rev. F. S. 
Lindaman, September 14, 1873, by electing George L. Ickes and Samuel 
Bender, elders, and Jacob Kuhn and Samuel Showers, deacons. As early 
as the pastorate of Rev. C. H. Leinbach at Blain (1842-59), he had 
preached in the schoolhouse there. The newly organized congregation 
also worshiped in the schoolhouse until January 3, 1875, when the new 
frame church building was dedicated. It belongs to the Blain charge, 
whose pastors minister to its people. The list of pastors appears in the 
chapter devoted to Blain. 

Stony Point United Evangelical Church. This church is located three 
miles west of Kistler, on the Blain road. About 1836 ministers of this 
faith first preached in a small schoolhouse, no longer there. They later 
preached at the house of Conrad Ernest, later, in a vacant "still house," 
and again in the schoolhouse. In 1866 they built the church. In 1903 it 
was remodeled. It is a part of the Perry Circuit, being served by the pas- 
tor who resides at EHiottsburg. See Spring Township for pastors. 



iooo HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Emory M. E. Chapel. The first Methodist organization in Madison 
Township (then a part of Toboyne), was at Bruner's mill (Trostle's), 
about 1815. The Bruner brothers, devout Methodists, are credited with 
being largely responsible for the establishment of Methodism in western 
Perry County. In the earlier years preaching services were held in school- 
houses. The church was built in 1838, among those interested being Jacob 
Bixler and John Flickinger, the latter giving the land upon which it was 
built. It is a part of the Blain charge, but up until 1875 was a part of the 
New Bloomfield charge, under which chapters the pastors' names appear. 

St. Mark's Church. The Lutheran people residing at and around Kistler 
built a church in 1894, which was known as St. Mark's Church. Its terri- 
tory was too narrow, with Loysville immediately below and St. Paul's al- 
most against it above, with the attending result that it was soon found to 
be a heavy charge upon its supporters. The building was sold in 1919 and 
the church dismantled. 

Marysville Borough. 

Marysville covers more territory than any borough in the county, ex- 
tending from the Cumberland County line, at the crest of the Kittatinny 
or Blue Mountain, to the top of Cove Mountain, where it is bounded by 
Penn Township. It is located on the Susquehanna River, which is its 
eastern boundary, and extends westward a mile or more to Rye Township, 
from which its lands were taken for incorporation in 1865. It differs from 
every other town in the county from the fact that it is a "railroad town," 
its male citizens, with few exceptions, being employed by the Pennsylvania 
Railroad Company. It is not surrounded by any great amount of agri- 
cultural lands, the mountains shutting them off on two sides and the river 
on a third. This would not seriously affect its markets were it not that 
only eight miles to the south is Harrisburg— the State Capital — with a 
population of practically 100,000, to which trade naturally gravitates. 
Marysville is the only town in the county with a street car line and the 
advantage of the facilities afforded thereby. Its street car facilities ex- 
tend up the Cumberland Valley to Newville, farther east than Lebanon, 
in the Lebanon Valley, and to Philadelphia, along the main line, via 
Hershey, Elizabethtown and Lancaster. The line to Marysville was opened 
on June 2, 1902. 

The valley in which Marysville is located is known as Fishing Creek 
Valley, being drained by a creek of the same name which flows into the 
Susquehanna at Marysville. The lands at the mouth of this creek, on 
which Marysville is located, were first warranted by Samuel Hunter, on 
September 8, 1755, the tract extending two miles along the river and three 
miles up the valley. In 1766 and in 1767 he warranted adjoining tracts. 
Near the present site of Seidel's forge, on the creek, he erected a sawmill, 
which was Marysville's first industry. In 1767 he sold the property with 
the sawmill and other improvements, described as at the mouth of "West's 
Fishing Creek," to Elizabeth Stewart, for twenty pounds. 

A portion of this land, after passing through several hands, came to R. 
T. Jacobs, who, on January 24, 1821, patented a tract containing 500 acres 
and allowance, extending a mile along the west bank of the Susquehanna 
and west about a mile and a half. Title later passed to Robert Clark, then 
to Frederick Watts; and later, to Jacob M. Haldeman was transferred "one 
undivided moiety," and to Jacob and Christopher C. K. Pratt, the other 
"moiety." Jacob Pratt sold his share to Hiram P. and Thomas W. Morley. 
Jacob M. Haldeman then bought out all these parties, and on December 1, 
i860, sold to Margaretta D. Fenn. 



I',( iK( )1 V,||s. T« i\\ XSIIII's \\l) \ II. I. \C.I-.S 



|(K)| 



At that time there wire but five buildings in what is now Marysville. 
At the west end of the railroad bridge over the Susquehanna, Samuel 
Strasbaugh kept the "Kittatinny House." Richard T. Jacobs' house at the 
sawmill, now Seidel's forge; David Startler's, John B. Reiff's and William 
W. Jackson's were the others. The first house erected after i860 was the 
Railroad Hotel building, which was built by John Rhiver. It was occu- 
pied as a hostelry for years by George Falk, and later by his son, Charles 
Falk, and others. The second was built by Simon Eppler, and was later 
used as a hotel by John Rhiver, and still later as I. B. Traver's store 
building. A store room was the third, being located where Harry Richards 
long kept a boarding house. 

A. J. Ellenberger, a Marysville merchant, is the oldest resident of the 
town (in 1920), having located tbere in 1847, when there were but three 
houses beside the farmhouse. 

When the Fenns owned it, before there were many houses there, it is 
occasionally referred to as Fennwick. [n the spring of 1861 building lots 
were plotted by Theo. Fenn and offered for sale. From that time the 




MARYSVILLE, AS SEEN FROM COVE MOUNTAIN'. 



real erection of homes began. In 1865 the movement for the incorporation 
as a borough was begun, and the act incorporating it as the Borough of 
Haley, passed the legislature April 12, 1866. The act is signed by Gov- 
ernor Andrew G. Curtin, and provides : "That the town of Haley, in the 
county of Perry, shall be and the same hereby is erected into a borough, 
which shall be called the Borough of Haley." Within a year, on February 
27, 1867, an act of the legislature changed the name from Haley to Marys- 
ville. The first election was held in April of that year, and John B. Reiff, 
owner of the farm on which most of Marysville is built, was elected chief 
burgess. Unlike many of the other towns, the erection of schoolhouses, 
churches and the improvement of streets was not begun until after the 
borough's incorporation. 

About the time the county was organized (1820) there was a house 
located where, in after years the Pennsylvania Railroad joined the North- 
ern Central, in which a band of horse thieves had headquarters. It was 
owned by a family named Henry, who owned a large stone still house and 
another two-story log house close by. There was also a still house wdiere 
Seidel's forge stands. 

In 1862 Theo. Fenn and wife sold to John B. and Henry Seidel a tract 
of 150 acres of land which included the old Hunter sawmill and the water- 
power connected therewith. In 1856 Thomas Morley had rebuilt this mill. 



1002 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The Seidels took it down and built a forge instead in 1862. Later the 
firm was Seidel & Sons, and still later Seidel Bros., being composed of 
A. J. Seidel and J. Harper Seidel, once a Member of Assembly from 
Perry County. About 1895 it was operated as a chain works for a few 
years. 

The first schoolhouse was built within what is now the borough limits, 
in 1853, being located where the Holmes drug store stands. Harriet Singer 
was the first teacher. There was a single-room schoolhouse built on the 
river bank in 1868, costing $400, which was in use until 1885, J. L. Hain 
being the last to teach there. The two-room frame building below the 
railroad was built in 1871, at a cost of $2,300, and was in use until 1913. 
The old two-room building above the railroad was built in 1868, at a cost 
of $2,500, and was in use until 1885. The four-room building, on the site 
of the present large building, was erected in 1885, J. L. Hain having been 
the first principal. The new building, one of the best in the county, was 
erected in 1913 at a cost of over $25,000. R. R. Anderson, of York County, 
was the first principal at this building. There was also a two-story brick 
building on Lincoln Street, built in 1895, and in use until 1913, when it was 
sold to the Knights of Pythias. Marysville has a greater number of pupils 
in school than any other district in the county. 

The first graduating class of the Marysville High School was that of 
April 6, 1888, under the principalship of J. L. Hain. The class was com- 
posed of Misses Nora Eppley, Maine Eppley, Minnie Shull, M. Ella Nevin 
and Mary Wox. An alumni association was organized in 1891, with ten 
members, and now numbers 187. 

Marysville, with its extensive railroad yards, in 1862 had but a watering 
station for engines, called the "Y." In 1863 the wooden railroad bridge 
connecting the town of Dauphin and northern Marysville, was built, thus 
connecting the divisions of the Northern Central Railroad from Baltimore 
to the North. The northbound and southbound traffic then all passed 
through Marysville. The station at the west end of this bridge was known 
as Marysville, and the lower station, at the then village proper, as Haley's. 
The development of the freight traffic made necessary the building of the 
historic old roundhouse for the storage of engines, in 1868, from which 
time the railroad yards began to develop. Jeremiah Buzzard and Irvin 
Crane were the first yardmasters. This old Northern Central bridge 
burned in 1871, but was rebuilt and in use until 1886, when it was aban- 
doned and torn away. Parts of three piers and the abutment still stand, 
notwithstanding the ravages of time. The present stone arch bridge of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad, the longest stone arch bridge in the world, was 
erected in 1900, taking the place of a steel structure which had been built 
in 1878. 

As the business of the Northern Central and the Pennsylvania Railroads 
grew so did Marysville, and so did the number of tracks which had to be 
crossed by traffic at Valley Street, as the former corporation had its 
roundhouse there for the care and storage of its engines. This was a 
veritable death trap, and was eliminated by the erection of the subway 
when the roundhouse was removed in 1901, the Marysville yards remodeled 
and the Enola yards established. 

In 1908 the yards were taken over by the Philadelphia Division of the 
road, and J. C. F. Geib and Simon Lick were made yardmasters, having 
filled the same positions when the yards were under the former manage- 
ment. In 1912 the Pennsylvania made the Marysville yards a preference 
freight yard, switching there the business that had formerly been done at 
Harrisburg. Before the patent couplers came into use in the railroad 
business many men were injured while coupling cars, by the loss of a hand 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1003 

or fingers. Robert C. Shaffer, now living in Lancaster, was the only one 
of .sixteen brakemen once employed at the Marysville yards who was not 
so unfortunate. From the borough's southern limits the great stone arch 
bridge of the Pennsylvania Railroad crosses the Susquehanna River, 440,- 
000,000 tons of stones having been used in its construction. It is the longest 
stone arch bridge in the world. 

When the Morley Brothers were in possession of the mill which stood 
where the Seidel forge stands, they were engaged in the manufacture of a 
left-handed plow, and did a large business. About 1884 a shoe factory 
was started at Marysville and operated for a few years, its passing oc- 
curring in 1889. In 1897 William H. Leonard operated a shirt and overall 
factory. It was in business a few years. 

Marysville is supplied with water by the Marysville Water Company, 
which was incorporated April 5, 1895, with H. M. Horner as president, 
and John A. Herman as secretary and treasurer. The Marysville Light, 
Heat & Power Company was incorporated in 1897, with H. M. Horner, 
president; B. F. Umberger, secretary, and J. W. Beers, treasurer. It 
erected its own plant, but after a short time contracted with the Valley 
Railways Company for current, and in 1917 sold their franchise to the 
Juniata Public Service Company. Marysville owns its own brick munici- 
pal building. 

Marysville's first lodge was Perry Lodge, No. 458, F. & A. M., organ- 
ized December 27, 1869, with J. S. Funk, worthy master; A. J. Stahler, 
secretary, and H. H. Seidel, treasurer. Beuhler Lodge, K. of P., is almost 
as old, having been instituted November 3, 1870, with Wm. P. Price, chan- 
cellor, and Joseph McKenna, secretary. 

During the earlier years the population of the vicinity of Marysville de- 
pended upon the physicians of Harrisburg, Dauphin, West Fairview, Dun- 
cannon and other places. In 1862 Dr. Heinsling located there and prac- 
ticed for some years. Dr. Culp located there in 1868, and Dr. A. J. Traver 
in 1870, the latter practicing there until his death in 1885. In 1875 Dr. 
George W. Eppley located there, having previously practiced for a time 
at Elliottsburg. He was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, 
and practiced there until his death, which occurred July 27, 1887. He was 
a very successful practitioner. Dr. J. M. Boyd, a native of the county, 
located in Marysville in 1880, after graduating at Ohio Medical College, 
remaining a short time. 

Dr. A. D. VanDyke, a native of Juniata County, located here in 1883, 
and remained until 1899, when he became connected with the medical de- 
partment of the Pennsylvania Railroad, with which company he still re- 
mains, his headquarters being in the Pennsylvania Depot, New York City, 
since 1919. Prior to that time he had been connected with the company's 
offices at Harrisburg, Philadelphia, Elmira and Renovo. Dr. W. S. Ruch 
was located there a number of years, leaving about 1890, when he was 
succeeded by Dr. H. O. Lightner, who practiced until his death in 1915. 
Dr. E. Walt Snyder changed his location from Liverpool to Marysville, 
in 1899, where he practiced until 1919, and where he still resides. He was 
succeeded by his son, Dr. Chas. R. Snyder, May 1, 1919. Dr. George W. 
Gault, Baltimore Medical College, 1910, located at Marysville, upon his 
graduation. Dr. Snyder and Dr. Gault are now the practicing physicians. 
Dr. Frank Patterson and Dr. E. H. Mitchell were located here for a 
short time. 

No other organization has done so much for Marysville as the Civic 
Club, organized January 28, 1913. Its first officers were Mrs. Mary E. 
Morley, president; Mrs. J. P. Lilley and Mrs. Pearl B. Hippie, vice- 
presidents; Airs. F. W. Geib, recording secretary; Mrs. Nora Eppley, 



1004 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

corresponding secretary, and Mrs. L. C. Wox, treasurer. Mrs. Wox has 
been president since January, 1914. Organizations of this character are 
wont to turn into social affairs and forget the object for which organized, 
but the record of this organization proves that it has not done so. In 
April, 1913, within ninety days of their organization, receptacles were 
placed at designated points for the collection of waste paper, etc. Although 
most of them were destroyed it stands to the credit of the new organiza- 
tion that they were provided. In 1914, at their instance and expense a 
better road was opened to the cemetery. The triangle known as the 
Marysville Square, had long been kept in an uninviting condition, and that 
was the next object upon which the Civic Club centered its efforts, in May, 
1916, and ever since it is a beautifully sodded place surrounded by plants 
and shrubbery, seen by travelers from passing trains and visitors to town. 
Then, in 1920, after those who had defended their country, returned home, 
the club had erected upon the public school building a town clock, the only 
one in the county, save that upon the courthouse at the county seat, at an 
expense of over $2,000. Prior to this they had planted on the school lawn 
memorial trees in memory of Blaine Barshinger, Howard Spidel and James 
Brightbill, three local boys who lost their lives in the World War. 
Upon the clock tower is this inscription : 



Built, A. D. 1920 

In Honor of the 

Boys and Girls 

Who Assisted in Winning 

The World War. 



The present officers are: Mrs. L. C. W T ox, president; Mrs. E. J. Sellers 
and Mrs. Chas. Clouser, vice-presidents; Mrs. Pearl B. Hippie, recording 
secretary ; Mrs. Garfield Eppley, corresponding secretary, and Mrs. Wra. 
Dice, treasurer. Even now the organization is planning to pipe water to 
the Chestnut Grove cemetery. At the entrance to the cemetery, by the 
way, is a beautiful memorial gate, "presented by Jane Lanotte Wimer, 
1908." 

According to the report of the mercantile appraiser the following per- 
sons are identified with business in Marysville, the date following name 
being the date of their entry into business: 

General stores, G. C. Bitting, A. J. Ellenberger (1901). J. L. Halbach, R. N. 
Hench, F. W. Roberts (1910; founded by W. L. Roberts. 1902), J. E. White 
(1903, in stand long kept by T. W. Morley ; purchased Wise stand in 1907). 

Groceries, Alice Ensminger, J. A. Fenicle, Jos. Stante. 

H. E. Gault (1910) and C. J. Kistler, meat markets. 

W. L. Roberts & Son, coal (1902). 

Albert P.ungden, stoves and tinware (1905). 

L. F. Piatt, cigars and tobacco (19 10). Mr. Piatt was killed in an aeroplane 
accident, November 5, 1920. 

C. M. Dick, W. M. Straw, cigars and tobacco. 

Margaret L. Bratton, H. A. Keim, confectionery. 

H. J. Deckard, furniture. 

C. H. Fortenbaugh. electrical supplies. 

P. M. Skivington, flour, feed and coal. 

R. H. Holmes, drugs. 

There was once a United Brethren congregation located at Marysville, 
having dedicated its church May 15, 1875. The first services had been 
held in 1866. Rev. G. W. Lightner, who long made his home in Duncan- 
non, was the pastor, covering a, three-year period when the church was 
built. Early pastors were Rev. J. P. Bishop, Rev. J. X. Quigley, Rev. N. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1005 

Altman, Rev. G. A. Colestock, Rev. J. Neidig, Rev. W. Owen, Rev. J. S. 
Bradford, Rev. II. Brown, Rev. G. \\ . Lightner (3 years), Rev. J. R. 
Hutchinson, Rev. R. H. Whitlock, Rev. D. D. Lowrey, Rev. J. C. Crider, 
Rev. J. P. Anthony. The congregation having dwindled by removals and 
otherwise, the building was sold to the Lutheran congregation, April 16, 
1887, for $1,200, it being used as their place of worship until 1901, when 
the enlargement of the railroad yards necessitated the purchase of more 
ground, which included that on which the church stood. It was then pur- 
chased by the railroad for $2,000, sold and removed to another location, 
where it was remodeled into a dwelling. 

Bethany United Evangelical Church. Originally Perry County was di- 
vided into two sections by the Rvangelical Church, and circuit riders car- 
ried the word to the entire faith. The members of the faith here were 
included in that part which finally narrowed down to Marysville, Newport 
and Rye Township's two churches — Salem and Bethel. The two latter 
were finally detached and made a part of the new Keystone charge. Then, 
until 1898 Marysville and Newport were united. In that year Marysville 
became a separate station, with C. W. Finkbinder as the first pastor. 

A lot was presented to the Evangelical Association by Theodore and 
Margaretta D. Fenn, in 1866, and a movement started for the erection of 
an Evangelical church at Marysville. It was built and dedicated December 
23d of that year, the building committee being Rev. John Cramer, Levi 
Dice and Leonard Swartz. The charge also once included the churches 
known as Salem and Bethel, in Rye Township. The ministers have been: 

Rev. A. L. Reeser. Rev. George Joseph. 

Rev. L. K. Harris. 1881-82— Rev. P. S. Orwig. 

Rev. J. C. Farnsworth. 1883-84 — Rev. R. W. Runyan. 

Rev. A. H. Irvine. 1885-87— Rev. I. C. Yeakel. 

Rev. T. Young. 1888 —Rev. J. W. Bentz. 

Rev. J. W. McGaw. 1889 —Rev. G. E. Zehner. 

Rev. S. D. Bennington. 1890-92 — Rev. S. P. Remer. 

Rev. I. Y. Reid. 1893-94 — R ev - Benj. Hengst. 

Rev. S. T. Bucknell. 1895 —Rev. J. F. Douty. 

Rev. W. F. Detwiler. 1896 — Rev. J. F. Dunlap. 

Rev. S. Aurand. 1897-98 — Rev. C. W. Finkbinder. 

Rev. T. M. Morris. 1899-02— Rev. W. H. Lilley. 

Rev. M. Sloat. 1903-04 — Rev. D. L. Kepner. 

Rev. S. E. Davis. 1905-07 — Rev. L. E. Crumbling. 

Rev. D. W. Miller. 1908-11— Rev. I. N. Bair. 

Rev. W. H. Stover. 1912-14 — Rev. W. E. Detwiler. 

Rev. S. I. Shortess. 1915-17 — Rev. L. A. Fuhrman. 

Rev. Geo. E. Zehner. 1918- — Rev. C. D. Pewterbaugh. 

In 1896 the congregation erected a new church on Valley Street. The 
building committee was composed of Rev. J. F. Dunlap, George Kocher, 
Jacob Kline, C. S. Wise and J. H. Souder. The parsonage was built in 
1904, when Rev. D. L. Kepner was pastor. 

Marysville Church of God. Rev. Thomas Still organized the first church 
of that faith in Marysville, in 1866, following a series of religious meet- 
ings held in the woods. It began with eight members. As early as 1850 
several meetings were held, but with no result, as there were then but four 
dwelling houses there. In 1865 another effort was made, but again lapsed. 
For two years after 1866 the little flock worshiped in private dwellings 
and in the schoolhouse. When the Evangelical Association erected a 
church the members of the Church of God were allowed to hold meetings 
in it for some time, but this privilege was later denied on account of the 
doctrines of the Church of God. Again the meetings were held in homes, 
in the schoolhouse and on the picnic grounds. During April, 1869, a plot 
of ground located on the northwest corner of Myrtle Avenue and Chestnut 



ioo6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Street was purchased for the erection of a church. A frame building, 
40x50 feet, was dedicated January 16, 1870. The building committee was 
composed of J. D. Miller, A. Hartman, D. Cowen, A. J. Brady, John 
Heaney and C. L. Amy. Since then the congregation has grown much 
larger and although worship is still conducted in that building, a plot has 
been purchased at the southwest corner of Maple Avenue and Chestnut 
Street, where a more commodius house of worship and a parsonage is 
being erected. Until 1904 Marysville was a part of the Duncannon charge, 
under which chapter a list of the pastors will be found. The pastors at 
Marysville since have been Rev. J. W. Miller, Rev. T. B. Tyler, Rev. E. 
M. Mell, Rev. S. C. Stonesifer, Rev. Charles Parsons, Rev. J. F. Wiggins, 
and Rev. Wesley N. Wright, the present pastor. 

Trinity Reformed Church. The congregation of Trinity Reformed 
Church at Marysville is to some extent the outgrowth of the Fishing 
Creek church, just as the Duncannon Reformed Church is to some extent 
the successor of the church at Fio Forge. On February 4, 1868, Zion 
Classis, which included this territory in early days, met at New Bloomfield 
to establish a fourth charge in Perry County, to be called the Duncannon 
charge. The conclusion of Classis was that there should be four preaching 
points, Mt. Zion in Fishing Creek Valley, Marysville, Duncannon and St. 
David's at Dellville, the latter being the only organized congregation of 
the four, but Duncannon and Marysville being growing towns and a good 
field. Rev. William Dewitt Clinton Rodrick was assigned to the pastorate 
of the charge in April, 1868, but the Marysville church was not regularly 
organized until January, 1869. When the charge was organized there was 
but one member of the faith residing in Marysville, Mrs. Amelia A. Sloop, 
and at the organization of the church there were but four others. Later 
Dr. O. T. Everhart, who but recently passed away at Shrewsbury, Penn- 
sylvania, joined, and it was decided to build a church. The building com- 
mittee was composed of Rev. Rodrick, Dr. Everhart, George W. Kissinger 
and Lewis S. Lesh. Two town lots, which have ever since been the seat of 
worship of this people, were decided upon as a location, Mrs. Margaret D. 
Fenn, who owned the property, presenting the one, and the church pur- 
chased the other for $300. Excavation was made for the foundation of 
the first church by the membership during September, i860, by the light 
of the moon, and on October 6, 1870, it was dedicated, having been built by 
a membership which then numbered only thirteen, at a cost of $4,500, 
This church was about 40x60 feet and in use until 1901, when it became 
necessary to replace it. The present modern brick building was then 
erected and dedicated on April 20, 1902. The building committee was com- 
posed of Rev. J. David Miller, E. B. Leiby, W. L. Roberts, W. T. White, 
C. B. Smith, P. M. Michener, L. C. Wox and Lucian Haas. In 1909 a 
fine brick parsonage was erected on Dahlien Street, and in 1914 a pipe 
organ was installed in the church. The pastors have been as follows : 

1868-71— Rev. W. D. C. Rodrick. 1886-88— Rev. Samuel S. Meyer. 

1872-75 — Rev. Harry Wissler. 1889-16 — Rev. J. David Miller. 

1876-81 — Rev. U. Henry Heilman. 1916-21 — Rev. Ralph E. Hartman. 
1882-86 — Rev. James R. Lewis. 

Zion Lutheran Church. The first Lutheran congregation at Marys- 
ville was served by Rev. M. L. Heisler, a supply of the Duncannon church, 
during 1870. The church seems not to have been regularly organized then, 
as Rev. G. W. Crist is accredited with its organization, during his pas- 
torate, 1879-1882. 

In 1901 a new brick church was erected on Front Street. The pastors 
have always been the same as those of the Duncannon church, save from 
1900 to 1903, when the two churches did not form one charge. (See Dun- 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1007 

cannon chapter.) During that time the pastors of Zion at Marysville 
were Rev. P. T. E. Stockslager, June I, 1900, to January 25, 1903, and Rev. 
J. G. Langham. March 1, 1903, to October 1, 1905, when the charges were 
reunited as the Marysville charge, the pastor being resident there and con- 
tinuing under the restored charge. For list of pastors prior to 1901 and 
after 1902, see Duncannon chapter. 

Methodist Episcopal Church. The Marysville Methodist Episcopal con- 
gregation was organized in 1872, by Rev. Cambridge Graham, who re- 
mained as pastor until 1873. Rev. E. A. Deavor succeeded him - in 1873, 
during which year the church was built, the building being 35x50 feet in 
size. During the pastorate of Rev. Dickson (1897-1900) the church was 
remodeled. During 1919-20 a fine brick parsonage was built on a plot oppo- 
site the new school building. The members of the faith first worshiped in 
the schoolhouse on the river bank. The pastors from the beginning have 
been : 

1872 — Rev. Cambridge Graham. 1804-95 — Rev. E. A. Pyles. 

[873-75 — Rev. E. A. Deavor. 1896 ■ — Rev. Samuel Fox. 

1876-78 — Rev. J. Y. Shannon. [897-00 — Rev. C. W. Dickson. 

1879-80— Rev. E. T. Swartz. 1901-04 — Rev. S. S. Carnill. 

1881-82 — Rev. J. P. Benford. 1905 — Rev. L. L. Snyder. 

1 88,^-84 — Rev. H. N. Minnigh. 1906-07 — Rev. H. W. Hartsock. 

1SS5-87— Rev. G. A. Singer. 1908-09— Rev. A. O. Stone. 

isss ,,,,— Rev. E. M. Aller. 1910-13— Rev. A. C. Shue. 

1 891 — Rev. Owen Hicks. 1014-18 — Rev. S. B. Bidlack. 

1892-93 — Rev. M. E. Swartz. 1919- — Rev. J. F. Glass. 

Millkk Township. 

Miller was the eighteenth township to be created in Perry County, but 
two — Tuscarora and Howe — being formed later. Part of it occupies a 
great bend in the Juniata River, and much of it is wooded. It is bounded 
on the north by Oliver Township and the Juniata River, on the east by the 
Juniata River, on the south by Wheatfield, and on the west by Centre and 
a bit of Oliver. A description by Prof. Claypole, the geologist, follows: 

"Four distinct parallel ridges traverse Miller Township from east-northeast 
1.1 west-southwest and determine the main features in its physical geography — 
Buffalo Hills, Limestone Ridge, Mahanoy Ridge and Dick's Hill. No stream 
of any importance is found within its limits. The largest is Losh's Run, which 
drains its southern portion and of which one arm forms its dividing line from 
Wheatfield Township. The basin of this stream is bounded by Mahanoy Ridge 
and Pick's Hill. Another stream of smaller size, Bailey's Run, drains the 
narrow basin between Mahanoy Ridge and Limestone Ridge and ends at 
Baileysburg. 

"Miller Township is divided into two parts by the triple ridge that traverses 
it as mentioned. Its three parts diverge, from the central knob or focus at 
Pine Grove and Baileysburg." 

It was erected by act of the State Legislature dated March 11, 1852. 
Joseph Bailey, who later became a congressman, is credited with naming 
the township, it being named in honor of David Miller. Bailey was in the 
Pennsylvania State Senate at the time of the township's erection as the 
representative of Perry and Cumberland Counties, and sponsored the bill, 
which follows : 

"That all that portion of Oliver and Wheatfield Townships in the County of 
Perry, beginning at the Juniata River ; thence along the line of Joseph Trim- 
mer and Alexander's heirs, and between said Trimmer and David Smith and 
Bosserman's heirs to the middle of the back road; thence in a straight line to 
a hickory tree, a corner between the lands of Joseph Bailey and Cathcart and 
Deweese, on the top of Buffalo Ridge ; thence westwardly along the top of 
said ridge to a point one-half mile west of the State road; thence in a straight 
line to the top of Limestone Ridge where the line dividing Oliver and Centre 



ioo8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Townships crosses said ridge ; thence southwardly along said township line 
to a corner of Wheatfield Township ; thence eastwardly along the top of 
Dick's Hill to the eastern termination of the same ; thence in a straight line 
to the nearest point on Polecat Creek; thence down said creek to the Juniata 
near Losh's sawmill ; thence up the middle of said river to the place of 
beginning." 

In this bill Losh's Run is termed Polecat Creek, which may have been a 
very early name for it. At the time of the township's erection Senator 
Bailey had large holdings within this township's borders. 

Among the early settlers Samuel Galbraith warranted 268 acres in 1790. 
George Losh later came into possession of this property. Back from the 
river John Elliot had 134 acres. On the river Samuel Martin warranted 
68 acres in 1768. It had a river frontage of 207 rods, and Caroline furnace 
was built upon it. This was the Baileysburg tract. Back of it Francis 
Beelen had 328 acres warranted in 1814. Back of the Beelen tract was 129 
acres warranted in 1766 to John Gilmore but surveyed to Marcus Hidings, 
in 1786. Matthew Hart warranted over 200 acres in 1784. Among other 
warrants were: William VanCamp, 70 acres in 1792; Hugh Miller, 150 
acres in 1775; Frederick Nipple, 101 acres in 1767; John Anderson, 327 
acres in 1767; John Ewalt, 162 acres in 1804; David English, 97 acres, 
including the big rock known as "Trimmer's," in 1766. In the big bend 
of the river Hugh Miller, Andrew Stephens and Robert Sturgeon war- 
ranted lands, Sturgeon's and Stephens' claims being for 100 acres each. 

At the foot of Dick's Hill, on the north slope, Robert and John Wood- 
burn, in 1786, took up large tracts later owned by the Harper and Bar- 
rick families. On this tract was the old road house known as "Wood- 
burn's Tavern," to travelers on the old state road from Clark's Ferry to 
Pittsburgh. General Frederick Watts took up a tract in 1768 which in 
the last generation was owned by Thompson and Abraham Huss. 

There was once a ferry at the farm lately owned by Oliver Rice, in the 
river bend. The old tavern on this place, the walls of which still stand, 
was known as Power's, as was the ferry and a fishery. On the other side 
of the river the ferry was known as Fetterman's: The Beelen farm, at 
Bailey's, of over 300 acres, was the militia parade grounds. The ferry at 
this point was known as Beelen's. 

The John Anderson tract in the last generation was owned by Charles K. 
Smith, Henry Smith, William Evans and the VanCamp heirs. 

There was an effort made at one time to put a bridge over the Juniata 
at Caroline furnace, now Bailey's Station. The Caroline Bridge Company 
was organized in 1838 by John D. Creigh and thirty-two others. There 
were to be 1,200 shares at $20 per share. 

Joseph Bailey, State Senator, State Treasurer, and United States Con- 
gressman, was a mighty factor for many years in this township, where his 
holdings were large. He was the moving spirit in the management of 
Caroline furnace, and some of its walls still stand as a relice of a pioneer 
industry. The Bailey mansion is also standing. A station, called Bailey's, 
on the main line of the Pennsylvania Railroad, was established there when 
the road was laid out, and is in existence to this day. A sketch of Mr. 
Bailey appears elsewhere. 

Ever since the railroad's establishment Bailey's has been the location of 
a watering station where the engines are replenished, and some years ago 
the old method of stopping for water was discontinued, and to-day trains 
running at fifty miles per hour take water on the fly by scooping it from 
long open schutes. A pumping station pumps the supply from the Juniata 
River. 

The valley running westward from Losh's Run Station, on the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad, was long known as Watts' Valley. In the palmy days of 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1009 

the Pennsylvania Canal there was located at Losh's Run a coal transfer 
known as the Ohio coal wharf, where all coal from the Susquehanna Val- 
ley was transferred from boats to railroad cars. It was discontinued about 
1883. There was a large basin in the canal at that point for handling and 
turning boats. Many men found employment there. 

The station at this point, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, is known as 
Losh's Run. The post office at Losh's Run is known as Logania. Long 
ago there was an office known as Beelen's Ferry, Francia Beelen being the 
postmaster, at the present site of Bailey's. 

The earliest building in which school was conducted was, according to 
Prof. Silas Wright, the old Dick's Gap church, which was located near 
Pine Grove. 

When traffic over the canal was the vogue the packet boats made a stop 
at Bailey's. The first settlements made there are credited to the Van- 
Camps, who came originally from Holland and settled at Kingston, New 
York, from whence they fled on horseback with all their effects in fear of 
an Indian uprising. The third railway station in the township, of the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad, is named Iroquois, formerly known as Poor Man's 
Spring. There are no business places in the township. Farming and lum- 
bering are the industries. An account of old Caroline furnace will be 
found in the chapter relating to Old Landmarks, Mills, etc. Sketches 
relating to Poor Man's Spring, the old canal, the physical features, etc., 
appear in appropriate chapters. 

According to T. W. Campbell, there is a cave, supposed to have been 
used by the Indians, first as a place of concealment, and later as a burial 
place, located at the base of Mahanoy Ridge, about a half mile from the 
Pine Grove cemetery. It is closed by hortizontal stones of considerable 
length, and so far as known has never been opened. 

There are no business places within this township. Dr. George I. Crouse 
located at Losh's Run (Logania post office) in 1886, and practiced his pro- 
fession, having been previously located at Richfield, Juniata County. He 
was a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, '84. 

Pine Grove Church of God. The church records of the Pine Grove 
Church of God do not tell the time of its building, according to Mr. T. W. 
Campbell, who made a search of them, but from older residents the date is 
placed as in "the early sixties." It is a frame building, located upon lands 
once owned by William Holmes, and practically at the site of the early 
and rude enclosure, known as the Dick's Gap church, an account of which 
appears in the chapter devoted to "The Earliest Churches." It has been a 
part of the Lower Perry Circuit of the denomination. Rev. Samuel P. 
Campbell, long a near-by resident, was for many years a local preacher of 
this denomination, and to him belongs much of the credit for the con- 
tinuation of this church in the neighborhood. During the pastorate of W. 
S. Smith, in 1891, the church was remodeled and rededicated. The fol- 
lowing have been the ministers of this church and the Red Hill church in 
Howe Township : 

1861-64— Rev. W. L. Jones. 1883-87— Rev. T. W. Miller. 

1864-69— Rev. F. Still. 1 887-89— Rev. O. E. Houston. 

1869-71 — Rev. Messinger. 1889-90 — Rev. J. T. Fleegal. 

1871-74 — Rev. G. W. Seilhammer. 1890-92 — Rev. W. S. Smith. 

1874-76 — Rev. J. W. Miller. 1892-96 — Rev. Samuel Spurrier. 

1876-78 — Rev. W. J. Grissinger. 1896-97 — Rev. J. A. Snyder. 

1878-81— Rev. C. J. Behney. 1897-05— Rev. S. E. Kline. 

1881-83— Rev. T. Still. 1905-08 — Rev. G. H. Bovversox. 

Beginning with 1006 the East Newport church was dedicated, and the 
persons named as pastors there also served Pine Grove and Red Hill, in 
Howe Township. See Oliver Township chapter. 
64 



ioio HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

logania Church of God. The members of the Church of God residing 
in the vicinity of Logania first held meetings in their homes and in the 
schoolhouse. During 1889-90 a church building was erected. H. B. Cumb- 
ler, Andrew Watts and J. M. Peterman were the building committee. The 
first pastor of the new church was Rev. J. T. Flegal. It is connected with 
the Duncannon charge, where the names of the ministers will be found. 

Mahanoy Union Church. Members of different denominations residing 
in the Mahanoy Valley erected a church in 1900. the building committee 
being John M. Smith, A. J. Burd, H. H. Yocum, J. R. Stewart and M. R. 
Clouser, who were also the board of trustees. The first officers of the 
board of trustees were H. H. Yocum, president ; J. R. Stewart, secretary, 
and J. M. Smith, treasurer. The United Evangelicals of the Newport 
charge have been holding services in this church. 

Millerstown Borough. 

*Millerstown Borough, the oldest town in Perry County, is located on 
the eastern bank of the Juniata River, thirty-three miles west of the capi- 
tal of the state, the Pennsylvania Railroad station being located on the 
western side of the river. Millerstown was the first town in the territory 
now comprising Perry County to be plotted for the sale of lots, which was 
done in 1790. It is located on a tract of ground originally warranted to 
James Gallagher on September 23, 1766, although he had located there 
before 'that and had made improvements thereon. The old English custom 
of naming estates being still in vogue, it is named in the patent as "Smith- 
field." It is described as being a tract of two hundred acres on the north 
(east) side of the Juniata River, adjoining lands of John McBride. Wil- 
liam Maclay, deputy surveyor, surveyed the tract. 

While Greenwood Township was formed in 1767, and is generally sup- 
posed to have comprised all that part of Perry County lying east of the 
Juniata, yet such is not the case, as will be seen by referring to the chap- 
ter devoted to Greenwood Township, where the matter is fully described. 
That part of Greenwood Township lying north of Cocolamus Creek, which 
of course included the present location of Millerstown, was in Fermanagh 
Township, Cumberland County, and it so remained until the organization 
of MifHin County on September 19, 1789. According to public records 
James Gallagher, of Fermanagh Township, sold to David Miller, an inn- 
keeper, of Rye Township, on September 1, 1780, for twelve hundred 
pounds, "all that tract of land lying on the north (east) side of the rivei 
Juniata, in the Township of Fermanagh, containing 222 acres and 125 
perches, and having a river front of one and one-half miles. Subsequently 
David Miller laid out the town. The original plot covered forty-two acres, 
but the entire acreage within the borough limits is four hundred and 
eighty-two. 

The laying out of the town was after 1790, as the patent was not granted 
until March 25, 1790, and until then he could not have given legal title to 
the lots sold. Through older residents the time of settlement was fixed as 



*The author is indebted to the historical articles of Rev. W. H. Logan, a former 
pastor of the Millerstown Presbyterian church, and H. G. Martin, James Rounsley and 
William T. Rounsley for data in reference to this chapter. 

William Thompson Rounsley was born in 1876 and was a son of James and Wla 
(Thompson) Rounsley. He graduated from the Millerstown High School in 1893 and 
from the Millersville State Normal School in 1895. He taught the Grammar school in 
Millerstown the following term and the High school the succeeding year. He had 
been reelected, but on August 26, 1897, he visited an uncle on the west side of the 
Tuniata and on returning over the old grade-crossing he was run down by a train 
During his short life he had amassed many historical facts relating to Millerstown and 
vicinity, which were kindly loaned to the writer, among which was a part ot the 
original manuscript of Wright's History of Perry County. Mr. Rounsley was aged 21 
years and 28 days. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 



ion 



being in 1780, and the centennial of the town was observed in 1880, but 
legal documents do not bear out that contention. In the possession of 
James Rounsley is a lottery ticket, No. 42, for a plot of one-fourth acre, 
being plot No. 2, on the Millerstown town plot. It is from David and 
Mary Miller to Robert Beatty, and is dated 1790, which fixes conclusively 
the date of the laying out of the town. The canal site was then the main 
street. 

Upon the erection of Mifflin County, one year previous, these lands 
passed from Fermanagh Township to Greenwood Township. In 181 1 
David Miller sold the tract to Jacob Miller and Abraham Addams, of 
Reading, but there is no record of Jacob Miller ever living upon it. 
Neither is there record to show whether any relationship existed between 
David Miller and Jacob Miller, or of the further whereabouts of David 
Miller. Abraham Addams then married the daughter of Jacob Miller, his 
partner in the purchase of the farm, and not David Miller's daughter, as 
so frequently stated. Their daughter, Ann Eliza Addams, born in the 
stone house erected by Abraham Addams in 1817, was married to Jacob 




.MII.I.KKSTOWX, THE OLDEST TOWN IN THE COUNTY. 



Beaver, and became the mother of Governor James A. Beaver, of Penn- 
sylvania, whose biography is fully covered by a chapter in this book. 
Addams is described in the deed as a storekeeper from Reading. He se- 
cured entire ownership of the farm after the death of Miller's daughter 
Lydia, in 1819, by purchase from his father-in-law. 

Probably the first house erected in what is now the borough was the 
"Ferry Hotel," at the landing of the ferry, a stone in the chimney being 
marked 1778. It was long occupied by Fremont Taylor. This build- 
ing was the election place of the voters during pioneer days, afterwards 
being succeeded by the schoolhouse located in the old graveyard. In 1805 
William Woods was assessed with the inn or tavern located at the ferry. 
In 1814 Abraham Addams was assessed with 320 acres of land and the 
Millerstown ferry. 

The ferry at Millerstown was in operation as early as 1788, being men- 
tioned in an article in the Columbian Magazine of that year as "Miller's 
Ferry." 

The assessment rolls of 1805 name the following as residents : 

Dr. Henry Buck, Daniel Brandt, Anthony Brandt, James Bell, tailors ; 
Isaac Craver, Thomas Cochran, James Craver, storekeepers ; Frederick Harter, 
resident with sawmill in township; Jeremiah Jordan, chairmaker; William 



1012 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

McClung, joiner ; Michael McGarra, butcher ; Machlin & Ross, Joshua North, 
tanner; John Neeman, innkeeper; David Pfoutz, innkeeper of the stone 
house; Captain Ephraim Williams. 

In the Greenwood Township assessment of 1814, among others were : 
Abraham Addams, 320 acres of land and ferry at or near Millerstown ; 

Thomas Cochran, 500 acres of land, store and distillery; Benjamin Lees, 

store ; Edward Purcell, store ; Henry Walters, store. 

The stone hotel building, on the west side of the Square, was built by 
John Wood in 1800. In 1805 David Pfoutz was the innkeeper. In later 
years it was long the property of Henry Martin. Dr. S. T. Lineaweaver 
began the erection of a building for a home in 1869, but before its final 
completion in 1876, he changed the plans and made of it a hotel building. 
It was named the Juniata Valley Hotel, but financial misfortune soon 
closed its doors. It was a large brick building, three stories, with mansard 
roof, and was burned to the ground in February, 1877. Shuman Miller 
bought the lot and erected the present building on the same foundation, 
in 1881. In more recent years this hotel was kept by Huff Ward, and was 
known as the "Ward House." 

About 1820 David Pfoutz built the Union tavern. It passed through 
many hands, the last being Shuman Miller, who kept it from 1875 to 1881, 
when it was closed as a public house. It is now owned by William Walker 
and Harry Beacham. When the old pike was in use David Rickabaugh 
kept a road house and the stage line office. Rev. Logan, a Presbyterian 
pastor at Millerstown, did a lot of historical research work in 1881 and 
1882, and makes the statement that "when the canal was dug nearly all the 
houses in town were hotels." While this statement was overdrawn, yet 
there were actually seventeen hotels during that time. Among them was 
the residence of Mrs. S. C. Alexander. Millerstown had sixty houses in 
[825, and eighty in 1832. 

The first storekeepers were Thomas Cochran and Edward Purcell, the 
latter from 1800 to 1834. Cochran came to the territory from Ireland, in 
1798, and became the first postmaster. He built the Alexander Goodman 
house in 1803, and the Stites house in 1813. This is now the John Ward 
house. Purcell also came from Ireland, and built the house which stood 
where the D. M. Rickabaugh house now stands. One of the earliest resi- 
dents was Anthony Brandt, a blacksmith and an innkeeper, the ancestor of 
the numerous Brandt families in this part of Perry County. 

In 1830 Samuel and Jacob Beaver built a warehouse and engaged in the 
purchasing and shipping of produce. A. H. Ulsh's sons are conducting the 
business now. Kirk Haines, T. P. Cochran and William Everhart were 
owners at different times during the interim. A. H. Ulsh assumed charge 
in 1883. E. P. Titzell was one of the town's former business men from 
1870 to 1906. 

The turnpike was built in 1822, the canal in 1827-28, and the first track 
of the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1848-49, each a great improvement in turn. 
Millerstown has more old substantial stone houses, many of them a cen- 
tury old, than any other town in the county. Such houses are numerous 
in the farming country of the extreme western end of the county. They 
are a monument to our ancestry, and their substantial construction shows 
the thoroughness which was common in those days — a quality, which I 
fear many of our present generation are losing. 

In 1848 John H. Earnest built a foundry and carried on business until 
1852. B. W. Page opened a shirt factory on High Street, in Millerstown, 
in 1004, with forty hands on the pay roll. It was located in a building 
which has since been turned into a double dwelling. In 1910 he took in 
his son as a partner, and in 1912 the firm erected a fine three-story brick 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1013 

shirt factory on Main Street, its size being 40x120 feet. In 1916 B. W. 
Page retired from the firm, and C. C. Page became the owner, later, in 
July, 1919, selling to the Phillips-Jones Corporation of New York City, 
and remaining as manager of their plants here and at Thompsontown and 
Mifflin. 

In the early days there was a market house on the north side of the 
square, but when the canal was under construction it was removed. It 
was 25x60 feet in size, and had a comb roof, supported at a height of 
twenty feet by posts which rested upon stone pillars. It was purchased by 
Abram Addams and removed to his farm, where it was used for a wagon 
shed. 

On April 4, 1838, the Millerstown Bridge Company was organized with 
six hundred shares of stock, the par value of which was twenty dollars 
per share. The commission to build it was composed of Thomas Cochran, 
John Fertig, Frederick Rinehart, David Kepner, John Rice and Jonas 
[ekes. It was built from the end of Sunbury Street, in 1839, by John Fer- 
tig and Henry Doughty. It has been swept away at various times, includ- 
ing its destruction by fire in [902, an account of which appears in the 
chapters devoted to ''Rivers and Streams." On March 28, 1814, an act 
passed the Pennsylvania Legislature authorizing the building of a bridge 
there by the Millerstown Bridge Company, but it was not then built. 

John Fertig. who helped build the Millerstown bridge, was also one of 
the contractors who helped build the Pennsylvania Railroad. He settled 
here in 1829, and died in 1849, of Asiatic cholera. He was an early advo- 
cate of temperance. Another railroad contractor was William Goodman, 
who also built railroads in West Virginia and Tennessee, until the out- 
break of the war between the North and the South. 

Millerstown has been unfortunate a number of times through serious 
fires. The one in February, 1877, wiped out the Juniata Valley Hotel. 
Another on April 17, 1878, burned the Cluck corner and an adjoining build- 
ing in which the post office was located. Four families were rendered 
homeless. The loss was $25,000, mostly covered by insurance. Mr. Cluck 
rebuilt, and Cathcarts succeeded him in business in 1883. Then on April 
19, 1894, at 4 a. m., fire was discovered in the store of D. M. Rickabaugh, 
and before subdued bad burned not only his store building but the shoe 
shop of J. B. Lahr, the drug store of C. W. Lahr, and the dwelling of 
U. H. Ward. The instruments of the Millerstown Band and the surgical 
instruments of Dr. W. H. Jones, who had their headquarters and offices 
in the burned buildings, were also destroyed. A drilled hole in the Ricka- 
baugh safe, found in the ruins, showed that the fire was the result of 
burglary. A third, in June, 1902, burned the river bridge over the Juniata. 
The state erected a new bridge which was opened for traffic on January 
1, 1906. 

There was an early settlement of negroes located near Millerstown, 
which was known as "Washington City." About 1850 smallpox broke out 
in the settlement, and every one, save a man who had it before, got the 
disease. The place became practically quarantined, its people largely help- 
less and destitute. Dr. A. C. Stees, a local physician, aided by a number 
of men and women whose identity has never been disclosed, formed a 
relief party and ministered to the stricken people, carrying baskets of pro- 
visions to a point where the lone unstricken man in the settlement came 
to receive them. Dr. Stees changed his clothing in his barn before and 
after each visit to the settlement, which he brought through the scourge. 
Owing to the loathsomeness of the disease it was necessary to keep secret 
the names of these brave men and women, as they were meeting the public 



IO14 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

during the same time in a business and social way, and were thereby saved 
from being shunned. 

Millerstown Borough was incorporated February 12, 1849, and the first 
meeting of the town council was held April 14, 1849. Abram Addams 
was the first chief burgess, and John M. Caufman, Christian Beck, James 
R. Gilmer and Jacob Emerick, members of the first borough council. 
Thomas P. Cochran was the first clerk to council, his salary being $2.50 
a year. Abram Addams and John Fertig were named in the act as super- 
visors of the first election. 

The first schoolhouse was also the first "meeting house," where religious 
services were held. It was built of logs in 1808, at the edge of the ceme- 
tery, on the Grave Street side. School was held there until 1856, when the 
new school building was erected on High Street, on grounds purchased of 
Joseph B. Carr. There was great opposition to the change of location at 
the time, but the more progressive element won. When the free school 
law went into effect Millerstown adopted the local option plan and held 
an election every third year to see whether schools would be held or not. 
The friends of education always won. The directors in office when the first 
public school building was built in 1856 were: William Kipp, president; 
Hiram Fertig, secretary; Henry Hopple, treasurer; Dr. D. M. Crawford, 
Samuel Gabel and George Keely. It was enlarged in 1869 by building an 
addition to the eastern end containing two rooms, the cost of which was 
$1,662. The first school building stood, but unused, until 1875. 

Some of the earlier teachers whose names have been handed down are 
Messrs. McLaughlin, Belford, McDowell, John B. Porter, Cummins, Kins- 
low, Kintch, Joseph Jones, William J. Jones and Noble Meredith, all of 
whom taught in the old building in the cemetery. Prof. Silas Wright con- 
ducted a summer normal school here from 1868 to 1878, known as the 
Juniata Valley Normal School, an account of which appears in the chapter 
devoted to Academies, Institutions, etc. 

One of the earliest teachers in what is now Perry County was Thomas 
Cochran, at Millerstown. He and three brothers came from Ireland to 
Chester County, where they laid out a town, calling it Cochransville, which 
name it has retained. The three brothers remained, but Thomas located in 
Millerstown in 1801. After teaching for some time he engaged in the 
mercantile business and also kept one of the first hotels. He was post- 
master there during the War of 1812-14. A year later he sold out his 
hotel and was in other business until 1835, when he was succeeded by his 
son, Thomas P. Cochran. He and his wife were among the principal sup- 
porters of the Presbyterian Church there. 

The first teachers in the present school building were D. A. Beckley, Jacob 
Gantt, W. W. Fuller and W. E. Baker. In 1869 there were three schools 
with Prof. Silas Wright as principal. Twenty-five years later (1894-95, 
1895-96) he was again principal for two terms. J. S. Arnold served as 
principal six successive terms, from 1885-86 to 1890-91. In 1879 the prin- 
cipal's salary was was $35 per month, in 1880 it was $50. Three principals, 
Silas Wright, S. B. Fahnestock and E. U. Aumiller, became county super- 
intendents of schools. The first graduating class was that of 1887, J. S. 
Arnold, principal. Its members were W. S. Snyder, S. Banks Taylor, 
Carrie McDuffie, Alton P. Diffenderfer and Clara Rippman. Of the male 
members of the class the first became an attorney, the second a physician, 
and the third an educator, all noted men in their line. This was the second 
town to graduate pupils from its high school. The largest graduating class 
was that of 1896, with fourteen members. 

Millerstown postmasters, since the establishment of the office, have been 
Thomas Cochran, Edward Purcell, Beaver Brothers, Miss Margaret Clark, 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 



1015 



William Robinson, John M. Cauffman, Samuel Jennings, 1850-52; Mrs. 
Samuel Jennings, 1852-85; E. P. Titzell, 1885-89; William Goodman, 1889- 
90; Charles W. Lahr, 1890-94; H. W. Rinehart, 1894-98; J. B. Lahr, 
1898-1913; H. W. Rinehart, 1913-20. 

The marker in the Millerstown public square, erected to those who went 
forth in the great war is largely there owing to the enterprise of Harry 
G. Martin, who was interested in every phase of war work from the first. 




MIELERSTOWN'S TRIBUTE TO ITS SOLDIERS. 



Having seen a press notice that guns of an obsolete pattern were available 
for distribution to boroughs and cities, Mr. Martin, on his own initiative, 
got in touch with the proper authorities. Finding that official action was 
necessary by the borough council he secured their cooperation, and in sub- 
mitting their endorsement, he called attention to the fact that Perry County, 
and Millerstown, in particular, had given a larger percentage of soldiers 
to the Sectional War than any community in the country ; that Millerstown 
was the native town of Ex-Governor James A. Beaver, and that the com- 



ioi6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



munity had "gone over the top" in all the "drives" during the World War. 
The gun came from Fort Dupont, Delaware. 

The tablet was dedicated at the time of the welcome home celebration, 
November 22, 1919, and the marker was erected late in 1920. It is the first 
marker in the county, save that to those who went forth in the long and 
harrowing Sectional War. The names upon the tablet are not only those 
of Millerstown's contingent, but of all those adjacent and along the rural 
routes which radiate therefrom. The first four named lost their lives in 
the service. Following is the inscription upon the marker : 

"This Tablet is Dedicated in Honor of those of Millerstown 

and Vicinity who Answered the Call 

1917 — of Our Country and Enrolled for Service — 1919." 



*Wilbur G. Anderson. 
*Robert H. Garman. 
*Edward S. Knight. 
*Walter A. Smith. 
Ralph E. Acker. 
Lee T. Allen. 
Raymond S. Anderson. 
V. L. Aughe. 
George A. Barner. 
John A. Barnes. 
Ralph B. Beaver. 
Frank R. Bixler. 
Andrew S. Black. 
Jonathan R. Black. 
Frank A. Bostwick. 
Israel Brown. 
Emery A. Bucher. 
Harry R. Burkepile. 
George J. Cameron. 
Joseph C. Campbell. 
Emery J. Cauffman. 
Wesley M. Cauffman. 
George Coffman. 
Guy Diffenderfer. 
Earl Dillman. 
William R. Dimm. 
John J. Doughten. 
Win. H. Fahnestock. 
J. Herbert Ferguson. 



Sherman L. Fosselman. 
Emery R. Fry. 
Montgomery Gearhart. 
Roscoe W. Hall. 
Norman M. Grubb. 
J. L. Hogentogler 
A. L. Holman. 
Edward L. Holman. 
James R. Jones. 
Henry M Keisling. 
Lawrence L. Knight. 
James L. Kramer. 
Jacob A. Kretzing. 
J. Banks Lahr. 
Carl Lauver. 
Thomas P. Leonard. 
C. W. Liddick. 
H. T. Liddick. 
\\ in. T. McConnell. 
M. Luther McDonald. 
Robert C. McDonald. 
Ralph N. McNaughton. 
Ross Mangle. 
Norman S. Markley. 
Leroy Marks. 
Earl H. Miller. 
Ezra H. Minium. 
Lewis M. Mitchell. 



George D. Newman. 
Warren V. Newman. 
Clarence E. Paden. 
Harry C. Pontius. 
Clarence R. Powell. 
D. S. Powell. 
Charles W. Reisinger. 
Simon L. Rhoads. 
S. Nelson Rounsley. 
John W. Roush. 
Raymond A. Rovve. 
Warren R. Sarver. 
Roscoe L. Satzler. 
Robert F. Shenk. 
Paul R. Smith. 
Ernest B. Snook. 
Percy E. Stewart. 
Casper W. Swartz. 
John H. Swartz. 
W. Rodney Taylor. 
Horace J. Troutman. 

C. Kenneth Ulsh. 
Edgar A. Ulsh. 
James E. Ulsh. 
Harry Wagner. 

D. Earl Ward. 
Harry J. Yeigh. 
George G. Yohn. 
Annabelle D. Frey. 



"With no selfish ends these served that the principles of right 
might be established throughout the world." 

Millerstown Borough owns its own water plant, bringing the water by 
gravity for a distance of over four miles from the Tuscarora Mountain. 
The plant was erected in 1897, at a cost of $7,000; later the cost totaled 
$9,000. The reservoir back of town has a capacity of two hundred thou- 
sand gallons, and the water pressure is one hundred and ten pounds. The 
borough was bonded for the purpose of building the plant and the proceeds 
are ample to pay off a bond of $1,000 each year. 

Coincident with the introduction of water the Millerstown Fire Com- 
pany was organized. It is a beneficial organization and is incorporated. 
J. H. G. Rippman has been the chief of the fire company since its organi- 
zation. Its first officers were: J. H. G. Rippman, president; D. A. Lahr, 
vice-president; E. M. Kelly, secretary, and N. H. Ward, treasurer. The 
present officers are: C. C. Page, president; R. B. Thompson, vice-presi- 
dent; T. P>. Diffenderfer, secretary; D. A. Lahr, treasurer. It was in- 
corporated in 1907. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1017 

In 1894 Millerstown decided to put in its own light plant, and had al- 
ready put up the power house when the project was abandoned. The town 
is lighted by electricity supplied by the Juniata Light & Power Company. 
The Pennsylvania Canal, now abandoned and considerably filled in and 
covered with sod and vegetation, has been leased to the borough for the 
payment of $1.00 annually. It is 1,275 f eet m length, and will be turned 
into a park and community playground. 

Millerstown's oldest lodge is Tuscarora Castle, No. 289. K. G. E., insti- 
tuted October 24, 1888, with George D. Robinson, noble chief; J. Edgar 
Titzel, vice chief; Wm. Fenstemacher, master of records; O. D. Wingert, 
keeper of exchequer. 

The first physician to locate in Millerstown was Dr. Henry Bucke, who 
was there as early as 1805. His successor was Dr. Samuel Mealy, evi- 
dently, as there is no record available of another. He was a son of a 
cooper from the western end of Perry County, and about 1793 worked with 
his father at his trade. Tradition has him as a very studious boy who car- 
ried his books along while following his avocation. He was with Captain 
Moreland's famous company on the Canadian frontier. He is reputed 
with saving the limb and probably the life of an officer in the command by 
refusing to agree to amputate, upon which the other surgeons insisted. 
After his return from the army in 1814 he located at Millerstown, where 
he practiced until 1832, when he removed to Iowa. He was married to 
Miss Margaret Blaine, one of the famous family of that name which had 
settled in western Perry County. Dr. Waterhouse located in Millerstown 
and practiced but a short time until he died, in 1821. Dr. John M. Laird 
practiced here between 1824 and 1840, when he removed to New Bloom- 
field, among whose physicians he is further spoken of. In 1827 Dr. Mc- 
Neal located, but stayed only two years. Dr. Shellenberger read medicine 
with Dr. Mealy and practiced for about six years after 1830. Dr. Isaac 
Snowden, the son of Rev. Nathaniel Randolph Snowden, who was the first 
preacher ordained in Harrisburg, and later a member of the faculty of 
Dickinson College, located at Millerstown about 1824, being associated 
with Dr. Mealy. The partnership not being agreeable he went to Thomp- 
sontown about 1828, but again located in Millerstown in 1830. In 1834 he 
moved to Hogestown, Cumberland County. He was the father of A. 
Louden Snowden, long prominent in Pennsylvania politics. He was with 
General Jackson as a surgeon when he operated against the Seminole In- 
dians in Florida. 

Dr. John Irwin, born in Union County in 1809, and graduated from the 
University of Pennsylvania in 1832, succeeded Dr. Mealy in Millerstown 
in 1832, where he practiced until 1840, when he removed to his farm in 
Juniata County, retiring from practice. The late J. H. Irwin, of Newport, 
was a son. Dr. Kremer, who had read medicine with Dr. Mealy and mar- 
ried his daughter, and Dr. Ingleman were contemporaries of Dr. Irwin and 
were located here for nearly ten years. About 1841 Dr. Stilwell located in 
Millerstown and was associated with Dr. A. C. Stees, a native of Perry 
County, who graduated from Jefferson Medical College in 1836 and settled 
in Millerstown in 1841. At the end of a half dozen years the partnership 
was dissolved, Dr. Stilwell removing to Ohio. Dr. Stees remained in 
practice in Millerstown until his death, in 1854. Both these physicians 
were among the founders of the Perry County Medical Society. Dr. Stees 
was rated as a first-class physician and had a large practice. Dr. David 
Crawford practiced from 1851 to 1864, when he removed to Mifflin, Juniata 
County. 

Dr. Samuel Stites was born in Northampton County in 1816. In 1856 
he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and after studying in 



ioi8 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Europe he located in Millerstown, where he practiced until his death in 
1882. He was a surgeon of a Pennsylvania regiment during the War 
between the States. In the class of 1882 his son, Dr. George Stites, gradu- 
ated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, and suc- 
ceeded his father in the practice of medicine. He located in Williamstown, 
Pa., about 1885. 

Dr. S. T. Leinaweaver located in Millerstown in 1864 and practiced until 
1877, when he located in Hagerstown, Maryland. He was a graduate of 
Jefferson Medical College. In the fall of 1877 he accepted an appointment 
from the Shah of Persia, as surgeon in the Turkish Army. He later re- 
sided at Lebanon. From 1868 to 1876 Dr. A. A. Murray practiced, when he 
removed to Liverpool. 

Dr. Ellis Q. Kirk located in 1874 and practiced two years. Dr. John B. 
Oellig practiced from 1877 to 1881. Dr. P. Rundio practiced from 1877 
to 1880. Dr. G. W. Campbell located in Millerstown in 1879, but re- 
moved to Newport the same year. Dr. G. C. Dean, a native of Perry 
County and a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, practiced from 
1879 to 1881, when he removed to Lewistown, where he died in 1892. Dr. 
J. L Brubaker, a Maryland man and a graduate of Washington Univer- 
sity at Baltimore, in 1874, practiced from 1879 to 1883. He had previously 
been at Markelville for several years. He was given a high rating in 
medical circles. Dr. J. C. Hall, a graduate of the College of Physicians 
and Surgeons, of Baltimore, '89, located at Millerstown in 1891, where he 
practiced until his death, February 11, 1903. Dr. S. R. Ickes located in 
Millerstown in 1882. He remained about a year, when he removed to Har- 
risburg and became interested in the traction business, later becoming 
president of the People's Traction Company. The present physician is 
Dr. M. Gearhart, who located here in 1912. 

Among other physicians were Dr. W. E. Bonawitz, who had associated 
with Dr. Hall in practice, from 1898, and died in 191 1; Dr. T. P. Cochran, 
Dr. L. S. Howard, Dr. J. H. Meyer, Dr. M. I. Stein and others. 

According to the report of the mercantile appraiser the business places 
in Millerstown are as follows, the date being the time of starting business : 

General stores, T. P. Cathcart, D. G. Rickabaugh & Co. The latter store was 
kept by D. G. Rickabaugh from 1865 until 191 6. 

Groceries, D. L. Farner, Rinehart & Heisey, William Rounsley (1908). 

Confectionery, R. W. Hopple, Jennie Sheaffer, J. W. Cupp. 

Drugs, D. A. Lahr (1913). Established by C. W. Lahr (1890), sold to J. B. 
Lahr (1895). 

Ralph B. Thompson (1906). Established by E. P. Titzel. 

A. H. Ulsh & Sons (1920), (L. G., P. B., and J. E. Ulsh). Purchased by 
A. H. Ulsh (1885), coal and feed. 

W. C. Moore (1917), machinery. Established by William Kipp (1885), suc- 
cessors, Kipp & Moore (1917). 

L. B. Meloy, saddlery. 

G. W. Fry & Sons, furniture. 

E. C. Reisinger (1913), stoves and tinware. 

O. D. Wingert, clothing and shoes. 

Cupp Bros., auto supplies and oils 

A. L. Long, automobiles. 

Millerstown Presbyterian Church. Presbyterianism in Millerstown is 
almost as old as the settlement itself. The first sermon was preached by 
Rev. John Hutchinson, of Mifflintown, in 1806, in the bar room of the 
Cnchran tavern, on South Main Street, now owned by Mrs. S. C. Alex- 
ander. Later they were held throughout the town, and often in the same 
bar room. While the services were held as stated the members of the faith 
belonged to the churches at Middle Ridge and at Lost Creek (now Mc- 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1019 

Alisterville), in Juniata County. The Lutheran residents attended church 
in Pfoutz Valley, and the Methodists had their services and camp meetings 
in the same valley, near the Cocolamus Creek. 

The congregation was regularly organized in 1818, by Rev. N. R. Snow- 
den, father of the late A. Loudon Snowden, who served two years. The 
organization took place in a building also used as a school building located 
in the northeast corner of the Millerstown cemetery plot. Nothing re- 
mains to tell just when this building was built, but there is record that it 
was conveyed to Thomas Cochran, William North and Amos Jordan, trus- 
tees, to hold for a Presbyterian church and burying ground, on May 4, 
1808, and the building was likely erected immediately thereafter. There 
were no free schools and the building served for both church and school 
purposes. Rev. Snowden also taught a Latin school, among his pupils 
having been the late T. P. and William Cochran. He also served the 
members of his faith at Liverpool and New Buffalo. These churches 
were located upon the lands forming the delta between the Juniata and 
Susquehanna Rivers, which territory was attached to the Huntingdon 
Presbytery, where they remained until 1845. 

After Rev. Snowden's pastorate, which terminated in 1820, for nine 
years there was no pastor. Revs. Hill, Gray and Lochman served as sup- 
plies. In 1829 Rev. Britton E. Collins, a licentiate of the Presbytery of 
Philadelphia and a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, accepted 
a call and remained almost ten years. During his pastorate the present 
stone church was built on grounds donated by Thomas Cochran, the build- 
ing committee being John Boal, Abram Addams, Jacob Hoffman, John Mc- 
Gowan and Thomas Cochran. It was dedicated in May, 1832. The build- 
ing was 50x55 feet in size. William Hunter was the contractor. The life 
of the church actually began with Rev. Collins. He owned and resided 
upon the present J. R. Wright farm in Greenwood Township, where he 
erected a house. Leaving Millerstown he removed to Shirleysburg, Penn- 
sylvania, where he baptized in infancy one who was destined in after years 
to occupy his former pulpit at Millerstown, the late beloved Rev. S. C. 
Alexander. During his Millerstown pastorate he held several protracted 
services in the new church, and during his seven-year pastorate the net 
result was one hundred and fourteen members. 

After his departure, in 1839, supplies were again sent by Presbytery. 
Among these were Rev. McKnight Williamson, 1840-42, and Rev. S. H. 
McDonald, 1842-44. Rev. Williamson also supplied the lower Tuscarora 
church. The success of the Millerstown church had not a little to do with 
the passing of the Middle Ridge church, as on May 14, 1842, thirty-three 
members were admitted, and all but two came from Middle Ridge church. 
After that services were held only occasionally at Middle Ridge. The 
forming of the New Bloomfield congregation, in 1834, under Rev. Dickey, 
had so weakened the Middle Ridge church that it was later abandoned. 
Of its membership the Millerstown church got fifty names. 

Rev. George D. Porter became the regular pastor November, 1844, and 
remained until 1851. Emigration to the West — then at its height — about 
1850, took from the roster the Bulls, Linns, McNaughtons, Merediths, 
Leonards and others of like prominence. This weakened it and a com- 
mittee of Presbytery attached it to Upper (Blain) and Centre churches, 
but this action seems not to have been consummated. . From 1851 to 1856 
Rev. Hezekiah Hanson, of Petersburg (Duncannon), supplied it in addi- 
tion to his own pulpit. 

Rev. John B. Strain, a licentiate, who had preached for a seceding fac- 
tion of the faith, supplied the pulpit from August, 1856, to December, 
when he was ordained by Carlisle Presbytery. He was then installed in 



1020 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

charge of Millerstown and Buffalo, each church paying $250 annually. 
Prior to this time no records were kept of salaries. During the period 
from 1856-60 he also conducted a seminary or academy near St. Samuel's 
Church, where he resided. From i860 to 1862 Rev. James Mahon and 
Elijah Wilson (the blind parson) were the stated supplies. 

From May, 1862, to 1869, Rev. William P. Cochran, a boy born in Mil- 
lerstown, served the church. The following is from a statement by him, 
and with a succeeding paragraph is reproduced as showing the tendency 
of the period: "In '61 I spent from January to May in that region and 
preached several times in Millerstown. Was with Dr. Thompson six weeks 
in a very powerful revival in Lower Tuscarora and Perrysville (a part of 
Liverpool) — some 300 inquirers, 150 uniting with the church." 

"In May, '61, the war having commenced with its direful effects, I re- 
turned to Missouri, where I remained until May, '62. The church in Mil- 
lerstown gave me a call in '61 and waited until I could honorably leave 
Missouri. I remained at Millerstown until May, '69. I found the church 
cold and dead, with fueds and heartburnings among the members. There 
was a kind of Sabbath school; no prayer meeting. In the winter of 
1863-64 God poured out his spirit on the congregation. The occasion of 
my leaving was opposition that sprang up out of old fueds at the election 
of elders. I came back to Missouri in '69, where most of my ministerial 
life had been spent." 

There is no mention of the state of religion in the church until the re- 
port of Presbytery in 1864, which says: "The congregations are good on 
the Sabbath and solemn, yet we have to lament the low state of piety in 
the church, the want of zeal and Godly living, while without, all around 
us, wickedness is on the increase, especially intemperance." During 1865 
a ten days' meeting awakened new life, and the report is the reverse of the 
preceding year. During 1870 Rev. J. H. Downing was the stated supply, 
and Rev. J. J. Hamilton, until July, 1871, when he was installed. Millers- 
town paid him $600 for one-half of his time, the other half to be divided 
between Buffalo and Upper (Blain) churches. He resided near Ickesburg, 
and remained until 1875. 

During 1875 the entire church was remodeled, a new Sunday school 
room added, the entrance changed to the east side of the building, etc., at a 
cost of $2,300. Dr. Murray had donated a lot of ground for the erection 
of a new church, but it was returned and the church remodeled. Rev. W. 
H. Logan served from 1876 to 1886. During 1877 the church was incor- 
porated and the parsonage purchased. In 1887 Rev. S. C. Alexander was 
elected pastor and remained until his death, September 21, 1901. During 
his pastorate the church was again remodeled at a cost of $1,750, the en- 
trance being placed upon the corner, with an additional entrance upon 
High Street; the interior arranged so that the lecture room could be used 
in connection with the auditorium, and memorial windows installed. The 
window on the east being known as "the governor's window," being a gift 
from General James A. Beaver, later governor of Pennsylvania, in memory 
of his mother. It bears the inscription, "In loving memory of Ann Eliza 
McDonald, daughter of Abram Addams, placed here by her children." 
Since then the ministers have been : 

1 90 ,_ 08— Rev. H. G. Clair. 1909-17— Rev. Will H. Dyer. 

1908-09— Rev. Henry Cunningham. 1917 —Rev. C. A. Waltman. 

Millerstown Methodist Church. The members of the Methodist Epis- 
copal faith began holding services here as early as 1832, and from then 
until 1840 worshiped in the schoolhouse which stood in the cemetery. The 
ministers who served them during this period were Rev. Wesley Howe, 
Rev. David Thomas and Rev. Hodges. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1021 

In 1840 the church was built and the organization became a part of the 
Newport charge and so remained until 1900. 

The successive pastors were the same as those of the Duncannon church 
until 1857, and from then until 1900 the same as Newport. (See Duncan- 
non and Newport chapters.) Since 1900 the pastors have been: 
I900 -oi— Rev. Tohn C. Bieri. 1912-14— Rev. Ray H Pierson. 

1901-oa- Rev. John 1. Hunt. 1914-18— Rev. Chas. F Himes 

4— Rev. E. L. Williams. i 9 i8-iq-Rcv. Victor 1. Nearhoof. 

,,„,, 07— Rev. C. V. Hartzell. 1919-22-Rev. Chas. F. Berkheimer. 

1907-12 — Rev. John E. Beard. 

The charge comprises Millerstown, Donnally's Mills and Marsh Run. 
Until 1020 Ickesburg was also included, but the congregation haying be- 
come very small, the work there was discontinued and the building sold 
to the school board in 1921. 

New P.rii-- \i.o Borough. 

Before Perry County was formed a man named Jacob Baughman con- 
ceived the idea of laying out the site of a town where New Buffalo Bor- 
ough is located, as the following advertisement will show: 

■ I Xrw Town.— The subscriber has laid out a town called New Buffalo, 
consisting of ekhtv-one lots, at Baughman's Ferry, in Buffalo Township 
Cumberland County, at the junction of the roads leading from Sunbury and 
Lewistown The site is elegant, being situate in a healthy part of the county, 
and in a neighborhood that, for the rapidity of its improvement for some years 
past is not excelled by many in Pennsylvania. And as the boat and raft 
channel lies near the west side of the river, this place affords the only safe 
and convenient landing for many miles above Fahter's Falls.* It lies about 
fourteen miles above Harrisburg, and affords many inducements for the in- 
dustrious mechanic and enterprising dealer. On the south margin of the 
town is a grist and sawmill. A lot. No. 61. the largest in the town, is reserved 
by the proprietor for the purpose of a place of worship and a schoolhouse for 
the use of the town." 

In fact, the town was plotted and first called Baughmanstown, but it was 
changed to New Buffalo, being located in Buffalo Township at that time, 
before the public advertising was done. Adam Liddick, of Watts Town- 
ship, helped to plot and stake off the lots, for which service he was paid 
with one lot. Mrs. McAlister, a daughter of Baughman's, assisted in 
carrying the chain in surveying the lots. Three of the first lots sold were 
to Jacob Baughman, Tr., Jacob B. Maus and Susan Steele. The first plan 
was to sell them by lottery at sixty dollars each, twenty dollars to be paid 
cash and the balance in five years. 

Fronting the lots, between the river and Front Street, a space of ground 
was set apart to be used in common by the inhabitants for the purpose of 
piling lumber, plaster, merchandise, etc., upon. Jacob Baughman died, and 
in the Perry Forester, published at the new county seat at Landisburg, ap- 
peared the following advertisement : 

"Agreeably to the last will and testament of Jacob Baughman (deceased), 
late of Buffaloc Township.- Perry County, will be sold by way of public vendue, 
at the house of Jacob Baughman, innkeeper in the town of New Buflaloe, on 
'Monday the 2d of June next (1823), upwards of sixty lots of ground in 
s.,i,l town This town is laid out on the bank of the Susquehanna River, about 
five miles above Clark's Ferrv, and eight miles below Liverpool on a beautiful 
and pleasant situation. There are already a number of buildings erected in 
the town; from the recent period of its commencement and its rapid growth, 
it is likely to become a town of considerable note in the county in a very 
short time." 

*R7f7rrnces fail to aeree (in the local inn of Fahter's Falls, as others name it as near 
the Patterson place in Howe township, later Juniata Falls. 



1022 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The proprietor had reserved for himself and his heirs all the rights to 
the ferry and fisheries opposite to the town. At his death, by agreement 
of the heirs, his son Henry received seventy-one acres of land, four lots 
in the village, and all the ferry and fishery rights; his son Jacob got fif- 
teen acres of land, the grist and sawmill and distillery, and his son John, 
ninety- four acres of land and a tract of land in Dauphin County. He had 
a fourth son, Christian, but it is not known what his patrimony was. It 
will be seen by the above that the father of New Buffalo was well-to-do 
in material things. 

New Buffalo was incorporated as a borough, April 8, 1848. Urban's 
tannery was built in 1835 and was run for a number of years. New Buffalo 
had two boatyards where canal boats were built and repaired and was a 
town of considerable importance in the days of canal transportation, the 
Susquehanna Division of the Pennsylvania Canal passing through the town. 
G. W. and Robert Lesher opened the lower yard in 1854 and operated it 
for a period of six years. It was later owned by the Garnet heirs. It 
employed from ten to fifteen hands. 

It will be noted that the will of Jacob Baughman disposed of a distil- 
lery, a gristmill and a sawmill. The dates of their erection is not known, 
but was prior to 1822. In 1861-62 the gristmill was rebuilt by Hilbish & 
Bowman. It had both water and steam power thereafter, and continued 
in business for several decades. Baughman' s distillery was on the same 
street, opposite the gristmill. 

The first schoolhouse was built about 1834, and located on Locust Street, 
on an open lot adjoining the church lot. It was in use until 1874, when 
the two-story brick building was erected on the same lot. The borough 
had two schools until after the closing of the Pennsylvania Canal. Prior 
to the erection of the first schoolhouse the pupils attended the school at 
Hill Church, in Watts Township. 

The Baughman ferry landing was at Peach Alley, near the foot of the 
canal bridge. The landing in Dauphin County was at the old stone tavern. 
The fording was located near the ferry, and the fishery was opposite the 
boatyard. The first tavern was built by Jacob Baughman at the corner of 
Front Street and Blackberry Alley. He later built a hotel on an adjoining 
lot and kept a public house there until his death. John Shaffer kept an- 
other hotel in the place at the same time that Baughman was in the busi- 
ness. In the old rafting days New Buffalo was a favorite place to "tie up" 
by the raftmen, and the hotels did a prosperous business. 

The first store was kept by a Mr. Kepner. Before it was started the 
people generally did their buying in Halifax and Harrisburg, going in 
canoes. Other tradesmen in New Buffalo were Mrs. John Shaffer, Mrs. 
J. L. Arnold, William Hemperly and Jackson Bros., the members of the 
latter firm being William and J. B. Jackson, the latter a county commis- 
sioner in more recent years. This store was first established by William 
Jackson, who was born in 1815, and married in 1837. There is record that 
he started this store "soon after being married," which would date it to 
probably 1840. It was conducted by him and his sons until his death, in 
1872, when it became the property of William and J. B. Jackson, trading 
as Jackson Bros. They conducted it until the death of William H. Jack- 
son, in iqio, when the surviving partner became the owner and conducted 
it until his death, in iqio. Since then it is in the possession of Mr. Jack- 
son's daughter, Mrs. Edith Jackson Ober. W. E. Meek runs a general 
store, and W. J. Kines sells gas, these three business places being the only 
ones in the borough noted by the mercantile appraiser in his report. 

New Buffalo is one of three places in Perry County of which there is 
record of the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of American Inde- 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1023 

pendence, in 1826, the others being Landisburg and Bloomfield. The public 
meeting at New Buffalo was called to order by John H. Thompson, who 
was also made chairman. David T. Steel was the secretary. "The Buf- 
faloe Volunteers," under command of Captain Christian Hays, paraded and 
firearms were discharged. Addresses and singing were a part of the pro- 
gram. The ever present toast of the period was brought into use. Among 
the volunteer toasts was one by Samuel Steele : "Our country girls who 
disdain to be imprisoned in corsets ; may every 'Buffaloe Volunteer' have 
one in his nest." 

At an early period New Buffalo was already the location for physicians. 
Dr. Patrick McMorris located there about 1840, and his brother, William 
Me Morris, a little later. Both were natives of Ireland. The latter died 
before his brother, both practicing until their deaths. Dr. T. G. Mc- 
Morris, who later located at Liverpool, practiced here in 1845. Physicians 
of a later date were Dr. Marshall, Dr. H. O. Orris and Dr. James B. Eby, 
who later located at Newport; Dr. Maxwell, Dr. B. F. Klugh and Dr. F. 
C. Steele, the latter locating in 1879, and was in practice until his death, 
in 1896. 

New Buffalo Methodist Church. The New Buffalo Methodist Church is 
the only one in the town, a condition towards which modern efforts trend. 
Most towns have more churches than they can support in a proper manner, 
and one good, strong church far excels two weak, struggling ones. Miss 
Frances A. Urban gave the ground for its location and it was erected in 
1841-42. Prior to that time services had been held in a private house rented 
for the purpose, until the building of the schoolhouse in 1834, when they 
were transferred there. This first church stood near the school building. 
It was purchased by the Brethren and moved to a plot near Newport and 
erected again. 

The first pastor was Rev. Allan Brittain, and his successor was Rev. 
Daniel Hartman. At the time of its erection there were few members, 
but forty were added .at one time shortly thereafter as the result of a 
revival meeting. The church was rebuilt in 1875-76. The first Sunday 
school superintendent was Owen Bruner, and the first teachers were Sarah 
F. Thompson, Mary S. Urban and Benjamin McKelvy. 

In 1900, during the pastorate of Rev. Edwin L. Eslinger, it was replaced 
by the present fine edifice, known as the Elizabeth Livingston Rhoads Me- 
morial Church, she having contributed about one-sixth of the cost of the 
church and its furnishings. Its cost was $3,435.66. Prior to its dedication 
Rev. Eslinger had been succeeded by Rev. F. C. Byers. The building 
committee was composed of E. B. Miller, president; J. B. Jackson, secre- 
tary and treasurer ; G. W. Rider, I. B. Free, Thos. J. Free, Win. H. Jack- 
son, S. M. Weltmer and John W. Noblet. The church occupies a corner 
on the northern side of the public square. It belongs to the Liverpool 
charge, and its pastors have always been the same as those of the Meth- 
odist Church there. See Liverpool chapter. 

Newport Borough. 

Newport is the leading business town in Perry County, owing to its 
central location and shipping facilities. It has a greater number of busi- 
ness establishments than any other town and is surrounded by a larger 
agricultural district. Its streets meet at right angles and its dimensions 
are uniform. Few towns in the state are more prettily laid out than 
Newport. 

It is located on the west bank of the Juniata River, within the limits of 
Oliver Township. It was incorporated as a borough in 1840. On Febru- 




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BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1025 

ary 8, 1775. *David English patented a tract of land where Newport is 
now situated. He had warranted it and another tract in December 30 
and 31, 1762, one called "Antiqua," and the other, "Grenada." He sold 
199 acres to his son, David English, on June [2, 1783, who on April 2, 1789, 
sold the same tract to Paul Reider. Through his will, dated August 6, 
1804, the property descended to his sons, Paul, John, Daniel, Abraham and 
Ephraim. Of these sons, Paul, John and Daniel, after coming into pos- 
session, plotted the property into fifty-four lots, with the necessary street 
and alleys. The first plan of the town extended only from Mulberry 
Street to Oliver, at the tannery, and from the river to Second Street. They 
kept the upper part and laid out the town along the Juniata River and 
Little Buffalo Creek. The town was first known as Reider's Ferry, and 
then as Reidersville, as houses began building. I 'aid Reider was the 
grandfather of the late O. H. P. Reider. 

The Keide, s established a ferry, which was in use until 1850, when its 
further use was ended by the diversion of traffic to the bridge. The 
Reider's Ferry Bridge Company was incorporated April 4, 1838, with six 
hundred shares of stock at $20 per share. The company was composed 
of the following: Thomas O. Bryan, James Black, Abraham B. Demaree, 
John Leas, Jonas Ickes, Jacob Leas, Jacob Loy, Samuel Sipe, Robert 
Mitchell, John K. Smith, John W. Bosserman, William Wallace, James 
Jackman, Charles Wright, Sr., George Kepner and Abraham Reider. The 
bridge was not built, however, until 1845, when the act of April 7th incor- 
porated the Newport Bridge Company, with the following directors : 
Samuel Leiby, John Fickes, Robert Mitchell, John W. Bosserman, Benj. 
Mclntire, Wm. Cumbler, Abram B. Demaree, Kirk Haines, John Wiley, 
John Patterson, James Jackman, Wm. Wallace, John Kibler, and Benjamin 
Musser. The shares were $20. These men were advance agents of modern 
progress and their names should go down to posterity, for that bridge and 
its successors have been of incalculable value to several generations of 
citizens whose homes were and are "between the rivers." As a boy, born 
and bred in that section, and later a resident of Newport, whose people 
of four generations have used it, the writer knows from a practical stand- 
point its value to that territory and to Newport in a business way. It 
was not, however, built until 1851. Garret Kirkpatrick was the contractor 
It was 700 feet long. All the river bridges in those days were toll bridges, 
and this one remained so until 1884, when it was purchased by the county 
and made free, at a cost of $13,583, a county jury deciding the amount, as 
viewers and owners failed to agree on a price. Perry County was one 
of the first counties in the state to free its bridges. 

This ferry at Reider's was crossed by dispatch bearers on horseback 
from Washington, D. C, to Niagara, in the War of 1812-15. The exact 
date of plotting the town is unknown, but it is supposed to have been 
about 1804. Within what is now the borough's limits the first house to be 
erected was on Little Buffalo Creek, the second at Market and Water 
Streets, where Jesse Butz, Sr., was long in business, and the third where 
Hombach's marble works are located. The latter house was built by a 
Mr. Meredith, of Milford, and was later owned by James Smith. The 
fourth and a blacksmith shop were built by Fred Orwin. 

*David English first patented a tract of land, on May 13, 1774. from Thomas Penn 
and John Penn, "True and absolute Proprietaries and Governors in chief of the 
Province of Pennsylvania, and the counties of Newcastle, Kent and Sussex, upon the 
De'aware." The document is made out to "David English, of Rye township." is signed 
by John Penn, "February 8. 1775. in the 15th year of the reign of King George, III," 
and calls for io2 I 4 acres, which he named "Antiqua." This is not the Newport tract, 
but the one immediately north of it. The Newport tract was named "Grenada." The 
plot of these lands is yet in the possession of Mrs. Ephriam Rider and daughter, of 
Newport. 
65 



1026 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The old hotel, at the corner of Market and Water Streets, later owned 
by J. and B. H. Fickes, was built by Ephraim Bosserman in 1825. It was 
still standing in 1898. In 1825 there was also a house above the Jones 
warehouse, on Front Street. A man named Collar built the first hotel on 
the site of the Central Hotel (Mingle House), in 1827. In 1829 the land 
west of Second Street was all in wheat. The first house built above the 
line of the Pennsylvania Railroad through the center of the town, was 
where the Joshua S. Leiby house, more recently owned by H. H. Hain, 
and now by Hiram M. Keen, is located. The next was built where the old 
photograph gallery was later located. Samuel and H. Gantt built and 
owned them. The first house on Second Street was built by Dr. Dolan, 
where Mrs. John Fleisher resides. In 1829 Daniel Reider erected the first 
house built of sawed logs. It was located where William H. Hopple was 
so long in the undertaking business, now L. M. Kelt's. There was only 
one store in Newport then, and that was kept by E. Bosserman and Samuel 
Beaver. Samuel Leiby went into business in Newport in 1826,' then but 
twenty-two years of age. 

With the opening of the canal, in 1829, the name of the cluster o*f houses 
was changed to Newport — for it was a new port and a busy one, as it was 
the gateway to Sherman's and Buffalo Creek Valleys. 

In 1835 the first hotel was opened, by John Sipe, in a rented building 
on the old Jesse Butz corner. This was the first hotel along the Juniata 
from Duncan's Island to Lewistown where whiskey was sold. Prior to 
that it was necessary to go to Milford for "bitters." The second house 
on Second Street was the warehouse later operated by Kough's as a grain 
and commission house. In it was stored the first lot of flour ever placed 
on sale in Newport. It was shipped from the mouth of Little Buffalo 
Creek in an "ark," as the river boats were then known, to Port Deposit. 
Besides the flour the cargo consisted of pig iron from Juniata furnace, 
then operated by Mr. Everhart. 

Samuel Sipe bought the plot where the Central Hotel stands and erected 
another building for a hotel. The opening of this house closed the other 
hotel (John Sipe's) and its proprietor went to Milford and took charge 
of that tavern. On March 6, 1856, this hotel in Newport was partly 
burned down. This building was later replaced by Jesse L. Gantt, father 
of the late W. H. Gantt, but on June 25, 1874, it was destroyed by fire. 
This fire was the most disastrous one that has ever taken place in New- 
port. It started in a small building standing next to the Jones warehouse, 
and consumed everything south to Market and along Market and up Sec- 
ond Street the entire length of the eastern side of the Square. Mr. Gantt 
then erected the present building. It was once known as the Gantt House, 
then the Central Hotel, and now the Mingle House. Mr. Gantt was the 
proprietor for thirty years. Among the earlier hotels were the "Farmers 
& Drovers" and the "Ninth Ward House." 

The first tannery to be built in Newport was located upon the southeast 
corner of Water and Walnut Streets. It was built by Robt. B. Jordan in 
1837. He later sold it to John Wiley, from whose estate Charles A. Ripp- 
man purchased it in 1865. Mr. Rippman conducted it until 1883, when it 
lay idle until it was destroyed by the great flood of 1889. Mr. Rippman 
is still in possession of part of the ground upon which it stood. 

The first brick house was built by Philip Reamer, but was later torn 
down by Henry Myers to erect his new brick house, now the property of 
Samuel D. Myers, on South Second Street. The lands above Fourth 
Street were not settled until long afterwards. 

The building of the Pennsylvania Railroad, in 1849, gave the town an- 
other impetus and was the occasion of much contention. The officials 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1027 

wanted to lay the tracks on Second Street, but were prevailed upon to 
locate the line on Third Street. The right of way was granted in 1847. 
On September 1, 1849, the first regular train passed through, the line 
having been opened to Lewistown on that date. With the building of the 
canal and railroad Newport became a great grain shipping centre, and as 
many as four large grain warehouses did a lucrative business at the same 
time, until the building of the narrow gauge railroad, which diverted much 
of that trade. It was no unusual thing to see on the streets of Newport 
from ten to thirty four and six-horse teams bringing grain or bark to 
market. They came from as far as the head of Sherman's Valley above 
New Germantown, a distance of thirty miles. These warehouses were 
operated by different men at different times, but will largely be remembered 
by the older folks as Jones Brothers (Alvin and D. Meredith), Fickes 
Brothers (Benjamin and Gibson), William Kough & Sons, and W. F. H. 
Garber. In the chapter entitled "River and Canal Transportation," there 
is an account of a shipment of flour and pig iron from Newport in the 
old-time ark, the forerunner of the canal boat. That Jones' warehouse 
was built before the canal days must be a fact, if the statement is correct 
that the Reformed Church congregation was organized in the building in 
1820. The business of the Jones firm, however, dates only to 1866, when 
John Jones — a grandson of the founder of Milford — started in business, 
later taking in his sons, D. Meredith and Alvin. This business was in the 
names of the Jones family until the present century's first decade had 
passed. 

The Bloomfield Advocate and Press of April 13, 1859, has a report of 
the work of the Perry County Medical Society, signed by Drs. Isaac Le- 
fevre, James Galbraith and J. E. Singer. Among other things it tells of 
the unhealthy condition of Newport prior to the building of the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad, in 1849, especially mentioning "remittent fevers epidem- 
ically during the autumnal months." The draining of a marsh of six or 
eight acres at the west end of town (west of Walnut Street) by the rail- 
road authorities is given credit for the healthier condition. 

Newport was incorporated in 1840, the act having been signed by Gov- 
ernor David Rittenhouse Porter, on March 10th. The first borough elec- 
tion was held on March 20, 1840. Samuel Leiby, Sr., was the first burgess. 
The school directors elected were Henry Switzer, George Zinn, John W. 
Bosserman, Samuel Leiby, Samuel Sipe and A. W. Monroe. The first 
school tax of the new borough totaled only $144.68. William Kinsloe 
taught the school four months at $25 per month. It had an early expe- 
rience at expansion, but not of a permanent nature. An act of the Penn- 
sylvania Legislature, dated April 9, 1856, extended the limits "to include 
mills and residence of John Kibler, the farms of Catharine Loy, Samuel 
Leiby, Benjamin Himes, Isaiah Corl, and so much of the lands of John 
Fickes as lies south of the Ickesburg road." In 1859 another act repealed 
this one and threw these lands back into Oliver Township. The town was 
extended northward in 1897. 

Newport had a brass band as early as 1850, John S. Demaree b.eing tin- 
leader. It was known as the Newport Sax Horn Band. 

There was an early school building in Newport known as "the Old 
Mansion," where the children of Reidersville parents were taught to 
"read, write and cypher," by George Monroe. Then for a few years they 
attended the various places in Oliver Township, of which it was a part, 
until 1826, when the school was removed from the Henry S. Smith place 
to a small, one-story house belonging to John Reider, east of the street 
leading to Little Buffalo and near the creek. This is the successor to the 
school spoken of in the history of Oliver Township, which had originated 



1028 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

in the old Josiah Fickes residence. John Ruth and John Ferguson taught 
here from 1825 to 1828. This house was swept away by the waters of the 
creek. Then there was a school at Clouser's, near the present home of 
Capt. James Hahn. This building was later destroyed by fire. A. W. 
Monroe, John Ferguson and Jacob Gantt taught there. 

In 1832-33 Dr. Dolan kept a school in a building known as "the Bar- 
racks," located between the Central Hotel and the Pennsylvania Canal, 
with two rooms, one for the boys and one for the girls. The old brick 
schoolhouse on Second Street was built by contributions in 1834, and in 
it the next season was held the last pay or select school, as the free school 
law was passed the following year. John Ferguson taught that year. The 
lower schoolhouse was built in 1841, by Joseph Tate, contractor, for $190. 
In it Arnold Lobaugh was a teacher. Other early teachers were Stewart 
Low, C. P. Barnett, Isaac Mutch, Margaret A. Monroe, R. Wolf, Jesse 
L. Butz, John Adair, H. G. Milan, I. H. Zinn, J. D. C. Johns, A. M. Gantt, 
J. E. Bonsall, Isaac T. Woods and Miss H. Cooper. 

In the fall of 1842, the borough's second year, the school term was made 
three months, and two schools opened, the teachers being C. P. Bonsall 
and Joseph Meetch. The salaries were $18 and $16, respectively. Later 
there was only one school again. 

The old school building which was superseded by the present one, not in- 
cluding the wings on either side, was built in 1865, George and John Fleisher 
being the contractors. Its cost was $6,000. George W. Bretz was the first 
teacher in this building. In 1867 the number of schools had increased to 
three, and were graded for the first time. During the summer of 1867 
Silas Wright, later county superintendent of schools, opened his Normal 
School in this building. The one wing or addition to this old building 
was built in 1874, and the other, in 1888. This entire building was demol- 
ished in May, 191 1, and during the summer, the present building — the finest 
one in Perry County — was erected. 

The first graduating class of the Newport High School was graduated 
May 10, 1887, under Prof. Silas Wright. Its members were: Jene F. 
Boyer, Jessie E. Charles, Wm. C. Hombach, Willis G. Mitchell, Turie S. 
Ickes, Curtis H. Gantt and Edwin H. Constantine. 

The business men of the last half century would include Jesse Butz, 
who first opened a store on May 2.2, 1861 ; James B. Leiby, who first 
opened in the spring of the same year, and with the exception of one year 
was continuously in business until his death ; Philip Bosserman, one of the 
pioneer merchants of the period; J. W. Frank, T. H. Milligan, Marx 
Dukes, David H. Spotts, William Henry Bosserman, Joshua Leiby, B. M. 
Eby, Rudolph Wingert, O. H. P. Rider, John Fleisher, W. H. Hopple, 
A. V. Hombach, A. B. Demaree, A. Fred Keim, R. H. Wingert, William 
Wertz, W. H. Gantt, B. F. Demaree (after 1882), J. C. Barrett and others. 
John C. Hetrick was a contractor for a thirty-year period following 1866. 
He erected the Episcopal and Reformed churches in Newport, the Meth- 
odist church in Duncannon, and the Juniata County courthouse. Miss M. 
L. Bell kept a millinery store there as early as the fall of 1854. Dr. S. H. 
Whitmer long practiced dentistry, prior to his death, in 1002. 

Up until about 1832 the territory around Newport depended upon Mil- 
ford and Millerstown for medical attention. About that time Dr. John 
H. Doling located here and remained several years. He then removed to 
Milford, where he practiced the balance of his life, except for a short 
period gold hunting in California. Dr. Bell succeeded him and practiced 
there two years. In 1837 Dr. S. R. Fahnestock was located here. Joshua 
E. Singer was born in Sunbury, in 1809, and graduated from Jefferson 
Medical College, locating in Newport in 1838, where he practiced until 



BOROUGHS. T( )\\ NSHIPS AND VILLAGF.S 1029 

within a few years of his death, which occurred in 1881. Dr. Singer was 
a remarkable man, a good physician, interested in business and in church 
work. He was the moving spirit in the organization of the People's Bank, 
the forerunner of the present First National Bank, and was the organizer 
of the first Bible class in the county — it being formed in the Newport 
Reformed Church. Dr. Robert S. Brown settled in Newport before 1850, 
and was in practice here until i860, when he died, part of the time being 
associated with Dr. Singer. Dr. William R. Howe, a native of the county, 
commenced practice here in 1857 as an associate of Dr. Brown, a brother- 
in-law. After a few years he removed to Blain, where he died in [860. 
Both were graduates of Jefferson Medical College. Dr. R. B. Hoover 
located here in 1856, and Dr. W. O. Baldwin in [859, neither remaining 
long. In i860 Dr. Joseph Eby located here, coming from Mil ford, where 
he had practiced three years. He was born near New Germantown, in 
1830, and graduated at the Eclectic Medical College in Philadelphia. He 
was married to a daughter of Dr. Jonas [ekes, of New Bloomfield. He 
died in 1872. Mrs. Gibson Fickes, still residing in Newport, is a daughter. 
Dr. William Matter located there in i860, and practiced for a few years. 
Dr. George W. Mitchell, after graduation in i860, practiced here a year 
or two, and then removed to Andersonburg. From about 1862 to 1868 Dr. 
I. \1. Miller practiced here, then going West. Several years prior to 1866 
Dr. Williams practiced at Newport. 

Dr. James B. Eby was born in New Bloomfield, in 1840. He graduated 
in 1866 from the University of Pennsylvania, and located at Newport, being 
associated with Dr. Joseph Eby. After a year he removed to New Buf- 
falo, where he remained until 1870. He then returned to Newport, where 
he practiced until his death, which occurred in 191 1. He was a skillful 
practitioner and had large business interests. He was the father of Lieut. 
Colonel Charles McHenry Eby, U. S. A. Dr. Fishburn located at New- 
port about 1866, where he practiced for several years, then removing to 
the West. Dr. H. O. Orris, still in active practice in Newport, located 
there in 1867, the year of his graduation. He has had a large practice in 
the county and is a successful physician. In 1867 Dr. Harry Stites, a son 
of Dr. Samuel Stites, of Millerstown, located there, where he practiced 
for several years, leaving to become a surgeon in the United States Army. 
After practicing for a short time in Millerstown Dr. George W. Campbell, 
a graduate of Jefferson Medical College, located here in 1879, where he 
continued in practice until his death in 1912. During the last few years 
of his practice he had associated with him Dr. Lenus Carl, mentioned be- 
low. Dr. Campbell had a large practice and was successful. Dr. C. E. 
DeLancy's location in Newport dates to 1883. Dr. W. H. Hoopes came 
later and practiced until about 1917, when he was found dead in his sleigh 
while making a professional call. In 1908, as stated above, Dr. Carl lo- 
cated here. The present physicians are Dr. Orris, Dr. DeLancey and Dr. 
Carl. 

One of the industries of a past generation which is yet remembered by 
many is the W. R. S. Cook planing mill, which was located in west New- 
port, Oliver Township. In June, 1875, this industry was started on lands 
purchased from Dr. J. E. Singer, with a twenty-five horse-power, portable 
sawmill, with a capacity of ten thousand feet of lumber a day. It was 
located along the Pennsylvania Canal, and soon thereafter a sawmill and 
a shingle mill were added. In 1881 the two-story mill was built, and in 
1885 the planing mill was added. These mills jointly had a capacity of 
over sixty thousand feet of finished product per day. The capacity of the 
mill was being continually increased. 



1030 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

The wagon manufacturing plant of the late J. C. Frank had its begin- 
ning when his father, Philip Frank, mastered wagonmaking and opened a 
shop at Girty's Notch, in Buffalo Township, in 1843. In that shop J. C. 
Frank learned the business, later opening a shop near Newport, and in 
1876 erecting a manufacturing plant in Newport, which, for the next quar- 
ter of a century, was one of the town's busy industrial plants. Snyder & 
Kahler later erected a factory at Fourth and Mulberry Streets, and also 
did a large business for a like period. 

The Newport Planing Mill. In 1863, eighteen or twenty citizens of New- 
port organized the Newport Manufacturing & Building Company, which 
built a planing mill and operated it until 1865. At that time the remaining 
stockholders sold out to George Fleisher, John W. Smith, Henry C. Smith, 
Wm. Henry Bosserman and B. F. Miller. Gradually George Fleisher pur- 
chased the other interests until 1885, when sole ownership rested with him. 
He operated it successfully until 1900, when he in turn sold it to his son, 
J. Emory Fleisher, who operated it until 1920, when it was sold to a newly 
organized corporation known as the Newport Planing Mill Company, of 
which C. Z. Moore is president, and E. B. Callow, secretary. The product 
of this mill during the long ownership of the Fleishers — father and son — 
and since, has been high-grade mill work for building purposes. From 
twenty-five to forty men have found employment there for many years. 
An everlasting credit to this plant is the fact that Daniel W. Gantt served 
in the capacity of foreman from 1865 to the present (19-20). As an expe- 
rienced mill man Mr. Gantt's equals are seldom found. George Fleisher 
attained his boyish ambition, which was to own a planing mill. He 
erected many homes in Newport during his lifetime and helped make the 
town what it is. 

The Oak Extract Company. Through the efforts of Mr. H. H. Bechtel, 
a practical tanner and a resident of Newport for many years, who after- 
wards located at Cincinnati, Ohio, and became vice-president of the Ameri- 
can Oak Leather Company of that city, 'the Oak Extract Company was in- 
corporated in Pennsylvania for the manufacture of tannic acid, and the 
plant located at Newport, of which Mr. Bechtel was also first vice-presi- 
dent. This company was chartered March 17, 1899, the business being 
really an auxiliary one of the American Oak Leather Co. of Cincinnati, 
Inning plants at New Decatur, Alabama; Harriman, Tennessee; Louis- 
ville, Ky., and at Cincinnati. Also having leather stores at Boston, Chicago 
and St. Louis. 

Fifteen acres of the Gibson Fickes farm, lying immediately north of 
Newport Borough, were leased and subsequently purchased by the Oak 
Extract Company, upon which the plant was to be erected and the con- 
struction of the plant started March, 1899, and manufacture began March 
10, 1900, and the plant has been in continuous operation up to the present 
time with the exception of occasional shutdowns for repairs, etc., such as 
all manufacturing plants are subjected to. Its present acreage also com- 
prises the old Clemsen property adjoining, containing four and one-half 
acres. Ten larger and smaller buildings comprise the plant. Fifty to 
eighty men have been continually employed. Until January 1, 1921, its 
general disbursements have been over $3,500,000, of which amount $2,- 
157,000 was paid for wood alone. 

The several plants and leather stores enumerated are largely the result 
of the industry and financial capacity of Mr. James E. Mooney, of Cin- 
cinnati, who was president of the American Oak Leather Co. of that 
place until his death, which occurred in his eighty-fourth year, up to 
which time he had been active in business. It might be considered in this 
connection that Mr. Mooney was the father of the extract business in this 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1031 

country, having established the first one in Alabama, and the second one 
at Newport. In 1900, when the Oak Extract Company began operations, 
it was paying $2.25 per cord of 128 cubic feet for chestnut wood, while in 
1920 the price had risen to $7.50 per cord. The history of the Newport 
tannery appears in Chapter XV. 

The Newport Hosiery Mill is located on South Fifth Street, and is a 
result of the Board of Trade, organized in Newport in 1902. Through 
this organization the building was erected and turned over to H. A. Rom- 
berger, of Philadelphia, for a three-year period, rent free. Prior to the 
expiration of the three-year lease Mr. Romberger agreed to purchase the 
interests of all the stockholders at eighty per cent of the value of their 
holdings, and thus secured entire control of the plant. It first started 
operation July 21, 1902, with but fifteen employees. Soon after its begin- 
ning Aaron D. Hoke became the manager and part owner of the business, 
and from then on its strides were rapid. In fact, the writer has always 
considered this business a monument to the business ability of Mr. Hoke, 
whose death occurred November 19, 1915, while in the prime of his use- 
fulness in the community. Mr. Hoke had charge of the Middletown mill 
of Mr. Romberger before coming to Newport. After the death of Mr. 
Hoke, E. M. Buffington was made manager, and still holds the position. 
Upon the death of Mr. Hoke, his interest in the mill was sold to Mr. 
Romberger. The mill is a substantial brick structure, 100x140 feet in 
size. It has been enlarged twice since 1902 and has its own electric plant, 
the power being furnished by a ninety-horse-power steam engine. The 
greatest period of expansion was* in 1914 and 1915, when the pay roll 
mounted to 115 persons, mostly female help. The production was then 
nine hundred dozen per day. During the past three years the production 
has been about three hundred dozen per day, and the pay roll numbers 
about fifty. This mill passed into the ownership of Wilbur D. Gring, No- 
vember 1, 1920. 

The Moorehead Knitting Company, Incorporated, of Harrisburg, opened 
a branch mill in Newport on February 27, 1920, citizens of the town invest- 
ing in stock of the company to induce its location. The resident manager 
is W'ilmer B. Hoke, a son of the late A. D. Hoke, who was superin- 
tendent and part owner of the Romberger mill on Fifth Street. It is 
located in the Smith garage building, on Penn Avenue, near the Pennsyl- 
vania Railroad Station. It started with seven employees, and at the present 
time (1921) employs thirty, mostly females. The Moorehead people con- 
duct an immense plant at Harrisburg and several other branches, and no 
doubt their Newport plant will, in time, become one of Newport's valued 
industries. 

The Newport Shirt Factory was started by H. W. Shumaker, in 1904. 
In 1906 a one-story factory was built, to which another was added in 1914. 
It was later owned by J. K. Saucerman, and now, by the Phillips-Jones 
Corporation of New York. 

Newport has a live Chamber of Commerce. It was organized on March 
15, 1920, as a result of a meeting held on March 1st, which was attended by 
over two hundred business men and citizens. On the date of its organiza- 
tion 135 members had enrolled. The membership fee is $10 annually. It is 
affiliated with both the State Chamber of Commerce and that of the United 
States. Its first officers were Dr. L. A. Carl, president; A. L. Gelnett, 
vice-president ; George R. Fry, secretary ; G. P. Bistline, treasurer. 

Of the Newport organizations the Civic Club is most noted for accom- 
plishments of a public nature. It was organized April 20, 1906, with these 
officers : Mrs. J. E. Fleisher, president ; Mrs. Alvin Jones, vice-president ; 
Mrs. Delphine Pennell, secretary, and Mrs. T. H. Butturf, treasurer. It 
began with fourteen members, and at the end of a year had thirty-six. 



[O32 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

During 1906-07 it initiated its program by having the old graveyard cleaned 
and fenced. It also had waste paper receptacles placed throughout the 
town, donated $10 to Mt. Alto Sanatorium, and contributed $200 to the 
fund for the improvement of the river road opposite town, for which 
Newport business men had obligated themselves heavily. During 1908 
organs were purchased for the primary and intermediate schoolrooms. In 
1909 the club obligated themselves to pay annually for four years to the 
McNight scholarship at State College. During 1909-11 various projects 
were helped, principally adding to a town foundation fund, started in 1909. 
In [911 a contribution was made to the Titanic Memorial Fund. In 1912 
a fountain was placed in the public square, at a cost of $525.63. In 1914, 
through permission of the school board, a room was obtained in the public 
school building and fitted with shelves and other library equipment, and a 
public library opened. On November 23, 191 5, it was first opened to public- 
use. The members took turns as librarian at first, its hours being from 
two to four, and to be open one day each week. About 1,600 books are 
already upon its shelves. The secretary, Mrs. Pennell, is there much of 
the time, both her time and labor being given gratuitously. Mrs. W. J. 
Flickinger, for the past two years, has been assisting" along the same line. 
The club is now aiming for a building large enough for community service. 
Many other local projects have been aided financially. Mrs. Fleisher was 
president from the organization until 1919, save for two years when she 
was abroad, and Mrs. Pennell has been secretary during the entire time. 
It now has seventy-three members, and six honorary male members. Its 
officers now are: Mrs. J. E. Fleisher, honorary president; Mrs. J. S. Eby, 
president; Mrs. Win. J. Flickinger and Mrs. D. B. Howanstine, vice- 
presidents; Mrs. Delphine Pennell, secretary; Mrs. George Fry, corre- 
sponding secretary, and Mrs. Edna Boyer, treasurer. This library project 
should be encouraged by citizens and former residents by the contribution 
of at least a book a year, which would eventually give the town a large 
library. Let it be a "Book a Year Club." 

Newport has two clubs which maintain club rooms and incidentally en- 
gage in community projects. The Calumet Club was organized in 1908, 
and the Phi Epsilon Kappa Fraternity, on June 18, 1909. The latter is a 
high school fraternity, but in Newport was not confined strictly to such 
students. It has been responsible for the community Christmas tree for 
the past several years, among its other activities. 

Newport has by far the largest number of business places of any Perry 
County town. According to the report of the mercantile appraiser the fol- 
lowing business places are located there, the dates . following the names 
being the year of entering the business: 

General stores, J. M. Flickinger (1889), succeeding E. B. Weise. 

Groceries, C. T. Albright, C. L. Bair (1899 to 1920), succeeding William 
Emenheiser I 1877) : M. C. Bower, C. F. D'Olier, Philip Fickes, S. J. Horting 
(1901). A. W. Kough (1881), succeeding E. B. Weise, elected county treasurer; 
W. W. Manning, E. S. I.. Soule (1908), succeeding I. H. Souders (1904), and 
C. T. Rice (1895); W. G. Wilson (1890), established by Jackson Rhoads 
( [883), Chas. I.. Fleck. 

Druggists. John S. Eby (1910), established by H. M. Singer (before 1855), 
whose successor was 11. M. Eby I 1864) ; Chas. E. Bosserman (1920), estab- 
lished by E. C. Beach (1878), successors W. H. Hoopes, J. N. C. Hether- 
ington. 

Dry goods, W. R. Bosserman, established by Philip Bosserman and in his 
charge until his death (1899), C. V. Bosserman & Co., until her death (1916) ; 

J. B. Leiby & Sons I 1 ). established by J. B. Leiby (i860, at Market and 

Water Streets as a small general store. 

Hardware, C. T. Rice & Son (1905), established by C. T. Rice; J. M. 
Smith & Smis (1897), established by B. F. Miller & Son, succeeded by J. W. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1033 

Frank (1871), who located in present building in 1878; F. E. Taylor (1910), 
established by T. II. Milligan (1886). later owned by H. B. Wilson. 

Stoves and tinware. T. W. Bassett, S. W. Burd (1894), J. W. Davis & Son. 

Furniture and undertaking, S. I). Myers (1907). succeeding John Fleisher 
(1875) : L, M. Kell (1915), succeeding \V. H. Hopple (1888) and Jacob Hopple. 

Clothing, .1. S. Butz (1880); Fleck & Hyman, succeeding David Spotts, who 
succeeded Marx Dukes; Newport One Trice, succeeding Peter Schlomer, Ira 
Meminger, H. Lipsett. 

Restaurants, I.. !■'.. ('.aunt (1913) ; Noll Bros. 

Hotel, C. F. KloSS. 

Confectionery, J. C. Berger, E. C. Sheibley, C. 1''. Smith Fstate. 

Jewelers, 1'*. C. (".aunt (1914), succeeding W. H. Gannt (1872); Chas. P. 
Keini (1901), formerly C. I'. McClure's. 

Meat markets, Chas. \. ( )ren (ioi(>. established by Silas W. Clark (1911); 
I \ Jackson, Mrs. Thad. Stephens. 

Wholesalers, Rice Produce Co. I 10151, William Fiel.es. C. I''. Smith Estate, 
J. Frank Fickes, S. A. Sharon, Newporl Planing Mill, Henry Shull, George 
Boova. 

Automobiles and supplies, Gelnett Bros. (VV. h. and A. L., 1915), estab- 
lished by their brothers. Daniel L. and Benj. L,., 1910 ; Roy Keller (1917), 
C. H. Rebert, .1. S. Smith, H. R. Kell. 

Cigars, C. R. Horting, Geo. J. Wagenseller, F. P. Witmer. 

Musical instruments. H. M. Kough, W. A. Smith (1887). 

Miscellaneous, R. T. Smith, coal; W. H. Kepner (1890, grain and feed; 
F. M. Snyder & Co., coal and feed; Jacobs &• Wright, machinery; R. T. 
Beatty, furniture; B. F. Horting, fertilizers; Harry McKee, plumbing sup- 
plies (1906); Sarah A. Adams, Anna Hibbs and Mrs. Geo. J. Wagenseller, 
millinery: D. A. Hockenberry, fish; W. J. Morrow, photographer (1910), 
established by W. A. Keagy (1890) ; J. J. Newberry & Co. (1919), succeeding 
Banks Bros. (1908), 5 and 10 cent store; Juniata Public Service Co., electrical 
supplies; Fickes & Wolfe, coal and feed; Paul Hombach, marble works, es- 
tablished by A. V. Hombach (1867) ; J. W.. Leonard, marble works. 

The Photoplay Theatre was opened in 1910 by Zinn & Frank, whose suc- 
cessor was H. E. Williams. In 1918 purchased by John S. Kough and W. J. 
Morrow, the former succeeding to ownership in 1921. 

The Newport Union Church. The Lutheran, Reformed and Presbyte- 
rian folks residing about Newport held a conference early in 1846 and 
agreed to erect a joint church. On May 1, 1846, John Wiley and Barbara, 
his wife, deeded to Andrew B. Maxwell, John Loy and John Fickes, a plot 
of ground for church purposes at the corner of Second and Walnut Streets. 
The corner stone was laid on May 12, 1846, and it was dedicated May 23, 
1N47. In 1868, the Reformed congregation desiring to build a church, sold 
their one-third interest to the Lutherans and the Presbyterians for $900. 
In 1877 the Presbyterians purchased the other half-interest from the Lu- 
therans for $2,380, and became sole owners. From then on the history of 
this church building will be found under that of the Newport Presbyterian 
Church. This was Newport's first church. 

Nczvport Lutheran Church. As early as 1830 Rev. John William Heim 
was preaching in the homes and in the schoolhouses in the vicinity. In 
1842 he was requested to also preach in the English language, his previous 
exhortations having been in German. On January 14, 1844, the congrega- 
tion was regularly organized, under the care of Rev. Levi T. Williams, 
who became pastor in November, 1843, preaching in the old brick school- 
house. The first officers were Daniel Rider, elder ; Godfrey Lenig and 
Henry D. Smith, deacons. In connection with the Reformed and Pres- 
byterian congregations the old Union church was built by them and dedi- 
cated in May. 1847. In 1877 the Lutherans sold their interest in the church 
to the Presbyterians for $2,380. 

A contract was made with Joshua Sweger for the erection of a new 
church on Market Street, for the sum of $10,000. Including the ground 



t034 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

and furnishings its cost was over $15,000. This church still stands, having 
been one of the best in the county. Its Sunday school room is on the first 
floor, and the second floor is occupied by the ample auditorium, which seats 
five hundred people. 

This church was connected with the New Bloomfield charge until 1868, 
when a separate pastorate was formed, of which it was the head, the other 
churches being St. Samuel's, in Oliver Township, and the Lutheran Church 
in Buck's Valley. This church belongs to the Synod of Central Pennsyl- 
vania and was the first church in that synod to have a pipe organ, which 
it had installed as early as 1885. This was also the first pipe organ in 
Perry County. The ministers have been : 

1830-42 — Rev. John William Heim. 1876-81 — Rev. M. Colver. 

1843-45— Rev. Levi T. Williams. [881-85— Rev. W. B. Glanding. 

1845-49— Rev. Lloyd Knight. 1885-88— Rev. J. T. Gladhill. 

1840-52 — Rev. Jacob Martin. 1889-94 — Rev. S. E. Smith. 

1852-53 — Rev. Wm. Gerhardt. 1895-00— Rev. Geo. M. Diffenderfer. 

1853-54 — Rev. Adam Height. 1900-01 — Rev. J. Henry Harms. 

1855-63 — Rev. David H. Focht. 1902-05 — Rev. J. H. Musselman. 

1863-66 — Rev. P. P. Lane. 1906-09 — Rev. Joseph B. Baker. 

1866-71— Rev. Geo. F. Sheaffer. 1910-20 — Rev. William C. Ney. 

1871-76 — Rev. A. H. Aughe. 1920- — Rev. L. Stoy Spangler. 

Reformed Church. The Reformed people in Newport began holding 
services in the homes and schoolhouses before the organization of the 
county and while the place was still known as Reider's Ferry. In the 
same year as the county's formation, 1820, the congregation was regularly 
organized, its first meeting place being in the old Jones warehouse, and its 
first pastor being Rev. Jacob Scholl, who remained as such until his death 
in 1847. Until the pastorate of Rev. William F. Cauliflower, the congre- 
gation worshiped in the old Union church, which was owned jointly by the 
Reformed, the Lutheran and the Presbyterian organizations, and was dedi- 
cated May 23, 1847. In June, 1869, the Reformed interest in this church 
was sold to the Presbyterian and Lutheran people for $900, and the same 
year a new church building was erected at a cost of nearly $7,000. It was 
named Christ's Reformed Church. The building committee of this first 
Reformed church was composed of William Bosserman, Sr., John W. 
Smith, Dr. Joshua Singer, Josiah Fickes, Charles K. Smith, Charles Bress- 
ler and Isaiah Carl. It was dedicated January 16, 1870. 

The organization was incorporated in 1868, and in 1874, during the pas- 
torate of Rev. James Crawford, a parsonage was built at a cost of $2,518, 
which is to-day one of Newport's attractive homes and which would cost 
several times that amount to build. The building committee included 
James B. Leiby, John W. Smith, Elias B. Leiby and Jacob Saucerman. 
The first Sunday school was organized in 1869, George Ickes being the 
first superintendent. 

Unfortunately the foundations of the first church were faulty, and al- 
though it had been in use but twenty years it was abandoned, torn away 
and replaced with the present fine structure of brick, which was dedicated 
September 7, 1890. It was then named the Reformed Church of the Incar- 
nation. Its cost was about $10,000. The building committee was composed 
of J. B. Leiby, C. K. Smith, Daniel Smith, Josiah Fickes and Jeremiah V. 
Fickes. 

In 1897, Carlisle Classis, the governing body, detached the New Bloom- 
field church from the pastorate, and during the pastorate of Rev. Meixell 
the Markelville church was detached and placed with New Bloomfield. Dr. 
Deatrich continued as pastor at New Bloomfield, after the charge was 
divided, and remained until his death in 1900. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1035 

The ministers in charge of the congregation have been: 

1820-47— Rev. Jacob Scholl. 1881-97— Rev. W. R. H. Deatrich. 

1848-50 — Rev. Daniel Gans. 1897-00 — Rev. James M. Mullan. 

[851-63 — Rev. Samuel Kuhn. 1900-02 — Rev. Edwin D. Meixell. 

1863-67 — Rev. David W. Kelley. [903-08 Rev. Prank L. Kerr. 
1867-70 — Rev. Wm. F. Colliflower. 1908-15 — Rev. James M. Runkle. 

[87] 75 — Rev. James Crawford. 1915- — Rev. U. O. H. Kerschner. 
1876-81 — Rev. John Kretzing. 

Newport Presbyterian Church. When the first Presbyterian meetings 
were held in Newport is not recorded, but the Presbyterian people were, 
in connection with the Lutherans and the Reformed people, the builders 
of Newport's first church, the old Union church. The Reformed people 
sold their interest, in 1868, to the Lutherans and Presbyterians, and the 
Presbyterians eventually purchased the interests of the Lutherans, and 
thus the building became theirs. 

It was dedicated May 23, 1847, as a Union church, and since then the 
Presbyterians have worshiped at this location, where their new edifice is 
also located. The Sunday school dates to 1873. 

While the church was owned jointly by the Presbyterians, Lutheran and 
Reformed people, yet it seems not to have been a regularly organized con- 
gregation at first, as the folowing will show. 

The Session record of the Presbyterian Church at Newport, commencing 
from its origin, has this entry: 

April iSth, 1S63. The following petition was presented to the Carlisle Pres- 
bytery at their meeting in Middletown, Pa., April 12th. 1863: "We the under- 
signed members of the Presbyterian Church residing in the town of Newport 
and its vicinity do most respectfully petition your Reverent Body to organize 
us int.' a Presbyterian Church. We would suggest Saturday the 18th day of 
April as a suitable time and that the Lord's Supper be administered to us on 
the following Sabbath. Signed 

George Jacobs, John Patterson, 

Margaret Jacobs, Jane Patterson, 

Wii.uam Mateer, Henrietta Patterson, 

Margaret LowthEr, Carolyn English, 

Sarah Marlin, Jane Dunbar, 

Margaret Mitchell, Sarah Reynolds, 

Axx Mitchell, Wife of Robert, Margaret Mitchell, Wife of William. 

.Martha Mitchell, 

Some of those named had been members of the Middle Ridge church 
long before, among them being the Mitchells. The movement to organize 
the church was the work of a Perry Countian, a minister gone abroad and 
returned on account of sectional feeling, Rev._ William P. Cochran, of 
Missouri. The war was on, and Unionist that he was, Rev. Cochran had 
returned to his boyhood home at Millerstown and became the stated supply 
for the pulpits there and at Buffalo (Ickesburg). When not busy else- 
where he held meetings in Newport in the Union church, in which the 
Presbyterians had an interest, and the above petition resulted. He and 
Elder W. L. Jones were appointed to organize the church. On April 18, 
1863, the church was organized with the fifteen members, named in the 
petition. 

In i860, upon the payment of $450, and in 1877, for a consideration of 
$2,380, according to the deed, the interests of others in the Union church 
were bought and the church became the Presbyterian Church. In 1885 an 
addition was built and the entire church remodeled, being dedicated De- 
cember 13th. Its location is a fine one, on the corner of Second and Wal- 
nut Streets. The pastors since the organization have been : 



1036 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 



1863-69 — Rev. William P. Cochran. 1909-11 — Rev. R. L. Williams. 

1869-71 — Rev. J. G. Downing. 1911-18 — Rev. R. M. Ramsey. 

1872-75— Rev. Albert C. Titus. 1919-20 — Rev. J. C. Clarke (stated sup- 
1876-86 — Rev. William H. Logan. ply). 

1887-01 — Rev. S. C. Alexander. 1921- — Rev. Harry M. Vogelsonger. 
1902-09 — Rev. A. F. Lott. 

Newport M. II. Church. About 1830 the Methodist people began holding 
meetings in their homes, but the church was not built until 1836, when, 
October 10th, James Black gave a deed for a lot on which to build the 
church, the site being the location of the former Evangelical Church. This 
first church was a plain one-room frame building, being then the only 
church building in the town. The first class leader was John Ernest. At a 
conference in 1845, the New Bloomfield Circuit, to which it had belonged, 
was divided and it was made a part of a circuit consisting of Newport, 
Liverpool, Millerstown, New Buffalo and Petersburg (Duncannon). In 
1856 this circuit was divided into the Newport and Duncannon Circuits. 
The first Methodist church was sold in i860 to the Evangelical denomina- 
tion for $1,450. On January 8, 1871, the new church at Fourth and Market 
Streets was dedicated. It was a two-story building, costing about $15,000. 
There were two pastors until 1871, when Liverpool and New Buffalo were 
separated from the circuit and made a separate charge. In 1900 Millers- 
town was separated from Newport and with Donally's Mills became a 
station. The walls of the church having become unsafe, a new church 
was built and dedicated on June 10, 1904. The building committee was 
composed of Rev. L. Dow Ott, B. M. Eby, G. H. Frank, A. Fred Keim, 
Henry Smith and H. L. Tressler. The names of the pastors from 1833 to 
1856 will be found under the Duncannon chapter. Since that time they 
have been as follows: 



1869 —Rev. Alexander R. Miller. 

Rev. J. M. Meredith. 

1870 — Rev. Alexander R. Miller. 
1871-73— Rev. H. C. Cheston. 
[874-75— Rev. H. M. Ash. 
1876-78 — Rev. J. W. Buckley. 
1879-81— Rev. N. W. Colburn. 
1882 —Rev. B. P. King. 
1883-84 — Rev. John Vrooman. 
1885-87 — Rev. E. E. A. Deaver. 
1888-91 — Rev. Jared Y. Shannon. 
1892 — Rev. Amos S. Baldwin. 
1893-94 — Rev. Peter P. Strawinski. 
1895-96 — Rev. John L. Leilich. 
1897-99 — Rev. Furman Adams. 
1900-02 — Rev. Elmer G. Baker. 
1903-05 — Rev. Lorenza Dow Ott. 
1908-10 — Rev. J. Vernon Adams. 
1911-16 — Rev. John C. Collins. 

km 7 — Rev. Tohn W. Glover. 
,„, 8-2 1— Rev. Frank T. Bell. 
1921- — Rev. R. Frank Ruch. 



1857 — Rev. Geo. Stevenson. 

Rev. Chas. H. Zigler. 

1858 — Rev. Frederick E. Crever. 

Jas. T. Wilson. 

1859 — Amos C. Smith. 

Rev. Isaac C. Stevens. 
i860 —Rev. Amos C. Smith. 
Rev. J. Clark Hagey. 

1861 — Rev. G. W. Bouse. 

Rev. Milton K. Foster. 

1862 —Rev. G. W. Bouse. 
,865 — Rev. H. S. Mendenhall. 

Rev. Robt. R. Pott. 

1864 —Rev. H. S. Mendenhall. 

Rev. Samuel R. Deach. 

1865 — Rev. John W. Cleaver. 

Rev. John Donahue. 

1866 —Rev. John W. Cleaver. 

Rev. A. Duncan Yocum. 

1867 — Rev. John W. Cleaver. 

Rev. J. Milton Akers. 
,868 — Rev. Alexander R. Miller. 
Rev. W. N. Houghtelin. 

Calvary Evangelical Church. The Evangelical people of Perry County 
were originally served by two circuit riders, the one section finally narrow- 
ing down to Marysville, Newport and Rye Township's two churches — Salem 
and Bethel. The latter two were finally detached and made the nucleus of 
Keystone charge. Marysville and Newport then continued as one charge 
until 1898, when they were separated. The work at Newport dates back 
to "the sixties." 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1037 

This people evidently were organized somewhat before the time of the 
purchase of the old Methodist church, but records are lacking. From 
187.1 to 1874 the pastor of Perry Circuit, residing at Klliottsburg, served 
the Newport church, but in that year it became a part of the Marysville 
Circuit. In 1898 Newport was made a separate charge. The first services 
were held at various places, but in 1869 the congregation purchased the 
old Methodist church which stood on a lot fronting Walnut Street, and 
extending along an alley, between Second and Third Streets, for $1,450. 
They repaired and used it until 1878, when they erected a new brick 
church, 32x60, upon the same site. Its cost was $2,500. In 1919-20 the 
congregation erected a handsome church building upon a plot of ground 
located at the corner of Fourth and Oliver Streets, at a cost of about 
$35,000. Adjoining the church, in 1919, a fine brick parsonage was erected. 

The earlier pastors, under the Perry Circuit, whose pastors resided at 
Elliottsburg. were : Rev. S. W. Seibert, Rev. D. W. Miller, Rev. M. Sloat, 
Rev. H. A. Deitterick, Rev. U. F. Swengel. These pastors then followed : 
Rev. R. W. Runyan, Rev. A. Stapleton, Rev. G. W. Currin, Rev. C. I'.. 
Zehner, Rev. P. S. Orwig, Rev. E. Swengel and Rev. J. C. Reeser, who 
resided at Newport. 

The pastors from then on who resided at Marysville and served both 
churches were: Rev. S. P. Remer, Rev. B. Hengst, Rev. H. H. Douty, 
Rev. J. F. Dunlap and Rev. C. W. Finkbinder. 

Those since who have resided in Newport, it having been made a sepa- 
rate pastorate: Rev. W. J. Dice, Rev. George Joseph, Rev. J. T. Pettit, 
Rev. C. S. Raffensperger, Rev. A. F. Weaver, Rev. W. H. Brown, Rev. 
E. Fulcomer, Rev. M. W. Stahl, and Rev. W. K. Shultz. 

Newport Episcopal Church. The first Episcopal services in Newport 
were held in the parlor of Mrs. H. H. Bechtel, through her efforts and 
those of Mrs. Peter Heistand, on March 28, 1875. Later a Sunday school 
was organized there, but soon transferred into what is now the office of 
the supervisor of the Pennsylvania Railroad, which was fitted up for 
church services and where this people worshiped. Rev. T. O. Tongue 
was the first rector. The Sunday school the following year had over a 
hundred pupils, and Mrs. Bechtel was long its superintendent. The lot 
for a church was bought in 1887. It is located on South Second Street. 
The church was dedicated November 14, 1889. Rev. C. E. D. Griffiths, 
under whose charge the building had been started, died in March, 1889, 
and was succeeded by Rev. J. E. C. Schmedes, D.D., who served this 
church in connection with Mechanicsburg. In August, 1891, Rev. Wra. 
Dorwart took charge, in connection with Steelton, but in October of the 
same year relinquished the Steelton appointment and moved to Newport, 
where he is still rector. The rectory was erected in 1893. Others who 
served in the earlier years were Alfred J. Billow, John Gregson, S. K. 
Boyer and James Stoddard. 

Oliver Township. 

( Uiver Township was the thirteenth to be formed in the territory now 
comprising Perry County. Its original domain was much larger than the 
present township, as it included all of Howe Township— which had been 
a part of Buffalo— and part of Miller. At the January sessions of the 
Perry County court, in 1836, a petition signed by eighty-nine residents of 
the territory was presented, praying for the erection of a new township. 
The petition : 

"The petition of the subscribers, inhabitants of the townships of RufTalo, 
Juniata and Centre, in said county, respectfully represents that they labor 
under great inconvenience in many respects for want of a new township to be 



1038 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

erected out of the townships of Buffalo, Juniata and Centre, and therefore pray 
the court to appoint persons to view and lay out the same according to law, 
and the boundaries of the General Election District of Newport, which are as 
follows, to wit : 

"Beginning at the Juniata River at the line between Centre and Wheatfield 
Townships; thence across the Juniata River at the line to Buffalo Township; 
thence up the said river to the house of James Shield, including the same; 
thence a northerly course to Thomas Boyd's, including his house ; along the 
line of said Boyd and Swift north, till they intersect the line between Buffalo 
and Greenwood Townships; thence along said line to the Juniata River; thence 
up the same to the Rope Ferry: thence across the Juniata River to the house 
oi Abraham Reider, including the same; thence a through course to the house 
of Samuel Murray, including the same ; thence a straight line to the house of 
Peter Werts (probably Wertz), including the same; thence a straight southerly 
line to the house of John Bressler. and including the same; thence a south 
course to the top of Limestone Ridge in Centre Township; thence an easterly 
course to a sawmill, known as 'Stengle's old sawmill'; thence the same course 
till it intersects the line between Wheatfield and Penn Townships; thence 
along said line to the place of beginning. And we, as in duty bound, will pray." 

Accordingly, on January 6, 1836, the court appointed William West, 
Andrew Linn and Robert Irvine as viewers. Almost two years elapsed 
before the report of the viewers was presented at the November sessions 
in 1837. The report was signed by William West and Robert Irvine and 
favored the establishing of the new township, with practically the same 
boundaries as outlined in the petition. On November n, 1837, the report 
was confirmed by the court, and the township was named Oliver, in further 
honor of Oliver Hazard Perry, the county already bearing his last name. 

Oliver Township is bounded on the north by Tuscarora, on the east by 
the Juniata River, which it borders for about six miles between the Tus- 
carora line and the great bend in the river between Newport and Bailey's 
Station ; on the south by Miller Township, and on the west by Centre and 
Juniata. It is one of the smaller townships in the county, its area being 
less than twenty square miles. Newport Borough lies within its borders. 
At its southern end Limestone Ridge touches it. The Buffalo Hills run 
parallel a short distance north. Still further north is Middle Ridge, much 
of which is under tillage. Between it and Limestone Ridge flows Little 
Buffalo Creek, which empties into the Juniata at Newport's southern 
boundary. In the northern part of the township high cliffs border the 
river, the lands on the opposite side being comparatively low, while far- 
ther down— just above the Newport bridge — the opposite condition prevails. 

As early as 1788 David English took up fifty-two acres on the Juniata 
as a fishery. William Darlington warranted 292 acres on the Juniata 
River and Buffalo Creek, adjoining William West, which was transferred 
to David English, who also took up the following tracts : on the same 
creek 200 acres, in 1766 two tracts of 220 and 235 acres, no acres in 1774, 
219 acres in 1766, 400 acres in 1785, and 236 acres in 1768. These claims 
total almost 2,000 acres. 

Adjoining his lands John English had 803 acres, one warrant being for 
252 acres in 1767. The tract upon which Newport stands was taken up by 
David English under three warrants granted May 14, 1775, and December 
30 and 31, 1762, for 144 acres, 238 acres, and 115 acres, a total of 497 
acres. These tracts have a frontage of 248 rods on the Juniata, and extend 
from Buffalo Creek to Little Buffalo Creek. 

The tract of 185 acres, on which Eshelman's mill stands, was warranted 
in 1772, by William West, Jr., who sold to David English, in 1790. 

< diver Township is the home of a number of towns and villages. Be- 
sides Newport, the incorporated borough within its boundaries, are East 
Newport, West Newport and Everhartville. East Newport was formerly 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1039 

known as Habeckertown, by reason of it being plotted by J. B. Habecker 
in 1866. Besides the homes of many thrifty people it has been the loca- 
tion of Eshelman's mill, the Marshall furnace, Butturf's bottling works 
and ice plant, and Morrow's glue factory. William Wertz and I'.lias 
Fisher had the first stores there. West Newport once comprised all that 
section west of Oliver Street and extending to the fair grounds road, 
where Front and Fourth Streets merge. It was never laid out in lots, 
but "just grew" along the two highways, the upper end being known as 
Singertown, by reason of the houses being erected by Dr. Singer, who 
owned the lands. In its earlier days most of the homes were occupied by 
mechanics employed in the local industries. The tannery was once in 
Oliver Township, but borough extension located it in Newport Borough. 
The W. R. S. Cook saw and planing mill was another industry of im- 
portance. The Flurie brick yards flourished many years and gave employ- 
ment to many men. 

When Oliver was yet a part of Rye Township it contained the voting 
place of the "Sixth District, comprising Rye and Greenwood Townships." 
With poor roads, no railroads and distances extending from Newport to 
Sterrett's Gap to be traveled to vote, those old pioneers should set to 
shame forever those able-bodied voters who want to be hauled to the 
elections. It was located on Buffalo Creek, about a mile and a half west 
of Newport, at the old "English Mill." The act of 1787 located it there. 
The English mill is obscure. It must have been built before 1787, as the 
act says "late the property of Daniel English." It was torn down when 
Reaves & Company built a forge below the road. J. B. Habecker was the 
superintendent of this forge. It was abandoned in a few years. 

The Mitchell property, now owned by J. Emory Fleisher, was the early 
residence of Robert Mitchell, the son of a Revolutionary War officer, 
Colonel John Mitchell, of whom more elsewhere. 

The first school within the limits of the township was usually held in 
some part of a building that could be rented. The earliest record is that 
of a school in 1812, in the old Josiah Fickes residence. John English was 
the teacher. Later teachers were David McConaughey, Richard Henry 
Swayne, Thomas Butler, Valentine Varnes and Jonas Schofield. Varnes 
had a disabled arm caused by trying to gain entrance into a schoolroom at 
Millerstown during a "barring out the teacher" process. This school was 
later removed to the residence of Henry S. Smith (at the Henry Wilson 
farm of later years), where Jonas Schofield was a teacher. From there 
it was removed to the Reider schoolhouse in Newport, which comes under 
the history of Newport Borough. 

Prior to 1830 there was a schoolhouse at the residence of Harvey L. 
Troup, which was attended by pupils from the other side of the Juniata, 
in Greenwood Township. Heil North was the first teacher. It was later 
removed to the residence of David Mitchell and was taught by James 
English, in 1830. In 1831 it was taught at B. Baltozer's, later known as 
the Gish farm, by John Jones. In 1832, at John Deardorff's, by A. W. 
Monroe. Surveying, in addition to the common branches, was taught in 
this school. In 1834 the school was taught at the Jacob Fleisher place of 
our day, by Henry Beatty. After that until Newport became a borough 
the pupils of this school were permitted to attend the old brick schoolhouse 
on Second Street. 

The first public schoolhouse in the township of which, there is record is 
in 1839. Mt. Fairview was built on a plot of four square rods, purchased 
of Abraham Deardorff. C. P. Barnett was the first teacher. Part of the 
district having no facility in that line available Evergreen, near the present 
fair grounds, was built in 1842 to meet the need, and Dr. R. S. Brown was 



1040 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the first teacher. Others who taught early at Mt. Fairview were John 
McCuIlough, in 1842; Joel Lobaugh, in 1844-45; George W. Bosserman, 
in [846; Ezra Patton, in 1847, and A. M. Gantt, in 1850. The term was 
three months, and the salary $16 and $18 per month. 

In 1881 James Morrow erected a glue factory near the Marshall fur- 
nace, which was operated for many years, even as late as 1900. An ac- 
count of the Eshelman or Butturf mill appears in the chapter relating to 
( )ld Industries, likewise that of Marshall furnace. The Newport cemetery 
is located on the crest of Middle Ridge, in Oliver Township, and was 
opened in 1875. Its beginning is traced back to March 31, 1863, when 
Henry L. Smith and Mary Ann, his wife, deeded to Samuel Bressler, 
George Fleisher and Philip Bosserman, trustees of the Newport Cemetery 
Association, over three acres of ground for that purpose. Prior to this 
purchase, on January 26th, an organization had been effected by selecting 
George Campbell, president ; J. Don L Gantt, secretary, and Capt. A. C. 
Clemson, Henry L. Smith, Watson L. Gantt, Dr. J. B Eby, Jacob Miller, 
Wm. T. Fickes and Benjamin Fickes, trustees. In 1875 another addition 
was added, and in more recent years another one. 

There was once a humming industry in West Newport, the Cook planing 
mill. During June, 1875, W. R. S. Cook purchased a plot of ground from 
Dr. J. E. Singer and built thereon a portable steam sawmill, with a capac- 
ity of 10,000 feet of lumber per day. He soon added a shingle mill, and in 
[881 he purchased additional land and replaced the first mill with a two- 
story mill. In 1885 he erected a planing mill adjoining and increased the 
capacity of all the mills. The lumber was brought down the Susquehanna 
and towed up the Pennsylvania Canal to Newport. The capacity in a sin- 
gle year was over four million feet. It employed twenty-five hands. Later 
it was owned by Sweger & ShrefHer. 

In 1881 James Everhart erected the Fverhart steam grist and sawmill 
upon his farm, west of Newport, on the Bloomfield road, where a small 
village soon grew, he building the houses for his employees. It was changed 
from a burr to a roller mill at the end of a year, being the first mill in 
the county to install rolls. Its capacity was twenty-five barrels per day. 
It operated for several decades, when it burned. 

The following business places are noted in the mercantile appraisers' 
report : 

Theo. H. Butturf, grain and feed. 

M. D. Clouser, groceries. 

M. W. Miles, coal and cement. 

Snyder Carriage Co. 

J. F. Wilt, merchandise. 

\Y. S. Shade, general store. This store was founded by Mrs. Flora Middle- 
ton, 1902, and later owned by C. F. D'Olier and Walter Kell, in turn, the 
latter selling to Mr. Shade in 19 16, who added to the grocery stock a line of 
general merchandise. 

East Newport Church of God. The early meetings of the members of 
the Church of God of East Newport were held in the public school build- 
ing there. The new brick church building was erected during 1905 and 
was dedicated on January 12, 1907. There was no building committee, the 
bethel being erected under the supervision of the pastor. Rev. G. H. 
Bowersox, to whom is due much of the credit for the raising of funds 
and the ultimate erection of the church. The pastors have been: 
1906-08 — Rev. G. H. Bowersox. 1914-16 — Rev. J. C. Witmer. 

1908-09 — Rev. W. H. Dressier. 1916-17 — Rev. E. L. Ditzler. 

1909-11 — Rev. H. J. Carmichael. 191 7-18 — Rev. J. H. Gilbert. 

1911-14 — Rev. C. D. Collins. 1918-22— Rev. J. A. Staub.* 



*Died early in 192;; 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 104 1 

Mt. Olivet Church of the Brethren. A number of members of the 
Church of tbe Brethren formerly known as German Baptists, residing in 
northern Oliver Township, first held meeting in their homes, and later on 
in the schoolhouse. When the Methodists at New Buffalo built their new 
church, the members of the Church of the Brethren in Oliver Township 
purchased the old building, razed it and removed it to a site west of New- 
port, opposite Alt. l''aiiview schoolhouse. It was dedicated January 3, 1915. 

As Oliver Township surrounds Newport most of its citizens worship in 
those churches. 

Penn Townshit. 

Penn Township lies west of the junction of the Juniata and Susque- 
hanna Rivers, almost in the form of a triangle. It is bounded on tbe north 
by Wheatfield Township, on the east by the rivers, as stated, on the oppo- 
site side of which is Dauphin County; on the south by Rye Township, 
and on the west by Rye and Wheatfield. 

Penn Township contains a unique physical formation within its borders, 
"The Cove." Peters Mountain, from the break at the Susquehanna River 
below Duncannon, runs southwest for probably ten miles, where it makes 
a beautiful "horseshoe curve" and tends eastward to the banks of the Sus- 
quehanna, above Marysville. This was originally known as Barnett's 
Cove, after Thomas Barnett, who warranted 400 acres of land there in 
1785, as well as the property on which the county seat is located. He had 
lived there prior to that, however, as he was assessed with fifty acres of 
land in Rye (now Penn) Township, in 1767. Later it was known by the 
name of Allen's Cove, and now is ordinarily spoken of as "The Cove." 
Prof. Claypole, the geologist, thus describes it: 

"The district enclosed by the mountain is drained by a small stream rising 
at the Horse Shoe Bend and receiving the waters of both slopes. The district 
is peculiarly isolated from the rest of the country by its physical formation. 
Surrounded on two sides by the mountain, and on the third by the river, ac- 
cess to it is very difficult. Two roads zigzag across the range to the south, 
from Rye Township, and one enters from the north, through the gap of the 
Susquehanna, and passes out by the same outlet. The Pennsylvania Railway 
has taken advantage of the same natural pathway to enter and leave the 
valley. These excepted, there is no practicable road from the outside world 
into this secluded district, which is, as it were, a little world by itself." 

The township is well drained, the waters of both Sherman's Creek and 
Little Juniata Creek passing through, and emptying into the Susquehanna. 
From 1766 until 1826 the territory comprising Penn Township was a part 
of Rye. It then became a part of Wheatfield, and so remained until 1840, 
when, upon petition to the courts it was made a township with the lines 
as they now exist, being the fourteenth township. 

Further references to early settlers will be found in the chapters de- 
voted to the Indians in the early pages of this volume. John Harris had 
formed a temporary settlement in this vicinity, but it was not in Penn 
Township. Marcus Hulings had holdings in what is now Penn Township, 
but the reader will find the history of his early settlements under the chap- 
ters devoted to Duncan's and Haldeman's Islands and Watts Township, 
his place of abode. 

James Baskins, who is mentioned by Hulings in his communications with 
the secretary of the province, was a resident here before 1762, but did not 
warrant land until 1766, when he took up 300 acres, upon wdnich the north- 
ern part of Duncannon is located and which was long known as Baskins- 
ville. He also owned lands on the island and was the owner of a ferry. 
His daughter married Alexander Stephens, who was a soldier under 
Braddock, and from this marriage was born at Duncannon, Andrew 
66 



1042 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Stephens, who became the father of Alexander Stephens, Vice-President 
of the Confederacy. That topic is covered by a chapter in this book. 
Also refer to description of Juniata Township and Old Ferries. James 
Baskins' descendants conducted ferries in the vicinity until they were re- 
placed with bridges. The old Presbyterian graveyard on the bluff above 
Duncannon was originally known as Baskins' graveyard, and there sleep 
these Baskins pioneers. An act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, dated 
April 4, 1838, provided for the building of the first bridge "at the Juni- 
ata's mouth," and named George Stroop, Robert Clark, Amos A. Jones, 
Thomas Duncan, Jacob Keiser, Wm. Clark, Alex. Branyan, Henry Hackett, 
James Black, Robert Mitchell, John Wagner, Jacob Shively, Benj. Mc- 
Intire, Daniel Grove, George Barnett and Fred'k Rinehart, as stockholders. 
Above the James Baskins tract was a place known as "Barren Hills," 
which contained 300 acres, and was taken up by William Baskins in 1766. 
On Little Juniata Creek was 263 acres taken up by Isaac Jones in 
1766. This is the Haas' mill tract. East of it Andrew Berryhill took up 
331 acres in 1766. It is named in the warrant "Sherman's Valley." He 
sold the right and it passed to John Shearman, who is the first man by 
that name to patent land in the county (November 24, 1781 ) , although the 
western part of the county was known as "Shearman's Valley" and the 
creek as "Shearman's Creek" as early as 1750. 

In The Cove lands were warranted by Joseph Watkins (1774), Thomas 
White, James White, Elizabeth Branyan, Alexander Gailey and Israel 
Jacobs. David and William Ogle warranted 500 acres in 1792. David 
Stont settled along the river, his warrant being dated March 14, 1755. 
George Allen resided here before 1762, and from him is derived the names 
of Allen's Cove and Allen's Island. Allen never warranted the lands, and 
it is likely that the tract taken up by Thomas Barnett was negotiated for 
through Allen and was one and the same tract. On June 4, 1762, Thomas 
Barnett took out a warrant for 317 acres, and resided there until 1787, 
when he purchased the right of David Mitchell for 418 acres, upon a part 
of which the county seat is now located. Mr. Barnett had two sons, Fred- 
erick and George. His Cove lands he conveyed to his son Frederick, who 
lived and died there, leaving the property to his descendants, one of whom, 
Joseph Barnett, long postmaster at Cove, still resides there. Thomas Bar- 
nett then lived upon the Bloomfield tract until his death, in 1814, when that 
property passed to his other son, George Barnett. The island, known as 
the Wister Island, was a part of his Cove holdings, its acreage being stated 
as sixty- four. Another early warrantee was Alexander Branyan. 

Among other lands warranted were: Samuel Goudy, 215 acres in 1766; 
Richard Coulter, 217 acres in 1762, later owned by Rev. James Brady; 
Alexander Rutherford, 300 acres in 1787; Robert Nicholson, 682 acres in 
1769; Joseph Kirkpatrick, 100 acres in 1790; Isaac Kirkpatrick, 300 acres 
in 1814, and Benjamin Abraham, 207 acres on both sides of Sherman's 
Creek at "the loop," in 1766. 

On the Little Juniata Creek, above Duncannon, which is located on the 
John Brown warrant, was a tract of 263 acres surveyed to Isaac Jones in 
1766. His son, Robert Jones, erected a sawmill and a gristmill, whose son, 
Cadwallader Jones, owned it when the county came into existence. From 
him it passed to Frederick Albright, who sold it to Jacob Bruner. Mr. 
Bruner erected a woolen mill with fulling and carding machinery, and did 
a large manufacturing business in the making of cloth. It later passed to 
John and Benjamin Shade, Samuel Shull and Samuel Haas, the latter 
being the last owner to conduct the milling business. Sylvester S. Sheller 
purchased the property in 1898, and erected a large ice dam in 1900. He 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1043 

sold the property in 1919 to Thomas Mutzabaugh, who is the present 
owner. 

On an order of survey, dated April 27, 1787, Alexander Rutherford 
located 300 acres of land above the Isaac Jones tract, on Little Juniata 
Creek. Here Frederick Speck built an oil and fulling mill about 1840, 
which he operated for a few years. In 1846 it passed to Robert King, 
who changed it to a gristmill, ft passed to William C. King, and is known 
to this day as King's mill. After passing from the Kings it was sold to 
Philip Cook, whose executors, in 1884, conveyed it to James Everhart. It 
is now owned by Maria Rumbaugh. 

H. and E. Mager were operating a woolen goods factory in the Cove 
in 1 841. 

The Goudy location, at the mouth of Clark's Run, became the western 
landing of Clark's ferry, described elsewhere in this volume. The warrant 
of 100 acres to Joseph Kirkpatrick passed from him to his brother Moses, 
who accumulated 600 acres of land, which, at his death in 1820, passed to 
his eight children. Isaac, the oldest son (known in later years as Elder 
Isaac), on May 23, 1814, warranted 300 acres of lands adjoining some of 
those of his father. In 1876 he was assessed with 476 acres, mostly in 
prevent Carroll Township. He died September 8, 1865, in his ninetieth 
year, having been an elder in the Presbyterian Church for sixty-one years. 
An act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, dated March 13. 1795, authorized 
William Beatty to erect a dam from Sheep Island to the west bank of the 
Juniata River. This island lies in the Juniata River a short distance 
above the iron bridge at the north end of Duncannon. An act of March 
21, 1868, annexed Wister's Island to Penn Township, detaching it from 
Dauphin County. It lies in the Susquehanna River, almost opposite Cov- 
allen Station. The first bridge over Sherman's Creek, near the Duncannon 
Iron Company plant, was built in 1832. 

In reference to education the first record of a schoolhouse in Penn 
Township was contained in a law regulating election districts, which passed 
the legislature in 1797, and was signed by Thomas Mifflin, the first gover- 
nor of the State of Pennsylvania, which declared that the Union school- 
house at Petersburg (now Duncannon) should be the voting place for the 
district then formed. Its erection naturally is farther back than that time. 
It was built of logs, the spaces between the logs being closed with mortar. 
It was about twenty-five feet square. There was a broad fireplace at one 
side and the seats were of slabs and without backs. It stood where the 
Duncannon National Bank now stands. It was in use until about 1845, at 
which time a four-room building was erected upon the site of the present 
building, but later was removed to the corner of Ann Street and Church 
Avenue and turned into tenements, being still used in that capacity. 

Before the public school law of 1834 became operative there was a 
school where the Michener schoolhouse now stands. There was an early 
school at Young's mill, which was attended by pupils within a radius of 
four miles. Joseph Mclntire was a teacher in that building. The old 
Methodist church at Young's graveyard, near Duncannon, was bought in 
1840 and used as a school building for many years. 

An early resident of "The Loop" was David Carnes, who came from 
York County. He had two sons, David and John, and three daughters, 
Catharine (Mrs. Castlebury Harris), Hannah (Mrs. Jonathan Michener) 
and Maria (Mrs. Doane Michener), whose descendants are widely located. 

Among the merchants of the end of the century was W. R. Swartz, 
located at the extreme northern end of what was then Baskinsville, long 
in business there and once a member of the General Assembly from Perry 
County. For years that was the only store in the section known as Bas- 



IG44 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

kinsville. The Duncannon Iron Company store did the business of the 
lower end, which did not get by to the Duncannon shopping district. It 
likewise was the mart where traded the many employees of that great con- 
cern. According to the late report of the mercantile appraiser, Daniel 
Miller has a general store, established 1910; George M. Krick and H. E. 
Reidlinger have grocery stores, and S. L. Clouser operates a meat market. 

In Penn Township are located two summer colonies, at Cove Station 
and Perdix, where many cottages and bungalows have been erected by city 
people. There was once a fertilizer works located at Perdix, but it has 
not been operated for forty years, the Pennsylvania Railroad now owning 
the grounds. In 1891 J. S. Sible purchased a farm in the Cove and erected 
a large ice dam, covering half the place, which passed to the United Ice & 
Coal Company in 1902. It was in use until 1916. That part containing 
the dam was sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1917. The construction 
of the railroad tracks along the river made necessary the building of a 
wagon road around the mountain above Marysville. When first con- 
structed it was a very poor and dangerous highway, but in 1921 it was 
macadamized and a retaining wall erected. It was also widened. 

The members of the Presbyterians, first noted as "seceders," and later 
as the United Presbyterian Church, had erected a small church near 
Hickory Grove schoolhouse many years ago. They later removed to 
Church Avenue, Duncannon, and still later their church was purchased 
by the German Reformed congregation. Early in "the nineties" a Church 
of God was erected on the Leedy place, near the new Lower Cove school- 
house, at which services were held for ten or more years. It has been 
torn down and removed. The township has no other churches, as it sur- 
rounds Duncannon, where its people worship. 

Perdix Chapel. With the growth of Perdix as a summer colony there 
seemed need of services of some character, and song services were held in 
various cottages, the result of which was the erection of an interdenomina- 
tional chapel during 1920. It is a community church, and is now presided 
over by Rev. Sloan, a Dickinson College student. The first trustees of the 
organization were B. F. Allen, E. C. Keller, George Shope, H. B. Baker 
and W. U. Aldinger. 

Rye Township. 

Long before Perry was a county Rye was created as a separate township 
of Cumberland County, there being but two older townships of the terri- 
tory now comprising Perry County, the townships of Tyrone and Toboyne. 
Rye was created out of a part of Tyrone in 1766. Tyrone originally con- 
tained all the lands in the county lying west of the Juniata. At the Janu- 
ary sessions of the courts of Cumberland County, in 1766, a petition was 
presented asking for the erection of a new township out of the lower end 
of Tyrone. Upon due consideration the following order was issued by the 
court at the March term : 

"Upon petition of Several! of the Inhabitants of Tyrone Township to this 
Court, Setting forth that Said Township is too large, it is adjudged and ordered 
by the said Court, that from the North Mountain to the Tuskarora Mountain by 
Mr. West's, and from that to Darlington's and to Strack the Tuskarora about 
William Noble's be the line, and the name of the Lower be called Rye Town- 
ship." 

It will be of interest to note that Rye Township, as then created, con- 
tained besides its present territory, the townships of Penn, Wheatfield, 
Miller, Oliver, Juniata, Tuscarora, and parts of Centre and Carroll. It 
remained to such extent until 1793, when Juniata Township v/as created, 
with its southern boundary at the top of Mahanoy Ridge, which auto- 
matically became the northern boundary of Rye. Rye Township is 



BOROUGHS, TOWNS 1 1 1 PS AND VILLAGES 1045 

bounded on the north by Wheatfield and Perm Townships, on the cast by 
Marysville Borough, on the south by Cumberland County, and on the west 
by Carroll Township. 

Colonel Samuel Hunter, of Dauphin County, warranted lands in the 
lower end of the township, including the location of the Borough of Marys 
ville, in 1755, 1756 and 1757. His holdings covered a tract extending two 
miles along the river and three miles westward in Fishing Creek Valley. 
Adjoining Hunter on the south William Swanzey warranted 3_>_> acres 
with a river frontage of only thirty rods, and below him on the river as 
far south as the county line Hartley Wormley warranted 312 acres in 170-'. 
His warrant, dated September 8, 1755, was the first in the township as 
now constituted. Other warrants were those of John W. Kittera, 372 
acres in 170- ; Alexander Berryhill, a tract; Duncan Stewart, 142 acres; 
Barefool Bronson, 91 acres in 1784; Henry Robison, 240 acres; James 
Starr, 359 acres; William Swanson, 322 acres; William Davis, 2> 2 7 acres; 
George McLaughlin, 442 acres ; John Bowman, a tract on which he had a 
gristmill, a sawmill and a carding machine; John Wiley and John Bolton, 
307 acres, in 1792; Alex. Johnson, 400 acres; Humphrey Williams, 311 
acres; James McFarlane, 329 acres in 1792; Thomas Buchanan, 329 acres 
in 1793; William McFarlane, 322 acres in 1793; David Ralston, 323 acres 
in 1792, on which for years was the post office called Keystone; John 
Clous (or Cless), 281 acres in 1789; Robert Wallace, aj acres; Robert 
Whitehill, 105 acres in 1795, on which was located for years the Grier's 
Point post office. 

Ralph, John and James Sterrett during 1788 warranted 400 acres ex- 
tending for a distance of three miles east of Croghan's Gap, which later 
took their name, and by which it is known to this day. The main valley 
road was laid out by the pioneers and was used as a post road, Peter, 
Samuel and John Harold being postriders. Thomas Burney warranted 
300 acres in 1765; Robert Allen, 50 acres in 1795; Martin Dubbs, 400 
acres in 1793, and William Glover, 150 acres in 1774. 

Nancy Bovard took up two tracts, one of 150 acres, and one of 250 acres, 
in 1815, and her father, Charles Bovard, in the same year warranted 250 
acres. Bovard had come from Carlisle, in 1815, and settled in the valley. 
Here he built a tavern which he conducted until 1834. It was located on 
the old road from Carlisle to Sunbury. Keystone is located partly on this 
tract. One of Bovard's daughters married .Zachariah Rice, who was an 
early mail route contractor in Perry County. This hotel was the only one 
in the valley from Sterrett's Gap to Marysville. The store and post office 
there were long kept by Charles Barshinger. 

The Gambers and Ensmingers were early settlers of the Fishing Creek 
Valley, practically all of which lies within Rye Township. However, the 
entire section just north of the Kittatinny Mountain, east of the Susque- 
hanna River, to Schuylkill County, bears this same name. 

In the year of its erection — 1766 — the assessment list of Rye Township 
was as follows : 

John Adams, 100 acres; John Anderson, 100; Cornelius Atkinson, 100; 
Thomas Armstrong, ioo; James Baskins, 150; Thomas Barnett, 50; John 
Black. 200; Roger Brown, 100; Johnathon Cummins, 100; Neale Dougherty, 
50; John Dougherty, 50; Thomas Dougan, 100: Edward Elliot, 100; David 
English, 400; Francis Ellis, 100; Samuel Galbreath, 150; Samuel Goudy, 
100; Robert Hearst, 100; Tobias Hendricks, 100; Samuel Hunter, 200 and 
sawmill: Joseph Junkin, 100; James Irwin, 150; Thomas Johnston, 100; 
Joseph Jacobs, 100; James Loudon, 100; John Montgomery, Esq., 100; Henry 
Moile, 100; Michael Marshall, 200; Joseph Marshall, 100; John McCune, 
100; Finlaw McCune, 100; Neale McKay, 50; John Mitchell, 100; Robert 
Meek, 50; William McPherson, 150; Robert McGrory, 50; Francis McGuire, 



1046 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

roo; William McCroskey, 200; William McNitt, 100; David Miller, 100; 
Ic.lm Orr, 50; William Power, 150; William Parkinson, too; Samuel Power, 
75; fames Patton, 150; John Parkinson, 100; Mary Quillon, 50; William 
Richardson, 200 and sawmill; Samuel Robinson, 100; William Stewart, 200; 
Robert Stewart. 50; John Stewart. 100; Andrew Steen, 100; William Smiley, 
too; Archibald tewart, 100; Frederick Watts, 200; Robert Watson, 100 ; 
Francis West, 100. 

Grier's Point, once a post office, is located in Rye Township, over a 
mile east of the Carroll Township line, nine miles from Marysville. It 
was named after Samuel Grier, who settled there shortly after the crea- 
tion of the new county. Mr. Grier kept a hotel known as the "Hunters' 
Home." Captain William Messinger kept the first store here, Samuel 
Grier succeeding him. David P. Ljghtner succeeded Grier upon his death. 
It is now owned by Harry A. Milier. 

On the old Valley road, near the George Kocher property, now owned 
by the James Bell estate, a log schoolhouse was built before 1800. It was 
lighted by inserting panes of glass between the logs, and was covered with 
a clapboard roof. Fourteen miles west of Marysville, on the old Valley 
road at Daniel Cowen's, were located at different times two schoolhouses, 
one built long before 1800, and the other in 1805. The latter was in use 
in 1830. Among the teachers were Isaac Gray and Samuel Coble. 

On February 2, 1819, Jacob Sidle sold forty perches of land to Chris- 
tian Ensminger, William Messinger, Peter Foulk, Conrad Sloop, Peter 
Gamber, George Albright, Conrad Yohe, Philip Hench, George Shade, 
Daniel Yohe, David Shade, Solomon Finicle, David Myers, James White, 
Peter Billow and Jacob Sidle for the purpose of erecting a schoolhouse 
thereon. The deed recites that they were to pay "unto Jacob Sidle the 
sum of one dollar fur their shears of said school, and the said subscribers 
is to pay an Eaquel Portion fur building said house and to keep the said 
house in good Repear." 

On the Bovard lands a schoolhouse was built before 1828, and was 
named "Congruity." On June 28, 1828, Bovard deeded the ground on 
which it stood to the school trustees. 

In 1797 Christian Ensminger was possessed of about 600 acres of land 
lying between Fishing Creek and Pine Hill, on which he built a sawmill, 
which was in use long after 1820. Jacob Sidle, an early settler of Fishing 
Creek, in 1820 was the owner of 480 acres, a sawmill and a gristmill. He 
then lived in the upper end of the valley, in Rye Township. Shortly after 
1820 he took down his gristmill and moved it across Pine Hill to the 
present site of Dugan's mill. 

Jacob Bishop built a sawmill about 1835, about four miles west of Marys- 
ville, which stood until 1878. Charles Bovard built the sawmill later 
known as Keller's, located west of Keystone. It burned many years ago. 
Captain William Messinger built the chop and sawmill, east of Keystone, 
about 1835. Peter Billow built a sawmill about 1835. 

The mill in Rye Township known to the older generation as Hartman's 
mill, was one of the mills erected in the county's territory before 1800. It 
was built in 1798 by Nicholas Wolf and his son-in-law, John Bowman. 
At the same time and place they built a carding mill and a sawmill, which 
have long since disappeared. The gristmill was destroyed in 1880, being 
then owned by Neihart & Son, who rebuilt it and sold it to Alexander 
Hartman, who in turn remodeled it and installed rolls. From Hartman it 
passed to John Cowns, then to Henry Fisher, from whose estate it was 
transferred to P. H. Heishley, the present owner, in 1910. The community 
surrounding the mill is now known as Glenvale, and the mill as the Glen- 
vale Roller Mills. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1047 

According to the mercantile appraiser's report the following business 
houses exist in Rye Township, the date following being the time of enter- 
ing the business : 

• General stores, Mrs. E. L. Bell (1906), established by (.'. liarsliiiiLM-i 1 1X001 . 
J \Y. Hummel, Mervin Swinn (1919), II. A. Miller, I.. I. Leonard Estate. 

James Bell Estate, fertilizer and groceries; P. H. Heishley, flour and feed. 

As early as 1825 Dr. Frederick Klineyoung located at Keystone, where 
he practiced until his death in 1840. Dr. F. A. Koughling succeeded him 
in [846, and practiced there until his death in 1855. Dr. Kaechline, a Ger- 
man, began practice at Grier's Point in 1853, but was found frozen to death 
while in the performance of professional duties, three years later. Dr. 
Joseph Swartz succeeded him in 1857, practicing there for three years, 
when he removed to Duncannon. Dr. Edward Ebert practiced at Grier's 
Point for several years, beginning about 1857. Dr. Theodore Lightner 
was here for a short time in 1880. Dr. (.'has. \Y. Dean, a graduate of the 
Eclectic Medical School, 1871, located near the top of the Blue Mountain 
at Dean's Gap, and practiced in both Perry and Cumberland Counties. 

About 1838 or 1840 the Evangelical people had built a church about a 
mile west of Marysville, at the Sitterly graveyard, but it was removed 
about 18(17, > ts membership being the nucleus of the Marysville church. 

Bethel Evangelical Church. Bethel Evangelical Church came to be 
erected through the results of meetings held in schoolhouses during the 
few years previous to its erection. For a period it was served by the pas- 
tors of the Marysville Evangelical Church. It was known as the Fishing 
Creek charge until 1907, since which it has been known as Keystone 
charge. The first church was erected in 1846, at a cost of $800. Among 
the first members were Martin Souder, Mary Souder, George Fenicle, 
Sarah Fenicle, B. F. Leonard, Elizabeth Leonard and George Kocher, Sr. 
This church was replaced by a new one in 1889. The pastors have been: 

[862-69— Rev. W. C. Bierly. 1892-96— Rev. L. K. Harris. 

[869-71— Rev. W. E. Detwiler. 1896-97 — Rev. S. E. Davis. 

[871-73 — Rev. J. M. Young. 1897-00 — Rev. W. N. Fulcomer. 

1873-74 — Rev. W. H. Stover. 1900-03 — Rev. E. W. Koontz. 

[874-75 — Rev. T. M. Morris. 1903-07 — Rev. G. S. Albright. 

1875-77 — Rev. S. I. Shortess. 1907-10— Rev. M. W. Stahl. 

[877-79 — Rev. G. E. Zehner. [910-14 — Rev. J. E. Newcomer. 

1879-82 — Rev. George Joseph. 1914-16 — Rev. F. D. Sherman. 

[882-85 — Rev. L. K. Harris. 1916-17 — Rev. B. G. Hoffman. 

1885-86 — Rev. I. C. Yeakle. 1917-19 — Rev. W. E. Yingling. 

1886-87 — Rev. Wm. Minsker. 1919-20 — Rev. L. E. Teter. 

1887-89 — Rev. J. W. Bentz. 1920-21 — Rev. H. H. Jacobs. 

1889-91— Rev. J. H. Welch. 1921- —Rev. F. F. Mayer. 
1891-92— Rev. W. C. Bierly. 

From this charge there entered the ministry of the denomination, Rev- 
erends B. F. Keller, J. M. Dick, H. A. Benfer, J. M. Dice and others. 

Salem Evangelical Church. The first meetings of the Evangelicals of 
the Salem territory were held in conjunction with those of the Bethel 
Evangelical Church in the valley. In 1856 a church was built and was in 
use until 1905, when it was replaced by a new one. Among the first mem- 
bers were Israel Dick, Elizabeth Dick, Henry Foulk, Jacob Bitner, Sr., 
Frances Bitner, Emanuel Keller, Chas. Barshinger, John Kreamer, Sarah 
Kreamer, David Benfer and Matilda Benfer. It was a part of the Fishing 
Creek charge until 1907, since which it has been known as Keystone charge. 
The pastors are the same as those of Bethel Evangelical Church, men- 
tioned previously. 

Glenvale Church of God. Services of this denomination were first held 
in the Oak Grove schoolhouse at Hartman's mill, or Glenvale, as it is now 



IO48 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

known, long prior to 1882, when the new church was built there, costing 
$1,800. This was largely made possible through the will of a Mr. Welty, 
who willed $1,000 towards building a church there. A Mr. Bowman do- 
nated the plot of ground where the church and cemetery are located. 
Prior to the erection of the church James Wagner held a successful re- 
vival in a wagonmaker shop. Rev. McDonald was the pastor at the time 
of the erection of the church. Among the original membership were 
Jacob Fortenbaugh, Sr., and Alexander Hartman and their wives. David 
Maxwell, Henry Clay, Wm. McFadden and A. Swartz were early minis- 
ters. The Marysville ministers of the same faith have served this people. 

Saville Township. 

Saville Township was the seventh township to be formed in the terri- 
tory which comprises Perry County and the last to be formed while it 
still was a part of Cumberland. Saville's territory was a part of Tyrone 
Township from the time of its formation in 1754, until 1817, when it was 
made a township. It has retained its original formation, with the excep- 
tion of contributing a part of Centre and a strip on the west, which be- 
came a part of Madison Township when that township was formed. It is 
bounded on the north by the Juniata County line, on the east by Tusca- 
rofa, Juniata and Centre Townships, on the south by Centre, Spring and 
Tyrone Townships, and on the west by Madison. 

At the April term of the Cumberland County courts, in 1817, a petition 
signed by citizens asking that Tyrone Township be divided, was presented. 
The court appointed John Darlington and David Grove as viewers, and at 
the November term they presented their report, of which this is the last 
paragraph : 

"That by confirming the division of said township agreebly to the draft 
presented, would conduce greatly to the convenience of the inhabitants of the 
respective sections thereof, and that the limestone ridge, along which the 
division line runs the whole distance from east to west, is the natural and 
proper division of said township." 

It was dated June 24, 1817, and was confirmed at the November term, 
being named Saville. It is one of the largest townships in the county, 
containing about forty square miles of land. Its principal stream is Buf- 
falo Creek, noted in many provincial affairs as the location of depreda- 
tions by the Indians. 

On the day of the opening of the land office. February 3, 1755, for the 
location of lands in Perry County, Thomas Elliot, whose father had set- 
tled seven miles north of Carlisle, warranted 200 acres. At the same time 
William Waddell warranted the adjoining tract. These locations were for 
the low lands along Buffalo Creek, later owned by the Bodens and others. 
On the same day Mr. Elliot took up an adjoining tract of fifty acres, and 
in 1767 another fifty acres. When he first located lands he was but twenty- 
five years of age, and probably his knowledge of "the lay of the land" 
came from being one of the many parties of citizens from south of the 
Blue Mountain who came to the aid of their more unfortunate fellows who 
were suffering at the hands of the Indians. The Indian uprisings that fol- 
lowed Braddock's defeat drove all the settlers out of the county, and 
Elliot was of course included. It was 1762 before it was again safe to 
return, and then he brought with him Edward, Charles and John Elliot. 
Edward located lands later owned by Jonathan Swartz. As will be noted 
in a chapter on the Indians, it was at this place that the men were har- 
vesting when apprised that hostile Indians were in the neighborhood. A 
party of men organized to send aid to the less fortunate were ambushed at 
the Nicholson place — later the Orris farm — and five of them were killed. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1049 

In the party were Charles Elliot and Edward McConnell, who escaped 
but were shot while ascending the bank of Buffalo Creek a little later. 
Rev. Dr. Elliot., an account of whose life appears elsewhere in this book, 
is a descendant. 

In 1793 Robert Elliot, a descendant of this first Elliot family, warranted 
forty-one acres and bought the adjoining 187 which had been warranted 
by John Sanderson in 1767. William and James Elliot warranted lands 
in 1793. The Hall place was owned by John Black before 1774, as other 
warrants name his lands as "adjoining." Robert and James Irvine came 
from Ireland in 1752, and in 1774 Robert warranted 300 acres of land on 
the west side of Buffalo Creek, adjoining lands of Edward Elliot and John 
Black on the east and Conococheague Hill on the north. He accumulated 
other lands, and at his death 330 acres passed to his son James, who pat- 
ented it in 1812; 250 passed to another son, William, who patented it the 
same year, this being the tract on which the old stone house stands, and 
another 200 to his son John. 

Part of the land taken up by William Elliot, Jr., was later in possession 
of former county superintendent of schools, Lewis B. Kerr. In 1755 John 
Smith warranted fifty acres, in 1774 Alexander Sanderson warranted 300 
acres, and James Sanderson fifty acres, and in 1786 Charles Weise and 
James Hartley, 300 acres, the latter tract being near the Saville and Juni- 
ata Township line. 

Located along Buffalo Hills David McClure warranted 125 acres in 
1762, fifty acres in 1770, and forty-eight acres later. In 1774 these lands 
were surveyed to William Power. John McClure warranted 220 acres in 
the same vicinity. Thomas Patton took up 250 acres on both sides of Buf- 
falo Creek. 

James Adair had made an improvement on a tract, which was sold to 
Col. Thomas Hartley, of York, Pennsylvania, an officer in the Revolution 
and a member of the United States Congress for twelve years, who war- 
ranted the tract, containing 300 acres in 1786. This tract was on Buffalo 
Creek, above Roseburg. Michael Loy warranted 200 acres in 1793, ad- 
joining the Hartley tract. The same year Andrew Crouse warranted 200 
acres adjoining Loy's, and Thomas McKee warranted 200 acres adjoining 
Crouse on the side of the mountain, including Winn's Gap. Thomas Rob- 
inson warranted a tract in 1796, and had another before 1794. Mary 
Buchanan, of Tyrone Township, owned an adjoining tract. 

The Nicholson lands which passed in later years to the Orris family, 
lay north of Ickesburg. The roads which now meet near "the gap" at an 
earlier day met there. This was the scene of the Indian skirmish of 1763. 
The first Orris was Adam, who was the father of three sons, his son Adam 
attaining possession of the homestead. He also had three sons, Captain D. 
C. Orris succeeding to the title of the home. Of his other sons, H. O. 
became a physician at Newport, and Solomon Stanhope Orris became a 
college professor and one of the greatest Greek scholars then known. In 
1785 William Linn, a brother of Rev. John Linn, warranted 178 acres on 
Buffalo Creek, and in 1793 he warranted 400 acres adjoining Archibald and 
Andrew Kinkead. Here a mill was built which has always borne the 
name of the Buffalo mill. The Lutheran and Reformed church is located 
here. The Kinkeads, named above, warranted 300 acres of lands in 1786, 
and others later. 

In 1772 David Sample warranted 220 acres. It is described as including 
a survey made by Samuel Finley in 1761, and situated "on the north side 
of Limestone Ridge, opposite to Samuel Fisher's house." This tract is in 
the southwest corner of the township, north of Elhottsburg. The Fisher 



1050 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

tract adjoining was also an adjoining tract of John Sanderson's, which is 
described in Spring Township and which was the subject of much early 
litigation in so far as the title was concerned. 

Among other early warrants were those of William McMeen, for 150 
acres in 1766; David Hamilton, for fifty acres in 1775; Lawrence Mealy, 
for 300 acres in 1786; William Marshall, for 258 acres in 1786; Robert 
Kearney, for 200 acres in 1789; John D. Creigh, for 300 acres in 1792; 
Patrick Duffield, for 200 acres in 1792; William Robinson, for 150 acres 
in 1794, and Adam Hays, for eighty acres in 1796. 

The Milligan, Elliot, Hench, Dromgold, Rice, Ickes, Hartman, Shull, 
Boden, Flickinger, Blair and Liggett families are of Saville's earliest and 
most substantial settlers. Jacob Hartman, who emigrated from Chester 
County, took up a tract of land and erected upon it a house of hewed logs. 
In the center of it was a large chimney surrounded by three fireplaces, one 
in the parlor, one in the bedroom, and one in the kitchen. This house 
stood as late as 1900. The log barn, erected at the same time, is yet in use. 

On September 18, 1810, Andrew Shuman warranted 328 acres on Buffalo 
Creek, where Eshcol is located. He had located here in 1804, and shortly 
thereafter built a mill. In 1824 he erected a mill further up the creek. In 
1830 he donated ground for a Union church, which was built the next year. 
He died in 1852, and the upper mill passed to his son John, and the lower 
mill to his son Andrew. In 1867 Andrew Shuman sold the lower mill to 
Isaac Weaver. The upper mill was sold in 1871 to John Kendig and John 
Hostetter. These mills are no longer in business. The adjoining tract 
above was of the John Hays warrant, and in 1852 William Rosensteel pur- 
chased forty-three acres from the lands of both Hays and Shuman and 
erected thereon a tannery with a capacity of fifteen hundred hides an- 
nually. Prior to 1870 the tannery had passed to Jacob Spanogle. It was 
sold to Samuel Hench and Henry Duffield, under whose ownership it 
ceased to operate. 

When the county was formed Robert Hackett had a distillery in Saville. 
At that time Andrew Linn was conducting a store, a distillery, a gristmill 
and a sawmill. In 1882 Edward Miller built a fulling mill on Buffalo 
Creek, two miles south of Ickesburg, and in 1831 was conducting a store 
and a sawmill at the same place. 

George Sanderson was assessed with a tanyard in both 1821 and 1831. 
In 1820 Henry Trostle was operating a distillery, and two years later a 
sawmill, but in 1831 the distillery was no longer in use. In the assessment 
of 1820 there were 194 taxpayers in Saville, which included four stores, 
five sawmills, five gristmills, five distilleries, one fulling mill, seven black- 
smith shops, four wagonmakers, one tanyard, and three cooper shops. 

About 1897 the Hench and Dromgold families, which were nurtured on 
Perry County soil, but now spread over many states, began holding annual 
reunions or picnics in Perry County. Other families were added, until it 
included the families of Hench, Dromgold, Rice, Ickes, Hartman and oth- 
ers. John Hench, the progenitor of the Perry County families, attended 
St. Vincent German Reformed Church in Chester County, where he resided, 
and among those on that church record who emigrated to Perry County, 
are Hench, Shull, Happle, Yeager, Acker, Foose, Hartman, Wagner, 
Miller, Kepner, Reiss, Haas, etc. John Hench was one of 114 farmers 
who lost his land by the foreclosure of an old English mortgage which 
had not been satisfied when they purchased their lands. Another who 
lost his farm in the same manner was Zachariah Rice, the father of twenty- 
one children, John Hartman and others, when then located in Perry and 
Juniata Counties. John Rice, a son of Zachariah, was married to a daugh- 
ter of Mr. Hench, and located in Perry County about 1790 and worked as 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 105 1 

a blacksmith, carrying his tools and anvil from place to place. He died in 
1800, and lies in the Loysville churchyard. Nicholas Ickes left Mont- 
gomery County in 1795 and settled in Perry County on 230 acres of land 
bought of Robert Robinson. He also purchased 260 acres of mountain 
land from Dr. Mailey, and 130 from Charles Elliot. He purchased 170 
acres from George Sanderson in 1816, on which he lived and where he 
died in 1848, aged eighty-four years. Ickesburg is located on part of this 
tract, hence the name — Ickesburg. It was laid out in 1816. Thomas Drom- 
gold, progenitor of the Perry County Dromgolds, was from near Dublin, 
Ireland, and located at Donnally's Mills, making his way on foot from New 
Castle, Delaware, to the Chesapeake Bay, and thence up the rivers. He 
purchased a farm near Ickesburg in a short time, and at his death had 600 
acres which descended to his son, John Dromgold. Thomas Dromgold 
was naturalized in the Perry County courts, January 5, 1830. In Ireland 
he had been a millwright, merchant and farmer, and the old stone house 
and mill owned by him still stood in 1900, when W. A. Dromgold made a 
trip to the ancestral home and was entertained by relatives yet in pos- 
session. While at Donnally's Mills he wooed and won the fair Elizabeth 
Donnally, and, as he was a miller, was no doubt in the employ of the 
Donnally family in milling. The fifth generation of Donnallys, as repre- 
sented by L. A. Donnally, a former member of the legislature, reside at 
Donnally's Mills, where he still operates the mill. 

The date of the earliest school in this township is shrouded in mystery, 
so long ago was it already in use. It was located on a small plot of 
ground opposite the lane leading from the old Ickes mill to the public road, 
where the Boden farm joined, and one of the corner stones was there yet 
at the end of the century, a mute relic of the "schoolhouse by the road," 
as immortalized by Henry W. Longfellow, the poet. From districts as far 
away as "Mountain Home," Roseburg and Eshcol, came boys and girls 
seeking knowledge. The mother of the late Nicholas Hench attended 
school here as early as 1785, and the schoolhouse had been in use before 
that. Among the teachers before 1800 were John Bolton, Thomas Steven- 
son, J. Watts, Thomas Meldrum and George Williams. 

In 1800 Linn's school was started, near the residence of Thomas Shull. 
It was still in use in 1825, as there is record of a Sunday school there in 
that year. The building was later sold and moved away. In 1803 a Mr. 
Jamison taught a school at Duffle's Hill. 

There was quite a fight in this township on the question of the adoption 
or rejection of the free school system in 1836, although it had been in 
operation the previous year. Robert Elliot, associate judge of the county 
at the time, favored it, and Andrew Shuman, with considerable following, 
opposed it. The western part of the township voted almost unanimously 
against it, and the northern part strongly for it, but a majority was against 
it. In 1835 there were three male and two female teachers, whose salary 
for one and one-fourth month's services was $16.50. There were sixty- 
eight male and seventy-one female pupils. 

Summit schoolhouse, near Ickesburg, was thrice burned, the first being 
a frame building, and two years later a brick building. It burned again in 
191 1. It was first used about i860. 

On the Harry C. Boden farm, near Ickesburg, is a cave 250 feet long, 
12 feet wide, and 18 feet in height. There are several apartments. It was 
first discovered in January, 1857. 

According to the report of the mercantile appraiser the following are 
in business in Saville Township, the dates being the time of starting: 

General stores, Kochenderfer & Bro., S. A. Rice, R. B. Rodgers (1897), post- 
master at Saville, 1900-1920; Samuel H. Swab, Lrloyd Smith. 



1052 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

T. C. Gray, auto supplies ; David Rice, cigars ; Samuel Stewart, harness ; 
D. VV. Reisinger (1916), stoves and tinware, established by E. C, Reisinger 
[897) ; Luther Smith & Bro., auto supplies. 

Ickesburg. Robert Robinson warranted a tract of 250 acres and allow- 
ances, on May 25, 1774. He got his patent in 1796, and almost immediately 
sold the property, which actually contained 275 acres, to Nicholas Ickes, a 
native of Montgomery County. About 1818 — soon after the erection of the 
township — he laid out streets, plotted lots and named the town Ickesburg. 

When the county was formed, two years later, the residents were : 
Henry Flickinger, shoemaker; Nicholas Ickes, distillery and sawmill; 
Jonas Ickes, physician; Daniel Lutman, Edward McGouran and John 
Rice, merchants. In 1819-20 John Rice built two log houses, and in 1821 
a stone house. Merchants there were Samuel and Nicholas Hench, sons 
of Nicholas Hench, Henry Roberts, James Milligan and others. In 1820 




Photo by H. IV. Flickinger. 
ICKESBURG AND LANDSCAPE. 

a weekly mail was established, and William Elliot was made postmaster. 
After the erection of the tannery it was carried twice a week. Later post- 
masters were Jesse Comley, George Rice, Samuel Rice, A. B. Wilson, 
Peter Toomey, Alexander Barnes, William Boden. 

The Ickesburg tannery was erected in 1821, by 'Squire Taylor and Dr. 
John Parshall, who sold to Alexander Power. It was later sold to 
Samuel Hench and Henry Duffield. They sold to John Kendig. 

A tannery was built above town in 1821, by James Sanderson, George 
Sanderson operating it as late as 1831. It was later owned by William 
Blair, and still later by Peter Swartz, who was killed while rolling leather 
by the falling of the chimney, whose foundation had been weakened by 
incessant rains. 

In 1835 a foundry was established by John Servis. It was destroyed by 
fire in 1838. Another, known as Clinton foundry, was built by Samuel 
Liggett, and was later owned by Elias Weidle. The property is now 
owned by Mrs. Emma Scott. 

Dr. Jonas Ickes practiced about 1820-23. He was of the Ickes family 
f re Mil whom the town took its name. He was the first physician to locate 
at Ickesburg. About 1830 Dr. Thomas Simonton practiced for a number 
of years. His son, Dr. William Simonton, read medicine with him and 
succeeded him to the practice. They later removed to Illinois. They 
were succeeded by Dr. Black, who, after practicing several years, moved 
to Cumberland County. Dr. Briner, a native of the county, practiced from 
1850 to i860. He then located at Topeka, Kansas. Dr. Jackson, a graduate 
of the Jefferson Medical College, succeeded Briner, practicing until his 
death, which occurred about seven years later. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1053 

Dr. William R. Cisna followed. He was a graduate of Dickinson Col- 
lege as well as a graduate in medicine. After getting his medical diploma 
in [865 he located" in Ickesburg, where he practiced until about 1882, when 
he located in Chicago. Dr. Charles Delancey succeeded Dr. Cisna, but 
soon moved to Loysville. Then Dr. Dean was there a short time, but 
moved to Millerstown. Dr. Newton Bryner, son of George Bryner. of 
Cisna's Run, a graduate of the University of New York, located in Ickes- 
burg in [881, where he practiced until his death, which occurred April 29, 
1877, aged twenty-nine years. Dr. J. H. Bryner graduated at Columbus 
Medical College in 1885, and located at Ickesburg, where he practiced 
until IQI2, when he removed from the county. Dr. E. Kenneth Wolff 
located here in 1910, and practiced until 191 7, since which time Dr. George 
Kinzer has been located here. Dr. Kinzer is a graduate of the College of 
Physicians and Surgeons of Baltimore, '92. 

Eshcol. Eshcol is a hamlet surrounding the Shuman church and mill, 
named after the scriptural Eshcol, owing to the features suggesting it, 
according to the late William E. Baker. It was long known as "The 
Narrows," then as "Shuman's Church," and "Gaylortown." It has had 
several stores, a tannery, a blacksmith shop and a few houses. The post 
office was originally at the upper Shuman mill. It was transferred to the 
settlement and named Eshcol. John D. Baker was the first postmaster. 
He was succeeded by Jacob Kleckner. The first stores were kept by John 
D. Baker and John Harmon. The tannery was built by Michael Gaylor, 
and was later operated by Rev. L. A. Wickey. In 1889 George McC. Long 
and I. Lane Long erected a store building and went into business, the latter 
buying out the former six years later and continuing in business there 
until 1910, when he sold out to Mrs. Lucy Campbell, and located at 
Dauphin, Pennsylvania, where he opened a large general store and where 
he is vice-president of the Dauphin National Bank. The Longs descended 
from Henry Long, who came from York or Adams County in 1795, and 
settled in what is now Saville Township. 

Dr. John D. Baker, a graduate of American University of Philadelphia, 
began practice at Eshcol in 1880, and continued until his death, in 1915. 

United Brethren Churches. Many years ago there had been a United 
Brethren Church at Ickesburg, which on June 2, 1883, was sold to a cornet 
band then in existence. After that period, following the Sectional War, 
there was a charge known as the Eshcol charge, which comprised the 
churches at Eshcol, Mannsville, Otterbein chapel, near Donnally's Mills, 
and Gingrich's church, between Ickesburg and Donnally's Mills. The Esh- 
col church was erected in 1870. One of the pastors, Rev. L. A. Wickey, 
left his impress on the community. He was located there six years, and 
was stricken with paralysis in his pulpit, January, 1898, dying four days 
later. He was an able man. Rev. J. N. Crowell was the last pastor. In 
1916 the church was sold to Harry C. Boden, who removed it. 

The Reformed Church at Buffalo. Before this church was built the 
members of the Reformed faith worshiped at Loysville and at St. Peter's 
Church, in Spring Township. During the pastorate of Rev. Scholl, on the 
Sherman's Valley charge (1819-40), he began holding services in the terri- 
tory of Buffalo church, the meetings being held in the homes of members 
of the faith. He also held services in the old log schoolhouse located "on 
the rise, just south of Buffalo Mills." The congregation was organized in 
1839, but was then known as "the New Church." It is not mentioned as 
Emanuel Church in synodical reports until 1843. The first officers were 
Jonathan Swartz and Philip Kell, elders, and Adam Orris and Henry Kt 11. 
deacons. With the building of the church entire families belonging to 
the Loysville Lutheran Church withdrew and connected with the Buffalo 



1054 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Church, the Lutherans assuming the unpaid portion of the building. The 
church was built of stone and was erected in 1840. Conrad Rice and 
Jonathan Swartz composed the building committee. Henry Hartman and 
Henry Kell were long faithful pillars of this church. Jointly these two 
peoples — Reformed and Lutherans — worshiped here until 1886-87, when 
each erected its own edifice. This Reformed congregation has had the 
reputation of having been one of the leading churches of that faith in the 
county to do things, according to Rev. Groh's historical sketch. 

The new church was dedicated on March 7, 1886, the stained glass me- 
morial windows having been designed by Prof. J. C. Miller, the penman, 
himself a member of the congregation. It was a part of the Blain charge 
from the beginning, which was known as the Sherman's Valley charge 
until 1841. The list of pastors appears under the Blain chapter. 

Buffalo Church, Lutheran Congregation. This people occupied, with the 
Reformed congregation, the stone church at Buffalo, built in 1840, as 
stated above. Rev. Heim preached for them in private dwellings, but dis- 
couraged their building a church and never preached in it when built. For 
about a year a Rev. Boyer preached there occasionally. They were unor- 
ganized at that time. Then for several years, or until 1847, the Lutherans 
attended the Reformed services in the church. On June 12, 1847, the Lu- 
therans organized by electing Benjamin Rice and John Buttorff, elders, 
and George Rice and John Peck, deacons. Conrad Rice was made trustee. 
The pastors from then on have been : 

1847-49 — Rev. Lloyd Knight. 1854 ■ — Rev. Adam Height. 

r849-s'2 — Rev. Jacob Martin. 1855-59 — Re v. D. H. Focht. 

[ 852-53 — Rev. Win. Gerhardt. 

As the Buffalo church lay nearer the Loysville field, on June 1, i860, it was 
attached to that charge. The pastor was Rev. G. M. Settlemoyer, 1860-61. 
The congregation then withdrew from the Loysville charge and became 
a part of the Blain charge, with the same ministers as Blain until 1886, 
when it became a part of the newly formed Ickesburg charge. The names 
of the later ministers appear in the history of Blain and Ickesburg 
churches, elsewhere in this book. A new brick-cased church was built 
in 1886-87, but later burned and was then replaced with a frame structure. 

Buffalo Presbyterian Church. This church was organized in April, 1823. 
In that year a log church was built upon lands secured from Philip Kell, 
located one and one-fourth miles west of Ickesburg. Rev. John Linn, 
the pastor of Centre Church, had previously been holding services in the 
vicinity. Several histories credit its organization to Rev. James M. Olm- 
stead, but the History of Presbytery, by Rev. William West, names Rev. 
Nathan Harned as the first pastor, 1823, with Rev. Ohnstead following in 
1825-32, and Rev. John Pomeroy, 1832-33. In 1834, when Rev. John Dickey 
came to New Bloomfield, Buffalo church was added to that pastorate and 
so remained until 1855, under Mr. Dickey. It was then united with Mil- 
lerstown and was served by Rev. John B. Strain, 1856-60, and Rev. Thomas 
P. Cochran, D.D., 1862-67. In 1868 Buffalo and Blain united and called 
Rev. J. J. Hamilton, who made his residence in Saville Township. The 
History of Presbytery then places the name of Robert McPherson as 
stated supply during 1877-81. Rev. John H. Cooper, 1884-85, resided at 
Blain, but filled both pulpits. The four churches, Buffalo, Blain, Centre 
and Landisburg, were then served by Rev. William M. Burchfield from 
1887 until 1895, when he was retained by Centre, and the churches at Buf- 
falo, Blain and Landisburg formed a charge. 

St. Andrcztfs Lutheran Church. This Lutheran Church is really the 
cradle in which was nurtured the religious faith of that denomination in 
so far as Saville Township is concerned. When the last century was born 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1055 

there were settling around the vicinity of present-day Ickesburg the Ickes, 
Lyons, Shuman, Long, and many other families of that faith. Their 
nearest churches were from eight to twelve miles, and at stated periods a 
minister would come into the district and preach, usually in some home 
or a school building. About 1806 Rev. Frederick Oberhauser began hold- 
ing regular services near Ickesburg, as well as at many other points in 
western Perry. In 1815 he conducted a catechetical class at Andrew Shu- 
man's home, at Shuman's mill, conducted a communion service and con- 
tinued twelve members. Owing to the infirmities of age he soon ceased 
preaching here. He died in 1821. From then until 1828 Rev. John William 
[him preached occasionally. In that year Mr. Heim settled at Loysvillc 
and still preached occasionally at Shuman's thereafter. 

The log church was not built until 1831. It was erected on an acre of 
land donated by Andrew Shuman for a Union church (Lutheran and Re- 
formed) and a graveyard. Andrew Shuman and Jacob Bealor were the 
building committee. The first council was as follows: Frederick Anders, 
elder; John Beistlein, deacon; Peter Long, John Swartz. trustees. The 
pastors since then have been Rev. Heim, who served until 1849; Jacob 
Martin, until 1852; Rev. Wm. Gerhardt, Rev. Adam Height, Rev. David 
Focht and the successive pastors of the New Bloomfield congregation, 
until 1866, for which see the chapter devoted to that town. Under Rev. 
Martin and the beginning of Rev. Focht' s pastorate the services were held 
alternately in English and German. In 1886 it became a part of the newly 
formed Tckesburg charge, the pastors being the same. See Ickesburg Lu- 
theran Church. 

St. Andrew's Reformed Church. This congregation's place of worship 
was the same as that of the Lutheran Church, described immediately pre- 
ceding. Rev. Jacob Scholl was the pastor from the time of its building in 
1831 to the time of his death, September 4, 1847. Rev. Daniel Gans fol- 
lowed until 1851, and Rev. Samuel Kuhn. until 1862. It was then united 
with the Blain charge and so continued for a few years, when it was 
abandoned as a regular pulpit by the members of that faith on account of 
its close proximity to Ickesburg and Buffalo. 

Tckesburg Lutheran Church. Although the Buffalo church, three miles 
away, was the home of a Lutheran congregation, and St. Andrew's Lu- 
theran Church existed at Eshcol, still closer, the Lutheran families of 
Ickesburg organized a congregation and built a church, which was dedi- 
cated December 6, 1885. Its cost was $4,500. Most of the older Lutheran 
families then residing at Ickesburg were members of one of these two 
churches, and other families moving in would not unite with churches 
three miles away, neither would the young people, which resulted in the 
building of the Ickesburg church. A congregation was organized and also 
a Sunday school, the United Brethren Church being rented and the pastor 
from Blain, Rev. Clair, filled the pulpit. The Presbyterians then offered 
their church, and in it the meetings were held until the church was dedi- 
cated. Following Rev. Clair, came Rev. Frazier, Rev. Heisler, and Dr. 
Neff. Blain and New Bloomfield showed a tendency to release Buffalo 
and St. Andrew's Churches, with the result that Ickesburg charge was 
formed of the three churches. For a short time a fourth church, St. 
Mark's, at Kistler, was attached, but it soon dropped out, and to-day even 
the building is gone. The new Ickesburg charge has been served by Rev. 
Trostle, Rev. Deitterich, Rev. Nichols, Dr. Diven, Rev. Romig, Rev. 
Daubenspeck, and the present pastor, Dr. A. C. Forscht. 

The Reformed Church of Ickesburg. Settlements did not always follow 
the location of churches, and this was true of Ickesburg. To the west was 
Buffalo Reformed Church, and to the south was Shuman's Reformed 



1056 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Church. The former was three miles away and the latter was at the period 
of its disintegration. The members of the faith residing in Ickesburg 
organized April 10, 1869, with George Orris, Peter Swartz and John Simon- 
ton as elders, and Alexander Barnes, G. W. Kochenderfer and Thomas M. 
Kochenderfer, as deacons. It was named St. Luke's, and in 1871 erected 
a brick church. In the beginning the Ickesburg congregation was subor- 
dinate to the Buffalo Church. The Blain pastor serves this church, and in 
the Blain chapter will be found a list of the pastors. 

Ickesburg Methodist Church. The Ickesburg Methodist Church was 
built in 1843. It was long served by the pastors of the New Bloomfield 
charge, but of later years was connected with the Millerstown church. 
Services were held in it until 1920. During 1921 it was sold to the school 
board. 

Spring Township. 

While there appears to be no authentic account in the court records re- 
lating to Spring Township there is evidence that the preliminary petition 
to the court asking for the formation of the new township was presented 
at the January sessions in 1848. The viewers appointed were Richard 
Adams, James Black and Wm. B. Anderson. The report signed by Mr. 
Adams and Mr. Black, recommended the creation of the new township 
and named it Lawrence, but at the August sessions of court when the re- 
port was confirmed, although almost 200 citizens protested, it was made a 
township and named Spring. It was formed from lands taken from Ty- 
rone Township. 

Spring Township is bounded on the north by Saville and Centre, on the 
east by Centre and Carroll, on the south by Cumberland County, and on 
the west by Tyrone Township. Its outline on the north and east is irregu- 
lar. At the census of 1850, succeeding its formation, it had a population 
of 1,281, 105 farms, 215 houses, and 14 productive establishments. 

On February 4, 1755, one day after the lands which now comprise Perry 
County were opened to settlers, John Sanderson warranted 150 acres, the 
eastern end of Elliottsburg now being located on this property, and the 
road from the present hotel to the north being the line between him and 
Samuel Fisher, who patented his tract on May 1, 1755. A note signed by 
John Lukens, surveyor general, attached to Fisher's warrant, says : "I 
understand the land called Samuel Fisher's in this warrant to be the land 
first settled by Richard Kirkpatrick, and that there was a line marked 
between said Kirkpatrick and Sanderson by consent." Accordingly both 
Kirkpatrick and Sanderson must have been upon the grounds before the 
lands were open to settlement. As far as Kirkpatrick is concerned there 
is evidence to that effect, as quoted in one of the chapters in this book 
relating to the Indians, he having been one of those removed from the 
lands by the provincial authorities. John Sanderson warranted other tracts 
in 1785 and 1789. He resided on this original claim but owned 1,100 acres 
in one plot. In 1782 he was assessed with two stills and a gristmill, which 
was run as late as 1873 by John Snyder. When he died, in 1790, he be- 
queathed to his nephew, George Elliot, 400 acres. In 1829 George Elliot 
sold this property to George S. Hackett, who kept a hotel in what is stated 
to be the first brick house in Perry County, it having been built by San- 
derson before his death in 1790. It stood until 1884. 

Near the limestone ridge, east of Elliottsburg, Thomas Fisher, a son 
of Samuel Fisher, referred to above, took up 337 acres. William Power 
warranted eighty-six acres south of Elliottsburg and adjoining it, in 1788. 
Abraham Smith and Casper Comp took up 150 acres. The farm long 
known as the John Reapsome place, and the John Rice place, south of 
Elliottsburg, was taken up by Matthias Pierson, June 28, 1788, and com- 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1057 

prised 216 acres. It was described as being three miles in length and the 
shape of a horseshoe, the width at one end being ten rods, and at the other 
sixty-one. James Baxter warranted 207 acres. The "Little Germany" 
tracts were taken up by John Fuas (Foose) in 1794. In [820 he was 
assessed with 300 acres, a sawmill and a distillery. Edward Irvine, in [766, 
took up a large tract, and in 1795 Casper Comp took up sixty acres, in- 
cluding an improvement of Hermanns Alricks, who, with his brothers, 
James and West, had taken warrants for adjoining lands in 1784. In 
February, 1803, George Stroop warranted 250 acres adjoining lands, which 
he had purchased, east of Landisburg. While living in this vicinity Stroop 
was sheriff of Cumberland County. When the county was formed his 
heirs were assessed with over 1,300 acres of land. 

Stroop's main tract, passed 'to Martin Swartz in 1822, and in the same 
year to John Junkin, of Cumberland County, who located there and was 
associate judge of Perry County for nineteen years, after the death of the 
first incumbent, William Anderson. Mr. Junkin, in 1854, with his entire 
family, except B. F. Junkin, who later became president judge, removed 
to Iowa. When sold in 1822 it had erected thereon "a large brick bouse, 
gristmill, sawmill, five tenant houses, etc." On his removal Mr. Junkin 
sold to John Brown, who in 1866 conveyed it to Wm. P. Heckendorn. 
After his death it was conveyed to Jos. M. Bolze, in 1906. A year later 
it passed to C. E. Kuller, after whose death, in 191 1, it passed to Edward 
Cless, the present owner. This farm passed to John Brown, in 1854, and 
a few years later to Samuel Sports. Mr. Spotts sold twenty acres of it, 
on which had been built a gristmill and a sawmill, to William Heckendorn, 
a few years later. This property eventually passed to M. L. Rice & 
Brother, who abandoned the mill about 1900. 

In 1755 James Diven warranted 195 acres on which he later built a tan- 
nery. David Beard, in 1763, took up 150 acres, and in 1791 another sixty- 
five acres. Hugh Kilgore, in 1755, warranted 217 acres, and in 1766 an 
additional claim of 123 acres. In 1784 David Robb took up 100 acres, and 
' in 1785 an additional seventy acres adjoining it. There was a pine mill 
and a still on one of these properties, probably where the W r etzell mill 
later stood. Near Bridgeport four Ross brothers— Jonathan, John, Samuel 
and Thomas— warranted almost a thousand acres from 1762 to 1784. These 
lands extended almost to Landisburg. John Waggoner, the head of the 
family prominent in the milling industry of the county from then until 
now, purchased 500 acres of these Ross lands lying on both sides of the 
creek, and in 1805 erected the mill, now known as the B. P. Hooke mill. 
See "Old Landmarks, Mills and Industries." 

Near the line where Spring is joined by Carroll Township, along Sher- 
man's Creek, George Gibson took up fifty acres in February, 1785, and an- 
other fifty acres in 1787. Ann West Gibson took up 100 acres in April, 
1793. This was the Falling Springs property. She was the wife of George 
Gibson, who was killed in 1791 in battle, and took up the claim after his 
death. Her father, Francis West, and Ross Mitchell owned adjoining 
claims. George Gibson and his wife, Ann West Gibson, were the parents 
of five children, two of whom became prominent, John Bannister Gibson 
being a Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and George 
Gibson Commissary General of the United States. See chapter devoted 
to their lives. The old Gibson mill was built by Ann West Gibson prior 
to 1782, its history being embraced in the chapter on Old Landmarks, Mills, 
etc. When the county was formed in 1820, the Gibson heirs were assessed 
with 450 acres of land, a sawmill and a gristmill. The Wests, of which 
family' Mrs. Gibson was a member, were descendants of Francis West, 
who came over with William Penn on his second voyage to America, from 
67 



1058 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the family seat at "Westover," England. They took up large tracts along 
Sherman's Creek. William West warranted 323 acres in May, 1755; 
Francis West, several tracts in 1755 and 1757; Ann West Gibson, a tract 
in 1787; Edward West, 100 acres in 1792, and a tract called "Trouble 
Ended," in 1790. The 100-acre tract he called "Quaker Hill." 

Francis West, one of the family, was a "squatter" prior to taking out a 
warrant for his land. His old hut was still standing a dozen years after 
the formation of the county. At the outbreaking of the Revolution he 
resided at Carlisle and was judge of the courts. During the war he moved 
to his lands here, where he died in 1784. 

In March, 1794, James McCord warranted 200 acres. In August, 1784, 
Hugh Ferguson warranted a tract which he named "Bachelor's Retreat." 
Henry Gass, one of those driven from the county by the provincial au- 
thorities at the behest of the Indians in 1750, returned and warranted lands, 
parts of which have been in the hands of the Dunkleberger families of 
recent generations. On the north side of Quaker Hill, Robert Kelley war- 
ranted fifty acres. In August, 1793, Christian Heckendorn and Thomas 
McKee warranted 400 acres, but a year later McKee sold his portion to 
Heckendorn. When the county was formed Heckendorn was one of the 
largest landowners, being assessed with over 700 acres. 

John McBride, in 1767, warranted 224 acres, and William Nelson, during 
the period from 1787 to 1793 warranted 550 acres, both tracts being near 
Oak Grove furnace, which was located on part of the Christian Hecken- 
dorn place. Later these lands were known as the "Thudium tract," and 
still later passed to the ownership of the McCormick estate. In February, 
1794, William Long took up 400 acres, adjoining the Long's Gap road. In 
September, 1766, Hance Ferguson patented 304 acres, and John Johnson 
warranted lands in 1766 and 1771 totaling 237 acres. Adam Junkin war- 
ranted a plot, and he and Benjamin Junkin, as early as 1773, purchased 
the Johnston lands, later part being sold to John Carl. 

Elliottsburg, a village located on the line of the Newport & Sherman's 
valley Railroad, which is located on parts of the original grants of Wil- 
liam Power and Samuel Fisher, was named after George Elliott, who in- 
herited 400 acres of the Sanderson grants. Evidently it already bore that 
name before 1828, when the post office was established, Henry C. Hacket 
being the first postmaster. Peter Bernheisel was the first merchant, being 
succeeded by Cadwallader Jones. Mrs. Gilbert Moon moved from Lan- 
disburg and kept the first tavern. When the county seat agitation was on 
one 1 if the sites proposed was located here. The first subscription school 
here was taught in the kitchen of the mill tenant house, by Alex. Peale, 
Alex. Topley and Alex. Poddy, in succession. The Hershey Creamery 
Company, of Harrisburg, built a milk condensory here in 1918. 

Elliottsburg has at times been the location of physicians, among them 
having been Dr. Conrad, of Northumberland County, a graduate of Jef- 
ferson Medical College, who later located in Florida ; Dr. G. W. Eppley, 
who was here a short time before locating at Marysville ; Dr. Boyer and 
Dr. G. W. Byers, the last named removing to McVeytown in 1888; and 
Dr. L. M. Shumaker, who later located in Harrisburg, practicing there 
until his death in 1919. 

Two other Spring Township physicians were Henry Von Haken, a 
graduate of the University of Berlin, who located there in 1865, and Dr. 
Louis Ellerman, of Prussia. 

Bridgeport is located on the north bank of Sherman's Creek on lands 
originally warranted by the Ross brothers. About 1832 James Ball erected 
a blacksmith shop, and in 1838 Wilson Welsh started a store. It became 
a local centre from then on. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1059 

In 1795 Casper Comp took up sixty acres, including an improvement of 
Ilermanus Alricks, who with his brothers James and West Alricks, had 
warranted adjoining lands in [784. Conrad Holman bought tin's tract in 
1800 and built a sawmill and a fulling mill. The adjoining settlemeni be- 
came known as "Slabtown" (also "Milltown") by reason of the fact that 
most of the houses were built of slabs from the Holman mill. It later 
passed to the McAfees, who operated the fulling mill in its final stages. 
It 1- now owned by the Bolze family. 

At an early date Abraham Shively erected a brick house and kept a 
tavern known as the Blue Ball Hotel, the sign being large blue balls. Wil- 
son McClure erected the mill later known as the Fry mill. 

James Diven warranted 105 acres in 1755, and later built a tannery 
thereon. He died in 1818. This property later passed to Daniel Spotts, 
and then to Frank Spotts. In 171X4 David Rohb warranted a tract of 100 
acres, including a "pine hill." This was probably at or near the site of 
Wentzell's mill, which was one of the pioneer mills. It was long owned 
by Robert Crozier. An old distillery was located on the place and operated 
until the period of the War between the; States. 

It was in present Spring Township that Secretary Peters, of the Prov- 
ince of Pennsylvania, reported in 1750 that he had found "on Sherman's 
Creek, about six miles over the Blue Mountain, James Parker, Thomas 
Parker, Owen McKeib, John McClare, Richard Kirkpatrick, James Mur- 
ray. John Scott, Henry Gass, John Cowan, Simon Girtee (Girty), and John 
Ki lough, who had settled and erected cabins or log houses there." 

There was once a tannery on the Carlisle-Landisburg road, over a mile 
above Falling Springs, built by George Kepner, who sold to Samuel K. 
Dunkelberger and T. M. Dromgold. They sold it to Abram Wertz, who 
rebuilt it and operated it until his death. The property was then pur- 
chased by Alfred Dunkelberger, who built a home there. 

Located in that part of Spring Township known as "Little Germany" as 
early as 1780 was a schoolhouse, which had been erected by Henry Lu- 
dolph Spark, a German teacher, who taught there until his death, when he 
bequeathed the property for school purposes. It contained seventeen acres. 
Israel Carl taught for a period of about twenty years thereafter, the 
school thereby acquiring that name. It was a log building, including the 
dwelling house of the teacher, under the same roof. When J. B. Cooper 
taught there, prior to 1850, a partly finished gravestone occupied a posi- 
tion on a table in the center of the room, at which the teacher worked 
when not teaching. Another building was built almost at the same spot 
in 1851. William Grier, who died in 1919, and who resided in New Bloom- 
field, where he was proprietor of the academy for so many years, was the 
teacher of the first two sessions in it. 

Woomer's Cave, an extensive subterranean cavern, is located in Spring 
Township. It contains a number of rooms, and has been explored by the 
more daring of several generations. It is on the farm known as the 
Wentzel place, later owned by John W. Kell, and was first discovered by 
W. H. Kell. 

In 1798 a schoolhouse was erected in Pisgah Valley, and in 1859 a brick 
building took its place. This school is known to this day as the Pisgah 
schoolhouse. About 1800 another was built at St. Peters' Church. It too 
was a log house and the congregations of the Lutheran and Reformed 
Churches used it as a place of worship until 1817, when their church was 
completed. It was in use until about 1849, when it was replaced by a new 
one. There was a schoolhouse known as West's (later known as Union), 
which stood as late as 1830, the time of its erection being obscure. It was 
at this school that Chief Justice John Bannister Gibson was a pupil. There 



io6o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

was a schoolhousc where Springdale is now located, which was in use as 
late as 1835, and at that time was a very old building. Its early history is 
unknown. It was located on the original grant of George Stroop and on 
the farm later owned by the father of Judge B. F. Junkin, who attended 
school there as a boy. Among the teachers at that period were James B. 
Cooper, William Power, John Ferguson and Henry Thatcher. 

When Colonel George Gibson fell at the defeat of General St. Clair, 
the United States Government, then in its very beginning, probably gave 
little attention to pensions, and his widow, Ann West Gibson, and her 
little sons had only the small earnings of a primitive gristmill between 
them and poverty. Nothing daunted, the young widow built a school- 
house near her home and herself became the teacher of the little neighbor- 
hood, from whence went forth her son, John Bannister, later the celebrated 
chief justice of Pennsylvania. 

As stated elsewhere, several efforts have been made to discover oil on 
Perry County soil, but without success. At this time over 18,000 acres have 
been leased in Spring and Tyrone Townships, and a well is being sunk on 
the F. P. Spotts farm. The company is known as the Perry Oil and Gas 
Company, whose directors are : W. R. Graupner, president ; E. O. 
Meadows, vice-president ; Job J. Conklin, secretary-treasurer ; Alvin 
Fraim, Elmer Ehler and E. C. Dile, the latter from Perry County and the 
others residents of Harrisburg. 

The old Thudium or Fry mill, south of Alinda, dates back prior to 1820, 
when Perry County was still a part of Cumberland County. Hermanas 
and James Alricks conveyed these lands to Wilson McClure in 1801. Wil- 
son McClure sold to Martin Swartz, who upon his death in 1824 devised to 
his son, John Swartz, the gristmill and sawmill. John Swartz, in 1834 con- 
veyed to John Diven, and his administrator passed title to Christian 
Thudium in 1841. Mr. Thudium sold to Col. Wm. J. Graham in 1875. 
About 1878 they passed to Frederick Fry, and to Albert Fry in 1887. His 
wife, Elizabeth Fry, became owner in 1892, and passed the title to her son, 
John Fry, the present owner. 

According to the mercantile appraiser the following firms are doing 
business in Spring Township, the dates being time of entering the business: 
General stores, T. M. Bolze, one each at Milltown and Lebo ; 1. A. Bower & 
S( n, W. H. Gray, J. E. Garber, J. B. Gibson. 

Groceries, D. A. Dunkelberger, R. T. Thompson. 
Flour and feed, S. V. Dunkelberger, B. P. Hooke. 

Charles A. Dum, fertilizer; J. F. Frye, feed; James H. Rice, fertilizer; 
J. W. Rice, meat market; Ed. Reapsome, Jr. (1920), cigars: C. G. Reiber 
(1918). established by M. H. Sheibley (1907), fencing; J. R. Rhoads. produce; 
II. R. Wentzel, grain; R. F. Thompson, poultry. 

Ludolph Church, in Little Germany. Carl's schoolhouse, located in Little 
Germany, Spring Township, was a preaching station as early as 1837, Rev. 
John William Heim, of the Lutherans, and Rev. Jacob Scholl, of the Re- 
formed faith, holding services there. A joint church was built there in 
[842 on the tract of Ludolph Sparks, and in his honor was named Ludolph 
Church. Both faiths worshiped there until i860, when the Lutheran Church 
at Elliottsburg — a near-by point — was completed. The Reformed people 
continued to worship there until 1872, wdien the Reformed Church was 
built in Elliottsburg, when they too abandoned it. It still stands and is 
sometimes used for funeral services. 

Church of God — Oak Groz'C and l/ttlc Germany. The Church of God 
was organized at Oak Grove, in Spring Township, in 1833, by Archibald 
Young. The one at Little Germany was organized somewhat later. Until 
1858 both congregations worshiped in schoolhouses, but then a stone church 
was built a half-mile north of Lebo. Since then the members of that 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1061 

faith have worshiped there. The building committee was composed of 
Abraham S. Baker, George Reiber, Sr., and Jacob Dentler. Stephen Losh 
was the contractor. The elders and ministers have been the same as those 
of the Landisburg Church of God. See Landisburg chapter. 

Blliottsburg Lutheran Church. This church was first regularly organ- 
ized in 1840, by Rev. John William Heim, at Ludolph's Church, in the sec- 
tion known as Little Germany, although he had held services there for 
several years previous in Carl's schoolhouse, as described above. The 
location is about a mile and a half east of Klliottsburg. As the years 
passed settlement in this district remained stationary or perhaps became 
less, while the village of Elliottsburg, located on the main valley road, 
grew in size. Accordingly the congregation was incorporated on January 
7, 1867, and arrangements begun for the building of a new church at 
Elliottsburg for the congregation. One-half an acre of land was pur- 
chased from W. S. Snyder for $125, and one-fourth an acre from Jacob 
Dum for $62.50, as a site during 1868. In May of that year the corner 
stone was laid, the services being held in the barn of Thomas Gray, 
near by, Rev. Peter Sahm, the pastor, officiating. It was dedicated in 
1869. Henry Fleisher and Michael Noll, Jr., composed the building com- 
mittee. Abram W. Kistler was the contractor, the price being $2,350. It 
was remodeled in 1885. 

Elliottsburg Reformed Church. St. John's Reformed Church at Elliotts- 
burg, like the Lutheran Church, is the re-sult of the earlier congregation 
which worshiped in the joint church in Little Germany. The membership 
coming largely from the vicinity of Elliottsburg, which had attained the 
proportions of a village, it was decided to build a new church there. A 
lot was purchased from Jacob Sheibley, and almost an acre of ground for 
burial purposes, from Jacob Dum, and a church built, which was dedicated 
October 13, 1872, Rev. E. V. Gerhardt then being the pastor. The pastors 
have been the same as those of the Landisburg Reformed Church, for 
which see Landisburg chapter. The contract price of the church was 
$2,950. The building committee consisted of George Hoobaugh, Julius 
Ciin>key, George Rheem and Win. Sheibley. 

.1//. Zion United Evangelical Church. This church is located at Elliotts- 
burg. Prior to the building of the first church, services were held in homes 
for a number of years. The first church was built in 1856, the building 
committee being John Dum and William Nelson. Jt is a part of Perry 
Circuit, and the pastor resides here. The church was rebuilt in 1907, when 
C. W. Hippie was pastor, the building committee being Margaret Dum, 
W. R. Dum and T. L. Hench. Pastors have been as follows, since 1881 : 
[881-82— Rev. J. M. Brader. Rev. W. J. Dice. 

1882-83— Rev. J. F. Shultz. 1899-03— Rev. J. H. Hertz. 

18S3-85 — Rev. J. W. Bentz. 1903-05— Rev. A. L. Burkett. 

1885-87 — Rev. George Josephs. 1905-06 — Rev. W. M. Sanner. 

,887-89— Rev. W. W. Rhoads. 1906-10— Rev. C. W. Hippie. 

Rev. Wm. Minsker. 1910-13 — Rev. M. T. Crouch. 

1889-92 — Rev. J. R. Sechrist. 1913-15 — Rev. Earl P. Markel. 

1892-95— Rev. H. T. Searle. 1915-20 — Rev. W. E. Smith. 

[895-97 — Rev. E. L. Kessler. 1920-22 — Rev. L. E. Teter. 

1897-99 — Rev. A. S. Baumgardner. 1922- — Rev. D. I'. Smeltzer. 

TonovNE Townshtp. 

Until 1763 Toboyne Township was a part of Tyrone Township, when in 
accordance with a petition of residents to the court of Cumberland County, 
it was created a separate township. The action of the court was not very 
specific in designating boundary lines, as this order would indicate: "Upon 
application of some of the inhabitants of Tyrone Township to this court, 



1062 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

setting forth that said township is too large, it is adjudged by the said 
court that Alexander Roddy's mill run be the line, and the name of the 
upper, Toboyne, Alexander Logan being in Toboyne Township." Accord- 
ingly, Toboyne became the second township in what is now Perry County. 
Its area was reduced by the formation of Madison, in 1836, and of Jack- 
son, in 1844, yet it remains one of the largest hi the county, its area being 
about seventy-five square miles. Located at the extreme west end of the 
county, it reaches from Juniata County, on the north, to Cumberland 
County, on the south. On the west it is bounded by Franklin County, and 
on the east by Jackson Township. It is the only township in the county 
which borders on three counties, other than the one in which it is located. 

The Waggoner gristmill, two miles west of Loysville, occupies the site 
of the Alexander Roddy mill, and Alexander Logan lived on the farm of 
Preston J. McMillen, at Sandy Hill. A line running through these points 
was practically north and south, which evidently was the intention of the 
court. Constituted as it was then Toboyne Township comprised about 
one-fourth of the territory of the county as later formed. 

Among early warrants for land in Toboyne were: John Wilson, 200 
acres in 1755; Jobn Rhea, 100 acres in 1767; John Thomas, 113 acres in 
Horse Valley, in 1765; William Wallace, 292 acres in 1765; John Watt, 
209 acres in 1766, and 150 in 1767. On this latter tract the first gristmill 
in what is now Toboyne Township was built in 1800, by Samuel Leaman. 
Other early warrants were granted to John Glass, William Adams, John 
Jordan, Archibald Watts, John Farrier, Patrick and John Culbertson and 
Robert McKee. Although the warrant of John Wilson, dated in 1755, is 
the earliest on record, yet there must have been others, as Wilson's lands 
are described as being "bounded by those of John Watt, Joseph McClin- 
tock, Brown's Run, Robert Morrow and Anthony Morrison." 

Stephen, Francis and John Johnston settled as early as 1780, and John 
Clendennin in 1792. When the county was formed in 1820, the population 
of Toboyne was 1,955, and the valuation $342,179. Tavern licenses were 
held in 1821 by Peter Shively and James Baird ; in 1822, by John Snell, 
Henry Zimmerman and David Koutz, and in 1823, by John Strawbridge. 
In those days it was a common custom for merchants to take out a liquor 
license in connection with their stores, so that it is not always possible to 
make a clear distinguishing mark between the two lines of traffic. Anthony 
Black was licensed in 1825, as was Henry Zimmerman, who kept a place 
at Andersonburg, where he was also postmaster. 

When the township was first created Tyrone and Toboyne voted at the 
same place, but in 1803 they were formed into two election districts, the 
house of Henry Zimmerman being named as the polling place for To- 
boyne. In 1830, Jackson and Madison having not yet been separated from 
Toboyne, there were two polling places, according to a proclamation in the 
Perry Forester, at the schoolhouse in New Germantown, and at Zimmer- 
man's tavern. Early merchants were Anthony Black, B. Fosselman & Co., 
James Ewing and James Morrison. Ewing had a store in New German- 
town, and also for a time at Mt. Pleasant. Black's store was at his home, 
near Mt. Pleasant, and later at Blain. 

Toboyne Township was early an important location for tanneries. The 
Adams tannery, located about two miles south of New Germantown, was 
the first one, being built before 1814, in which year Thomas Adams was 
assessed with it. In 1824 it was burned to the ground. It was assessed in 
1835 in the name of James Adams, and was operated until about 1840. 
The New Germantown tannery was built by John Stewart about 1820. In 
1835 it was assessed as the property of Noah Elder, who ran it many 
years. It was later owned by James Humes, and was then bought by the 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1063 

Morrison Brothers, who ran it until about 1865. Fairview tannery, near 
the head of the valley, with a large capacity, was erected between 1835 
and 1840, by John Hoover and Arnold Faughs. In 1848 William Elder 
and son Filson, became the owners. The latter later became the owner. 
After running it eight years he sold it to Ephraim McLaughlin, who oper- 
ated it until 1870, when it was abandoned, owing to the lack of railroad 
communication. In 1847 Israel and Samuel Lupfer built the Monterey 
tannery at the upper end of the narrow valley lying at the base of Bower's 
Mountain. The brothers gained a competence through it. Israel Lupfer 
purchased bis brother's share in 1858, and ran it until 1880. In connection 
with John Wiley. Charles H. Rippman purchased it. They sold it to Hans 
Reese' Sons, in 1881, who abandoned it in 1889 Trior to the construction 
of the Newport & Sherman's Valley Railroad through western Perry Mr. . 
Rippman hauled leather in wagons down the valley on the way to market, 
and on the return trip he hauled hides for tanning. 

The first gristmill to he built within the present limits of Toboyne Town- 
ship was erected about 1800, by Samuel Lehman, at a point on Sherman's 
Creek, about two miles west of New Germantown. In the year of the 
county's erection he was assessed with a gristmill, a sawmill and 277 acres 
of land. Rev. Peter Long, of Huntingdon County, purchased it in 1843, 
and while in his possession, in 1885, the mill burned. He rebuilt it, and in 
1890, his executor, E. D. Book, sold it to Ernest Blemel, who operated it 
until 1895, when it again burned. It was not again rebuilt. 

The New Germantown gristmill had much to do with the location of 
New Germantown, which was laid out in 1816, as to it came the trade from 
the surrounding territory. The mill was then already established, and its 
owner, Jacob Kreamer, had his home within the present limits of New 
Germantown. It is now known as the Snyder mill. It is located on Sher- 
man's Creek, a short distance southeast of the town. While Mr. Kreamer 
had occupied the lands before and erected the mill, his patent only dates 
to 1827. In 1857 he sold to Lydia and James E. Gray, who in 1874 sold to 
Abraham Snyder. In 1903 the property was purchased by John W. Fry. 
In the assessment list of 1767, when Toboyne yet retained its original area 
—including what is now Jackson and Madison — the following names ap- 
pear : 

James, Thomas, William and Robert Adams, each ioo acres; John Baxter, 
50; John Brown, 200; James Brown, 50; John Blair, 100; Barnett Cunning- 
ham, 200; Thomas Clark, 100; Bartholomew Davis, 100; John Crawford, 
ioo;' "A Dutchman," too; William Ewings, 100; John Glass, 100; William 
Gardner, 100; Jacob Grove, 200 and a grist and sawmill; Thomas Huett, 150; 
Andrew' Helander, 200; James Morrison, 150; Anthony Morrison, 150; 
Joseph McClintock, 150; James Murray, 100; John Mitchell, 200; John Mc- 
Neere, 100 ; William McClelland, 100 ; Robert Adams, 100 ; William Anderson, 
200 ; James Boal, 100 ; Adam Boal and John Whiting, 150 ; James Blain, 300 ; 
Robert Brown, 100; John Byers, 200; Robert Caldwell, 100; James McCord, 
100; Alexander Roddy, 100; George Sanderson, 200; Andrew Taylor, 200; 
John Watt, 150; Thomas White, 100; William Harkness, 100. 

In 1814 the assessment list, still including Madison and Jackson, shows 
the following industries : 

Abraham Groves, gristmill; Jacob Gunkle, sawmill; George Hollenbaugh, 
grist and oilmill, where the Abram Bistline mill was later located, in present 
Madison Township ; Bailey Long, gristmill ; David Moreland, merchant, grist- 
mill ; James Maxwell, fulling mill ; John Moreland, grist and sawmill ; Engle- 
hart Wormley, grist and sawmill ; Thomas Adams, tanyard ; Solomon Bower, 
distillery; Jacob Bryner, still; John Brown, sawmill; Frederick Bryner, grist 
ami sawmill, known as the Waggoner mill; Abram Bower, still, located on the 
George Loy farm ; Owen Bruner, gristmill, later Trostle's ; Jacob Creamer, 



1064 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

gristmill, later the Abram Snyder mill ; William Cook, sawmill ; George 
Ebright, tanyard ; John Musselman, still; Samuel Lemon, gristmill. 

The number of industries was 4 stills, 6 sawmills, 10 gristmills, 2 tan- 
neries and a fulling mill. 

John Clendenin, a settler in what is now Toboyne Township, was killed 
and scalped by the Indians, about one-fourth mile southwest of the Mon- 
terey tannery site. He evidently had located lands which the Indians con- 
sidered an encroachment. In July, 1772, his son, also John Clendenin, 
warranted 109 acres, and in January, 1792, 178 acres. This first tract may 
have been one claimed by the father. 

Toboyne Township furnished the officers for two companies, the fourth 
and eighth, of the famous Frederick Watts battalion of Cumberland 
County Militia during the Revolution, and practically all the men. See 
chapter on the subject. During the War of 1812 Captain David Moreland's 
company contained a large proportion of Toboyne men. Captain Moreland 
was from what is now Blain. 

For variety of physical features Toboyne Township leads the county, 
but as many of them are described in the chapter on "The Tuscarora For- 
est," the reader will do well to refer there. Within its borders is the head 
of Sherman's Valley, parts of Horse and Henry's Valleys, Little Illinois 
Valley, Sherman's Creek, Houston's Run (locally known as Sheaffer's 
Run), Brown's Run (locally known as Fowler Run), Patterson's Run, parts 
of the Tuscarora and Kittatinny or Blue Mountains, Conococheague Moun- 
tain, Rising Mountain, Bowers Mountain, Big Round Top, Little Round 
To]), Buck's Hills, Chestnut Ridge (locally known as Shultz Ridge), and 
others of lesser note. A mile north of New Germantown is a small set- 
tlement known as Seagertown. 

Many years ago William Stump, father of Jesse Stump, came across the 
Kittatinny Mountain to locate. He carried a willow cane, which he stuck 
into the soil near the creek at the farm now known as the Philip Sheaffer 
place, about two miles west of New Germantown. From that little cane, 
used to mark a line, there grew a large willow tree, which the writer 
measured in July, 1919, while collecting material for this volume. At a 
height of five feet from the ground the circumference was twenty-four 
feet, nine inches. The ravages of time have started its disintegration. 

Toboyne Township was also the home of the Blaines, one of America's 
noted families, which gave to the country both then and since distinguished 
services, but as the lands taken up by these pioneers of that name were in 
that part of Toboyne which later became Jackson Township. The history 
pertaining to them is included in that of Jackson Township and the chapter 
devoted to the Blaine Family. 

As early as 1800 records show two schoolhouses in that part of Toboyne 
Township which constitutes it at present. One was located at the western 
end of New Germantown, and Anthony Black and two men named Johns- 
ton and Steele were teachers before the county was created. The other 
was near the farm now owned by Samuel B. Trostle. It had a clapboard 
roof, slab benches and desks, a wooden chimney, and two windows, the 
lights of which were of greased paper. The ceiling was of poles, and the 
floor of hewed logs. About 1805 another schoolhouse was erected at the 
farm now owned by D. Dervin Hollenbaugh. As early as 1814, a bill 
dated March 28th, passed the Pennsylvania Legislature relating to To- 
boyne, as follows : 

"Section 1. The land officers to make a title clear of purchase money and 
fees tn trustees for schools to he established in the* township of Toboyne for a 
piece of land. 

"Section 2. A majority of subscribers to supply vacancies of trustees." 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1065 

There is record of a schoolhouse "buill of mud," located near New 
Germantown, and taught by a man named Thatcher, among the pupils be- 
ing children of James Johnston, then a prominent citizen of that com- 
munity, one of whose sons, George Johnston, was later Perry County's 
representative in the State Legislature. 

The business places of Toboyne Township, according to the report of 
the mercantile appraiser, are as follows: 

General stores, Vernon Smith. C. W. Bistline, J. A. Rhea. 

Stambaugh & Smith, coal; M. !•'.. Morrison, millinery, Kirby Moose, meat 
market. 

New Germantown. Joseph McClintock warranted much land and bought 
more until he owned a large tract. The Kern farms and the Wilhide lands 
were a part of his holdings, as were also the lands on which New German- 
town to-day stands. He took up most of them before 1767. Solomon 
Sheibley came into possession of the property on which the town stands 
and which he laid out in lots March 1, 1816. The original plan was four 
blocks of six lots each, eighty feet wide by one hundred and fifty feet in 
depth. A public sale of lots was held on March 18, 1816. 

Among the earliest residents of which there is record were J. Kuntz, 
shoemaker; John Leiby, carpenter; J. Smith, hatter, and William and 
Mathias Stump, blacksmiths. The lots for taxation purposes were valued 
at ten dollars. Jacob Kreamer, who once owned the mill southeast of 
town, was another resident. 

At the east end of the town, on the George Kern farm, now owned by 
George M. Smith, is a remarkably large spring — one of the noted springs 
of the county — and which gave to the immediate vicinity the name of 
Limestone Spring, before the town was laid out. It is so named on 
Mitchell's old map of Pennsylvania. One of the early settlers of the town 
was William A. Morrison, who located there in 1830, father of the present 
Morrisons residing there, who was a county auditor, postmaster for eleven 
years, and for a period of thirty years a justice of the peace. In 1830 
there were two taverns there, the "Old Stone Castle" or "Blue Ball 
Hotel" of David Koutz, and another kept by Thomas B. Jacobs, who died 
in 1833. It was then purchased by Mrs. Emily Gray, grandmother of the 
Morrisons, who kept a licensed house, known as "Travelers' Rest," until 
i860, when she decided to run the place as a temperance house, which 
shows that over a half century ago the temperance question was already 
a matter of issue in Perry County. The Koutz place was unlicensed from 
1831 to 1875, when William A. Shields was licensed. Samuel Kern and 
John Sanderson were once proprietors. From then on until the county 
"went dry" in 1918, there was a license at times and at times not. It was 
once known as the "Blue Ball" tavern, the sign being two large globes. 

John Kooken was appointed a justice of the peace in 1822, and served 
many years. The tannery in the early years of the county's history, was 
operated by Noah A. Elder. 

On June 18, 1842, the town was incorporated as a borough by an act of 
the legislature, but failure to fulfill all the provisions of the act caused 
the charter to be forfeited. Its existence as a separate unit must have 
been longer than usually stated, as an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, 
March 12, 1849, creates it a special election district, and an act of May, 
1850, authorizes New Germantown Borough and Toboyne Township 
jointly to sign liquor applications. During the existence of the town there 
have been two serious conflagrations. On March 3, 1876, the stores of 
Dr. F. A. Gutshall and J. Morrison & Son and the dwellings of Barbara 
Kreamer and Jane Morrison's heirs were destroyed by fire, and in 1885 
J. E. Rumple's store burned. 



1066 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

New Germantown is located twenty-eight miles west of Newport, almost 
at the extreme west end of Sherman's Valley, and is the western terminus 
of the narrow gauge railroad. It is on the state highway leading from 
New Bloomfield, Perry County, to Chambersburg, Franklin County. 

Rev. Dr. Frederick Oberholtzer was the first physician at New German- 
town, being also pastor of the Lutheran Church. This was prior to 1821, 
in which year he died. Dr. J. R. Scott began practice there in 1824, but 
there is no record of the length of his practice in point of time. In 1843 
Dr. William C. Hays located in New Germantown, where he practiced for 
six years. Dr. F. A. Gutshall, who graduated from the University of 
Pennsylvania in 1866, located in New Germantown, but some years later 
removed to Blain, where he is still in active practice. Dr. A. R. Johnston, 
reared in the vicinity, located here in 1883, but removed to New Bloomfield 
a year later. Dr. Milton Shull located here in 1885, but later removed to 
Hummelstown, where he was successful. Dr. W. J. Allen, Baltimore 
University, '76, was located here for a while, when he transferred to Lan- 
disburg. Dr. Russell Campbell, Medico-Chi., '09, was also here for a year 
or two, until his death. Dr. B. F. Grosh, an able and learned physician, 
came from Lancaster County and located at Andersonburg in 1844. He 
married into the well-known Anderson family and practiced here until his 
death in 1857. He was the father of Alexander Blaine Grosh, later a pro- 
thonotary of the county, and successor of the late John A. Baker as editor 
of the Perry County Freeman. After Dr. Grosh's death Dr. E. B. Hotch- 
kin was located there for about two years. Previous to locating in Ickes- 
burg Dr. Jonathan Jackson practiced in Andersonburg in 1859. Dr. George 
W. Mitchell, a native of the county, located at Andersonburg at the close 
of the War between the States, having graduated in i860, and served in 
the war as a surgeon of one of the Pennsylvania regiments. He prac- 
ticed until about 1900. 

New Germantown Lutheran Church. A number of Lutheran families 
having been residents of New Germantown and vicinity, a meeting was 
held March 12, 1893, at which an organization was effected. The church 
was built in 1894, its first officers having been : Solomon Gutshall and J. K. 
Shoemaker, elders ; S- A. Gutshall, William Hollenbaugh and P. G. Beigh- 
ler, deacons. It belongs to the Blain charge, and has the same ministers. 

New Germantown M. B. Church. The first Methodist organization was 
effected in 1841, and at that time the congregation was connected with the 
Concord (Franklin County) Circuit. The church was built in 1843 on 
land donated by Solomon Sheibley, who also gave the land for the ceme- 
tery. Until then the congregation had worshiped in the school building, 
but was refused its further use. They also worshiped in a discarded 
schoolhouse owned by James Adams. The church later belonged to the 
New Bloomfield Circuit until about 1875, when the Blain charge was 
formed, and it became a part. (See Bloomfield and Blain chapters for 
list of pastors.) 

Horse J 'alley M. E. Church. A Methodist Episcopal church was built 
in Horse Valley in 1857, being located on lands of Benjamin Scyoc, who 
donated them. It was dedicated December 2j, 1857. It was then desig- 
nated as "Scyoc Chapel." Among those interested in its erection were 
Elias Cook, Benjamin Scyoc, William Widney and Jacob Seibert. It is 
still in use, the pastor from East Waterford holding services. 

Tuscarora Township. 

Tuscarora Township, with the single exception of Howe, was the last 
division in so far as the townships of Perry County are concerned. It was 
at the October term of the courts in 1858 that the matter of the formation 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1067 

of a new township from parts of Greenwood and Juniata Townships was 
presented. The court ordered an election to he held, which was the only 
instance in the entire list of townships where such a course was taken, 
and it was accordingly held on November 30, 1858. 

The result of the election being favorable the court at the session of 
January 3, 1859, issued the following decree: 

"Whereupon. January 3, 1859, the Clerk of the Court of Quarter Sessions 
having laid the within return before the court, it is ordered and decreed that 
a new township be erected agreeably to the lines marked out bj the commis 
sic ners, whose report is filed, and that the said township be named "Tuscarora," 
and further, the court do order and decree that the place of holding the elec- 
tions shall lie at the house of Michael Donnally, at Donnally's Mills, and do ap 
point Jacob Yohn, Judge, and James II. D'eavor and David Leonard, Inspectors, 
to hold the spring elections for the present sear, and also appoint John S. Kerr, 
constable." 

Tuscarora Township is bounded on the north by the Juniata County 
line, on the east by the Juniata River, on the south by Oliver and Juniata 
Townships, and on the west by Saville Township. Its territory is con- 
siderably of wooded land, being traversed its entire length by four ridges 
of more or less importance. At the north is the Tuscarora Mountain, its 
crest being the township line as well as the county line. Ore Ridge, com- 
paratively low, and running parallel, comes next. Then south of the fer- 
tile Raccoon Valley lies Raccoon Ridge, and south of that is Hominy 
Ridge, which separates it from Juniata Township. 

Raccoon Valley is drained by Raccoon Creek, which empties into the 
Juniata River below Millerstown. The streams from the Tuscarora Moun- 
tain all flow into Raccoon Creek, and the streams from Raccoon Ridge 
and Hominy Ridge flow into Sugar Run in Buckwheat Valley. The soil 
in the latter valley is not so fertile as that of Raccoon Valley. 

Among the early warrants for lands was that of Robert Larimer for 
2ig acres, opposite Millerstown and above Raccoon Creek, in 1766. The 
next property northward was warranted by Lewis Gronow in 1775, and 
contained fifty-three acres, and still further north Thomas Craig war- 
ranted 214 acres in 1794. Up the valley to the north, James Black war- 
ranted 251 acres in 1763; John Black, Jr., 366 acres in 1790; Robert Coch- 
ran, 212 acres in 1767, and Samuel Atlee, 200 acres in the same year. The 
John Black tracts were occupied in recent generations by Jonathan Black 
and James G. Kreamer. The tannery built by John Black and operated 
by him, and later by his son Jonathan, was located here. 

The mill property known as Donnally's Mills, and still in possession of a 
member of that family, L. E. Donnally, who once represented his county 
in the General Assembly of Pennsylvania, was warranted by Henry Bull 
in 1763. He built the gristmill and sold to Michael Donnally about 1840. 
The William Fosselman and B. H. Inhoff farms were warranted to Wil- 
liam Bull in 1767. Other warrants were granted A. Thomas White, Janet 
Brown in 1763, Robert McCrary in 1767, and George Robinson in 1763. 
The Loudons took up almost a thousand acres, as follows : James Loudon, 
266 acres in 1767; Matthew Loudon, 2>7 2 acres in 1768, and Archibald 
Loudon, 296 acres in 1784. Another warrant was that of John Murray, 
for 130 acres in 1766. 

In Buckwheat Valley Cornelius Ryan warranted lands in 1792, George 
Leonard in 1782, and Edward O. Donnally, the ancestor of the Perry 
County Donnallys, in 1782. John Miller warranted lands in 1794, and Rob- 
ert Campbell's heirs in 1767. This is, no doubt, the Robert Campbell re- 
ferred to in one of our chapters on the Indians, in which a house was 
attacked while six men were at dinner, and all of them, including Campbell, 



N 



io68 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

were murdered, except one George Dodds, who escaped. The cabin was 
burned by the redskins. 

A thousand acres of ridge lands were warranted by Peter Jones, Philip 
Jones and William White. The John and Matthew Louden lands were 
later known as the Devor tract. Colonel John McKenzie built the gristmill 
there about 1840. In 1845 it passed to Devors. On Sugar Run, William 
Brown warranted 416 acres. The Archibald Loudon named here as war- 
ranting lands was doubtless the author of the famous Loudon's Narratives, 
reference to which is made a number of times in this book. The William 
Bull named as warranting lands, had three sons. On one occasion he and 
his son William were in a field planting corn when they were surprised by 
the Indians and taken captive, being held for a year. One of William Bull's 
children, Rebecca, later became Mrs. William Neilson, who was the grand- 
mother of the late Judge William Neilson Seibert. Bull's Hill graveyard, 
which was a burying ground for a hundred years, was named after this 
family. This place of burial was started by the burial of a man who was 
crossing the old Indian path over the Tuscarora Mountain and was frozen 
to death. The graves in earlier days were covered with stones to prevent 
the wolves from digging up the remains. The oldest stone in this grave- 
yard is dated 1783, to the memory of James Loudon, who was the father 
of Archibald Loudon, author of Loudon's Narratives. Colonel Bull was 
killed after the surrender of Fort Erie on July 4, 1814, being ambushed 
by the Indians. See chapter on the War of 1812. 

Ward's mill was located in Tuscarora Township, near the mouth of 
Raccoon Creek, and not far from the line of the Pennsylvania Railroad, 
on lands once owned by Jacob F. Markley, which passed to George Roth- 
rock in 1844, and to others in 1858. In 1868 Fietta Ward, wife of John 
Ward, became the owner. Just when it was built cannot be stated but, in 
the deed of 1868, from Wm. and Jacob Rothrock and William J. Jones, 
it is described as having thereon erected "a frame gristmill and sawmill." 
About 1886 it was burned down, ownership at that time resting in the 
Wards. It was never rebuilt. 

The oldest schoolhouse in Tuscarora Township was situated in "the 
narrows," along the road from Donally's Mills to Buckwheat Valley. It 
was built in 1780. Owing to defective wooden chimneys three houses were 
burned on this site. There was an old-time house in Buckwheat Valley 
and another known as Bull's, at Donally's Mills, in an old carpenter shop. 

Donnally's Mills M. B. Church, The Donnally's Mills M. E. Church 
was erected in 1868, under the pastorate of Rev. A. R. Miller. It then 
belonged to the Newport Circuit, but in 1904 it was assigned to the Mil- 
lerstown Circuit, whose pastors serve it. 

The Gingerich Church. This church was formerly an old stone school 
building which was remodeled for church purposes about 1861, for the 
U. B. denomination. In 1892 it was replaced by a new church while Rev. 
Barshinger was pastor. Henry Harman, Samuel Buchanan, Andrew Paden 
and Chas. Gutshall were then the officials. The split in the U. B. denomi- 
nation caused it to be sold, in 1910, to the Methodists who are served by 
the pastor of the Millerstown church. 

According to Wright's History, that part of Tuscarora Township known 
as Raccoon Valley was settled by the Blacks, the Nobles and the Robin- 
sons, in the order named from the Juniata River westward. We quote : 
"In this selection certain distinctions gave precedence of location. Their 
pastor, Rev. Wm. B. Linn, having the preference, chose his portion near 
Robinson's Fort; the father of the Irvin families in Saville Township, 
chose their old mansion property; he was joined by Elliot's on the west, 
and he in turn by a younger man, until we reach the Robinson, Noble and 
Black farms in Raccoon Valley, extending to the Juniata River. The chain 
of settlements extended more than twenty miles, and included some of the 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1069 

best and most highly respected citizens of the county. It is historic for 
its arrangement of families in chronological order, as well as the noble 
record made during every war in which its own or the general welfare 
was endangered." 

The business firms, according to the report of the mercantile appraiser, 
are as follows, the date being the time of entering the business: 
L. E. Donnally, flour and feed: J. Logan Jones, yeniTal '-lure; R. It. Kerr 
( I 9*3), groceries, old location of Marsh Run postoffice ; I. I!. Secrisl (1910), 
coal, feed, flour, etc. 

There was once a United Brethren Church near Donally's Mills, known 
as Otterbein Chapel, which was then a part of Eshcol Circuit, long since 
out of existence. The church was sold on April 3, 1900, to Harriet Hogen- 
togler, for $500. 

Donnally's Mills United Evangelical Church. Services by the members 
of this faith were first held in the homes. About 1870 the first church was 
built, the building committee being Mr. Inhoff, John Bressler and Joseph 
Lesh. It has always been a part of Perry Circuit, whose minister resides 
at Elliottsburg. The names of the pastors will be found under the chapter 
relating to Spring Township. 

Tyrone Township. 

After the Albany treaty of 1754, which included the lands which now 
comprise Perry County, we find the following upon the records of Cum- 
berland County, in reference to new townships: "And we do further erect 
the settlements called Sherman's Valley and Bofolo's Creek into a separate 
township and nominate the same the township of Tyrone, and we appoint 
John Scott Linton to act as constable therein for the remaining part of the 
current year." 

No definite boundaries were fixed, but it included all of that part of 
Perry County as now constituted lying west of the Juniata River. The 
same territory is now divided into fifteen townships and six boroughs. It 
was often referred to in its pioneer days as "the eternal state of Tyrone." 
When Perry County was erected it had already been divided by the crea- 
tion of Toboyne, Rye, Juniata and Saville. As now constituted Tyrone 
Township is bounded on the north by Saville, on the east by Spring, on 
the south by Cumberland County, and on the west by Southwest Madison 
Township. 

As Tyrone Township comprised such an extensive domain at the time of 
its creation and long afterwards, of the places named and the descendants 
some are likely to be found in other townships, since created from parts 
of Tyrone. 

There is an assessment list in existence which shows the names of prop- 
erty holders in the year 1767, as follows: 

Hugh Alexander. Hermanns Alricks, John Black, Robert Brotherton, David 
Beard, Henry Cunningham. David Carson, John Darlington, John Dunbar, Sr., 
Linus Diven, James Dunbar, Thomas Elliot, Edward Elliot, Samuel Fisher, 
Hance Ferguson, Thomas Fisher, Henry Gass, James Glass, Obadiah Garwood, 
John Hamilton, John Johnson, Thomas Hamilton, John Kilkead, Hugh Kil- 
gore, the Widow Kennedy, Patrick Kinsloe, the Widow Kinkead, Robert Kelly, 
John Kennedy, Samuel Lamb, Thomas Maney. William McClure, Owen McKeab, 
David McClure, William Miller, John McConnell, William Noble, Richard 
Nicholson, William Officer, James Orr, William Patterson, John Perkins, James 
Purdy, Thomas Ross, Jonathon Ross, George Robinson, Alexander Roddy, 
Robert Robinson, Robert Yin, William Sanderson, John Sanderson, Alexander 
Sanderson, John Sharps, Andrew Simonton, John Scott, Peter Stone, John 
Simonton, Peter Titters, Francis West. William Waugh, Daniel Williams, John 
Williams. Robert Welsh. John Wilson. Thomas Wilson. 

As early as 1779 Obadiah Garwood was assessed with a sawmill, Widow 
Robinson with a gristmill, and Francis West with a grist and sawmill, 



IO/O HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

West resided on the line between Tyrone and Rye. By 1782 the assessment 
on mills and distilleries was as follows : 

Hugh Brown, John Black, Robert Irwin, Sr. (2), Robert Irwin, Jr. (2). 
George Hamilton, William Neilson, and Robert Scott, stills ; James Fisher, 
malt kiln ; Alexander Roddy, sawmill ; Robert Garwood and Francis West, 
gristmills; John Sanderson, two stills and a gristmill. 

After a period of thirty-two years had elapsed the assessment roll of 
industries included the following in the year 1814, six years before Perry 
became a county : 

James Diven, Samuel Nickey, Robert Thompson, tanyards ; Francis Gibson, 
two distilleries; John Linn, Francis Portzline, Josiah Roddy, Samuel Smiley, 
Henry Shoemaker, Jacob Stambaugh, Frederick Shull, Englehart Wormle.v, 
Adam Webley, stills : John Foos, sawmill and still ; Christian Heckendorn, 
sawmill and still; Nicholas Ickes, sawmill and two stills; Zalmon and Azariah 
Tousey, saw and gristmill and still ; John Waggoner, saw and grstmill and 
still; George Elliot, Widow Gibson's heirs, Zachariah Rice, gristmills; Conrad 
Halleman, Nicholas Loy, Samuel McCord, Francis Patterson, John Shafer, 
Jacob Shatto, Frederick Smiley, George Waggoner, sawmills; Samuel and An- 
drew Linn, grist and sawmill ; Peter Mores, tilt hammer ; William Power, 
store; Thomas Purdy, stores; Adam Seller, Martin Swartz and Shuman & 
Utter, saw and gristmills ; George Stroop, sawmill. 

Alexander Roddy, named above, who later built the mill known to this 
daj as Waggoner's mill, lived at several places before taking up the mill 
tract, which is covered rather extensively in the chapter devoted to "Old 
Landmarks, Mills and Industries." 

The land office opened in 1755 for the settlement of lands in the new 
purchase, and when James Wilson, Andrew Simeson and others came in 
at that time their warrants name Alexander Roddy as "adjoining," which 
i^ evidence that although he had been ordered out before the lands were 
available, that he had come back. These locations were west of Montour's 
Run. He lived there several years before taking up the Waggoner mill 
tract. May 13, 1763, on Roddy's Run. He purchased other lands adjoining 
his on both sides of "the run," and in 1767 was assessed with 100 acres and 
a gristmill in Toboyne Township, and 300 acres and a sawmill in Tyrone 
Township, part of this 300 acres being the original tract warranted by him 
on Montour's Run. His sons, Josiah and Alexander Roddy, warranted 175 
acres in 1786, and in 1789 the Roddys took out a warrant for 312 acres 
adjoining the county home tract. Robert and James Wilson, whose de- 
scendants yet live about Landisburg, took up four hundred acres in 1755, 
which they describe as located "where Thomas Wilson and Alexander 
Roddy have presumed to settle on Montour's Run, adjoining the dwelling 
plantation of Andrew Montour." The Andrew Simeson place was later 
known as the John Albert and the John Creigh farms. 

In the early chapters of this book, among the matters and disputes be- 
tween the Indians and the provincial authorities, there will be found an 
account of the encroachment of the pioneers on lands which the Indians 
still claimed and which those in authority decided should be vacated by 
all settlers. Under the authority of the province this was done, and An- 
drew Montour was then authorized to settle somewhere in that territory 
to see that the law would be observed. He located in what is Tyrone 
Township, near a large stream which flows into Sherman's Creek and 
which to this day bears his name — Montour's Run. He took out a warrant 
for 143 acres of land lying between where the town of Landisburg now 
stands and Sherman's Creek and Montour's Run, which was surveyed to 
William Mitchell, June 13, 1788, and passed to Abraham Landis soon there- 
after. This is what has been known for a century as the Rice mill prop- 
erty, the old mill still being in operation. The history of this old land- 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1071 

mark also appears in the chapter entitled "Old Landmarks, Mills and In- 
dustries." As settlers came in and Indians vanished Montour found his 
occupation as a trader gone, and he then left. 

In 1787 Abraham Landis warranted a tract of 116 acres, which he com- 
bined with the Montour tract, and in 1795 both tracts were patented to 
him. Landis laid out Landisburg, but probably never lived in Tyrone 
Township or Landisburg, as all the deeds mentioned his home as in 
Lancaster County. On March 10, 1813, Landis sold his property to George 
Stroop, who laid out an addition to the town, but died before 1828. His 
heirs failed to comply with the terms of sale made by Landis and the 
property again reverted to Landis. Matters were compromised with lot 
purchasers and the remaining farm lands were sold to Dr. Samuel Moore, 
General Henry Fetter and Zachariah Rice. Peter Fahnestock, a son-in- 
law of Landis, who transacted the latter's business by power of attorney 
after Stroop's death, later (before 1830) built a scythe and edge tool 
factory and also had a tilt hammer at the old Francis Patterson mill. 

William Patterson, the progenitor of the Patterson families in that sec- 
tion of the county, settled in 1753 on Laurel Run, and Francis Patterson 
had a sawmill there in 1814, and later an oil mill, and in 1825 Thomas Pat- 
terson was in possession of both and also a chopping mill. It was at this 
location where Fahnestock, as stated above, erected his scythe and edge 
tool factory, about 1838. About 1840 Solomon Hengst conducted a foun- 
dry at that point for several years. John Waggoner, of Kennedy's Valley, 
was once the owner and he was the man who changed the oil and chopping 
mill to a gristmill. It was later owned by William A. and James F. 
Lightner. 

The two John Dunbars— father and son— took up tracts as early as 1763 
and 1768. On one of these Dunbar tracts Rev. J. W. Heim built a stone 
gristmill about 1830, which his administrator in 1852 sold to Joseph Bixler. 
It later passed to Anthony Firman and George Weaver in turn, and is 
known as Weaver's mill to this day, being now owned by the Tressler Or- 
phans' Home since January 1, 1919. 

William McClure warranted 264 acres in 1763, which he sold to Martin 
Bernheisel prior to 1794. He had six children by his first marriage, the 
first-born being Alexander, who settled near where the Centre Presby- 
terian Church is located. He became the father of the celebrated editor, 
A. K. McClure. To William McClure, by his second marriage, there were 
born ten children. After the death of Martin Bernheisel the old McClure 
tract passed to his son Adam, who in 1810 sold the place to the poor di- 
rectors of Cumberland County, and went West. This is to-day the site of 
the Perry County Home, the history of which appears in the chapter de- 
voted to "Academies and Public Institutions." 

Bell's Hill derives its name from James Bell, who in 1768 took up 223 
acres on and near it. James Galbreath in 1750 took up 400 acres. Simon 
Girty (father of Simon Girty, the renegade), who trespassed and was 
evicted by the provincial authorities, later became a tenant upon this Gal- 
breath tract, the owner living in Carlisle. This property passed to Charles 
Stewart, whose heirs in 1800 sold it to George Waggoner, where he lived 
until his death in 1824. In 1810 he built a sawmill upon Montour's Run, 
which was in use until 1884. A bark and sumac factory was built in 1850 
and operated until 1864. 

Obadiah Garwood, who in 1767 was assessed with 125 acres, and in 1779 
with a sawmill, lived in Kennedy's Valley. Robert Garwood in 1782 was 
assessed with a gristmill. About 1785 John Wagner purchased the prop- 
erty, including the small stone mill. In 1814 he had there a gristmill, saw- 
mill and distillery. He resided there until 1834, when he died. He was the 



IO/2 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

father of ten children, his son Benjamin buying the Roddy mill about 1839, 
from whence it derives its name. Benjamin Roddy died, and his brother 
Moses purchased it. John Waggoner, another son, bought the Patterson 
mill and ran it. John Waggoner, the father, had also built a mill in 1805, 
at Bridgeport, later known as Snyder's mill, and now owned by B. P. 
Hooke. To give an entire list of these early settlers would fill a book in 
itself, but among others were the following pioneers : James Blaine, in 
1785, 300 acres; John Carrothers, in 1766, 300 acres, later known as the 
Caldwell still house tracts; John Simonton, in 1755, 400 acres; William 
Anderson, in 1786, 200 acres; James Smith, in 1768, 300 acres; Michael 
Kinsloe, in 1795, 200 acres, and in 1800, 200 acres adjoining. David Carson, 
in 1762, took up a tract which he later sold to Peter Sheibley, from whom 
the many Sheibley families in Perry County have descended. Mr. Sheib- 
ley was the father of twenty children. 

On Sherman's Creek, on the line of Spring and Tyrone Townships, 
Thomas Ross, an elder of Centre Presbyterian Church, located 200 acres 
in 1702, and Jonathan Ross, 150. Mount Dempsey was once known as 
Scott's Knob. Prior to 1775 it was owned by John and Christian Tussey, 
and changed hands several times until 1792, when it came into possession 
of Charles Dempsey, from whom it takes its name. In 1813, Philip Fos- 
selman built a stone tannery on a branch of Montour's Run, and carried 
on the tanning business until 1832, when he sold to Jacob Shearer, who 
operated it until 1856, when the business was discontinued. In 1849 Mr. 
Shearer went to California, from where he shipped great quantities of 
hides to be tanned at this small plant. 

In Kennedy's Valley, several miles from McCabe's Run, Colonel William 
Graham, in 1842, erected a tannery on land formerly belonging to Abra- 
ham Wagner, and operated it until 1849, when he sold it to James L. and 
John L. Diven. They operated it until 1867, when it again came into pos- 
session of Colonel Graham, who was in business there until 1872, when it 
was no longer run. James Baxter took up two hundred and seven acres 
and erected a tannery before 1820, which he ran for several years, selling 
it to John Titzel in 1828. He conducted it until about 1855, when it was 
abandoned. 

About 1790 Peter Sheibley removed from Berks to Perry County terri- 
tory, settling in Tyrone Township. He received payment for his farm in 
Berks County in Continental money, which soon became worthless. He 
had been a private in the Continental Army, and lived until December, 
[824. He was aged eighty-four years. 

Occasions where three brothers marry three sisters are rare indeed, yet 
one such instance is recorded in Perry County. Jacob Briner, of Berks 
County (grandfather of George S. Briner, now of Carlisle), married Mag- 
dalena Hammer about 1806, and with his brother George came to what is 
now Perry County and located about two miles south of Loysville, where 
they began farming. Some time later George Briner returned to Berks 
County and brought with him the second Miss Hammer. After a lapse of 
another two years Peter Briner, who had joined his brothers, returned to 
Berks County and brought along back as his wife the third of the Ham- 
mer sisters. 

In a very early day there were four brothers, John, Henry, Jonathan and 
George Rhinesmith, who located in Tyrone Township, and from them 
have sprung the numerous Rhinesmith families of Perry County and else- 
where. 

In 1826 John Bernheisel erected a clover mill, in which clover-seed and 
sumac were ground, upon his farm, located in Tyrone Township, between 
ElHottsburg and Green Park. Some time between 1830 and 1840 he added 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1073 

a sawmill. In 1874 his son, Sololmon Bernheisel, changed the mill to a 
gristmill, refitting it with steam in 1878, and as such it was in use until 
the latter part of the century. Martin J. Bernheisel, of the next generation, 
operated the mill after the death of his father. 

The first schoolhouse of which there is record in Tyrone Township was 
at the Lebanon Church, at Loysville, which was built about 1794. Rev. 

D. H. Focht, in his historical work, says of it: 

"A short time after the church was Imilt a large schoolhouse was erected on 
the same lot of ground and near the church. A partition divided the school- 
house inside and a large chimney occupied the centre. One end of the house 
was occupied by the teacher and his family and the other by the school. For 
many years a sort of congregational school was kept there." 

That old schoolhouse was in use until 1837, when the first public school 
built there took its place. In 1853 the Loysville Academy was begun in 
the basement of this church, and later merged into the Tressler Orphans' 
Home. Of the Landisburg schoolhouse we have spoken in the chapter de- 
voted to that town. There was a schoolhouse as early as 1815 in the vicin- 
ity of Rheem's foundry, at Green Park. In 1842 a brick house was built. 
There was a log house west of Sherman's Creek, near the Morrow farms, 
and one near Patterson's mill. Near the Church of God there was a 
frame house long in use, and in 185 1 one was built on the Waggoner farm, 
north of Landisburg. There was one in Kennedy's Valley, on the Crull 
farm, and one on the old William Allen farm. The one at Bridgeport 
was built of brick before Spring Township was organized. 

Loysville. Besides Landisburg Borough, which lies within its borders, 
Tyrone Township has two other towns which are not incorporated, Loys- 
ville and Green Park, the largest being Loysville. It was early known as 
Red Rock. 

Loysville is laid out on parts of two original tracts, the east part being 
on the McClure tract, warranted in 1763, and the west part on the John 
Sharp tract, warranted the same year. Martin Bernheisel and Michael 
Loy later came into possession of them, and donated several acres for 
church and school purposes. At this point the Lutheran and Reformed 
Church, a parsonage, and a parochial school stood. On July 20, 1840, the 
directors of the poor of Perry County surveyed a block of eight lots, 
60x150 in size, on the County Home tract, on the east side of the road 
leading to Heim's mill, and named it Andesville. Martin Kepner, Robert 
Dunbar and Andrew Welch were early business men. A hotel was opened 
by James Gracey. In 1822 Michael Loy gave a half acre of ground for 
the Loysville cemetery. 

A post office named Andesville was established about 1842, but a few 
years later the name was changed to Loysville, in honor of Michael Loy. 
Early postmasters were Jacob Rickard, David Kochenderfer, George F. 
Orrel, David K. Minich, Samuel Shumaker, Isaac P. Miller, Davis S. 
Asper, Joseph Newcomer, John W. Heim. 

Michael Loy, Jr., who died in 1846, provided in his will that his execu- 
tors, George and William Loy, should lay out a row of lots from where 
the Lutheran parsonage stood, to the New Bloomfield road. These lots 
were laid out about 1848. John Ritter purchased a number of lots, and 
on two of them be built the present brick hotel, in 1852, now in possession 
of Wm. H. Power. His son, Benjamin Ritter, occupied this hotel from 
1852 to 1884, when it passed to the hands of the third generation, George 

E. Ritter, later sheriff, becoming the proprietor. 

The history of the Lutheran and Reformed Churches appears in the 
chapter entitled the Earliest Churches. The pastorate of Rev. John Wil- 
68 



iO/4 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

Ham Heim, of Lebanon Lutheran Church, covered the period from May, 
1815, until his death, December 27, 1849. The church erected a monument 
at his grave and celebrated its centennial at the same time, in 1894, largely 
through the efforts of Rev. W. D. E. Scott, Samuel Ebert and Jacob Wolf. 

Loysville Castle, No. 111, Knights of the Golden Eagle, was instituted 
here February 13, 1907. 

The Women's Welfare Club was organized at Loysville in January, 
1921, with the following officers: Mrs. Wm. T. Morrow, president; Mrs. 
George Kell, vice-president ; Miss Ida Kleckner, secretary, and Mrs. Rob- 
ert Eaton, treasurer, who are the officers at this time (1921). Shortly 
after organizing, the Welfare Club went in for improved streets through 
the town, and arranged with the State Highway Departmens to jointly 
make a crushed limestone highway through it. The work is about 
completed. Future plans are for the improvement of the town — which is 
not a borough — and aid in case of an epidemic. This organization has 
started well and has a fertile field, as a town of that nature does not have 
the organization of a borough to cover many matters needing attention. 

The history of the Loysville Academy, the Soldiers' Orphans' School 
and the Tressler Orphans' Home, which developed from one to the other, 
appears under 'Academies and Institutions." The group of buildings are 
visited by thousands annually. 

In 1896, Dickinson, Gilbert & Keen opened a creamery here, which was 
a pioneer in its line. It has operated continuously since. The share of 
Hiram Keen was purchased from his heirs by B. Stiles Duncan, who, in 
conjunction with I, H. Dickinson and Amos Gilbert, now owns the plant, 
under the firm name of the Loysville Creamery Company. H. P. Dyson 
is the secretary and treasurer. 

There was no resident doctor in Loysville until 1842, when Dr. Isaac 
Lefevre located there. In 1855 he removed to New Bloomfield. He later was 
located at Mechanicsburg and Harrisburg. Dr. A. E. Linn was his suc- 
cessor, and practiced here until he removed to Shermansdale, in 1857. Dr. 
B. P. Hooke graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1855, and 
located at Loysville a year later. He practiced there successfully until 
his death, which occurred March 10, 1903. Dr. C. E. Delancey, who gradu- 
ated from the University of the City of New York in 1878, after practicing 
a short time at Ickesburg, located here in 1883. He removed from here 
to Newport, where he has a large practice. Dr. George L. Zimmerman, 
born at Andersonburg, followed Dr. Delancey. He later located at Bloser- 
ville, Cumberland County, and still later at Carlisle. He graduated at Jef- 
ferson Medical College in 1889. Dr. Alburtis T. Ritter, of Franklin County, 
who graduated from Baltimore Medical College in 1893, located at Loys- 
ville and practiced until his death, which occurred February 11, 191 1. Soon 
after the death of Dr. Ritter, Dr. William T. Morrow, a native of the 
vicinity, located there. Dr. Morrow graduated from the Baltimore Medical 
College in 1908. He is the only practicing physician at Loysville. 

Green Park. The west part of Green Park is on a fifty-three-acre tract 
warranted originally to Ludwig Laird, in 1755, and surveyed to Henry 
Shoemaker in 1814. The east part is on a tract of fifty acres warranted to 
James Moore, in 1766. The first house was built by William Reed, about 
1834. About 1857 Martin Motzer and John Bernheisel built a store build- 
ing and opened a store. They were succeeded in the business by Frank 
Mortimer, George Ernest, William B. Keck, W. W. McClure, Samuel 
Stambaugh, George Bernheisel and William Hoobaugh. Jacob Bernheisel 
built a grain cradle factory and a shingle mill where the Rheem foundry 
is located, in 1857, turning it into a foundry later. In 1874 Rheem Bros. 
purchased it and conducted business there for many years. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1075 

The business places within the In muds of Tyrone Township are desig- 
nated as follows by the mercantile appraiser, the date being the time of 
entering the business: 

General stores, A. N. Billman (1913), successor to W. W. Minich; I'.. I'. 
Kill (1891), erected present building in [905; J. G. Minich. 

Groceries, [ra Evans, 1). E. Emlet & Sons. 

II V Dunkelberger, confectionery; J. B. -Lightner, grain and coal; Casper 
C. Xiekcl, furniture; D. W. Raffensperger, fertilizers; J. A. Sausaman (1915), 
feed, established 1786 as the Rice mill; Wells Stewart, eggs; Tressler Orphans' 
Heme, feed; J. W. Wolfe, stoves and spouting. 

Lpysville Methodist Church. A short distance west of Loysville a 
Methodist Episcopal church was erected in 1865 through the efforts of 
Rev. J. Riddle, but the field was never a very fruitful one. The ministers 
of t lie New Bloomheld Circuit supplied it until 1883, when it was torn 
down and removed to Mansville, a village in Centre Township, and re- 
erected. 

Slicaffcr's Valley Church of God. The Church of God in SheaiTcr's 
Valley, was built about 1830, on lands of Michael Murray. It was re- 
modeled in 1885. It is served by the pastor of the Landisburg charge, 
where a list of pastors appear. 

Kennedy's J 'alley Church of God. The Kennedy's Valley Church of 
God was built in 1886, the corner stone having been laid on July 7th. Rev. 
W. J. Grissinger was then pastor. Pastors appear under the Landisburg 
chapter. 

Tyrone Township surrounds Landisburg, where many of its citizens also 
\\ 1 irship. 

Watts Township. 

For picturesque location Watts Township cannot be beaten. It lies be- 
tween the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers where they join on their way 
to the sea. Much of its lands are considerably elevated and all of them 
lie south of the Half-Fall Mountain. The lands gradually taper to the 
rivers, where they are elevated but little above the high-water level. Its 
boundaries are on the north by Buffalo Township, and on the east, south 
and west by the two rivers. 

The channel, however, where the rivers joined, thus forming Duncan's 
Island, has long since been filled up, and over it went the Pennsylvania 
Canal in the days when it was the main line of traffic between the anthra- 
cite coal fields and the seaboard. There was a third island known as 
Hillings', but the construction of the canal caused the intervening channel 
to fill up, thus uniting it permanently physically with Perry County, at low 
tide. It is still assessed in Dauphin County, its extent being twenty-five 
acres. Over this channel there was once a toll bridge, operated by Marcus 
Hulings, who also owned a ferry over the Juniata. Later Rebecca H. Dun- 
can and David Hulings were joint owners. 

Among the first settlers were John Eshelman, who warranted 160 acres in 
March, 1792; Robert Ferguson, sixty-four acres in June, 1774; William 
Thompson, 216 acres in March, 1775; Frederick Watts, no acres in De- 
cember, 1794; and before this a tract of 102 acres in October, 1766; Ben- 
jamin Walker, 201 acres in January, 1767, which was later owned by Rob- 
ert Thompson and Levi Seiders. Southeast of this tract Marcus Hulings 
warranted 199 acres in November, 1766. Hulings also had another tract 
of 200 acres located at the junction of the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers, 
warranted in August, 1766. This is the farm long owned by Dr. George 
N. Reutter, who represented Perry County in the legislature. It is known 



IO/6 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

as Amity farm, and is now in the possession of McClellan Cox. In the 
stone house on this farm, almost opposite Aqueduct Station, on the Penn- 
sylvania Railroad, Marcus Hidings, Jr., and Thomas Hidings kept a tavern, 
the old sign still being on the attic of the house only a few years ago. 
North of this, along the river for almost two miles, and reaching almost to 
New Buffalo, Samuel Neaves had two tracts containing 512 acres, war- 
ranted in March and June, 1755. Immediately above Neaves, on the river, 
Francis Ellis warranted a tract in 1767, which passed to Jacob Steele when 
surveyed. 

The next tract up the river is now the site of New Buffalo Borough. 
It contained 183 acres, and was warranted in November, 1767, by Christo- 
pher Mann. Above this tract Andrew Long warranted no acres, in July, 
1762, and next above was the tract of Stophel Munce, containing 124 acres, 
warranted in May, 1763. He was the first collector of Greenwood Town- 
ship, in 1767, Watts then being a part of Greenwood, which took its name 
from Joseph Greenwood, who is mentioned by Marcus Hidings as one of 
his closest neighbors. Immediately above Munce's claim was that of 
George Etzmiller, containing 162 acres, and warranted in November, 1767. 
John Miller had 131 acres back of the claims of Etzmiller, Munce, Long 
and Mann, warranted in December, 1773. Everhard Liddick warranted 
lands in 1868, adjoining the church, and Joseph Nagle, 150 acres, adjoining 
Liddick, in April, 1775. John Finton warranted sixty-six acres in 1839. 

The reader, by referring to the chapter entitled "Duncan's and Halde- 
man's Islands," will find further interesting historical matter relating to the 
movements of Marcus Hidings, the pioneer. Owing to the proximity of 
these islands to Watts Township, their early history is largely contem- 
poraneous. 

Prior to the Revolutionary War, General Frederick Watts, of Revolu- 
tionary fame, was a landowner in the territory now comprising Watts 
Township, his daughter Elizabeth being the first wife of Thomas Hidings. 
General Watts owned part of the lands warranted to William Stewart and 
George Lennff, in November, 1772. From him ownership passed to Thomas 
Hidings, by purchase from the heirs. From Hidings, the Watts son-in- 
law, it passed by will to David Watts, an eminent lawyer located at Car- 
lisle, but who had been born in that part of Cumberland which became 
Perry, and in that part of Greenwood Township which became Watts. It 
was for David Watts that the township was named. When the petition 
for the new township came before the court, in 1840, Judge Black was 
presiding in the absence of Judge Frederick Watts, and upon his sugges- 
tion it was named Watts, in honor of David Watts, the eminent lawyer 
who was the son of General Frederick Watts and the father of Judge 
Frederick Watts, then serving in that capacity. The Watts family's his- 
tory is to be found elsewhere in this book. In 1839 this property passed 
to Alexander McAlister, by purchase. 

Further evidence that the property spoken of above was in the possession 
of David Watts is contained in an act of the Pennsylvania Legislature, 
passed March 8, 1799, in reference to a ferry, the western landing of which 
was located thereon : 

"Whereas, Mathias Flamm owns land on the west side of the Susquehanna, 
opposite the mouth of Juniata, and David Watts on the west side, where the 
State road crosses the Susquehanna, and that they have established and main- 
tained a ferry at the place for a number of years, they are empowered by law, 
at this date to establish and keep same in repair, and build landings, etc." 

An early schoolhouse in what is now Watts Township was en the 
church grounds. It was a log house without a floor, and was rebuilt on 
the same foundation when it had become so low that the teacher could 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1077 

not stand erect in it. These early log schoolhouses were usually built 
hastily by the communities in which they were located, and the workman- 
ship was very crude. At the old schoolhouse near Colonel Thompson's 
was the first free school in Pennsylvania to be opened under the free 
school act, as will be noted in the chapter on "The County Schools, Past 
and Present," also under the life of Chief Justice C.antt, who then was the 
teacher. In later years the township had three schools, known as Mc- 
Allister's, Centre and Livingston's. In the old schoolhouse which was 
located in Alexander McAllister's meadow, the teacher of the term of 
[852 53 was Prof. S. B. Heiges, who later became principal of the Cum- 
berland Valley State Normal School. 

Dr. George N. Reutter, a native of Perry and a graduate of the Uni- 
versity of Maryland, in 1858, was located at the junction of the Juniata 
and Susquehanna Rivers, and practiced in the surrounding community, 
including New Buffalo. He was once the representative of Perry County 
in the General Assembly and was the father of Dr. H. D. Reutter, who 
practiced for so many years in Duncannon. He was preceded at the Junc- 
tion by bis father, Dr. Daniel N. Reutter, who died October 15, 1846. 

There are two small stores within the limits of the township, kept by 
.Mrs. Belle Lowe and James C. Wright, the latter started in 1898. E. H. 
Derr conducts a summer resort near Girty's Notch, and retails cigars and 
confectionery. There was a post office in Watts Township many years ago, 
being known as "Thompson's Crossroads." When the William Penn High- 
way is completed it will join the Suscpiehanna trail at the township's south, 
where the ways diverge. This will be the only township in the county to be 
traversed by these two great highways. 

The Hill Cemetery Association was incorporated January 18, 1915, in 
order to maintain the cemetery connected with this church, so that it might 
be kept in order and its use supervised in accordance with the warrant 
granted Samuel Albright, September 28, 1840. Both Presbyterian and Lu- 
theran congregations had ceased to exist, and the Hill U. B. Church had 
no ownership in the cemetery, although their church adjoins it and it is 
used by their people. The incorporators were John H. Huggins, A. R. 
Thompson, D. A. Miller, H. L. Thompson and J. W. Ulsh, Jr. (recorded 
Deed Book 85, page 634). The seventh section of the Articles of Incor- 
poration provides that tri-annually after the last Saturday of July, 1917, 
an election shall be held for trustees, and that all citizens of the age of 
twenty-one and upwards residing in Watts Township and New Buffalo, 
and all persons having relatives buried in said cemetery, shall have the 
right of ballot. The cemetery is kept in order by voluntary contributions. 
The Umon Church. In the survey of Everhard Liddick, made in 1800, 
for tract No. 5004, it is described as adjoining "vacant land for church 
and school purposes," a tract comprising over three acres. This is the loca- 
tion of the churches and the burial ground in Watts Township. A school- 
house was once located here, which tradition says eventually sunk in the 
ground so far that the teacher could not stand straight — evidently only 
tradition. Like other places in the county, this schoolhouse may have been 
used for both church and school purposes. There was no legal right 
granted, in so far as known, until 1840, when Samuel Albright was granted 
a warrant, in trust for the Presbyterian and Lutheran congregations, its 
dates being September 28th. Mr. Albright accordingly deeded it to these 
congregations. But previous to this there was a Union church erected, in 
the period between 1804 and 1809. It was built of logs, and was 36x40 
feet in size. It was in use until i860, when it was removed. In it wor- 
shiped Lutherans and Presbyterians, the former probably having also held 
services in the old Gap Church. See "the Earliest Churches." 



IO/S HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA 

Lutheran Church. The Watts Township congregation of Lutherans 
probably dates back to the old Half-Falls Gap Church, described in "the 
Earliest Churches." From there the members of the faith went to the 
Union Church, which stood on the site of the Lutheran Church. In i860 
they erected a new church, which was in use until 1865, when the mem- 
bership had so dwindled that the field was abandoned by the Lutherans. 
In the list of ministers we find Mathias Guntzel, 1789-96; John Herbst, 
1796-1801; Conrad Walter, 1804-09; John William Heim, 1814-30. In 
1833 the Liverpool pastorate was formed, and it was connected with that 
pastorate, having as ministers : 

1833-42 — Rev. Charles G. Erlenmeyer. 1843-47 — Vacant. 
1842-43 — Rev. Andrew Berg (6 mos.). 

In 1847 this church seems to have been dropped from the Liverpool Cir- 
cuit, as the newly called pastor did not preach here, nor did any of his 
successors of that charge. In the meantime, while the Liverpool pastorate 
was vacant, according to Rev. Focht's "Churches Between the Mountains," 
Rev. Lloyd Knight, who took charge of the Duncannon pastorate on Octo- 
ber 1, 1845, also served New Buffalo, as this church was known by reason 
of its location not far from that town. Rev. Knight served until 1849. 
Rev. Jacob Martin succeeded him in July, 1849, and the following year the 
Duncannon charge was regularly formed at a convention held at New 
Bloomfield, and New Buffalo made an integral part. Rev. Martin remained 
one year, and in November, 1850, Rev. John P. Heister became the pastor, 
but according to the "Churches Between the Mountains," at New Buffalo 
"he preached seldom, if any at all." He remained until November, 1853. 
From June, 1854, to May, 1858, Rev. George A. Nixdorff was pastor of the 
Duncannon charge, and again preached at New Buffalo, but at first only 
occasionally. August 27, 1858, Rev. Wm. H. Diven became pastor, and in 
May, 1859, at Synod held at Miffiinburg, Union County, reported four con- 
gregations, and New Buffalo as a "preaching station." When Rev. Focht's 
book was issued, June 1, 1862, Rev. Diven was still in charge of the Dun- 
cannon pastorate, but concluded his services that year. Records are un- 
available, but local tradition tells of the discontinuance of services there 
by both the Lutherans and Presbyterians about 1870, when the United 
Brethren organized and used the church until their own was built in 1876. 
The last board of trustees of this old church were N. C. Heyd, Joseph 
Hammaker and J. W. Ulsh, Sr. The church had long been idle, until 
about 1895, when Rev. J. M. Axe held services there for a period covering 
six months, preaching every fourth week, in the afternoon. As the con- 
gregations had disintegrated by death, removals and lack of a shepherd, 
the old church gradually became a victim of the ravages of time. Occa- 
sionally funerals were held within its walls, however. During the winter 
of 1916-17 heavy snows crushed in the roof, and it was torn down and 
removed by the Cemetery Association. In this church Rev. Harry N. 
Bassler, a noted minister of the Reformed Church, preached his first ser- 
mon, when but twenty years of age. 

The Hill U. B. Church. The United Brethren people began holding 
services in Watts Township about 1870, as the other denominations seemed 
to be letting the field take care of itself. Their meetings were held in the 
Lutheran Church until 1876. On January 9, 1875, Isaac Huggins deeded 
the grounds for a church, to Isaac Motter, James Wright, Wm. Fenicle 
and Leonard Jones, trustees of the U. B. congregation, and during 1875-76 
the church was erected. It was a part of the Duncannon Circuit from 
1870 to 1874. It was then attached to the Liverpool Circuit, where the 
names of the later ministers may be found. The pastors while under the 
Duncannon Circuit were Rev. G. W. Lightner and Rev. J. W. Hutchison. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1079 

In 1874 tn e latter held a revival and had over a hundred converts, adding 
ninety members to the church. J. L. Huggins and Alfred Jury were long 
among those who helped sustain this congregation as a working body. 

New Buffalo Presbyterian Church. During the pastorate of Rev. Na- 
thaniel Snowden, at Millerstown Presbyterian Church, he also organized 
churches at Liverpool and (at the Hill) near New Buffalo, the period be- 
ing- between 1818 and 1820. After his leaving, in 1820, the Liverpool and 
Buffalo churches were without a pastor until 1828, when Rev. James F. 
Irvine was installed as their pastor. During the next year that part of 
Perry County lying between the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers was taken 
from the Huntingdon Presbytery and placed in the Carlisle Presbytery. 
In 1830, Rev. Irvine sought his release through Presbytery, as there were 
so many removals that he deemed the remainder unable to pay his salary. 
A committee visited both the New Buffalo and Liverpool fields and found 
but eight responsible people left to pay the salary. It was during the 
period when the Scotch-Irish were emigrating, and the newcomers were 
mostly Germans. And thus passed two early congregations. The New 
Buffalo Church, as it was known in Presbyterian circles, used the old 
Union church, the same building that the Lutherans occupied, its location 
being in Watts Township, a mile west of New Buffalo, at Hill cemetery. 

Wheatfield Township. 

Between 1793, when Juniata Township was erected from territory taken 
from Rye Township, and 1826, when Wheatfield Township was formed 
from territory also taken from it, there were various efforts made in the 
courts of both Cumberland and Perry Counties to divide the township by 
the creation of another, for the territory was yet a part of Cumberland for 
the first twenty-seven of these thirty-three years. After Juniata Town- 
ship's erection, Rye embraced the territory bounded by Mahanoy Ridge on 
the north, the Juniata and Susquehanna Rivers on the east, Cumberland 
County on the south, and Tyrone Township on the west. 

In 1824, at the May sessions of the Perry County courts, a petition was 
presented asking the erection of a new township. The court appointed 
Meredith Darlington, Jacob Stroop and William Wilson as viewers. What 
happened in the interim to delay the matter is not clear, but the order of 
the court granting the petition is dated January 5, 1826 — over two years 
later. The township was named 'Wheatfield," which tradition attributes 
to the fact that during one of the trips of the viewers over it the entire 
township's lands were fields of waving grain. At that time it embraced 
all of Perm Township and parts of Miller, Centre and Carroll. A small 
strip was later added to Wheatfield, being taken from Rye, it being located 
between Sherman's Creek and the crest of Pine Hill. Wheatfield is a long, 
narrow township, except at its western end, where it has a breadth of eight 
miles. 

Wheatfield is bounded on the north by Centre and Miller, on the east by 
the Juniata River and Penn Township, on the south by Penn and Rye, and 
on the west by Carroll and Centre. At the north Losh's Run is the bound- 
ary. It is also drained by Little Juniata and Sherman's Creeks. ]t had 
298 taxables at the time of its erection. 

The original frontage on the Juniata of the township as it now exists 
was comprised in two warrants, one of 331 acres being granted to Fred- 
erick Watts, a native of Wales, whose history is covered in our chapter 
relating to the Revolutionary War and by a sketch. The warrant is dated 
Time 4, 1762. He died in 1795, and his remains and that of his wife were 
interred in a burial ground on the farm. They had seven children, a 
daughter, Elizabeth, being married to a son of Marcus Hulings. The farm 



jo8o HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

recently owned by the heirs of Noah Hertzler was comprised in the Watts 
holdings. The other tract also extended into Miller Township, and was 
for 199 acres, and was warranted by John Smith in 1788. It was later 
owned by Dr. J. P. Singer. 

In 1766, William Baskins warranted 238 acres on Little Juniata Creek, 
above King's mill. The old Montebello furnace was built on it, and ad- 
joining tracts were purchased by the owners. Eve Baker warranted 133 
acres of land in 1767, which shortly passed to Levi Owen, the progenitor 
of the many families of that name within the county, and many located 
elsewhere. Owen, in 1791, warranted the adjoining 150 acres. He later 
purchased other lands and was a large landowner. The Owen family has 
been prominent in the civil affairs of the county since its erection. 

Arnold VanFossen warranted 123 acres in 1766. A pioneer United 
Brethren pastor. Rev. John Snyder, warranted 189 acres below the Owen 
and VanFossen claims, in 1828, but an improvement had been made there 
as early as 1800. He died in 1845. What later became the Daniel Born- 
man farm, was comprised in a warrant for 189 acres, granted in 1767, to 
Robert Ramsey, but later surveyed to Alexander Shortess. Below, in what 
is known as "dark hollow," 228 acres were warranted in 1793, by John Mc- 
Bride. East of this tract, William Bothwell, in 181 1, warranted 450 acres, 
which was later increased to 500. In 1815, John Light warranted 231 acres, 
which afterwards was known as the Samuel McKenzie tract. On Sher- 
man's Creek, embracing "The Loop," and in both Penn and Wheatfield 
Townships, Benjamin Abram warranted 207 acres in 1766. Fio Forge was 
later located on a part of this tract, purchased by Israel Downing and 
James B. Davis, in 1827. Where Dellville is located, was included in the 
warrant of George Moser. George Mills warranted a tract above Dellville, 
and Samuel Graham one along Sherman's Creek. Andrew Boyd warranted 
lands in 1767, but they were patented to Matthew Henderson, in 1787. The 
greater portion of this tract lies in Carroll Township. John Stewart, an 
early setttler and a Revolutionary soldier, came in from Carlisle prior to 
1800, and Samuel Potter and Andrew Pennell settled in the eastern end 
of the township soon after 1820. Descendants of these three families have 
been prominent in that section of the county ever since. 

As early as 1773, Alexander Power, a schoolmaster who came from 
Philadelphia, was in possession of a large tract of land. His lands lay in 
the vicinity of the road leading from Weaver's Station, on the Susque- 
hanna River & Western Railway, to Centre schoolhouse. John, George 
and Jacob Clay later resided in this vicinity. 

I '.cfore 1800 Christian Ensminger was in possession of over 500 acres of 
land in Rye, but some of which extended into Wheatfield. His son David 
settled in Wheatfield and was one of its substantial citizens. Alexander 
Shortess, in 1815, took up 186 acres, and made many purchases of lands 
in addition. 

Montebello furnace was located on Little Juniata Creek, on a tract of 
land warranted in 1766, to William Baskins, its history appearing under 
the chapter devoted to "Old Landmarks, Mills and Industries." Fio forge's 
history appears at the same place. Jacob Seidel, of Fishing Creek, pur- 
chased property on Sherman's Creek, and dismantled his mill in Rye Town- 
ship, and shortly after 1820 erected a mill from the same lumber at the 
location known to this day as Dugan's. About 1850 he sold it to a man 
named Shapley, who five years later sold it to Dugan & Zorger. The latter 
firm tore down the old mill, in 1856, and erected the present mill. Then 
Adam H. Zorger and Emanuel Dugan operated it until the death of Mr. 
Zorger, when, in 1895, Mr. Dugan purchased the other interest. After 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1081 

Mr. Dugan's death, in 1896, James A. Shearer purchased it and still is in 
possession. 

Farther up the stream, where Dellville is located, on the George Moser 
tract of 102 acres, Christian Smith and Isaac Kirkpatrick purchased a 
small tract, and in [841 erected a gristmill, which they operated until 1853, 
when Smith sold his interest to Daniel Ristine. The other interest passed 
to John Souder. In 1856, Mr. Ristine sold his interest to Eli Young, and 
it came to he known as Young's mill to thai generation. The other interest 
also came into the possession of Mr. Young in 1878, and after his death, 
it was conveyed to Amos N. Hunseckcr, in 1894. In 191 1 he sold to Roy 
Rice, the present owner. 

Griffeth Owen, a native of Wales, who came to America about the same 
time as William Penn, was the grandfather of Levi Owen, who settled on 
a large tract of land between New Bloomheld and Duncannon, about 1770. 
The story that he helped convey the Indians over the Allegheny Mountains 
when they moved farther west, of course, is fiction, as the Indians were 
not in the habit of being "conveyed." 

The post office at Dellville was established in i860, with Eli Young as 
postmaster. The first store at Dellville was opened in 1855, by Adam Bil- 
low, who has had many successors. 

The greater part of the land between Pine Hill and Sherman's Creek 
was patented to Samuel Funk, in 1805. He soon sold 106 acres to John 
Minich, who sold it to Adam Fultz, in 1809. In 1812, it passed to Peter 
Billow, who died in 1829, George Billow then coming into possession. 
Prior to 1820 there was a tavern and distillery on the place. The tavern 
was a well-known stopping place, and after the erection of the county, in 
[820, for many years the name of George Billow appears as the proprietor. 
The place was locally known as "Billow's Fording" until 1836, when a 
bridge, the length of which was 160 feet, was erected at a cost of $2,000. 
It was proposed to locate a town there as late as 1843, when Joseph Mar- 
shall advertised lots for a town "on the north bank of Sherman's Creek, 
at Billow's Inn, Wheatfield Township." On February 22, 1854, it was ad- 
vertised for sale by R. E. Shepley, then the owner. It no longer exists. 

One of the longest continuous records of holding a public office in Perry 
County was that of Joseph Lepperd, father of John R. Lepperd, merchant 
at Roseglen, who was a justice of the peace for ten terms, covering forty- 
eight years. 

In Wheatfield Township resided Gen. Frederick Watts, one of the Ex- 
ecutive Committee of the Colony of Pennsylvania, which was the govern- 
ing body during those year between the Declaration of Independence and 
the formation of the American Union. In 1813, Gen. Henry Miller, a 
Revolutionary hero, also located in this township. He became prothono- 
tary of Perry County at the first election in 1821, and died in Carlisle, 
April S, 1824, in his ninety-fifth year. 

There are not many business places within the township. The mercantile 
appraiser names Roy E. Rice, flour and feed; J. R. Lepperd, and Philip 
People, general stores, and J. N. Crouse, grocery store. Mrs. Maria Price 
had once kept a small store at Roseglen, where Mr. Lepperd started in 
1907, succeeding H. D. Banks, who built the building and opened the busi- 
ness in igoi. Mr. Crouse's location is near Losh's Run Station, at the 
Wheatfield-Miller line and the Juniata River. He has long been located 
there, and is postmaster at Logania. 

On the lands of Levi Owen a schoolhouse was built about 1810, where 
sessions were held until about 1820, when a log schoolhouse was built 
near Snyder's Church. It was in use until 1848, when the schoolhouse on 



1082 HISTORY OF PERRY COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA 

the Wallace farm was moved nearer and its usefulness was a thing of 
the past. Wheatfield accepted the common school act in 1835, and received 
$148.20 appropriation from the state. In November, 1835, the school direc- 
tors met at the Clay schoolhouse to examine the teachers. This house 
stood near the present location of the Roseglen store, on the New Bloom- 
tield-Duncannon road, and was abandoned long ago. The Potter (now 
Pennell's) schoolhouse was in use before the free school law came into 
existence. 

Near Aqueduct Station is a notable summer colony composed principally 
of Harrisburg business men, whose cottages line the banks of the Juniata 
for almost a half-mile. 

A Methodist church once stood on the top of the hill, west of Fio forge, 
not far from Sherman's Creek, on the Carlisle road, west of the present 
residence of Henry Grubb (then August McKenzie's place). A. S. Hays, 
a Duncannon merchant, now eighty-two years of age, attended meetings 
there when a boy, and distinctly recollects it. The graveyard is located 
close by the buildings of the Sausaman farm. It was built in 1840, and in 
use until 1875. It was served by Reverends Jordan, Holmes, Wright, 
Swengler, Hamilton, Thompson and White. The U. B. congregation used 
it a few years after 1875. 

Snyder's U. B. Church. Snyder's Church, that historic old structure 
located along the Duncannon-Bloomfield road, is one of the churches of 
distinction within the county limits. It was built as a Union church, in 
1814, in conjunction with the Methodists, who soon dropped out and left 
it to the United Brethren alone. It was the first church of that faith to be 
located north and west of the Kittatinny Mountain and west of the Susque- 
hanna River. In other words, it is the oldest United Brethren church in 
the Juniata Valley, and in all that part of the country lying to its west. 
Prior to 1846 this church was included as a part of the Carlisle Circuit, of 
Cumberland County. At that time the Shermansdale charge was formed 
by the churches at Young's, near Shermansdale, and Snyder's. Rev. John 
(Schneider) Snyder, the first pastor, from whom it took its name, war- 
ranted a tract of 129 acres of land below the Owen and VanFossen war- 
rants, on April 12, 1828, and it is described as "on which an improvement 
had been made before 1800." Rev. Snyder's successor was William Sholty. 
Rev. Snyder died in 1845, and sleeps in the burial ground adjoining the 
church. The church was remodeled and rebuilt in 1904. The list of pas- 
tors appears under the Carroll Township chapter, in connection with 
Young's United Brethren Church. 

St. David's Lutheran Church. Located near the site of old Fio forge, 
about five miles southwest of Duncannon, was St. David's Church, which 
was dedicated in November, 1845. The Lutheran people residing in this 
neighborhood originally belonged to Mt. Zion and Mt. Pisgah churches, in 
Carroll Township, and to Christ's, at Duncannon. The long distances from 
their homes to these churches impelled them to make an effort to have a 
church nearer home. Rev. L. T. Williams preached in the Fio forge 
schoolhouses in 1845, and a church was erected at once by members of the 
Lutheran and Reformed faiths. While the church was built in 1845, the 
Lutherans did not organize the St. David congregation until June 20, 1846, 
when it was organized with a membership of twenty-seven. Rev. Lloyd 
Knight, the New Bloomfield pastor, began holding regular services every 
four weeks, he being the first pastor. He served until June, 1849, when he 
was succeeded by Rev. Jacob Martin, who preached every three weeks. 
In February, 1850, this congregation and others united to form the Peters- 
burg (Duncanon) charge, whose pastors have since served it. See chapter 
on Duncannon Borough. 



BOROUGHS, TOWNSHIPS AND VILLAGES 1083 

St. David's I\c funned Church. The Reformed congregation at St. 
David's was organized between 1843 and 1845, but preaching had been 
conducted there before that time, in the schoolhouses and at irregular in- 
tervals. It was organized by Rev. Jacob Scholl. From its beginning the 
pastors of the New Bloomfield charge had charge of the services until 
April, 1867, the close of Rev. Kelley's ministry. (See Bloomfield chapter.) 
From then until the early part of 1868 they were without a pastor, and 
from that time were made a part of the newly formed Marysville-Dun- 
cannon Reformed charge, the pastors having since been the same, the list 
of ministers appearing in the chapter relating to Marysville. 

This church was first known as Billow's Church. It was a well built 
frame structure, 30x40 feet in size. 

Pennell's Church. During 1845 Andrew Penned donated a plot at the 
corner of his farm, in Wheatfield Township, for the purpose of erecting a 
Methodist church. The present stone church was erected on this site, the 
building committee being Robert Jones, George Brunei' and Andrew Pen- 
nell. Since then this pulpit has been supplied by the Duncannon Methodist 
pastors at intervals. The church is the property of the Duncannon con- 
gregation. 



INDEX 

PAGE 

Academies 335 

Act creating the County of Perry 205 

Agriculture in Perry County 862 

Anti-Abolition Feeling in Perry County 539 

Bailey, Joseph, Member of Congress 727 

Bald Eagle Island 13S 

Baltimore, Early Trade with 519 

Banks and Corporations 488 

Beatty, Rev. Charles, The First Missionary 282 

Beaver, James A., Governor of Pennsylvania 654 

Bench and Bar 459 

Bernheisel, Dr. John M., Delegate to Congress 72> 2 

Bernheisel, Luther M., Noted Builder 7°5 

Bigler, John, Governor of California 644 

Bigler, William, Governor of Pennsylvania 636 

Billow, David 779 

Bixler, Harris J., Member of Congress 731 

Blain Borough 927 

Blaine, General Ephraim, Revolutionary Patriot 628 

Blaine Family, The Noted 625 

Blaine, James G., Great American Statesman 630 

Blood of the Pioneer 858 

Bloomfield Borough 914 

Boroughs, Townships and Villages 911 

Boundaries 15 

Box Huckleberry 31 

Bretz, Carlton Lewis, Noted Railroad Man 713 

Bridges and Toll Roads Long Free 883 

Buffalo, Passing of the 157 

Buffalo Township 932 

Calhoun, Rev. John Dill 784 

Calhoun, Wm. F 780 

Canals, Coming of the 407 

Captain Jack, Exploits of 95 

Carroll Township 938 

Carson Long Institute 341 

Centre Township 945 

Churches, The Earliest 280 

Civil War, The 543 

County Soldiers in the Union Armies 556 

CnnfederateVice-President son of a Perry Countian 554 

Famous Ride Down Sherman's Valley 550-55I 

Governor of Kentucky son of Perry County parents 545 

Secession Edict Written by a Perry Countian 544 

Clark's Ferry Bridge, The 132 

County Home, The 359 

County Seat, Fight' for the 221 

1084 



INDEX 1085 

PAGE 

O >unty Seat, Efforts to change 228 

Creigh, Rev. Thomas, D.D 759 

Croghan, George J 4i 

Cummins, Hugh Hart 75<> 

Doro, Marie, Celebrated Dramatic Star 708 

Douglas Family, The 782 

Dromgold, Walker A 77^ 

Duncannon Borough 949 

Duncan's Island ll % 

Early Maps *59 

Early Years — A Comparison 497 

Editors, Biographical Sketches of Prominent 483 

Ehrhart, William Nelson 745 

Election Districts, Old 193 

Elliot, Rev. David, D.D 760 

Emig, Lelia Dromgold 77o 

Features of Distinction 30 

Ferries, Early Perry County 374~394 

First Free School West of the Susquehanna 317 

First School in State Opened Under Free School Act 318 

Flickinger Family 740 

Flickinger, Henry W., Expert Penman 768 

Flickinger, Prof. Junius R 737 

Floods and High Waters 387 

Focht, Benjamin K., Member of Congress 729 

Forest, The Tuscarora 870 

Forts in and Near County 98 

Froehlich, Anna 766 

Ery, Sheridan E 75 l 

Fulling Mills 264 

Gantt, Daniel, Chief Justice of Nebraska 677 

Garland, Rev. D. Frank, D.D ' 762 

Gibson, General George 700 

Gibson, John Bannister, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania 666 

Girty, Simon, The Renegade 104 

Gold, The Rush for 532 

Greenwood Township 962 

Gristmills, Old 247 

Haldeman's Island 1 18-131 

Hall of Fame, Representatives in 191 

Harding, Warren G., President of the U. S., a descendant 609 

Hart, Rev. B. H 787 

Hench & Dromgold 772 

Hench, S. Nevin 772 

High Rivers and Floods 387 

Hill Ranges Within the County 20 

Historical Society 901 

Howe Township 965 

Ickesburg 1052 

Indian History t,7 

Albany Treaty, The 



^>v 




lo86 INDEX 

PAGE 

Attacks on Fort Robinson 78 

Baskins Family Abducted 81 

Battle of Peters' Mountain 82 

Capture and Release of Frederick Stump 92 

County Citizens Recipients of Charity 90 

Devastating Indian Warfare 84 

Earliest Records of Occupancy t,j 

Five Nations, The 48 

French and Indian War 66 

Indian Villages 44 

Inhabitants, Description of the 43 

Intruding Settlers Evicted 57 

Massacres on County Soil 71 

Missionary to the Indians 123 

Murder of an Early Trader 49 

Pioneer Runners 91 

Treaty of Peace 84 

Iron Industry, Early 270 

Irvin, Elihu C, Noted Insurance President 706 

Jackson Township 968 

Juniata River 379 

Juniata Township 971 

Kerr, Mina, College Dean 718 

Kistler, Rev. John and Catharine McCoy 755 

Kemp, Col. Geo. E 776 

Landisburg Borough 976 

Landisburg, The First County Seat 202 

Landmarks, Mills and Industries, Old 247 

Law and Order, County Reputation for 882 

Legislation, Special, Pertaining to Perry County 469 

Lewis the Robber 196 

Linn, Rev. James 758 

Linn, Rev. John 735 

Liquor Question, The 443 

Liverpool Borough 982 

Liverpool Township 989 

Long, Chester I., United States Senator from Kansas 632 

Long, Theodore K 747 

Loudon, Archibald, Early Historian j^t, 

Lupfer, Edgar Newton, Noted Manufacturer 774 

McCartney, James 781 

McClure, Col. A. K, Noted Editor 700 

McClure, Jos. M 782 

McGinnes, L. E 741 

Madison Township 991 

Many Viewpoints, Perry County from . . .'. 882 

Marysville Borough 1000 

Marshall, Thomas Riley, Ex-Vice-President U. S., a Descendant 611 

Meminger, Rev. James W 786 

Mexican War, Perry County in the 530 

Militia Companies 516 



INDEX [087 



PAGE 



Milligan, Rev. John Linn 757 

Miller, Jesse, Noted Early Citizen 7-' 1 

Miller, Stephen, Governor of Minnesota 649 

Miller Township [00 7 

Millerstown Borough IOI ° 

Miller, William H., Member of Congress 728 

Montour, Andrew, First Authorized Settler 143 



Mountains 



18 



Mountain Caps -4 2 7 

Naming of the County 2I 5 

New Bloomfiold 221,914 

New Bloomfield Academy 341 

New Buffalo Borough ' <>-' ' 

New Germantown lf) ^5 

Newport Borough " >2 3 

Noted Men and Descendants 604 

Noted and Professional Men— an Alphabetical List 798 

Oliver Township "M7 

Orris, Prof. Stanhope 765 

Packet Boats 4*3 

Peale, Rev. and Mrs. John Rogers 753 

Penn Township 1041 

Perry County Established 201 

Perry County Societies Abroad 903 

Petition for New County 203 

Physical Features 15 

Picturesque Perry 9°4 

Pioneers, Coming of the 148 

Pioneer L-if e J 53 

Political Trend, The 5- 7 J 

Population 893 

Post Offices, Early 370 

Postrider and Stagecoach 362 

Prehistoric Fish 33 

Press, The Public 473 

Province and Mother Cumberland, The [82 

Public Institutions 335 

Pennsylvania Railroad, Building of the 421 

Central Route Proposed by Perry Countian 425 

Over Half of First Twenty Miles in Perry County 421 

River and Canal Transportation 401 

Rivers, Streams and Old Ferries 374 

Railroads, Projected and Others 431 

Reifsnyder, Dr. Elizabeth 716 

Revolutionary War, Perry County Territory in 161 

Native Led Captive Cornwallis Army to York, Penna 169 

Soldiers of the Patriot Army from Perry Territory 166-173 

Toboyne Township's Ephraim Blaine Helped Finance 629 

Rural Mail Routes 372 

Rye Township 1044 

Saville Township 1048 



io88 INDEX 

PAGE 

Sawmills 264 

Schools, Past and Present 309 

Scotch-Irish, The 149 

Sectional War, The 543 

Sherman's Creek 384 

Size of County in Comparison 15-17 

Slaves Owned in Perry County 534 

Soldiers' Orphans' Schools 349 

Smiley, Emma Margaret 756 

Smith, Rev. Martin Albert 788 

Spanish-American War, The 580 

Spring Township 1056 

Stephens, Alexander H., Vice-President of the Confederacy — son 

of a native 613 

Stills and Distilleries : 265 

Streams, Others than Rivers and Sherman's Creek 384-386 

Sunday School Movement in Perry County, The 438 

Super, Dr. Chas. W., University President 722, 

Super, Ovando B 768 

Superintendents of County Schools 331 

Susquehanna River 376 

Syphers, Gen. J. Hale 728 

Tanning Industry, The 267 

Telephone Companies 495 

Thatcher Family, The Noted 684 

Thatcher, Henry Calvin, First Chief Justice of Colorado 681 

Thatcher, John A., Pioneer Colorado Merchant 688 

Thatcher, Mahlon D., Noted Financier and Banker 692 

Toboyne Township 1061 

Towns, Laying out of 913 

Townships, Boroughs and Villages 911 

tTownships, Formation of 912 

Trader, Coming of the 137 

Trails and Highways 231 

Tressler, Rev. David Loy, College President 917 

Tressler Orphans' Home, The 352 

Tuscarora State Forest, The 870 

Tuscarora Township 1066 

Tyrone Township 1069 

Underground Railroad, The 541 

Valleys 28 

War Between the States 543 

War of 1812, Perry County in the 178 

Warm Springs, The 32 

Watts, David 752 

Watts Township 1075 

Weiser, Conrad 138 

Wheatfield Township 1079 

Whiskey Insurrection, The 188 

World War, The 582 

County Soldiers in the World War 589-603 



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